"Break Away" (also known as "Breakaway") is a song written by Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle and first recorded by Art Garfunkel for his 1975 album Breakaway. Gallagher and Lyle released their own version on their 1976 album, also titled Breakaway.
"Break Away", with backing vocals by David Crosby and Graham Nash, was the third single release from Garfunkel's album. The song peaked at No.39 on the Billboard Hot 100 and, in February 1976, went to No.1 on the Easy Listening chart for one week.
On the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart, "Break Away" reached No.2. It was blocked from reaching the No.1 position by former Simon & Garfunkel bandmate Paul Simon's song, "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover".
Gallagher and Lyle, the writers of the song, released their version of "Breakaway" in late 1976, the title track of their Breakaway LP. It charted in the British Isles, reaching No.35 in the UK and No.7 in Ireland.
Charts
Weekly charts Art Garfunkel Chart (1975–1976) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - 39 U.S. Billboard Easy Listening1 U.S. Cashbox Top 100 38 Canada RPM Top Singles28 Canada RPM Adult Contemporary2 Gallagher & Lyle Chart (1976)Peak positionUK Singles Chart 35 Chart (1983)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (1976)RankCanada RPM Top Singles191U.S. Billboard Hot 100 218U.S. Billboard Adult ContemporaryTop 50 Adult Contemporary Hits of 197638
See also List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1976 (U.S.)
References
External links