The song “Brandy” is a pop ballad that was originally released by Scott English in 1971. It tells the story of a man who regrets sending away his lover, Brandy, and misses her desperately. The song was a hit in the UK, reaching number 12 on the charts there.
Bunny Walters, a Māori pop singer covered the song in 1972. His version was quite successful in Aotearoa, peaking at number four and becoming one of his signature songs. He recorded the song for his album “Evolution”, which featured covers and original songs.
In 1974, Barry Manilow released his own version of the song, but renamed it to “Mandy” to avoid confusion with another song called “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass. Manilow’s rendition was a huge hit, reaching number one in the US and Canada, and launching his career as a pop star.
The Scott English version of Brandy did not chart in New Zealand, while the Barry Manilow version of Mandy reached number seven on the New Zealand Singles Chart. Therefore, neither of them was as successful in this country as the Bunny Walters version, which peaked at number four.
Of the three versions I’ve included below, my favourite is Bunny’s rendition. Why? It’s probably because for me, it’s the original, having not heard the the Scott English version until quite recently, and having become familiar with it for two years before the Manilow version appeared. I think the relative rankings of Walter’s Brandy and Manilow’s Mandy indicate I’m not the only Kiwi who thought this way.
Brandy
I remember all my life
Raining down as cold as ice
Shadows of the man
Her face through a window
Crying in the night
And night goes into
Morning
Just another day
Happy people pass my way
Looking in their eyes
I see a memory
I never realized
You made me happy, oh, Brandy
When you came and you gave without taking
But I sent you away
Oh, Brandy
When you kiss me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today, oh, Brandy
I'm standing on the end of time
I walked away when love was mine
Caught up in a world
Of uphill driving
While tears are in my mind
And left hand driving, oh, Brandy
When you came and you gave without taking
But I sent you away
Oh, Brandy
When you kiss me and stopped me from shaking
And I need you today, oh, Brandy
(oh, Brandy Oh, Brandy)
Another Spectrum 
4 Mar, 2024 at 4:48 pm
I wish I would have heard Bunny Walters’s rendition before I heard Barry Manilow’s. Thank you!
5 Mar, 2024 at 6:43 pm
Predictably, I am most familiar with Manilow’s version, but after listening to all three of these, I am sold on Bunny Walters’!!! I love it! Thanks for sharing these, Barry!
5 Mar, 2024 at 8:13 pm
The more I listen to the three versions, the more I come to prefer Bunny Walters’ version and the less I like the Scott English version. There’s something about the quality of Bunny’s vocal tones that put it above the other two.
There have been, and are many musical diamonds in Aotearoa, but the tyranny of distance means that most will remain hidden gems to the rest of the world.
9 Mar, 2024 at 10:07 pm
Sorry had not realized that I have never visited before. I liked all three.