Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell
Encyclopedia
Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell are American
songwriter
s who wrote numerous pop and rock songs in the 1960s and 1970s, generally working together and with Bob Crewe
. Their most successful songs include "A Lover's Concerto
", "Let's Hang On!
", "Working My Way Back to You
", and "Native New Yorker
." They are 2012 nominees for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
(SHOF).
and later moved to Silver Springs, Maryland. He played piano and accordion, and performed in various local bands in his teens, as well as starting to write songs. One of his songs came to the attention of New York music publishing company Shapiro Bernstein, who started to employ him as a staff songwriter. This in turn led to his introduction to Bob Gaudio
and Bob Crewe, the record producers and writers behind the success of The Four Seasons
. Randell began working for the Four Seasons as a writer and arranger in the early 1960s.
Gaudio's associate, Al Kasha
, introduced Randell to lyricist Sandy Linzer. The duo wrote several Top 10 songs for Frankie Valli
and The Four Seasons, including "Working My Way Back to You" (also a hit for The Spinners in 1979, and in Ireland
for Boyzone
in 1994), "Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)
," and, with Bob Crewe, "Let's Hang On!." Linzer also co-wrote the group's song "Dawn (Go Away)
," and Randell later co-wrote (again with Crewe) Valli's solo hit "Swearin' To God."
In 1965, they wrote and produced
most of the songs for the R&B girl group
, The Toys
, including their singles "A Lover's Concerto" (adapted from Minuet in G major
, a classical music
piece), and "Attack!" Another Toys recording written by the duo, "Can't Get Enough Of You Baby
", was later covered by the garage band ? and the Mysterians and, in 1998, was a #14 hit when covered by Smash Mouth
. They also had a hit with Jay and the Techniques' "Keep The Ball Rollin'".
Linzer and Randell wrote two songs recorded by The Monkees
, "I'll Be Back Up On My Feet
" and "The Day We Fall in Love", and "Penny Arcade" by The Cyrkle
. They later wrote "Native New Yorker," performed by Odyssey
on the soundtrack of the film Eyes of Laura Mars
; it was later featured in the film The Nanny Diaries
and the final year of HBO’s Sex and the City
. Other co-writes include "Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache", a major UK hit in 1968 for Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon
, Samantha Sang
's 1978 chart hit "You Keep Me Dancin'," and "Native New Yorker", a hit for Odyssey
.
for several companies, including Epic
, RCA
, and Frank Zappa
's DiscReet Records
, for whom he produced Tim Buckley
's album Sefronia
. He also produced the Iron Butterfly
album Scorching Beauty
. Later in the decade, he co-wrote and arranged the album Get Dancin’ by Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes. In 1980 he co-wrote the Star Wars
-themed album Christmas in the Stars
, which featured singer John Bongiovi (later Jon Bon Jovi
).
In 1985, he teamed up with songwriter and singer Biddy Schippers and formed the duo Randell & Schippers, who recorded a number of successful electronic dance tracks including "Alice in Wonderland." The pair later married. In recent years they have worked together on the GI Jams project, which aims to develop and spotlight songwriting talents in the U.S. military.
," originally recorded in 1982 by The Four Tops. The song was covered by Whitney Houston
for the soundtrack of the 1996 film The Preacher's Wife
and became a no. 4 hit single. Linzer also wrote the lyrics for the song "Spanish Eyes", recorded by the Backstreet Boys
on their 1999 album Millennium
. He also produced and co-wrote the songs on Billy Gilman
's self-titled album.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
s who wrote numerous pop and rock songs in the 1960s and 1970s, generally working together and with Bob Crewe
Bob Crewe
Bob Crewe is an American songwriter, dancer, singer, manager, record producer and fine artist. He is known for producing, and co-writing with Bob Gaudio, a string of Top 10 singles for The Four Seasons...
. Their most successful songs include "A Lover's Concerto
A Lover's Concerto
"A Lover's Concerto" is a pop song written by American songwriters Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell and recorded in 1965 by The Toys. Their version of the song was a major hit in both the United States and the UK during 1965. It peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at #2.Critic Dave Thompson wrote,...
", "Let's Hang On!
Let's Hang On!
"Let's Hang On!" is a song composed by Bob Crewe, Sandy Linzer, and Denny Randell that was popularized by The Four Seasons in 1965. The single reached the number three position in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the group's highest placement since "Rag Doll" hit the top spot in July 1964.This...
", "Working My Way Back to You
Working My Way Back To You
"Working My Way Back to You" is the debut single from Irish Boyband Boyzone. It was released in May 1994. The song reached #3 on the Irish Singles Chart. It is one of the few songs to feature Mikey Graham on lead vocals. The band recorded two versions the song, one of which was a collaboration with...
