"Bend Me, Shape Me" is a song written by
Scott English
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 fo ...
and
Larry Weiss
Laurence D. "Larry" Weiss (born March 25, 1941) is an American songwriter and musician. He wrote " Rhinestone Cowboy", a US no.1 hit for Glen Campbell in 1975; and co-wrote " Bend Me, Shape Me", " Hi Ho Silver Lining" and several other internatio ...
. It was first recorded by
The Outsiders as a track on their album ''
In'' in 1966. The best-known version in the US is the 1967 single released by
The American Breed that peaked at No. 5 on the US
''Billboard'' Hot 100 in early 1968, No. 3 in South Africa, and No. 24 on the
UK Singles Chart.
The American Breed's 2:05 single mix of this song was sped up during mastering for release, while the widely available original 2:25 version was done at a normal speed. The following year, The American Breed released their last single, "
Anyway That You Want Me", which borrowed its title phrase from "Bend Me, Shape Me". Co-songwriter Scott English later went on to write and sing "
Brandy
Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured ...
", which
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow ( ; born Barry Alan Pincus on June 17, 1943) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer with a career that spans over sixty years. His hit recordings include "Could It Be Magic", "Looks Like We Made It", "Brandy (Scott ...
later covered as his 1974 breakout hit "
Mandy".
A video was also produced. The band members are seen working out in a gym and performing on stage.
Chart history
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Cover versions
There have been many other recordings of "Bend Me, Shape Me". The first version was released by The Models in 1966 on the MGM label. Other notables include one by
Amen Corner with slightly altered lyrics, which reached No. 3 in the
UK Singles Chart in 1968. There was also a hit disco single on Ariola/Hansa by Austrian singer
Gilla in 1978,
which she also performed in a medley with
Boney M.
Boney M. is a German reggae, funk and disco music group founded in 1974. It achieved popularity during the disco era in the second half of the 1970s. The band was created by German record producer Frank Farian, who was the group's primary song ...
See also
*
List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bend Me, Shape Me
1966 songs
1967 singles
Songs written by Scott English
Songs written by Larry Weiss
Deram Records singles
Amen Corner (band) songs
Number-one singles in New Zealand