I Write the Songs - wikipedia I Write the Songs `` I Write the Songs '' Single by Barry Manilow from the album Tryin ' to Get the Feeling B - side `` A Nice Boy Like Me '' Released November 1975 Format 7 '' ( 45 rpm ) Recorded Genre Soft rock Length 3 : 43 ( single version ) Label Arista 0157 Songwriter ( s ) Bruce Johnston Producer ( s ) Ron Dante Barry Manilow Barry Manilow singles chronology `` Could It Be Magic '' ( 1975 ) `` I Write the Songs '' ( 1975 ) `` Tryin ' to Get the Feeling Again '' ( 1976 ) `` I Write the Songs '' is a popular song written by Bruce Johnston in 1975 and made famous by Barry Manilow. Manilow 's version reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1976 after spending two weeks atop the Billboard adult contemporary chart in December 1975. It won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year and was nominated for Record of the Year in 1977. Billboard ranked it as the No. 13 song of 1976. The original version was recorded by The Captain & Tennille, who worked with Johnston in the early 1970s with The Beach Boys. It appears on their 1975 album, Love Will Keep Us Together. The first release of I Write the Songs as a single was by then teen - idol David Cassidy from his 1975 solo album The Higher They Climb, which was also produced by Bruce Johnston. Cassidy 's version reached # 11 on the UK Singles Chart in August of that year. Johnston has stated that, for him, the `` I '' in the song is God, and that songs come from the spirit of creativity in all of us. He has said that the song is not about his Beach Boys bandmate Brian Wilson. Manilow was initially reluctant to record the song, stating in his autobiography Sweet Life : `` The problem with the song was that if you did n't listen carefully to the lyric, you would think that the singer was singing about himself. It could be misinterpreted as a monumental ego trip. '' After persuasion by Clive Davis, then president of Arista Records, Manilow recorded the song, and his version of `` I Write the Songs '' was the first single taken from the album Tryin ' to Get the Feeling. It first charted on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 15, 1975, reaching the top of the chart nine weeks later, on January 17, 1976. `` I Write The Songs '' Barry Manilow 's `` I Write The Songs '' from Tryin ' to Get the Feeling Problems playing this file ? See media help. Contents 1 Chart performance 1.1 Weekly charts 1.2 Year - end charts 2 Cover versions 3 Popularity 4 See also 5 References 6 External links Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1975 -- 76 ) Peak position Australia 5 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) Canada Adult Contemporary ( RPM ) Ireland ( IRMA ) 11 New Zealand 13 US Billboard Hot 100 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) Year - end charts Chart ( 1976 ) Rank Australia 52 Canada 49 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 13 U.S. Billboard Easy Listening 5 `` I Write the Songs '' Single by David Cassidy from the album The Higher They Climb Released Format 7 '' ( 45 rpm ) Recorded Genre Pop Length 4 : 07 Label RCA Records Songwriter ( s ) Bruce Johnston Producer ( s ) Bruce Johnston David Cassidy singles chronology `` Daydreamer '' ( 1973 ) `` I Write the Songs '' ( 1975 ) `` Darlin ' '' ( 1975 ) Cover versions This song has also been recorded by Johnny Mathis, Frank Chacksfield, Mantovani, Ray Conniff, Richard Clayderman, Tom Jones, Dinah Shore, as well as Bruce Johnston himself on his 1977 album, Going Public. Frank Sinatra sang it as `` I Sing the Songs '' from 1976 ( leaving out the line `` and I wrote some rock and roll so you could move '' ). In 1979, Sammy Davis, Jr. performed it as part of his live show. At the Forum de Montréal in 1976 for the Bob Hope Olympic Benefit Event, Quebec popular singer René Simard performed it live in a French - English two - verse version. In 1975, French singer Claude François performed a French adaptation named `` Je Chante des Chansons '' ( I Sing Songs ). In 1976, Filipino singer Rico J. Puno also covered this song with the Tagalog verse in second line as the Manila Sound version. In 2008, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes recorded it on their album Have Another Ball. On August 16, 2016 the song `` I Write the Songs '' was covered by the members of Calle Siete and Eat Bulaga ! 