THE MELODY MAKER
Lad from Largs who’s written songs for Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and now Cliff Richard’s comeback
IN a song-writing career spanning more than 50 years, he has written hits for superstars including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner and Wet Wet Wet.
But even after five decades of writing about broken hearts, lost love and the pain of parting, Graham Lyle admits his latest composition is his most poignant yet.
The Scot has just written the title track for Sir Cliff Richard’s comeback album, marking the singer’s defiant response to his ordeal of false abuse accusations.
The 74-year-old, best known as one half of Seventies folk rock duo Gallagher and Lyle, has spoken of his pride at being part of Sir Cliff’s much anticipated return.
Lyle, who co-wrote the title track on the veteran singer’s album Rise Up, said: ‘I put myself in Cliff’s shoes and tried to imagine the horrific time he has been through. I’m very proud to be part of his well-deserved comeback.’
Rise Up, Cliff Richard’s first new material in 14 years, was released last month and reached No 4 in the album chart. It represents an emotional triumph following a false allegation of historic child abuse and a high-profile police raid on his home in 2014.
In homage to Sir Cliff’s unbroken spirit, the chorus says: ‘They’re never gonna break me down, they’re never gonna take me down... I’m gonna rise up feeling stronger.’
Despite achieving huge success with schoolfriend Benny Gallagher – most notably on their 1976 album Breakaway – Lyle, who grew up in Largs, Ayrshire, made his fortune after the pair parted ways in 1980, writing tracks for a host of international stars.
He admits people are often shocked when they discover he was behind such huge hits. ‘I quite like flying under the radar and being able to live my life fairly anonymously – I actually never wanted to be a frontman, it was always about songwriting,’ he said.
‘When people find out who I have written music for they are usually pretty surprised as I’m a Scottish guy they don’t recognise.’
After forming a band with schoolmates in an attempt to emulate Chuck Berry, Elvis and Buddy Holly, Lyle made the bold decision to move to London – where he met ‘mentor’ Paul McCartney.
‘London was where anyone who was anyone in the music business was at that time,’ he said. ‘Benny and I were signed by the Beatles’ Apple Records in our twenties and paid £25 a week to write songs. It wasn’t a lot but it got us noticed.
‘Starting out as a songwriter, there were times when I didn’t have much confidence, but Paul McCartney was a huge support. I think he saw something in us and would spend time talking to us and mentoring us whenever we had doubts.’
After leaving their first band McGuinness Flint, Gallagher and Lyle was formed in 1972 and performed together until 1980, recording eight albums.
Lyle said: ‘Benny and I had a great run and a lot of fun together. We had been writing and playing together since school and both just wanted a change by 1980. Plus punk was coming in and our melodic stuff wasn’t as popular. It was just the right time to go our separate ways for a while.
‘When I was younger, I wrote about what I knew and my lyrics were quite personal. But after Gallagher and Lyle I realised that if I wanted to make some money, I would have to write for others – and I found I could write to order.
‘I would listen to each artist’s style and think about the sort of person they were and the music and lyrics would just flow. My big break away from Gallagher and Lyle was for Tina Turner. We first connected on What’s Love Got To Do With It – which we ended up winning a Grammy for – and after that, the phone didn’t stop ringing.
‘I was actually driving to my songwriting partner Terry Britten’s studio when I came up with the lyric ‘what’s love got to do with it’. I pulled over, wrote it on a scrap of paper and stuffed it in my pocket.
‘The funny thing is Tina wasn’t keen on the song at first. It was influenced by reggae and so far removed from the other stuff she had been doing.’
He added: ‘Tina is an incredible artist with this amazing energy. It’s no surprise she is such a star.
‘We worked together a number of times and when I was co-producing I Don’t Wanna Lose You for her, a funny thing happened. She didn’t like the harmony backing we had recorded for her – so she asked me to sing another version with her. Just the two of us.
‘Her voice is so powerful and mine is more fragile, so we had to have me at the mic and her right at the back of the room to make it work. You have to listen closely to hear me on the track.’
Lyle was drafted in to provide the final track, Just Good Friends, on Michael Jackson’s Bad album in 1987. He said: ‘We wrote the song really quickly but it turned out well. It became a duet with Michael and Stevie Wonder, which was pretty cool.
‘The lyrics were about two guys singing about a girl but we never expected it to be taken on by two such huge stars.’
Grandfather-of-four Lyle is now ‘attempting’ to scale back his workload – and has promised Pat, his wife of 52 years, that he will work only three days a week.
He said: ‘Pat and I met as teenagers in Largs and she has been my rock throughout my career. I am so lucky she has stuck with me and we are still very much in love. She is my inspiration. If we’ve had an argument, I can’t write.
‘Now I’m in my seventies, she is keen that I work less and we spend more time enjoying life. I’m not sure I could ever stop writing altogether but I’ve made a deal with her that I’ll work three days a week – and I’m attempting to keep to it.
‘It’s not easy being married to a musician and I was on the road a lot, leaving her to do the lion’s share of the childcare for our three kids – but we came through it.
‘Sometimes she does tease me and say she can see the notes flying around the room when we are lying in bed at night. She always knows when I am thinking up new music.’
But Pat was delighted when he got the call that Cliff Richard was on the lookout for a comeback hit.
Lyle said: ‘We both really wanted to see Cliff back where he should be after everything that happened.
‘Terry came up with the melody and I wrote the lyrics. I wanted the words to reflect what he’s been through but also show that he won’t let it beat him.
‘Cliff has said he felt it summed up exactly how he felt and feels and that was really amazing for me.’
Speaking ahead of the album’s release, Sir Cliff said: ‘I chose Rise Up as the title track because after the bad period I went through in my life, I’ve managed to rise up out of what seemed like a quagmire.
‘It is always great to sing lyrics you can feel – and I really felt those words.’
With yet another hit under his belt, some might wonder if Lyle is planning to go out on a high... but he is still open to offers.
He said: ‘I used to work flat out but now I do it more for the love of it. I don’t go looking for work but if someone comes to me with a request or a suggestion, and it piques my interest, I’ll go with it.’