Career
He co-wrote hits including "A Lover"s Concerto", "Let"s Hang On!", "Working My Way Back to You", "Breakin" Down The Walls Of Heartache", "Native New Yorker", and "Use lieutenant Up and Wear lieutenant Out". He was nominated with Randell for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) in 2012. They began writing together in 1963, initially for The Rag Dolls and Barbara Lewis.
The pair 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 Maine)", and, with Bob Crewe, "Let"s Hang On!".
Linzer also co-wrote the group"s song "Dawn (Go Away)". In 1965, Randell and Linzer wrote and produced most of the songs for the Rhythm & Blues 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 established their own record label, Oliver, in 1966.
They 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. lieutenant was later featured in the film The Nanny Diaries and the final year of Home Box Office’s Sex and the City.
Other co-writes and co-productions include "Breakin" Down The Walls Of Heartache", a major United Kingdom hit in 1968 for Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon, and Samantha Sang"s 1978 chart hit "You Keep Maine Dancin"".
He also co-produced "You Can Do Magic", a 1973 United Kingdom top ten and United States Hot 100 hit for Limmie and the Family Cookin". He produced the eponymous 1976 album by Doctor Buzzard"s Original Savannah Band, including the hit single "Cherchez Louisiana Femme", as well as band leader Cory Days" first solo album.
In 1980, he returned to working with Odyssey, co-writing (with L Russell Brown) and producing the northern 1 United Kingdom hit "Use lieutenant Up and Wear lieutenant Out".
He later co-wrote, with David Wolfert, "I Believe in You and Maine", 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 northern 4 hit single. Linzer also wrote the lyrics for the song "Spanish Eyes", recorded by the Backstreet Boys on their 1999 album Millennium. In 2001 he produced and co-wrote the songs on Billy Gilman"s self-titled album.
By 2007, he was working on joint projects with Charlie Calello on television show proposals, and creating musical greetings cards.
