Gallagher & 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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