", and "Native New Yorker
Native New Yorker (song)
"Native New Yorker" is a song written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell and was a 1977 hit single for the dance band Odyssey, which reached number five on the UK charts. In the U.S., the song went to number three on the disco chart. "Native New Yorker" also went to number six on the soul chart and...
." They are 2012 nominees for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. It was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The goal is to create a museum but as of April, 2008, the means do not yet exist and so instead it is an online...
(SHOF).
Early careers and work together
Denny Randell was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and later moved to Silver Springs, Maryland. He played piano and accordion, and performed in various local bands in his teens, as well as starting to write songs. One of his songs came to the attention of New York music publishing company Shapiro Bernstein, who started to employ him as a staff songwriter. This in turn led to his introduction to Bob Gaudio
Bob Gaudio
Robert John "Bob" Gaudio is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer, and the keyboardist/backing vocalist for The Four Seasons.-Early career:...
and Bob Crewe, the record producers and writers behind the success of The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons (group)
The Four Seasons are an American rock and pop band who became internationally successful in the mid-1960s. The Vocal Group Hall of Fame has stated that the group was the most popular rock band before The Beatles...
. Randell began working for the Four Seasons as a writer and arranger in the early 1960s.
Gaudio's associate, Al Kasha
Al Kasha
Al Kasha is a Brooklyn–born composer, songwriter and arranger, as well as businessman. He is most noted for his years of collaboration with songwriter Joel Hirschhorn...
, introduced Randell to lyricist Sandy Linzer. The duo wrote several Top 10 songs for Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli is an American musician, most famous as frontman of The Four Seasons. He is well-known for his unusually powerful falsetto singing voice...
and The Four Seasons, including "Working My Way Back to You" (also a hit for The Spinners in 1979, and in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
for Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
in 1994), "Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)
Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'bout Me)
"Opus 17 " is a song composed by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell and recorded by The Four Seasons in 1966 for their album Working My Way Back to You...
," and, with Bob Crewe, "Let's Hang On!." Linzer also co-wrote the group's song "Dawn (Go Away)
Dawn (Go Away)
"Dawn " is a song written by Bob Gaudio and Sandy Linzer and recorded by The Four Seasons in January 1964 as the Four Seasons were involved in a royalty dispute with Vee-Jay Records...
," and Randell later co-wrote (again with Crewe) Valli's solo hit "Swearin' To God."
In 1965, they wrote and produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
most of the songs for the R&B girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
, The Toys
The Toys
The Toys were an American pop girl group from Jamaica, New York, which was formed in 1961 and disbanded in 1968.-Members:The trio consisted of:* Barbara Harris sang lead most of the time....
, including their singles "A Lover's Concerto" (adapted from Minuet in G major
Minuet in G major
The Minuet in G major is a keyboard piece included in the 1725 Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach. Until 1970 it was attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach The Minuet in G major is a keyboard piece included in the 1725 Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach. Until 1970 it was attributed to Johann Sebastian...
, a classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
piece), and "Attack!" Another Toys recording written by the duo, "Can't Get Enough Of You Baby
Can't Get Enough Of You Baby
"Can't Get Enough of You Baby" is a song written by Denny Randell and Sandy Linzer and recorded by various artists, including the Protopunk band ? & the Mysterians in 1967. Their version reached # 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released as a single. The song was recorded in 1966 by The...
", was later covered by the garage band ? and the Mysterians and, in 1998, was a #14 hit when covered by Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth
Smash Mouth is an American rock band from San Jose, California. The band was formed in 1994, and was originally composed of Steve Harwell, Greg Camp, Paul De Lisle and Kevin Coleman as lead vocals, guitar, bass and drums respectively...
. They also had a hit with Jay and the Techniques' "Keep The Ball Rollin'".
Linzer and Randell wrote two songs recorded by The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
, "I'll Be Back Up On My Feet
I'll Be Back Up On My Feet
"I'll Be Back Up on My Feet" is a song by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell, which was recorded by The Monkees during the 1960s.The first Monkees version of the song was recorded on October 26, 1966, during the period when the band did not perform their own instruments as much on their recordings...
" and "The Day We Fall in Love", and "Penny Arcade" by The Cyrkle
The Cyrkle
The Cyrkle was a short-lived American rock and roll band active in the mid-1960s. The group charted two Top 40 hits, "Red Rubber Ball," and "Turn Down Day"...
. They later wrote "Native New Yorker," performed by Odyssey
Odyssey (band)
Odyssey was a New York, now UK-based dance music band. It grew out of the talent of the Connecticut-born Lopez sisters: Lillian Lopez , Louise Lopez , and Carmen Lopez , who left the group before Odyssey, as the group came to be known after her departure, was formed.-Career:Filipino singer Tony...
on the soundtrack of the film Eyes of Laura Mars
Eyes of Laura Mars
Eyes of Laura Mars is a 1978 thriller film starring Faye Dunaway and Tommy Lee Jones and directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, adapted from a spec script titled Eyes, written by John Carpenter, was Carpenter's first major studio film...
; it was later featured in the film The Nanny Diaries
The Nanny Diaries (film)
The Nanny Diaries is a 2007 American comedy-drama film, based on the novel of the same name by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. Written and directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, it stars Scarlett Johansson, Alicia Keys, Paul Giamatti, and Laura Linney; and was produced by Richard N...
and the final year of HBO’s Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
. Other co-writes include "Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache", a major UK hit in 1968 for Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon
Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon
Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon were a U.S. vocal soul group, prominent in the late 1960s and early 1970s.-Career:Originally known simply as The Bandwagon, they were formed in 1967 and featured Artie Fullilove, Billy Bradley, Terry Lewis and lead singer Johnny Johnson Johnny Johnson and the...
, Samantha Sang
Samantha Sang
Samantha Sang is a stage name of Australian singer, Cheryl Lau Sang, from Melbourne, who had an earlier career as Cheryl Gray. She had a number eight hit in Australia with "You Made Me What I Am" in 1967. By 1969, she had relocated to United Kingdom and worked with Bee Gees but then returned...
's 1978 chart hit "You Keep Me Dancin'," and "Native New Yorker", a hit for Odyssey
Odyssey
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
.
Denny Randell's later career
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Randell worked in A&RA&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
for several companies, including Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, and Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
's DiscReet Records
DiscReet Records
DiscReet Records was a company founded by Frank Zappa and his then business partner/manager Herb Cohen. It was created in 1973 when their previous companies Bizarre Records and Straight Records were discontinued...
, for whom he produced Tim Buckley
Tim Buckley
Timothy Charles Buckley III was an American vocalist, and musician. His music and style changed considerably through the years; his first album was mostly folk oriented, but over time his music incorporated jazz, psychedelia, funk, soul, avant-garde and an evolving "voice as instrument," sound...
's album Sefronia
Sefronia
Sefronia is the eighth album by singer-songwriter Tim Buckley, released in 1973. The album was recorded at Paramount Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California...
. He also produced the Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly is a US psychedelic rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".Their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the 31st best-selling album in the world, selling more than 25 million copies.-History:The...
album Scorching Beauty
Scorching Beauty
Scorching Beauty is the fifth album released by Iron Butterfly. Released four years after their original breakup, it was recorded by a reformed lineup with only one member remaining from their previous album. In addition to Bushy, this lineup includes Erik Brann, Phil Kramer, and Howard Reitzes....
. Later in the decade, he co-wrote and arranged the album Get Dancin’ by Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes. In 1980 he co-wrote the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
-themed album Christmas in the Stars
Christmas in the Stars
Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album is a record album produced in 1980 by RSO Records. It features recordings of Star Wars-themed Christmas songs and stories about a droid factory where the robots make toys year-round for "S. Claus"....
, which featured singer John Bongiovi (later Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder, occasional rhythm guitarist, and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him...
).
In 1985, he teamed up with songwriter and singer Biddy Schippers and formed the duo Randell & Schippers, who recorded a number of successful electronic dance tracks including "Alice in Wonderland." The pair later married. In recent years they have worked together on the GI Jams project, which aims to develop and spotlight songwriting talents in the U.S. military.
Sandy Linzer's later career
After the 1960s, Linzer co-wrote, with David Wolfert, "I Believe in You and MeI Believe in You and Me
"I Believe in You and Me" is a ballad written by Sandy Linzer and David Wolfert. The song was first recorded and released by the R&B group The Four Tops in 1983. The song was written by Linzer and Wolfert in 1982, and the Four Tops released it as a single in 1983...
," originally recorded in 1982 by The Four Tops. The song was covered by Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
for the soundtrack of the 1996 film The Preacher's Wife
The Preacher's Wife
The Preacher's Wife is a 1996 romantic-family-dramedy-christmas film directed by Penny Marshall, and starring Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, and Loretta Devine. It is a remake of the 1947 film The Bishop's Wife....
and became a no. 4 hit single. Linzer also wrote the lyrics for the song "Spanish Eyes", recorded by the Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
on their 1999 album Millennium
Millennium (Backstreet Boys album)
Millennium is the third album by American boyband Backstreet Boys. It was a highly anticipated follow-up to both their United States debut album, and their second internationally released album. It was their first album to be released in both the U.S...
. He also produced and co-wrote the songs on Billy Gilman
Billy Gilman
William Wendell "Billy" Gilman III is an American country music artist. In 2000, at the age of 12, he debuted with the single "One Voice," a Top 20 hit on the Billboard country music charts and became the youngest singer to a Top 40 hit on the country music charts...
's self-titled album.