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.
558 episodes total
Status
Ended
First Aired
1971
Rating
7.5/10
2 votes • HD
People
Episodes
Episode 1 • Sep 21, 1971
Episode 2 • Sep 28, 1971
Episode 3 • Oct 05, 1971
Episode 4 • Oct 12, 1971
Episode 5 • Oct 19, 1971
Episode 6 • Oct 26, 1971
Episode 1 • Sep 12, 1972
Loggins and Messina: "Danny's Song" and "House At Pooh Corner"
Episode 2 • Sep 19, 1972
Episode 3 • Sep 26, 1972
Episode 4 • Oct 03, 1972
Episode 5 • Oct 10, 1972
Episode 6 • Oct 17, 1972
Episode 1 • Sep 25, 1973
Episode 2 • Sep 25, 1973
Episode 3 • Oct 02, 1973
Country Gazette: Keep On Pushing / Tried So Hard / Swing Low Sweet Chariot / Down The Road Leo Kottke: The Driving Of The Year/ Nail Stealing Mick Jagger interview The Rolling Stones: Silver Train / Dancing With Mr. D (promos)
Episode 4 • Oct 09, 1973
Episode 5 • Oct 16, 1973
Episode 6 • Oct 23, 1973
Episode 1 • Sep 24, 1974
From Cambridge Folk Festival Arlo Guthrie: Gamblin’ Man / The Motor Cycle Song / Don't Think Twice It’s Alright Loudon Wainwright III: Guru / I Am The Way Richard Digance: Working Class Millionaire Planxty: The Blacksmith
Episode 2 • Oct 01, 1974
Wally: Sunday Walking Lady / The Martyr The Rolling Stones: Ain't Too Proud To Beg (film) Keith Richards: interview
Episode 3 • Oct 08, 1974
Episode 4 • Oct 15, 1974
Episode 5 • Oct 22, 1974
Episode 6 • Oct 29, 1974
Episode 1 • Sep 30, 1975
Episode 2 • Oct 07, 1975
Episode 3 • Oct 14, 1975
Episode 4 • Oct 21, 1975
Episode 5 • Oct 28, 1975
Episode 6 • Nov 04, 1975
Episode 1 • Sep 28, 1976
Episode 2 • Oct 05, 1976
Episode 3 • Oct 12, 1976
Episode 4 • Oct 19, 1976
Episode 5 • Oct 26, 1976
Episode 6 • Nov 02, 1976
Episode 1 • Sep 20, 1977
Rolling Stones in concert at Les Abbatoirs recorded for French TV Honky Tonk Women / Hand of Fate / Fool to Cry / Hot Stuff / You Gotta Move / You Can’t Always Get What You Want / Baby (feat. Billy Preston) / Outta Space (feat. Billy Preston) / Jumping Jack Flash / Street Fighting Man / I Can’t Get No Satisfaction
Episode 2 • Sep 27, 1977
Episode 3 • Oct 04, 1977
Episode 4 • Oct 11, 1977
Episode 5 • Oct 18, 1977
Episode 6 • Oct 25, 1977
Episode 1 • Sep 19, 1978
Episode 2 • Sep 26, 1978
Episode 3 • Oct 03, 1978
Episode 4 • Oct 09, 1978
Episode 5 • Oct 17, 1978
Episode 6 • Oct 24, 1978
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
Episode 1 • Sep 18, 1979
Episode 2 • Sep 25, 1979
Episode 3 • Oct 02, 1979
Episode 4 • Oct 09, 1979
Episode 5 • Oct 16, 1979
Episode 6 • Oct 30, 1979
Episode 1 • Oct 07, 1980
Episode 2 • Oct 10, 1980
Documentary-style film of the Police's tour of Japan, Hong Kong, India, Egypt and Greece in 1980. Anne Nightingale accompanies the band and interviews its members during the tour. Includes concert footage and behind-the-scenes sequences of the band. All I Want is to be Next to You / Bring on the Night / Message in a Bottle / Walking on the Moon / So Lonely / Visions of the Night / Can’t Stand Losing You / Roxanne / Truth Hits Everybody / Driven to Tears / Born in the fifties
Episode 3 • Oct 11, 1980
Episode 4 • Oct 18, 1980
Episode 5 • Nov 01, 1980
Episode 6 • Nov 08, 1980
Episode 1 • Oct 01, 1981
Episode 2 • Oct 08, 1981
Episode 3 • Oct 15, 1981
Episode 4 • Nov 05, 1981
Episode 5 • Nov 26, 1981
Episode 6 • Dec 03, 1981
Episode 1 • Sep 17, 1982
Episode 2 • Sep 24, 1982
Episode 3 • Oct 01, 1982
Episode 4 • Oct 08, 1982
Episode 5 • Oct 15, 1982
Episode 6 • Oct 22, 1982
Episode 1 • Sep 18, 1983
Episode 2 • Nov 18, 1983
Episode 3 • Nov 25, 1983
Episode 4 • Dec 02, 1983
Episode 5 • Dec 09, 1983
Episode 6 • Dec 16, 1983
Episode 1 • Oct 23, 1984
Episode 2 • Oct 30, 1984
Episode 3 • Nov 06, 1984
Episode 4 • Nov 13, 1984
Episode 5 • Nov 20, 1984
Episode 6 • Nov 27, 1984
Episode 1 • Oct 01, 1985
Episode 2 • Oct 08, 1985
Episode 3 • Oct 15, 1985
Episode 4 • Oct 22, 1985
Episode 5 • Oct 29, 1985
Episode 6 • Nov 05, 1985
Episode 1 • Sep 20, 1986
Episode 2 • Dec 23, 1986
Episode 3 • Dec 31, 1986
Episode 4 • Jan 07, 1987
Episode 5 • Jan 13, 1987
Episode 6 • Jan 14, 1987
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