{{about|the song|the album|Bend Me, Shape Me (album)}} {{Infobox song | name = Bend Me, Shape Me | image = Bend me shape me the American Breed US single side-A (copy 1).png | alt = | caption = One of side-A labels of US single | type = single | artist = The American Breed | album = Bend Me, Shape Me | B-side = Mindrocker | released = December 1967 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = Bubblegum pop<ref name="Stanley 2022">{{cite book|first= Bob |last= Stanley |year= 2022 |title= Let's Do It - The Birth of Pop Music: A History|chapter= The Summit: Frank, Dean and Sammy|publisher= Pegasus Books|location= New York|page= 516}}</ref><ref name="Doggett 2015">{{cite book|title= Electric Shock: From the Gramophone to the iPhone - 125 Years of Pop Music|first=Peter|last=Doggett|date= 1 January 2015|chapter= The Devil's Interval|page= 427|publisher=The Bodley Head|location= London|isbn=978-1-847-92218-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=guSsCAAAQBAJ|access-date= 22 February 2025}}</ref> | length = {{Duration|m=2|s=05}} (single version)<br>{{Duration|m=2|s=25}} (album version) | label = Acta Records 811 | writer = Scott English, Larry Weiss | producer = Bill Traut | prev_title = Don't Forget About Me | prev_year = 1967 | next_title = Green Light | next_year = 1968 }}

"'''Bend Me, Shape Me'''" is a song written by Scott English and Larry Weiss. 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,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sa_charts_1969_1989_songs_(A-B).html|title=South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1965 - 1989 Songs (A-B)|first=Brian|last=Currin|website=Rock.co.za|accessdate=18 April 2018}}</ref> and No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicvf.com/song.php?id=41018 |title=Bend Me, Shape Me (song by The American Breed) • Music VF, US & UK hits charts |website=Musicvf.com |accessdate=2016-01-18}}</ref>

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", which Barry Manilow 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-4QHw_qkGY |website=YouTube |access-date=23 September 2023|title="Bend me, Shape me", The American Breed|date=24 April 2007 }}</ref>

==Chart history== {{col-begin|width=54.5%}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1967–1968) !Peak<br />position |- |Australia (''Go-Set'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1968/19680327.html|title=Go-Set National Top 40, March 27, 1968}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|33 |- {{singlechart|Austria|11|artist=The American Breed |song=Bend Me, Shape Me }} |- {{singlechart|Flanders|12|artist=The American Breed |song=Bend Me, Shape Me }} |- {{singlechart|Wallonia|16|artist=The American Breed |song=Bend Me, Shape Me }} |- |{{singlechart|Canadatopsingles|7|artist=The American Breed|chartid=100169}} |- {{singlechart|Dutch100|8|artist=The American Breed |song=Bend Me, Shape Me }} |- |New Zealand (''Listener'')<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search+listener&qartistid=669#n_view_location|title=flavour of new zealand - search listener|website=www.flavourofnz.co.nz}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |South Africa (Springbok)<ref>{{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(D).html|accessdate=7 May 2020}}</ref> |align="center"|3 |- |UK Singles (OCC)<ref name="auto"/> | style="text-align:center;"|24 |- |U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|5 |- |U.S. ''Cash Box'' Top 100<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19680203.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 3, 1968|access-date=May 6, 2020|archive-date=December 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221214540/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19680203.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |align="center"|3 |- {{singlechart|West Germany|9|artist=The American Breed |song=Bend Me, Shape Me |songid=23139 }} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (1968) ! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |- |Canada <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5867&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada|work=collectionscanada.gc.ca}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|48 |- |U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1968.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1968/Top 100 Songs of 1968 &#124; Music Outfitters|website=www.musicoutfitters.com}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|98 |- |U.S. ''Cash Box'' <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1968YESP.html|title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1968|website=tropicalglen.com}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|25 |- |} {{col-end}}

==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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rz6w66_dxg|title=Bend Me Shape Me|date=21 July 2018 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/bend-me-shape-me/|title=bend me shape me &#124; full Official Chart History &#124; Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com}}</ref> It also reached number 9 on the New Zealand Listener charts.<ref>https://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=673#n_view_location Search Listener - Retrieved 28-10-2025</ref> There was also a hit disco single on Ariola/Hansa by Austrian singer Gilla in 1978,<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | pages= 21/2}}</ref> which she also performed in a medley with Boney M.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNGG90vebmo | title=Gilla and Boney M: Bend Me Shape Me | website=YouTube | date=29 October 2022 }}</ref>

==See also== * List of 1960s one-hit wonders in the United States

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{The American Breed}} {{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bend Me, Shape Me}} Category:1966 songs Category:1967 singles Category:Songs written by Scott English Category:Songs written by Larry Weiss Category:Deram Records singles Category:Amen Corner (band) songs Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand