Scott English

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American songwriter and record producer (1937–2018)

title: "Scott English" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1937-births", "2018-deaths", "record-producers-from-new-york-(state)", "songwriters-from-new-york-(state)", "singers-from-new-york-city", "musicians-from-brooklyn", "american-male-songwriters", "deaths-from-surgical-complications", "20th-century-american-songwriters", "20th-century-american-male-singers"] description: "American songwriter and record producer (1937–2018)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_English" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American songwriter and record producer (1937–2018) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

FieldValue
nameScott English
birth_nameSheldon David English
birth_date
birth_placeBrooklyn, New York, U.S.
death_date
death_placeLondon, England
occupation
employerWarner Brothers, EMI
notable_works"Hi Ho Silver Lining", "Brandy", "Bend Me, Shape Me", "Help Me Girl"
stylePop
spousesJacquiline Tames, Elfie Redburn
children2
::

| name = Scott English | birth_name = Sheldon David English | birth_date = | birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = London, England | occupation = | employer = Warner Brothers, EMI | notable_works = "Hi Ho Silver Lining", "Brandy", "Bend Me, Shape Me", "Help Me Girl" | style = Pop | spouses = Jacquiline Tames, Elfie Redburn | children = 2

Sheldon David "Scott" English (January 10, 1937 – November 16, 2018) was an American songwriter, arranger and record producer. He is best known as the co-writer of "Brandy" which he wrote with Richard Kerr. The song became a No. 1 hit for Barry Manilow in 1974, with the title changed to "Mandy". English had also released a single of "Brandy" which reached No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1971,{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 184}} and entered the US charts in March 1972.

Life and career

English was born in Brooklyn, New York City.

In 1960, he released his first single, "4,000 Miles Away", on Dot Records. In 1964, English had a regional doo-wop hit called "High on a Hill", written by Frank Cariola and A. Mangravito. "High on a Hill" has consistently been voted an all-time top song on oldies radio stations in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. It also reached No. 3 in popularity on the San Francisco Bay Area radio charts, and peaked at #4 in Los Angeles (source: KRLA Top 30 Survey, Feb.-Mar. 1964).

With Larry Weiss, he wrote "Bend Me, Shape Me", which became a hit for the Chicago-based band the American Breed, reaching No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968 and also becoming a hit in the UK for Amen Corner. The song had been recorded a year earlier by the Outsiders as an album track on In (1967).

English and Weiss, whom he met through arranger Claus Ogerman, became good friends. Together, they penned "Help Me Girl" (1966), which was a hit for two acts in late 1966: Eric Burdon (solo for Decca, a UK No. 14 hit) and the Outsiders. They also penned Lynne Randell's "Ciao Baby" (1967) and Jeff Beck's hit "Hi Ho Silver Lining", originally recorded by English group the Attack in early 1967.

English produced the song "West Virginia" by the Elves in 1969 (a band later known as Elf) which featured Ronnie James Dio on bass and vocals. He later produced Thin Lizzy's eponymous debut album Thin Lizzy (1971). He co-wrote the song "Words Don't Mean a Thing" with Lynsey de Paul, who released her version of the song on her album Just a Little Time. The song was also featured on the 2008 album Songs from the British Academy, Vol. 1. A Spanish version was released by Cadafal on their album En La Carretera.

In 1998, English was credited as a co-writer with Simon Stirling and Phil Mankiza on the UK entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, "Where Are You?", performed by Imaani. In 2014, English appeared on BBC Radio London's Jo Good Show, debuting new song "Holla" which he wrote for WestWay Beats.

English died in England on November 16, 2018, at the age of 81, from complications of hip surgery.

