A HISTORY OF VIDEO PERFORMANCES FROM 1980-2005 MORE OR LESS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
The videos can be played 'full screen' by clicking bottom right hand corner of player. 
[TV Series and Specials are accessed with 'click to view' buttons or can be accessed via Specials menu]
Please note: Whilst every effort has been made to enhance the qualty of these videos they were mostly copied from original VHS recordings so quality is somewhat uneven.

1980

The Genesis. January

The idea of Wall Street Crash came to life during recordings of Jack Good's Oh Boy show in 1980 - a re-vamp of the hit show of 1959. The MD was Keith Strachan and having seen Manhattan Transfer had the idea of putting together a harmony vocal group with choreography. Keith approached eight people from the cast of doo-wop style Kats & Kittens. Coincidentally some of the guys had been thinking about forming a group themselves. Here are two videos from early 1980 when the idea had already germinated.

Blueberry Hill

This features the five original boys in Wall Street Crash. Ricky Piper on lead and left to right Colin Copperfield, Shaun Harris, James Graeme and Paul Felber. It even features Keith Strachan on piano. (He in the green drape and slicked back hair)

Rock A Beatin' Boogie

This features the original three girls in the group, Mary Dunne, Jean Rich and Sharron Skelton. (That's Billy Hartman doing the intro)

Country Cousins Club. March

The eight piece group and ten piece band were put together and rehearsed as though for a theatre show - for a one week engagement at the Country Cousin Club in Parson's Green. The great and good were invited to this event in the vain hope that an agent would offer representation to such a large scale outfit. It seems hugely optimistic with hindsight. Youth does not contemplate failure and knows no fear!

Saturday Night At The Mill. May

Following the successful launch at Country Cousin the group were looking for an agent. Following a few personnel changes Gerry Maxin from Gordon Mills Management came to see the them at an especially arranged gig at the Heathrow Hotel and offered to manage the group. "We're looking for an agent not a manager" said Keith Strachan the MD. "If I can get you on television by the weekend can I manage you?" "A deal!" came the reply. Five days later, the group appeared on Saturday Night At The Mill so Gerry became the manager for the golden years of their career. Without Gerry the group would never have acheived the success they did. Having been personal manager to Tom Jones and Gilbert O'Sullivan Gerry knew everybody in the entertainment business at that time. This was the first performance of Wall Street Crash on television. It was the only appearance of Val Mitchell (the blonde one) but also the first performance of Cori Josias as well as Peter Olsen (who went on to be with the group for the next six years).   

I've Got A Girl In Kalamazoo

This  Mack Gordon and Harry Warren tune was originally seen on screen in 1942 in the film Orchestra Wives. It was performed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra with the Modernaires. The lead singer on this version is James Graeme (ever recognised as the smooth voice with the trilby)

Interview

This is an interview with Paul Felber the bass singer in the group. The moisture on his upper lip is caused not by his energetic perrformance as he would  have you believe but by blind fear. 

Steam Heat

A song from the musical Pyjama Game but this version was inspired by the Pointers Sisters. This and Kalamazoo remained in the live act for two or three years. 

On The Town BBC2

The late night show presented by 'the thinking man's crumpet' Joan Bakewell.

Try A Little Harder

Val Mitchell has left the group and is replaced by Siobhan McCarthy who joined direct from the original cast of Evita

Life On Mars

This time the David Bowie classic featuring Jim and Peter

The Michael Parkinson Show

The group's first performance on the Michael Parkinson Show in Autumn 1980 did a huge amount to cement the growing reputation of Wall Street Crash. The Parkinson Show was extremely influential during this period in the 1980s.

