Crossroads Wedding Party Album to be Released for the First Time Since 1975

Stage Door Records has announced the re-release of the ‘Crossroads Wedding Party Album,’ Due on sale in January 2024 it is the first time the album has been released on CD.

A merchandise tie-in to the popular daily daytime soap opera, Crossroads, the release was one of several items issued to celebrate the moment viewers had been waiting over a decade to see – Motel owner Meg tie the knot with her on-off businessman lover Hugh.

Originally issued by PYE Records, then part of the ATV empire, to mark the on-screen wedding of Meg Richardson played by Noele Gordon and Hugh Mortimer portrayed by John Bentley, it has only ever been available on vinyl record or cassette audio tape.

The Crossroads cast performs tracks along with guest performers such as Larry Grayson and Stephanie De Sykes while Noele and John also get to duet. Numbers include We’ll Find Our Day which features in the wedding party episode of Crossroads where the married couple celebrate with friends at the Droitwich Hotel (Chateau Impney, Droitwich) and It’s Been A Long Long Day.

It is also the only release which contains the Tony Hatch Crossroads Theme in stereo. The album also contains ‘highlights’ from episode 2301 recorded at Birmingham Cathedral where Meg and Hugh are blessed to a packed St Phillips while 10,000 fans outside bring the city to a standstill.

There are also a couple of new to the album ‘bonus tracks’ from 1977, with Paul Henry’s ‘Benny’s Theme‘ added with both the vocal and instrumental versions included. Written by Simon May (EastEnders Theme) the song was part of the storyline which saw Benny’s girlfriend knocked down by a car and killed just before their wedding.

Licensed from BMG Rights Management (UK), the album has been digitally remastered from the original master tapes. The CD release is a limited edition pressing of 500 units only. The CD is now available for pre-order on Amazon.

The re-release of the Crossroads Wedding Party Album not only caters to the nostalgia of those who cherished it in the ’70s but arrives at a time when Noele Gordon has undergone reappraisal and resurgence thanks to Russell T Davies’ three-part drama on the life of the performer in Nolly. Starring Helena Bonham Carter the series is currently streaming on ITVX and STV Player in the UK and will air on the main ITV channel later this month.

Meg and Hugh timeline:

♦ Hugh had first wooed Meg in 1965, but after two failed engagements he left in 1967.

♦ In 1969 Meg married Malcolm Ryder, but he turned out to be only after her money and he tried to poison her.

♦ Meg and Hugh were reunited in 1973 and engaged for the third time. Hugh would be Meg’s third husband behind Malcolm and Charles Richardson who died in 1961.

♦ In November 1974 ATV announced the wedding recording date to take place in February of the following year, inviting fans to attend… 10,0000 turned up, with Birmingham brought to a standstill.

♦ The wedding aired in April of 1975.

♦ The wedding was watched by 18 million viewers, one of the biggest non-sport daytime viewing figures for ITV.

♦ Hugh was killed off in 1978 having had a heart attack while being held kidnapped in Australia.