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Is The Old Grey Whistle Test coming back?

The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1973) — music on BBC Four

The answer: Concluded May 29, 1973.
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The Old Grey Whistle Test poster
Genre
Music
Network / streamer
BBC Four
Premiered
September 21, 1971
Ended
May 29, 1973
Runtime
~45 min per episode
2seasons
67episodes

About The Old Grey Whistle Test

The Old Grey Whistle Test is a variety music show that aired on BBC 2.

The show's focus on "serious" rock music, rather than chart hits covered on BBC1 by Top of the Pops, was emphasised by a lack of showbiz glitter: bands would often perform their songs in front of either the bare studio walls or plain wooden boards (actually the backs of set walls from other programmes filmed in the same studio).

The programme hosted many seminal acts of the era, including the first British TV performance of Bob Marley and the Wailers as well as then little-known acts of whom any early footage is now considered precious, such as Billy Joel, Judas Priest (with a long haired Rob Halford), Wishbone Ash, Judee Sill, Heart, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Whistle Test was also the British television debut of the American glam punk band New York Dolls. Although host Bob Harris derided the group as "mock rock," comparing them unfavourably to The Rolling Stones, their performance influenced the following punk rock scene such as the Sex Pistols and The Clash as well as alternative bands like R.E.M. and The Smiths and the glam metal scene of the 1980s.

The Old Grey Whistle Test episode schedule

67 aired

Aired · 67

DateEp.Title
May 29, 1973 S2·E38 Golden Earring, Loudon Wainwright III
May 15, 1973 S2·E36 Roy Buchanan, Jan Akkerman, Lean Russell, B. B. King
May 8, 1973 S2·E35 Episode 35
May 1, 1973 S2·E34 The Wailers, Pete Atkin, Yes, Bob Marley
April 24, 1973 S2·E33 Birtha, John David Souther, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye
April 17, 1973 S2·E32 Episode 32
April 10, 1973 S2·E31 Spirit, Gallagher and Lyle
April 3, 1973 S2·E30 Roxy Music, Allan Taylor
March 27, 1973 S2·E29 Badger, Medicine Head
March 20, 1973 S2·E28 Episode 28
March 13, 1973 S2·E27 Episode 27
March 6, 1973 S2·E26 Episode 26
February 27, 1973 S2·E25 Episode 25
February 20, 1973 S2·E24 Episode 24
February 13, 1973 S2·E23 Episode 23
February 6, 1973 S2·E22 Crazy Horse, Roy Harper, Sharks
January 30, 1973 S2·E21 Episode 21
January 23, 1973 S2·E20 Episode 20
January 16, 1973 S2·E19 John Prine, Rick Wiseman
January 9, 1973 S2·E18 Episode 18
January 2, 1973 S2·E17 David McWilliams, Stackridge
December 26, 1972 S2·E16 Episode 16
December 19, 1972 S2·E15 The Faces, Fumble
December 12, 1972 S2·E14 Focus, The Crickets, John Lennon, Yoko Ono
December 5, 1972 S2·E13 Ralph McTell, McKendrie Spirit, The Doobie Brothers
November 28, 1972 S2·E12 Babe Ruth, Philip Goodhand-Tait, Phil Spector
November 21, 1972 S2·E11 Bill Withers, Sparks, Neil Sedaka
November 14, 1972 S2·E10 Episode 10
November 7, 1972 S2·E9 Episode 9
October 31, 1972 S2·E8 Ellis, Harry Chapin
Show 37 earlier episodes
October 24, 1972 S2·E7 Episode 7
October 17, 1972 S2·E6 Episode 6
October 10, 1972 S2·E5 Home
October 3, 1972 S2·E4 Stone The Crows, Jim Croce
September 26, 1972 S2·E3 Steppenwolf, John Kay Band, Linda Lewis, Carly Simon, ELP
September 19, 1972 S2·E2 Episode 2
September 12, 1972 S2·E1 Frampton's Camel, John Prine, Loggins & Messina, Roberta Flack
April 11, 1972 S1·E30 Vinegar Joe, Jonathan Kelly
April 4, 1972 S1·E29 Kevin Ayers, Claire Hamill
March 28, 1972 S1·E28 Randy Newman, The John Dummer Band, Chuck Berry
March 21, 1972 S1·E27 Judee Sill, Audience
March 14, 1972 S1·E26 Episode 26
March 7, 1972 S1·E25 David Elliot, Plainsong
February 29, 1972 S1·E24 Seals and Crofts, The Strawbs
February 22, 1972 S1·E23 Rick Nelson, Hookfoot
February 15, 1972 S1·E22 Mick Greenwood Band, Jimmy and Vella
February 8, 1972 S1·E21 David Bowie
February 1, 1972 S1·E20 Poco, Stevie Wonder
January 25, 1972 S1·E19 Curtis Mayfield, Rock & Roll Allstars
January 18, 1972 S1·E18 Bell and Arc, John Martyn
January 11, 1972 S1·E17 Fairport Convention, Jimmy and Vella
January 4, 1972 S1·E16 The Kinks, David Ackles, Muddy Waters
December 28, 1971 S1·E15 Andy Roberts, Lesley Duncan, The Roy Young Band
December 21, 1971 S1·E14 Alexis Korner, Gerry Rafferty
December 14, 1971 S1·E13 Uriah Heep, Colin Blunstone
December 7, 1971 S1·E12 Episode 12
November 30, 1971 S1·E11 The Move, Emitt Rhodes
November 23, 1971 S1·E10 Redwing, Alice Stuart
November 16, 1971 S1·E9 Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention, Jean Luc Ponty
November 9, 1971 S1·E8 Gordon Giltrap, Alice Cooper, Shaft, Yoko Ono
November 2, 1971 S1·E7 Ralph McTell, Family
October 26, 1971 S1·E6 Buffy Sainte-Marie, Day of Phoenix
October 19, 1971 S1·E5 Stone The Crows, Loudon Wainwright III
October 12, 1971 S1·E4 Lindisfarne, Wishbone Ash, The Who
October 5, 1971 S1·E3 The Jack Bruce Band, Cat Stevens
September 28, 1971 S1·E2 Hands, Head and Feet, Bridget St John
September 21, 1971 S1·E1 America, Lesley Duncan