The Old Grey Whistle Test

1971
The Old Grey Whistle Test

Seasons & Episodes

  • 16
  • 15
  • 14
  • 13
  • 12
  • 11
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0

EP1 The Damned / Echo & the Bunnymen / Hang Wangford / Billy Bragg / Brendan Croker Sep 20, 1986

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EP2 Paul Simon special Dec 23, 1986

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EP3 End of the Year Dec 31, 1986

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EP4 Run DMC Jan 07, 1987

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EP5 Episode 5 Jan 13, 1987

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EP6 Michelle Shocked Jan 14, 1987

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EP7 The Comfy Area Jan 21, 1987

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EP8 The Cult Jan 28, 1987

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EP9 Run DMC Feb 04, 1987

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EP10 World Party Feb 11, 1987

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EP11 Episode 11 Feb 18, 1987

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EP12 Episode 12 Feb 25, 1987

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EP13 Deep Purple / The Mission Mar 04, 1987

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EP14 U2 / Sinéad O’Connor Mar 11, 1987

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EP15 Episode 15 Mar 18, 1987

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EP16 Wet Wet Wet Mar 25, 1987

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EP17 Paul Simon Apr 01, 1987

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EP18 Level 42 in concert Apr 20, 1987

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EP19 Big in Japan special Apr 21, 1987

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EP20 That Was The Whistle Test That Was Apr 22, 1987

5 hour finale
8.1| 0h30m| en| More Info
Released: 21 September 1971 Ended
Producted By: BBC
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006zbkl
Synopsis

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.

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Reviews

gnb Famous, and rightly so, as the only music programme of its generation to give airtime to obscure, unsigned and alternative bands/artists.Many a now-famous face were given their first 15 minutes of fame on the "Old Grey Whistle Test" and we have it to thank for introducing vast quantities of quality music to the record buying public.If you can, get your hands on the special DVD releases celebrating the programme. While the first issue concentrates mainly on famous artists (Meat Loaf, Blondie, Simply Red, Talking Heads) it is the more obscure acts on DVD 2 that are really of interest (Kevin Ayers, Be Bop Deluxe).So if you can remember Bob Harris, Annie Nightingale, Mark Ellen and David Hepworth first time round then give OGWT another blast. Whereas, if you know nothing about the programme give it a watch any way and ask yourself why we don't have music shows like this anymore!
foxybyproxy This collection of performances from the 70's to the 90's includes some classic songs by everyone from Randy Newman to the Damned. Classic footage of the New York Dolls, Captain Beefheart, Iggy Pop, the Ramones and others make this a must have for any music fan. It's monaural but the quality is still very good and most performances are live.