Additional Coverage:
- Tony Orlando Shares His Untold Story Behind Barry Manilow’s ‘Could It Be Magic’ 55 Years Later (parade.com)
Tony Orlando and Barry Manilow, two iconic figures of 1970s music, share a fascinating story behind one of Manilow’s biggest hits, “Could It Be Magic.” Over 50 years after their early collaboration, Orlando opened up about his role in shaping the song’s success.
Back in the early 1970s, Orlando was working as a music industry executive and was instrumental in signing and producing Manilow’s first recording. In a recent interview on The Scott Baio Podcast, Orlando, now 82, recounted how he encouraged Manilow to craft a catchy, radio-friendly tune to satisfy the record label’s demands.
Orlando described visiting Manilow’s home and urging him to create something more commercial, what he called a “bubble-gummy” hit. Manilow played a melody he had been developing with songwriter Adrienne Anderson, but it had no lyrics or title at that point-just vague imagery about being on a mountaintop.
Taking inspiration, Orlando decided to write a hook and commercial lyrics to accompany the melody, hoping Anderson wouldn’t mind. This was two years before the ballad version of “Could It Be Magic” was officially released. Orlando then visited a record store, where he came up with the now-famous title and crafted what he believed was a suitable top 40 song-originally intended for the Four Seasons.
Orlando claims he created the chorus melody and lyrics before Manilow recorded the track under the group name Featherbed in 1971, for which Orlando received songwriting and producer credits. However, when Manilow re-recorded “Could It Be Magic” in 1975, Orlando’s name was omitted from the songwriting credits, leading to a lawsuit over the matter.
Reflecting on the legal battle, Orlando revealed he spent over half a million dollars in legal fees before ultimately dropping the case after questioning whether the fight was worth it. Despite the dispute, Orlando expressed forgiveness toward Manilow and emphasized his desire for transparency about the song’s origins.
He asserted, “Barry Manilow fans, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but that is the truth. Let the truth be known.” Orlando acknowledged that the melody was inspired by classical composer Chopin, while Anderson contributed to the verses, but credited himself with writing the iconic title and chorus lyrics.
Manilow has previously recognized Orlando’s role in the early version of the song. In an interview with Variety, Manilow explained that the Featherbed recording came about because Orlando, then working at April Blackwood Publishing, believed in the song’s potential and encouraged its release. Manilow recalled being asked to sing lead vocals on the track, which featured studio musicians assembled for the project.
While the story highlights the complex collaboration behind a timeless hit, both artists’ contributions remain part of the song’s enduring legacy.