Is The Old Grey Whistle Test coming back?
The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1973) — music on BBC Four
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
| Date | Ep. | 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 |