I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo

The song made famous by the Glenn Miller Band

Interview

Interview with Michael Parkinson including Barbershop Quartet

All That Jazz

The Parkinson Show continues with Mary performance of the song from Kander and Ebb's Chicago

Life On Mars

The Parkinson Show closes with David Bowie's Life On Mars

The Royal Command Performance. 17 November

This was a huge break for the group. Gerry Maxin had managed to get James Green who booked the Royal Variety that year to come and see the group support Shirley Bassey at the Apollo, Victoria and he was suitably impressed. The Performance was at the Londom Palladium that year and the producer was Norman Maen who really pushed the grouo to come up with something big and stylish. After much to-ing and fro-ing Keith came up with a medley of songs about instruments under the umbrella of Alexander's Ragtime Band  by Irving Berlin. That year featured artists including Aretha Franklin, Victor Borge, sammy Davis Junior, Peggy Lee, Danny Kaye and a walk on from James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. For more info click here.

Alexander's Ragtime Band

The version by the Boswell Sisters was the inspiration of the arrangement and the medley included  Beat Me Daddy Eight To The Bar and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy  by  the Andrews Sisters, The Lullaby Of Broadway from the Busby Berkeley  film) I Play Trombone Chicago Style performed by Bing Crosby & Bob Hope in the Road to Bali and Slap That Bass by George Gershwin. The piece became a staple ingredient of the live act thereafter.

1981

BBC 2 Special

(May have been recorded in late 1980) Ernest Maxin the BBC producer famous for directing and choreographing great Morecambe and Wise moments like There Ain't Nothing Like A Dame and the Kitchen Stripper routine asked the group to do a a 30 minute special on BBC2. Ernest had seen the group at the Country Cousin Club a year earlier and had even introduced the group to their manager Gerry Maxin, yes, Ernest's brother.

The Generation Game

Not the artistic high point of the Wall Street Crash's artistic endeavours but fun nevertheless to have appeared on such an iconic game show 

Steam Heat

The group's performance

Steam Heat

The contestants performance

Wrap up

Cori & Peter help Larry Grayson to score the contestants

Try A Little Harder

A second visit to Saturday Night at the Mill

Alexander's Ragtime Band

A second visit to Saturday Night at the Mill. 
Following the Royal Command appearance this was the piece they performed on TV again and again...

Alexander's Ragtime Band

... and again! This time on Seaside Special presented by Roy Walker

Kalamazoo & Steam Heat

This was on the brand new format entertainment show STARBURST. An ATV Show recorded at Elstree Studios

The Sunny Side of The Street

The second invitation to appear on the Michael Parkinson Show. Good song choice and it was the only time it was ever performed. Maybe it was the costumes? Whatever possessed us to wear those 40's frocks?

Twisted

The Marti Caine Show. This unusual song was written by Annie Ross of the jazz scat combo Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. It's a lyricalised sax solo - a style that came to be known as vocalese. Check it out. This is an acapella version arranged by Keith and features Cori Josias on lead vocals. Sadly this is the last television appearance of Cori - she left soon after. She did a great job never more than on this song.

I Got A Gal In Kalamazoo

For the group's first appearance on the Val Doonican Show they sing the Mack Gordon & Harry Warren classic that has been in the act since day one. This appearance is notable for the fact that it signalled the return of Jean Rich to the group. Jean had been one of the founder members.

Swing Swing Swing

This medley was put together about the time that it was decided that Colin should become the clown of the group. Colin made the group laugh the entire time so it seemed appropriate that he should make the audience laugh too. So this medley demonstrates everyone else's ability to 'swing' and Colin's futile attempts. Paul is his patient tutor and as in every fairy tale Colin comes good in the end. The medley includes Duke Ellington's It Don't Mean A Thing If It Don't Have That Swing, Sweet Georgia Brown, Ain't She Sweet, It's All Right With Me, Gershwin's I Got Rhythm, I Can Do That (Chorus Line), I Could Have Danced All Night (My Fair Lady), Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Money (Cabaret) and, in the long version, Ain't Necessarily So (Porgy & Bess) - and all strung together by Swing, Swing, Swing written by our very own Peter Olsen. This recording (the rarely performed full length version) was directed by Peter Harris and is the first time the medley was performed on television. It became the 'closer' of the live act thereafter.

