Review rated by 50 Ciao members on average: very helpful
. . Title refers to the theme tune of the Old Grey Whistle Test of course!
Presenter Bob Harris (AKA "Whispering Bob Harris", because of his quiet voice and "laid back" style). did a brilliant job of presenting a programme a lot of you won't have heard of. You may have seen mickey takes of it on shows like "The fast show" doing a parady called The Jazz Show (cool) and even Monty Python's Flying Circus did a sketch of it, The show brought onto the stage new bands, with the emphasis on "real music" with no miming or special effects to improve anything. The stage props were either curtains, or more often just the backs of the walls from other sets.
Released by BBC Video, in conjunction with Warner Home Video, there are three DVDs in the series. They are available individually or as a set. Packaging is the same as all DVDs. You will see interviews with former performers, as well as getting comments from the old presenters.
The show first went on the air in the September of 1971, and the last show was broadcast at the end of 1987; material included in the show was "Hotel California" by The Eagles, live from 1977, and "Bat Out Of Hell" by Meat Loaf.
According to Bob Harris the programme derived its name from "a Tin Pan Alley" phrase from years ago. When they got the first pressing of a new record, they would play it to people they called the "old greys" - the collective nickname for the office cleaners who would typically start work at 5pm as office staff were leaving. The tunes they could remember and could whistle, having heard them just once or twice, had passed "The Old Grey Whistle test".
The programme was broadcast on BBC2, last thing Friday night, this was In the days before 24 hour television. The radio station would close down at the end of the evening, the bonus being that this gave the last programme of the night some flexibility, if things were going well, they could stay on air. Some shows ended after 25 minutes while particularly good ones sometimes extended to an hour and a half
Despite it's low budget of £500 per show (and yes this was low even for then) the show was a great success. Bands soon found their album sales would soar after their appearance on the show..
This programme at the time was unique, in a world used to Top of the Pops, here was a show on which the bands performed live album tracks and were interviewed immediately after they had played The idea was to air new sounds, and many of the bands were making their very first television appearance.
In addition to the technical costs the artists themselves had to be paid. David Bowie, for instance, he played three songs and was paid just £50! John Lennon was one who refused to accept his fee, insisting that he should be rewarded with chocolate Bath Oliver biscuits instead!
The opening title sequence featured an animated man kicking at a star. He was to become affectionately known as The Starkicker of course.
The makers of the programme continually broke new ground. Their 'simulcast' of radio and television was the first ever. The first live transatlantic broadcast of a rock concert as well as the television coverage of the Live Aid concert, were all achieved by the Old Grey Whistle Test team. Other first included the first British TV performance of a certain Mr Bob Marley and the Wailers.
The programme is alas no more, having ended it's sixteen year run in 1987.
The programme had a distinctive title music, (see title) with a harmonica track called "Stone Fox Chase" by the Nashville band called Area Code 615.
Your best buy is from the likes of Amazon etc. Watching the DVD makes you ask "Is it dated?" or just timeless perhaps? . .
ludes Old Grey Whistle Test Volumes 1 2 & 3. Launched in September 1971 it hosted performances from the most legendary bands and performers. Disc 1: Over 40 rarely seen...
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01.10.2007 10:40
I am of an age therefore I remeber this (sometimes) brilliant show. The one with The Faces? Fantastic. Wouls have liked a listing, though. Pete.
15.09.2007 09:38
Terrific review there...wouldn't mind watching these! Chris :)
22.08.2007 20:28
Great review!