The Paul Squires Series. September 1981

In my opinion this series produced some of Wall Street Crash's best work. Royston Mayoh loved the group and understood its aims so the end product here is a testimony to that belief. Razzle Dazzle is a masterpiece and the treatment is quite different to that usually seen in the Kander and Ebb musical from which it came. (KS)

Down In Hollywood

A version of the Ry Cooder song off his album Bop Till You Drop. There were complaints from viewers apparently. This was to far too saucy for their children who were watching an early evening comedy. Oops

Life On Mars

A treatment of David Bowie's classic song featuring James Graeme and Peter Olsen on lead vocals

Soul Medley

You Keep Me Hanging On, Papa's got a Brand New Bag and Respect originally recorded by the Supremes, James Brown and Aretha Franklin respectively

Swing Swing Swing

The Swing Medley which was the closing number of the live act. Poor Colin never seems to get the swing of it. (And in the intro of this version the swing metaphor is taken to its comic extreme)

Razzle Dazzle

Another of my favourites and again never performed live. It was recorded as part of the Paul Squires TV Series for ATV in 1981 and again recorded at Elstree. The director was Royston Mayoh and the production designer, Richard Plumb. This song is from the show Chicago but was recorded long before the West End hit and movie. 

Try A Little Harder

A song chosen by Peter from a favourite album of his. This was another song recorded for the Paul Squire show and directed by Royston Mayoh. It was Royston's idea to set it in a recording studio. It's the only time Keith Strachan the MD ever appeared in shot on a video

Carousel

The Jacque Brel song. It's notable for starting as a very slow waltz and gradually speeds up to a frenetic space. Love it. Another one from the Paul Squire show with Royston Mayoh in the director's chair.

Alexander's Ragtime Band

A medley based on Irving Berlin's 1911 classic with the inclusion of other songs about instruments in the band. This was put together for the group's first Royal Command performance in 1980 which you'll also find on this website but this is the version from the Paul Squires show in 1981

A Salty Dog

The group's version of the Procol Harum song written by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid. The ship, designed for the shoot by Richard Plumb using only the group themselves plus a few props, is particularly impressive.

Political Science

This is a Randy Newman song from his album Sail Away

Rock and Roll Medley

What it says on the tin.  An old favourite from the early days of the group.