Reviews
A SUPERB SHOW FROM A LEGEND OF SONGWRITING:
"Gallagher’s set was like a who’s who of the music industry."
NAMEDROPPING usually goes down like a lead balloon unless your name is Benny Gallagher, one half of the legendary Scottish duo Gallagher and Lyle. You could have heard a pin drop in the packed Woodend Barn as Benny regaled stories from his early life, from working alongside Billy Connolly in the Clydeside shipyards to when the duo were signed by The Beatles to write for Apple. Benny and Graham were one of the most successful song-writing partnerships of the 70s with their songs recorded by Don Williams and Simon and Garfunkel. His one-man versions of Stay Young, Heart on My Sleeve, I Wanna Stay With You and Breakway proved that his well-written songs will always stand the test of time, and it was a real privilege to see him perform. "
PAULINE ALEXANDER - Aberdeen Evening News
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL: THE CONCERT IN CENTRAL PARK:
"Garfunkel's animated sweetness in the duet "Old Friends" breathes consolation into an atmosphere of morbidity. And his soaring renditions of "Bridge over Troubled Water" and Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle's "A Heart in New York" ring with hope. If The Concert in Central Park is Paul Simon's valentine to the Big Apple, it's Art Garfunkel's voice that really tugs at the heartstrings and sends the message home". "
STEPHEN HOLDEN - Rolling Stone
ERIC CLAPTON: SOUNDS MAGAZINE INTERVIEW OCTOBER 1976
"It's the motivation that's important. There's a lot of people I see who make records and won't exploit themselves onstage. There was a group I wanted to take on our British tour but they refused to do it. And I think that was because they didn't want the exposure," Eric says with admiration. "They were songwriters and they didn't want to get boosted to the point where they didn't have the time to write songs anymore. They just wanted to stay where they were." The group turns out to be Gallagher and Lyle, two songwriters from whom Clapton has the utmost respect. Like the 'Breakaway' duo, Eric Clapton wears his heart on his sleeve. Wait till you hear 'You Look Wonderful Tonight'. The song is so good EC will give Gallagher & Lyle some heavy competition. "
BARBARA CHARONE - Sounds Magazine
ART GARFUNKEL - SCISSORS CUT:
"'Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle's acoustically based "A Heart in New York" not only recaptures the translucent texture of such Simon and Garfunkel classics as "America" but spices up the duo's signature sound with a hot pinch of R&B saxophone.'"
STEPHEN HOLDEN 1990 - Rolling Stone
BENNY GALLAGHER - AT THE EDGE OF THE WAVE *** Onsong Records
"The first solo album from one half of the great Gallagher & Lyle is well worth the wait after 40 years. Dream On is about Ronnie Lane while Two To The Moon and Worksong (inspired by a night of reminiscing with Billy Connolly) are about his time in the Clydesdale shipyards. The CD is only available from www.myspace.com/onsongrecords."
RICK FULTON - Daily Record
GALLAGHER & LYLE: THE RIVER SESSIONS ***** River Records:
"An immaculate, evocative treat from the archives, composed of a quality Radio Clyde session from late 1974. The pair deliver 14 tracks of pastoral folk pop, rootsier hoedowns and melodic acoustic melancholy, plus one previously unavailable song, First Leaves Of Autumn. "
FIONA SHEPHERD - The Scotsman Newspaper
"The best gigs in town this weekend include one half of Gallagher and Lyle, Benny Gallagher, performing at the ABC - Glasgow"
FIONA LEITH - The Scotsman
