Gallagher & Lyle: joined forces in 1959, initially as members of the local Largs based band, The Bluefrets. They began writing original material for the band and Benny also wrote "Mr Heartbreak's Here Instead" with Bluefrets singer Drew Galt for Dean Ford and the Gaylords (a.k.a. Marmalade). Their first recognition came in 1968, when they were signed by The Beatles to write for Apple Records' biggest solo recording Artist Mary Hopkin ("Sparrow", "The Fields of St. Etienne", "International", "Heritage", and "Jefferson").

There released a rare one-off single issued on UK Polydor 56093 in 1967; "Trees" b/w "In The Crowd" issued under the name Gallagher-Lyle, which preceded their success as songwriters at Apple.

By 1970, they had become founder members of the newly formed McGuinness Flint, and penned the Band's hit singles "When I'm Dead and Gone" and "Malt and Barley Blues", both produced by legendary UK Record Producer and and Sound Engineer Glyn Johns.