The Berlin Special

This was recorded sometime in 1981. It came about as a result of an appearance at London's Talk Of The Town. The German TV Company asked that Alyn Ainsworth be the Musical Director so Keith took a back seat on this one. Alyn was one of the great maestros at that time and was always a supporter of the group so it was an honour to have his input.

The Paul Squires Series. September

In 1981 ATV were launching a new comic Paul Squires with his own series. Wall Street Crash were invited to appear as a guest on each program and with the help of director Royston Mayoh and Production Designer Richard Plumb they recorded some of their best visual recordings.   

1982

Susie's Bar

This song was Colin's composition. Keith extended it and arranged it but it was Colin's tune and lyrics. It became one of the regular songs in the live act thereafter. 
There is an acknowledgement of the group's rivals The Stutz Bear Cats in Colin's lyric - the group named after a famous period American sports car the Stutz Bearcat.

Swing Swing Swing

This is the album version performed here on German TV

The Mountains Of Mourne

On of the handful of acapella songs recorded by the group. The Irish traditional song featuring here Jean and Jim.

Susie's Bar

This time on German TV

Steam Heat

The last time it was performed on TV. Featuring Jean with her short hair!

Life On Mars

This is another appearance appearance on the Russel Harty Show to promote the first album. (The arrangement differs from the live version) 

Swing Swing Swing

The album version performed on the Val Doonican Show

Susie's Bar

In the red black and white costumes

Susie's Bar

In the blue costumes

The Train Medley

This medley of Train songs was never performed live and only recorded once on video. The occasion was at ATV's Elstree Studios for Entertainment Express in 1982. With hindsight it seems a shame it wasn't ever incorporated into the live act.

It's Gonna Get Hot Tonight

This was written by Keith for a jungle sequence on a show recorded at ATV Elstree. entertainment Express perhaps?

Light The Candles Round The World

Performed with Val Doonican especially at his request. (Not a song in the group's repertoire)

Wall Street Crash 

Original song written by Keith Strachan, with lyrics by Paul Cole, for the BBC2 Special. This is the second and only other time the song was recorded

I'm So Glad I'm Standing Here Today

This was discovered on a Joe Cocker album. A great song and perfect for Jean's  voice.

He's Out Of My Life /
You've Lost That loving Feeling

A medley of two songs, the first, sung by Siobhan, from the the Michael Jackson Off The Wall album and the second, the Righteous Brothers classic lead here by Peter.

Quintet from West Side Story

This was recorded at the Royal Variety Performance in the presence of the Queen Mother, Prince Charles and Princess Di.  For more info click here.

Swing Swing Swing

S&M

A Dean Friedman song suggested by Colin given a cheeky delivery here by Colin & Mary on a Dutch TV show?

Carousel

A performance of Jacques Brel's Carousel on the same Dutch TV show? 

The Morecambe & Wise show

Wall Street Crash had the honour of being invited to perform on the 1982 Morecambe & Wise Christmas show. The chosen song was Alexander's Ragtime Band. (Excuse the quality during the first few seconds)

1983

It is now 1983 and Siobhan McCarthy has left the group to re-join the musical Evita - this time in the lead role. Wall Street Crash continue as a six piece with Paul, Colin, Jim, Peter, Mary & Jean. 

Saved

The Leiber and Stoller gospel song performed here at Sunday Night at Her Majesty's and presented by Jimmy Tarbuck

Madison Square

This song was written by group member Peter Olsen (real name Osborn). Keith Strachan had a hand in the musical structure and arrangement but it was Peter's song and a terrific one at that. The song remained in the live act for some time. Performed here at Sunday Night at Her Majesty's (the additional string arrangement courtesy of the formidable talent Alyn Ainsworth)

Quintet from West Side Story

A studio version. This time without Siobhan

Madison Square

Starburst TV Show

A Salty Dog

Again on Starburst. 

You Don't Have To Say You Love Me

The group recorded this original 1960s Italian song by Pino Donaggio  for a TV series that was filmed for Canale 5 in Milano 2. The song of course was later a huge hit for Dusty Springfield in 1966. The song did well for Wall Street Crash too and charted in Italy in 1983. Jean Rich sang lead and as a result she left the group to pursue a solo career in Italy. This recording was at the amphitheatre in Verona. 

