Gallagher and Lyle
I wear my heart on my sleeve
I'm not afraid
Say what I mean
Mean what I say
Benny Gallagher
and Graham Lyle both born in Largs, Scotland and both accomplished
on the accordian, banjo, mandolin and guitar first kicked
off their songwriting career in 1964 with “Mr Heartbreak’s
here instead” for Dean Ford and the Gaylords. Finding
it hard to build on their success they decided to move to
London in 1967.A decision they weren’t to regret.
There
they managed to hook up with Terry Doran and joined The Beatles’
Apple stable of writers. It was here they really learnt their
trade as songwriters having their songs covered by artists
such as Mary Hopkins. With their contract coming to an end
they took the decision to start playing again and in 1970
joined Tom McGuinness and Hughie Flint, and with them wrote
two hit singles “When I’m dead and gone”
and “Malt and barley blues.”
It was
at this point, it appears, they came under pressure from the
record company to pour out the singles, but not wanting to
compromise their music they all decided to split.
They made
four more albums as a duo whilst working the club circuits
first for Capitol records and then moving in with A &
M but it was in 1976 when they finally made it as a duo and
were finally recognized by the public for the quality artists
they were.
“Breakaway”
was released and produced four hits over 1976 and 1977.
I wanna
stay with you - Released 28th February 1976 reached No 6
Heart on my sleeve - Released 22nd May 1976 reached No 6
Breakaway - Released 11th September 1976 reached No 35
Every little teardop - Released 29th January 1977 reached
No 32
Who knows why but somehow they couldn’t sustain their
success and after three more albums they parted company. Graham
Lyle did have a little more success going on to form a partnership
with Terry Britten writing “What’s love got to
do with it “ a hit for Tina Turner.
Now some
records stay played on the radio and for some inexplicable
reason some seem to slip through the net. Now this duo did
two of the most memorable songs of the 70s and for
the life of me I can’t understand why I never hear them
played nowadays. Someone should start ringing the request
lines until they get them played again.
A great
song-writing duo who produced great songs that I will never
ever let slip through my net.
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