Adrienne Anderson

Adrienne Anderson is an American songwriter, most notable for being the co-writer of "Could It Be Magic", among other Barry Manilow songs, as well as being the co-writer of signature songs for Dionne Warwick ("Déjà Vu") and Peter Allen ("I Go to Rio").

History

Adrienne Anderson (maiden name Arzt, married Neal Anderson) has had a continuing association with Barry Manilow that goes back to his first album, released in July, 1973, and which featured their co-written "Could It Be Magic".

Collaboration

In late 1970 or very early 1971, Barry Manilow recorded Anderson's composition of "Amy". This was issued as Bell single 971 in February, 1971 as by Featherbed featuring Barry Manilow. This was the very first release of any kind for Manilow.

Anderson and Manilow have co-written approximately thirty songs that have been recorded.^[1] Two of their best-known collaborations are "Could It Be Magic" and "Daybreak". When Manilow was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002, he made a point of attending with and crediting his co-writers, including Anderson.^[2] In 2010, Anderson was an invited guest at the premiere of Manilow's two-year engagement at the Paris Las Vegas.^[3]

Stemming from her association with Manilow, Anderson commenced writing with Melissa Manchester.^[4] She started co-writing with Manchester with the release of Manchester's second album, Bright Eyes (1974).^[5]

Anderson's collaboration with Peter Allen commenced in the mid-1970s, resulting in one of Allen's most-recognized songs, "I Go to Rio", which was first released in 1976. She also co-wrote "Love Crazy" with Allen, which was the opening track on Allen's 1977 live album, It Is Time for Peter Allen. She later co-write "Angels With Dirty Faces" with Allen, included on his 1979 album, I Could Have Been a Sailor.^[6]

In 1979, Anderson co-wrote "Déjà Vu" with Isaac Hayes, which was recorded by Dionne Warwick. The song, included on Warwick's first album for Arista Records, Dionne, was important to the revitalization of Warwick's career at that point.^[7]

Recent collaborations have included co-writing with noted songwriter, arranger and producer Leon Ware.^[8] Anderson also wrote the libretto for the Los Angeles-based production of City Kid: The Musical, which opened in 2007.^[9]

References

1. Barry Manilow - His Music: Who Writes The Songs Archived April 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.. The Barry Net; www.garyoye.com/barrynet.
2. "Barry's Hit Songs". Response by John W. Baldwin, March 12, 2006, to question, "Who wrote the most hit songs for Barry?". Other Manilow co-writers who attended the Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremonies with Anderson were Marty Panzer, Enoch Anderson and Bruce Sussman; www.en.allexperts.com.
3. Robin Leach, Barry Manilow Triumphs After $150,000 Fire Stops Paris Premiere. Luxe Life Blog, March 9, 2010; www.vegasdeluxe.com.
4. Manilow had been playing piano at the Continental Baths in New York, and had befriended Bette Midler, who sang there. With Manilow's encouragement, Manchester became one of three Harlettes, Midler's backup singers. Manchester's recording career, which commenced in 1973, one year after the release of Manilow's first album and on the same label as Manilow (Arista), was significantly based on these early associations. See Melissa Manchester and Bette Midler.
5. Anderson co-wrote three songs with Manchester, "Bright Eyes" (the title track), "Alone" and "No. 1 (Ahwant Gemmeh)". Anderson's contributions were described as being closer to Manchester's sensibilities than her previous co-writer, Carole Bayer Sager. See William Ruhlman, Review of Bright Eyes; www.allmusic.com.
6. Peter Allen Discography Particulars; www5d.biglobe.ne.jp.
7. Warwick's rendition of the song won her the 1980 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
8. Anderson co-wrote "Warm Inside" on Ware's album A Kiss in the Sand (2005).
9. Profile of Adrienne Anderson Archived September 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.; www.citykidthemusical.com.