Harvey and the Wallbangers
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980s |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Jazz vocal harmony music, albums |
Harvey and the Wallbangers were a British jazz vocal harmony ensemble active during the 1980s, performing at prestigious venues across the UK and Europe, including the Royal Albert Hall, Sadler's Wells, The Forum, Ronnie Scott's, and Berlin's Tempodrom. Their television appearances featured on well-known programs such as the Royal Variety Show, Wogan, Russell Harty, and Carrott's Lib.
The group independently released four albums under their own label, Hubbadots, and worked alongside Simon Rattle on The Jazz Album (EMI).
Band members
- Jeremy Taylor – Vocals, trombone, trumpet, percussion
- Harvey Brough – Vocals, saxophones, organ, cor anglais, percussion
- Christopher Purves – Vocals, trumpet, percussion
- Jonny Griffiths – Vocals, guitar, violin, phonofiddle, percussion, ukulele
- Neil "Reg" McArthur – Vocals, piano, guitar, harpsichord, melodica, percussion
- Richard Allen – Vocals, double bass, percussion
- Andrew Huggett – Drums
Early band members
- Paul Daniel – Vocals
- Russell Watson – Bass vocals
- Brian Shelley – Vocals
- Peter Stephens – Piano
- Chris Cox – Bass
Stage shows
Each year, the Wallbangers debuted fresh stage productions—primarily at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (with the exception of 1985)—under the direction of distinguished producers:
| Year | Show Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Hep Cats Go Ape | Jude Kelly (Royal National Theatre) |
| 1984 | Allez Bananes | Rod Natkiel |
| 1985 | Like Men Possessed | James Runcie (Grantchester) |
| 1986 | Park the Tiger | David Gilmore (Daisy Pulls It Off) |
Radio Series
The Wallbangers made their BBC Radio 2 debut on 26 June 1985 with a series of six 15-minute programs airing Wednesday evenings that combined music & mirth. This series was produced by Paul Mayhew-Archer and penned by James Hendrie. It was rebroadcast in April of the subsequent year.
In 1987, they presented their own half-hour show on Tuesday nights on BBC Radio 2. Once again produced by Mayhew-Archer and Hendrie, this six-episode run featured notable guests including Jeremy Hardy, Paul Merton, and Roger McGough.
| Episode No. | Air Date | Guest Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 January 1987 | Jeremy Hardy, Roger McGough, Pete McCarthy |
| 2 | 27 January 1987 | Paul Merton, John Irwin |
| 3 | 3 February 1987 | John Dowie, Nick Revell |
| 4 | 10 February 1987 | Jeremy Hardy, Roger McGough, Pete McCarthy |
| 5 | 17 February 1987 | Norman Lovett, John Dowie |
| 6 | 24 February 1987 | Paul Merton, John Irwin |
In addition to this, in 1986 the band contributed music to a BBC Radio 3 production of Dario Fo's Archangels.
Dissolution
After Jonny Griffiths left the group, the band decided to disband following a concluding tour. They had collaborated with Simon Rattle and the London Sinfonietta, appearing on Rattle's Jazz Album.
Their final concert occurred on Sunday 3 May 1987. Originally scheduled at the sold-out Duke of York's Theatre, it was relocated to the larger venue of London's Sadler's Wells Theatre for their closing performance.
Stephen Grater, who had managed the band for four years, passed away from a brain tumor just days before this last show. According to Purves, this tragedy partly influenced their choice to end the group.