I Heard

Val Doonican was a fan of close harmony and he suggested that he and the group try this 1932 Mills Brothers hit on his 1983 Christmas show. By now Jean had left and was replaced by Maria Morgan

Catch A Falling Star

A terrific acapella arrangement by Jim Graeme for the second album of song originally recorded by Perry Como in 1957

Catch A Falling Star

This was recorded for Entertainment Express TV show presented by Mike Reid

Mack The Knife

Mack The Knife. The song from Bertholt Brecht and Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera but made famous by Bobby Darin. As I recall this was the only occasion the group performed the song. 

La Banda

Wall Street Crash became firm favourites in Italy following the success of You Don't Have To Say You Love Me. This is a segment from a Canale 5 Spectacular recorded in the Milan satellite town Milano Due. It's the group's recording of an Italian song that's playing and they appear briefly. Camp or what?

1984

The 1st Dutch Special

This was filmed in Hilversum and was to promote the new European Affair album. The show featured new songs written bay James, Peter and Colin.

The 2nd Dutch Special

So successful was the first TV Special filmed in Hilversum near Amsterdam  that the group were invited back later that year to record another

Taking It To The Streets

The Doobie Brothers song this time on the Val Doonican show.
Maria Morgan has left the group and is replaced by Sheen Doran

Strut

A new song for the group written by Charlie Dore and Julian Littman. The song went on to be a hit for Sheena Easton.

It's shortly after this recording that Keith Strachan leaves the group. James takes over the reins as musical director.

Berlin Special

A short TV Special recorded during Sheen's period in the group

Gone At Last

The Paul Simon gospel song. By now Sheen Doran has left to be replaced by Karen Page 

In Amerika

A new song by Jim & Pete.  

1985

Baden Baden Special

Filmed in Baden Baden in southern Germany. The group arrive in splendour on a light aircraft. Schlippi the  original benefactor of the group and Gerry Maxin the manager appear in cameo roles.

In Amerika

1986

What You Do To Me

A spot on the Des O'Connor Show

1987

THE CRASH! It is now 1987 and the group has its biggest change thus far. Of the six members of the group, three:  Peter Olsen, James Graeme and Karen Page leave to be replaced by Stephen Sparling, Stephen Pert and Lois McLeod. 

Susie's Bar

 This recording of Susie's Bar is not of the highest quality (and the beginning is missing) but it's one of the few videos with this line-up

Musicman

One of a new set of songs.

Two Hearts

Lois sings the new single wriiten by Stephen Pert

1988

Knokke

A television special recorded at the Knokke Casino, Belgium, the first special to feature Lois McLeod, Stephen Pert and Stephen Starling

1989

No Strings Attached

A television special recorded in Hilversum to promote the album of the same name. 

1990

Open All Night

Stephen Sparling and Lois McLeod have left. Dawn Knight has joined and the group are now a five piece.

1991

The Tour De Force

Recorded in Cuijk on the 16 November 1991 by a fan Erik Braat

Do Wop Cafe

Another one from 1990 with the new line up

1992

Be There Tour

A documentary of a tour of Holland filmed by Erik Braat.
Dawn Knight has now left to be replaced by Mandy Franklin

Apeldoorn

A filmed concert from Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. Also shot by Erik Braat.

2005

The Manhattan Big Band plus Guests

YES! 2005! Twenty five years since they began and thirteen years after the last recorded concert at Apeldorn the group were asked to perform as special guests on a televised Concert with the Manhattan Big Band in the The New Luxor Theater in Rotterdam. Didn't they do well? And they haven't aged a bit!

Imitation is Flattery

Rhapsody in Rock. This is a clip found on YouTube recorded in 2005, over twenty years after Swing Swing Swing was recorded at Dave Mackay's studio in Woldingham. Not the Wallies but it's worth watching.