Old Grey Whistle Test

[Big Jeff]

Simple format class music, no unnecessary chat. Get it back. What say the oul farts of the SMB? Or even the young farts who’ve access to the YouTube?

I think Jools has filled that slot admirably.

He presents a superb show and gets a great blend of bands.

 

[Barry Quizshow]

I think Jools has filled that slot admirably.

He presents a superb show and gets a great blend of bands.

I wonder what a Whispering Bob's Hootenanny would be like?

 

[Big Jeff]

I wonder what a Whispering Bob's Hootenanny would be like?

Great!

 

[Barry Quizshow]

Small Faces were decent on it too, even without Ronnie Lane-

 

[Sam Handwich]

Mock rock.


Apparently in response to NYD calling him Bugs all day.

One of the few mimed performances

 

[BiG]

Amongst my recollections of OGWT is the time I watched it with Gran. She sat knitting whilst Alex Harvey sang ‘Next’. I’m pretty sure she wasn’t paying attention to the lyric. Thank fuck.

 

[brir]

Certainly had its moments, but you did have to wade through some dross to find it.

Was a lot of West Coast navel gazing to sit through.

 

[JAZZMANB]

Like all of those shows looking back
Great
Their was endless weeks of nothing interesting as well
Plus old fogeys presenting

 

[Hardyman's Yugo]

 

[Horley Chorley]

The OGWT was brilliant in it's simplicity.
A great music show featuring some great bands & belting tunes.

 

[Copalis]

Quality theme tune

 

[gluepot]

One of the most memorable OGWT moments...

 

[The Red Telephone]

Another classic.

 

[Shandy drinker]

Did it used to be in on Saturday afternoon on bbc2 around 1977
I recall being round a mates house whose parents were hippies and it being on before play away!!

 

[Cheesy Feet]

One of the few mimed performances

Three great clips..i love that Motors performance of 'Dancing the Night Away'..tremendous.

 

[Sam Handwich]

Three great clips..i love that Motors performance of 'Dancing the Night Away'..tremendous.

Really glad that someone started sneaking out the HD versons as well after years of crappy VHS versions. Took absolutely years for The Motors You Beat The Hell Outta Me me to surface in anyshape or form.

 

[chriswallace85]

Interesting... When music moguls got the first cut of a record, they would play it to the doormen in grey suits, known colloquially as the old greys. Any song they could recall and whistle, after having heard it a couple of times, was deemed to have passed the old grey whistle test and was destined to become a popular hit.
Or a slightly different version...

The first presenter of The Old Grey Whistle Test was rock journalist Richard Williams. Williams explained the title in the Radio Times: "before a new record is released a rough mix is played to the grey-haired doormen. If they can whistle the tune after hearing it once, it passes the 'old grey whistle test' and is released"

 

[sismanhatton]

I loved OGWT,always a great mix of music, and great interviews, one that sticks out, was Bob interviewing Ian Anderson about his flying and Tax. Brilliant.
Bob is doing C&W on the radio which seems a big change in direction.

 

[herra soul mob]

2 personal favs from ogwt

 

[lostinfrance]

Wayne Winston Norris before he chucked it all in to become a chippie.