Discography

as Scott English

Studio albums

::data[format=table]

TitleYear/Label
Scott EnglishReleased in 1978 by EMI
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Singles

::data[format=table] | Title | Year | Peak position | Album | US | AUS | CAN | UK | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | "4,000 Miles Away" | 1960 | — | — | — | — | rowspan="13" | | | "High on a Hill" | 1964 | 77 | — | — | — | | | | "Brandy" | 1971 | 91 | 13 | 73 | 12 | | | | "Denver Calling" | — | — | — | — | | | | | "Waterfall Woman" | — | — | — | — | | | | | "Ballad of the Unloved" | 1972 | — | — | — | — | | | | "He Was Me He Was You" | — | — | — | — | | | | | "Dark Eyed Daughter of Love" | 1973 | — | — | — | — | | | | "Rescue Man" | — | — | — | — | | | | | "Mobile" | — | — | — | — | | | | | "Camp Followin' Rosie" | — | — | — | — | | | | | "Moonlight Lady" | 1974 | — | — | — | — | | | | "Something's Missin' in My Life" | — | — | — | — | | | | | "Dance ('Till You're Out of My Life)" | 1978 | — | — | — | — | Scott English | | | "Stay" | — | — | — | — | | | | ::

Selected credits

1960s

1970s

  • Steve & Albert. "Follow The Bouncing Ball" (1970)
  • The Glass Bottle. "Wonderwheel" (1971)
  • Greyhound. "I Am What I Am" (1972)
  • Bunny Walters. "Brandy" (1972)
  • Raiders: "Ballad Of The Unloved" (1972)
  • Al Wilson. "All For You" (1973)
  • The Bells. "He Was Me, He Was You" (1973)
  • Barry Manilow. "Mandy" (1974)

1980s

1990s

2000s

  • Syria. "Manca di te" (2000)
  • Indiana [BE]. "Imitation Love" (2002)
  • Sarah Kreuz. "Gipsy Girl" (2009)
  • Sarah Kreuz. "I'll Be Yours" (2009)
  • Sarah Kreuz. "Whenever It's Raining" (2009)
  • Sarah Kreuz. "You Carried Me" (200)
  • Spike [UK]. "The Brooklyn Bridge" (2014)
  • Spike [UK]. Bonnie Tyler. "Fortune" (2014)
  • Westway Beats. "Holla" (2014)
  • Westway Beats. "Famous" (2015)
  • Westway Beats. "Ruby Rain" (2015)
  • Bob Welch. "Bend Me, Shape Me"
  • Arthur Louis. "If Ever I Need You" (2009)

References

References

  1. "Scott English Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com.
  2. "High On A Hill by Scott English". Songfacts.com.
  3. "High On A Hill by Scott English Songfacts". Songfacts.com.
  4. "Scott English: Lyricist, Recording Artist, Producer [interview]". WordPress.
  5. Alan Byrne, 2005, ''Thin Lizzy'', SAF Publishing, p. 34
  6. "Thin Lizzy - Thin Lizzy : Credits". AllMusic.
  7. (November 24, 1999). "Lynsey De Paul - Just A Little Time".
  8. "Words Don't Mean A Thing - Lynsey de Paul Song - BBC Music".
  9. (May 19, 2008). "Various - Songs From The British Academy, Vol. 1 (CD, Album)".
  10. (November 24, 1984). "Cadafal - En La Carretera".
  11. "Scott English". BBC Music.
  12. (November 20, 2018). "Scott English, Producer & 'Brandy' Songwriter. Dies at 81". Prometheus Global Media, LLC..
  13. discogs.com https://www.discogs.com/artist/518454-Scott-English?srsltid=AfmBOoqD6Jcox3QhPTL8iTGS34dsssK4N7S5PnusD1KaCIXfujOYy6Vf ''Retrieved'' August 25, 2025.
  14. ''Billboard''. https://www.billboard.com/artist/scott-english/chart-history/hsi/ ''Retrieved'' August 25, 2025.
  15. Kent Music Report https://www.top100singles.net/2011/11/every-amr-top-100-single-in-1972.html#show ''Retrieved'' August 25, 2025
  16. https://www.amazon.com/RPMS-Pop-Charted-Songs-64-90/dp/0987759388
  17. officialcharts.com https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/14432/scott-english/ Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  18. (December 6, 2018). "Scott English".
  19. "Scott English". [[AllMusic]].

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1937-births2018-deathsrecord-producers-from-new-york-(state)songwriters-from-new-york-(state)singers-from-new-york-citymusicians-from-brooklynamerican-male-songwritersdeaths-from-surgical-complications20th-century-american-songwriters20th-century-american-male-singers