The pop duo phenomenon that spawned such acts as
Simon & Garfunkel,
Brewer & Shipley, and
Seals & Crofts was predated by the duo formed by songwriters, guitarists, and vocalists
Benny Gallagher and
Graham Lyle. Initially attracting attention as songwriters of Dean Ford & the Gaylords' single "Mr. Heartbreak's Here Instead,"
Gallagher and
Lyle went on to record as a duo and as members of
McGuinness Flint and
Ronnie Lane's group
Slim Chance.
Gallagher and
Lyle continued to balance their performances and recordings as staff songwriters for
the Beatles' Apple label, writing "Sparrow" and "International" for
Mary Hopkin. The title track of their sixth duo album, Breakaway, was later covered by
Art Garfunkel.
Gallagher and
Lyle first played together in Largs, a small town near Glasgow in Ayrshire, Scotland. Relocating to London in 1967, the duo became full-time writers at Apple. Three years later, they joined with
Tom McGuinness and
Hughie Flint to form
McGuinness Flint. Although
McGuinness Flint recorded two successful singles, "When I'm Dead and Gone" and "Malt and Barley Blues," the group disbanded in 1971. Recording their self-titled debut duo album for Capitol,
Gallagher & Lyle switched to the A&M label by their second effort. Their first release on A&M, however, was a reissue of their debut album.
In the spring of 1974,
Gallagher and
Lyle joined
Ronnie Lane's Slim Chance, remaining with the group until May 1974.
Gallagher and
Lyle balanced their work with the band with additional duo albums, How Come and The Last Cowboy. They continued to record on their own following the breakup of the group. Breakaway was released in 1975, Love on the Airwaves in 1977, and Showdown in 1978. Switching to the Phonogram label, they recorded their final album, Lonesome No More, in 1979. Following a tour to support the album,
Gallagher and
Lyle went their separate ways.
Lyle continued to write, in collaboration with
Terry Britten, reaching his peak with "What's Love Got to Do with It," covered by
Tina Turner, and "Just Good Friends," recorded by
Michael Jackson. ~ Craig Harris