Bob Harris
The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971)
1978/9
The Old Grey Whistle Test is an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers. According to presenter Bob Harris, the programme derived its name from a Tin Pan Alley phrase from years before. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys—doormen in grey suits. The songs they could remember and whistle, having heard it just once or twice, had passed the old grey whistle test.
Released Sept. 21, 1971
Episode 60 min
10+
Genres: Music
Keywords: tmdb.live-music, imdb.rock-song, imdb.color-in-title, imdb.five-word-title, imdb.partially-lost-tv-series, imdb.non-fiction, imdb.live-performance + 6 more, imdb.british, imdb.rock-band, imdb.rock-music, imdb.live-music, tmdb.live-performance, tmdb.live-musical-performance
Production Companies: BBC
Network: BBC Two
Country: United Kingdom
Languages:
English
S8E1 - Ramones
Sept. 19, 1978, midnight
S8E2 - Rezillos / Steven Bishop
Sept. 26, 1978, midnight
S8E3 - The Police
Oct. 3, 1978, midnight
S8E4 - Jethro Tull in concert
Oct. 9, 1978, midnight
S8E5 - Episode 5
Oct. 17, 1978, midnight
S8E6 - Siouxsie and the Banshees / The Cars / John Cooper Clarke / Steely Dan / Peter Tosh with Mick Jagger
01 - Introduction by Anne Nightingale
02 - Metal Postcard - Siouxsie and the Banshees
03 - Jigsaw Feeling - Siouxsie and the Banshees
04 - The Cars - Interview with Bob Harris pt1
05 - My Best Friends Girl - The Cars
06 - The Cars - Interview with Bob Harris pt2
07 - Just What I Needed - The Cars
08 - Reelin In The Years - Steely Dan
09 - I Don't Want To Be Nice - John Cooper Clarke
10 - Kung-Fu International - John Cooper Clarke
11 - Readers Wives - John Cooper Clarke
12 - Walk And Don't Look Back - Peter Tosh & Mick Jagger
Oct. 24, 1978, midnight
S8E7 - Episode 7
Oct. 31, 1978, midnight
S8E8 - Episode 8
Nov. 7, 1978, midnight
S8E9 - Buzzcocks
Nov. 14, 1978, midnight
S8E10 - Devo
Nov. 28, 1978, midnight
S8E11 - X-Ray Spex
Dec. 5, 1978, midnight
S8E12 - Muddy Waters / Devo
Dec. 12, 1978, midnight
S8E13 - Episode 13
Dec. 19, 1978, midnight
S8E14 - Rod Stewart in concert
Repeat from 24th December 1976
Dec. 24, 1978, midnight
S8E15 - Pick of the Year, Part 1
Dec. 30, 1978, midnight
S8E16 - Pick of the Year, Part 2
Dec. 31, 1978, midnight
S8E17 - Episode 17
Jan. 2, 1979, midnight
S8E18 - Episode 18
Jan. 9, 1979, midnight
S8E19 - Episode 19
Jan. 16, 1979, midnight
S8E20 - Emerson, Lake & Palmer special
Karen Evil 9 - 1st impression / Watching Over You / Tank / Tiger in a Spotlight / Show me the Way to go Home / Piano Concerto (instrumental) / Pirates
All recorded in Memphis, except Piano Concerto and Pirates, filmed in Montreal.
Jan. 23, 1979, midnight
S8E21 - Episode 21
Jan. 30, 1979, midnight
S8E22 - Episode 22
Feb. 13, 1979, midnight
S8E23 - Episode 23
Feb. 20, 1979, midnight
S8E24 - Episode 24
Feb. 27, 1979, midnight
S8E25 - Episode 25
March 6, 1979, midnight
S8E26 - Episode 26
March 13, 1979, midnight
S8E27 - Episode 27
March 20, 1979, midnight
S8E28 - Episode 28
March 27, 1979, midnight
S8E29 - Episode 29
April 3, 1979, midnight
S8E30 - Iggy Pop / Tom Waits
April 10, 1979, midnight
S8E31 - Johnny Winter in concert
Johnny Winter in concert at TV Shepherds Bush Theatre, London.
Hideaway / Messin’ with the Kid / Mississippi Blues / Walking by Myself / Rock n’ Roll
April 17, 1979, midnight
S8E32 - Episode 32
May 8, 1979, midnight
S8E33 - Episode 33
May 15, 1979, midnight
S8E34 - Episode 34
May 22, 1979, midnight
S8E35 - Episode 35
May 29, 1979, midnight
S8E36 - Episode 36
June 5, 1979, midnight
S8E37 - Thin Lizzy in concerts
Thin Lizzy live at the Rainbow Theatre March 1978.
The Boys are Back in Town / Emerald / Dancing in the Moonlight / Massacre / Still in Love with You / Don’t Believe a Word / Are You Ready / Sha la la / Baby Drives me Crazy / Me and the Boys
June 12, 1979, midnight
Network: BBC Two
Episode Runtime: 60 min.
Season Runtime: 60 min.
Released: Sept. 21, 1971
Last Air Date: April 22, 1987, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: NR / 10+
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