's Thats My Bae Grand Winner Kenneth Medrano for the album Made for You was released on June 22, 2016 after the song `` I 'll Never Go ''. Popularity Manilow performed a parody duet entitled `` I Write the Songs / I Wreck the Songs '' with Rosie O'Donnell on her talk show on April 18, 1997. Manilow performed another shortened version of this song with Stephen Colbert when he was a guest on The Colbert Report on October 30, 2006. After his version reached number one, Manilow himself composed a novelty song based on this song which he recorded under the title `` I really do write the songs '' in which he sings about how he composes each part of a song and the line `` sometimes I really do write the songs '' at the end of each verse. In the finale he sings, `` sometimes... ah, what the hell... I write the songs. '' Unreleased at the time, it was included as a bonus track on the reissue of his album This One 's for You in 2006. See also List of number - one adult contemporary singles of 1975 ( U.S. ) List of Hot 100 number - one singles of 1976 ( U.S. ) References Jump up ^ Lecaro, Lina ( November 19, 2016 ). `` This Monthly Club Is a Non-Ironic Celebration of Rock 's Softer Side ''. LA Weekly. ^ Jump up to : Bronson, Fred ( 2003 ). The Billboard Book of # 1 Hits, 5th Edition ( Billboard Publications ), page 425. ^ Jump up to : Hyatt, Wesley ( 1999 ). The Billboard Book of # 1 Adult Contemporary Hits ( Billboard Publications ), page 177. Jump up ^ Billboard Year - End Hot 100 singles of 1976 Jump up ^ UK Singles Chart info Chartstats.com. Retrieved 8 August 2009. Jump up ^ `` I Write The Songs by Barry Manilow Songfacts ''. Songfacts.com. 2011 - 09 - 17. Retrieved 2014 - 04 - 08. ^ Jump up to : Steffen Hung. `` Forum - 1970 ( ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts ) ''. Australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 2016 - 06 - 02. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 4077a. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Adult Contemporary : Issue 4058. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- I Write the Songs ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 22, 2017. Jump up ^ `` NZ Top 40 Singles Chart The Official New Zealand Music Chart ''. Nztop40.co.nz. 1976 - 03 - 22. Retrieved 2018 - 03 - 31. Jump up ^ `` Barry Manilow Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Barry Manilow Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` RPM - Library and Archives Canada RPM - Bibliothèque et Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1976 / Top 100 Songs of 1976 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 28. Jump up ^ Top 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 1976 External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Captain & Tennille Daryl Dragon Toni Tennille Albums Love Will Keep Us Together Song of Joy Come In from the Rain Dream Make Your Move Keeping Our Love Warm More Than Dancing The Secret of Christmas Singles `` Love Will Keep Us Together '' `` The Way I Want to Touch You '' `` Lonely Night ( Angel Face ) '' `` Shop Around '' `` Muskrat Love '' `` Ca n't Stop Dancin ' '' `` Do That to Me One More Time '' `` Happy Together ( A Fantasy ) '' `` Do n't Call It Love '' Songs `` Disney Girls '' `` Cuddle Up '' `` God