Discography
| Album Cover | Album Title | Album Information | Tracklist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allez Bananes |
|
(1) Five Guy's Named Moe, (2) Who Do You Know in Heaven, (3) My Baby's Gone, (4) Jailhouse Rock, (5) Shine, (6) Your Feet's Too Big, (7) I'll Be Forever Loving You, (8) Boogie Nights, (9) Sweet Talkin' Guy, (10) Sixteen Tons, (11) Traffic Jam, (12) Nutrocker, (13) Right Next Door to An Angel, (14) Sh Boom, (15) Blue Skies. | |
| Wallbangers A – GoGo |
|
(1) Make Your Mind Up, (2) Lets Make It Today, (3) Sea Cruise, (4) Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens, (5) Breakaway, (6) The Falling Rain, (7) Someday Soon Somehow, (8) Needle in a Haystack, (9) Anything (You Want Me To Do), (10) 523 423, (11) Sometimes Ali, (12) Got The Woo-Woos, (13) Cool Dog, (14) Every Second Every Minute Every Hour of Every Day (I Need Your Love). | |
| Park The Tiger (EP) |
|
(1) I Ain't Got You, (2) Tons & Tons of Sunshine, (3) Dancing in the Ballroom, (4) Devil Went Down To Georgia, (5) Like I Should. | |
| Someday Soon Somehow |
|
(1) Here Comes Leroy, (2) We're Heading for the Poorhouse, (3) False Alarm, (4) Traffic Jam, (5) Baby Don't Drink, (6) Out of the Shadows, (7) The Concept, (8) Inflation Blues, (9) I Think You're Something Else, (10) Sometimes I Feel like A Motherless Child, (11) Marie, (12) Occapella, (13) Cool Jerk, (14) Let Me Down, (15) Life Is Easy, (16) Since I Don't Have You, (17) Lipstick Traces on a Cigarette, (18) High School Confidential, (19) Who's Fooling Who? (20) Someday Soon Somehow, (21) Breaths. | |
| Simon Rattle Jazz Album |
|
(3) After You've Gone, (8) Sweet Sue, (10) Makin' Whoopee!, (11) My Blue Heaven. | |
| Final Concert |
|
||
| Early Days |
|
(1) Five Guy's Named Moe, (2) Who Do You Know in Heaven, (3) My Baby's Gone, (4) Jailhouse Rock, (5) Shine, (6) Your Feet's Too Big, (7) I'll Be Forever Loving You, (8) Boogie Nights, (9) Sweet Talkin' Guy, (10) Sixteen Tons, (11) Traffic Jam, (12) Nutrocker, (13) Right Next Door to An Angel, (14) Sh Boom, (15) Blue Skies, (16) Glad To Be Here, (17) Paper Moon, (18) Deacon Jones, (19) Atom & Evil, (20) Mr Paganini, (21) Old Man River, (22) Don't You Worry 'bout A Thing, (23) Sunny Side of the Street. |
Careers Following the Wallbangers
Christopher Purves, who departed the group due to the demands of touring, pursued training as an operatic baritone. His notable roles included parts in James MacMillan's Inés de Castro (1997), Alban Berg's Wozzeck, Verdi's Falstaff, Wagner's Meistersinger, Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, and Britten's Peter Grimes. Additionally, he lent his voice to a television advertisement for the fruit beverage Um Bongo.
Harvey Brough collaborated with his brother Rex to create the score for John Godber's play Shakers, incorporating elements of blues, country, and pop music. Subsequently, he composed and performed Requiem in Blue, a fusion of jazz, folk, and classical styles, dedicated to his late brother. Brough was married to jazz vocalist Jacqui Dankworth.
Harvey and the Revived Wallbangers
Following their separation, the band reunited sporadically. In 2004, Harvey Brough rejoined the Wallbangers for a performance at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.
In 2016, Clara Sanabras invited Harvey to revive the Wallbangers for a track featured on her album A Hum About Mine Ears, which premiered at London's Barbican Centre accompanied by Britten Sinfonia, choral ensembles, and conducted by Harvey himself.
By 2017, three decades after their formation, original members Harvey Brough, Jeremy Taylor, and Richard Allen reassembled the band alongside new members Clara Sanabras and Naomi Hammerton. With rhythmic support from Andy Hamill and Roy Dodds, they delivered three sold-out concerts in London and Southampton, as well as an appearance at the Bury St Edmunds festival.
During the London shows, original pianist "Reg Prescott" joined them on stage for a rendition of "Blue Skies."
Appearances in Film and Television
| Program Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Six Fifty-Five |
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| At Last - It's 1984! |
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| Folio – TV Arts Show |
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| Royal Variety Performance |
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| Cabaret (TV series) |
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| The Laughter Show (TV series) |
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| The Laughter Show (TV series) |
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| Kelly's Eye |
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| Summertime Special |
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| Minstrel of the Dawn |
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