Scottish musicians Benny Gallagher (vocals/guitar) and Graham Lyle (vocals/guitar) began a songwriting career with 'Mr. Heartbreak's Here Instead', a 1964 single for Dean Ford And The Gaylords. The duo later moved to London where they joined the Apple label as in-house composers. One of their songs, 'International', was recorded by Mary Hopkin.
By 1970, they had joined McGuinness Flint, and penned the folkish UK Top 10 hits "When I'm Dead And Gone" and "Malt And Barley Blues". They went solo as Gallagher and Lyle in 1972, but not until their fifth album Breakaway in 1976 did they chart again with the hits "Heart On My Sleeve", and "I Wanna Stay With You", both of which reached Number 6 in the UK singles chart. Art Garfunkel's cover of the title track "Breakaway" was also a hit at the time, and the duo penned and performed "A Heart In New York", later popularly covered by Simon and Garfunkel on The Concert in Central Park.
Gallagher and Lyle parted in 1979 in order to pursue different projects. Graham Lyle later found a new partner, Terry Britten, with whom he composed 'What's Love Got To Do With It' and 'Just Good Friends' which were recorded, respectively, by Tina Turner and Michael Jackson.
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