Only Knows '' `` I Write the Songs '' `` Wedding Song ( There Is Love ) '' Related topics Discography Carmen Dragon The Beach Boys Book : Captain & Tennille Barry Manilow singles 1970s `` Mandy '' ( 1974 ) `` Sandra '' ( 1974 ) `` It 's a Miracle '' ( 1975 ) `` Could It Be Magic '' ( 1975 ) `` I Write the Songs '' ( 1975 ) `` Tryin ' to Get the Feeling Again '' ( 1976 ) `` This One 's for You '' ( 1976 ) `` Weekend in New England '' ( 1976 ) `` Looks Like We Made It '' ( 1977 ) `` Daybreak '' ( 1977 ) `` It 's Just Another New Year 's Eve '' ( 1977 ) `` Ca n't Smile Without You '' ( 1978 ) `` Even Now '' ( 1978 ) `` Copacabana '' ( 1978 ) `` Ready to Take a Chance Again '' ( 1978 ) `` Somewhere in the Night '' ( 1978 ) `` Ships '' ( 1979 ) `` When I Wanted You '' ( 1979 ) 1980s `` I Do n't Want to Walk Without You '' ( 1980 ) `` Bermuda Triangle '' ( 1980 ) `` I Made It Through the Rain '' ( 1980 ) `` Lonely Together '' ( 1981 ) `` The Old Songs '' ( 1981 ) `` Somewhere Down the Road '' ( 1981 ) `` Let 's Hang On ! '' ( 1982 ) `` Oh Julie '' ( 1982 ) `` Memory '' ( 1982 ) `` I 'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter '' ( 1982 ) `` Read ' Em and Weep '' ( 1983 ) `` When October Goes '' ( 1984 ) `` Run to Me '' ( 1985 ) `` I 'm Your Man '' ( 1986 ) `` Keep Each Other Warm '' ( 1989 ) 1990s `` If I Can Dream '' ( 1990 ) `` I 'd Really Love to See You Tonight '' ( 1997 ) 2000s `` River '' ( 2003 ) `` Unchained Melody '' ( 2006 ) `` Love Is a Many - Splendored Thing '' ( 2006 ) 2010s `` Santa Claus Is Coming to Town '' ( 2012 ) Grammy Award for Song of the Year 1959 − 1980 `` Volare '' -- Domenico Modugno ( songwriter ) ( 1959 ) `` The Battle of New Orleans '' -- Jimmy Driftwood ( songwriter ) ( 1960 ) `` Theme from Exodus '' -- Ernest Gold ( songwriter ) ( 1961 ) `` Moon River '' -- Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini ( songwriters ) ( 1962 ) `` What Kind of Fool Am I ? '' -- Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley ( songwriters ) ( 1963 ) `` Days of Wine and Roses '' -- Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini ( songwriters ) ( 1964 ) `` Hello, Dolly ! '' -- Jerry Herman ( songwriter ) ( 1965 ) `` The Shadow of Your Smile '' -- Paul Francis Webster & Johnny Mandel ( songwriters ) ( 1966 ) `` Michelle '' -- John Lennon & Paul McCartney ( songwriters ) ( 1967 ) `` Up, Up, and Away '' -- Jimmy Webb ( songwriter ) ( 1968 ) `` Little Green Apples '' -- Bobby Russell ( songwriter ) ( 1969 ) `` Games People Play '' -- Joe South ( songwriter ) ( 1970 ) `` Bridge over Troubled Water '' -- Paul Simon ( songwriter ) ( 1971 ) `` You 've Got a Friend '' -- Carole King ( songwriter ) ( 1972 ) `` The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face '' -- Ewan MacColl ( songwriter ) ( 1973 ) `` Killing Me Softly with His Song '' -- Norman Gimbel & Charles Fox ( songwriters ) ( 1974 ) `` The Way We Were '' -- Alan and Marilyn Bergman & Marvin Hamlisch ( songwriters ) ( 1975 ) `` Send In the Clowns '' -- Stephen Sondheim ( songwriter ) ( 1976 ) `` I Write the Songs '' -- Bruce Johnston ( songwriter ) ( 1977 ) `` Evergreen ( Love Theme from A Star Is Born ) '' -- Barbra Streisand & Paul Williams ( songwriters ) / `` You Light Up My Life '' -- Joe Brooks ( songwriter ) ( 1978 ) `` Just the Way You Are '' -- Billy Joel ( songwriter ) ( 1979 ) `` What a Fool Believes '' -- Kenny Loggins & Michael McDonald ( songwriters ) ( 1980 ) 1981 − 2000 `` Sailing '' -- Christopher Cross ( songwriter ) ( 1981 ) `` Bette Davis Eyes '' -- Donna Weiss & Jackie DeShannon ( songwriters ) ( 1982 ) `` Always on My Mind '' -- Johnny Christopher, Mark James & Wayne Carson ( songwriters ) ( 1983 ) `` Every Breath You Take '' -- Sting ( songwriter ) ( 1984 ) `` What 's Love Got to Do with It '' -- Graham Lyle & Terry Britten ( songwriters ) ( 1985 ) `` We Are the World '' -- Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie ( songwriters ) ( 1986 ) `` That 's What Friends Are For '' -- Burt Bacharach & Carole Bayer Sager ( songwriters ) ( 1987 ) `` Somewhere Out There '' -- James Horner, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil ( songwriters ) ( 1988 ) `` Do n't Worry, Be Happy '' -- Bobby McFerrin ( songwriter ) ( 1989 ) `` Wind Beneath My Wings '' -- Larry Henley & Jeff Silbar ( songwriters ) ( 1990 ) `` From a Distance '' -- Julie Gold ( songwriter ) ( 1991 ) `` Unforgettable '' -- Irving Gordon ( songwriter ) ( 1992 ) `` Tears in Heaven '' -- Eric Clapton & Will Jennings ( songwriters ) ( 1993 ) `` A Whole New World '' -- Alan Menken & Tim Rice ( songwriters ) ( 1994 ) `` Streets of Philadelphia '' -- Bruce Springsteen ( songwriter ) ( 1995 ) `` Kiss from a Rose '' -- Seal ( songwriter ) ( 1996 ) `` Change the World '' -- Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick & Tommy Sims ( songwriters ) ( 1997 ) `` Sunny Came Home '' -- Shawn Colvin & John Leventhal ( songwriters ) ( 1998 ) `` My Heart Will Go On '' -- James Horner & Will Jennings ( songwriters ) ( 1999 ) `` Smooth '' -- Itaal Shur & Rob Thomas ( songwriters ) ( 2000 ) 2001 − present `` Beautiful Day '' -- Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen & Paul Hewson ( songwriters ) ( 2001 ) `` Fallin ' '' -- Alicia Keys ( songwriter ) ( 2002 ) `` Do n't Know Why '' -- Jesse Harris ( songwriter ) ( 2003 ) `` Dance with My Father '' -- Richard Marx & Luther Vandross ( songwriters ) ( 2004 ) `` Daughters '' -- John Mayer ( songwriter ) ( 2005 ) `` Sometimes You Ca n't Make It on Your Own '' -- Adam Clayton, David Evans, Laurence Mullen & Paul Hewson ( songwriters ) ( 2006 ) `` Not Ready to Make Nice '' -- Emily Burns Erwin, Martha Maguire, Natalie Maines Pasdar & Dan Wilson ( songwriters ) ( 2007 ) `` Rehab '' -- Amy Winehouse ( songwriter ) ( 2008 ) `` Viva la Vida '' -- Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion & Christopher Martin ( songwriters ) ( 2009 ) `` Single Ladies ( Put a Ring on It ) '' -- Thaddis `` Kuk '' Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart ( songwriters ) ( 2010 ) `` Need You Now '' -- Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott ( songwriters ) ( 2011 ) `` Rolling in the Deep '' -- Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth ( songwriters ) ( 2012 ) `` We Are Young '' -- Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess ( songwriters ) ( 2013 ) `` Royals '' -- Joel Little & Ella Yelich O'Connor ( songwriters ) ( 2014 ) `` Stay with Me '' ( Darkchild version ) -- James Napier, William Phillips & Sam Smith ( songwriters ) ( 2015 ) `` Thinking Out Loud '' -- Ed Sheeran & Amy Wadge ( songwriters ) ( 2016 ) `` Hello '' -- Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin ( songwriters ) ( 2017 ) `` That 's What I Like '' -- Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip ( songwriters ) ( 2018 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Write_the_Songs&oldid=853220364 '' Categories : 1975 singles 1976 singles Barry Manilow songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one singles Grammy Award for Song of the Year Songs written by Bruce Johnston David Cassidy songs Songs about music Song recordings produced by Ron Dante Metasongs 1975 songs Arista Records singles Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Canadaadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from October 2010 Articles with unsourced statements from March 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia 日本 語 Norsk nynorsk Edit links This page was last edited on 3 August 2018, at 06 : 34 ( UTC ). 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Question: who wrote i write the songs david cassidy
Answer: Bruce Johnston