"The Old Grey Whistle Test" (1971) TV series 1971-1987

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 | unknown

Release Date:

September 1971 (UK)

Genre:

Music

Plot:

Contemporary music show.

Plot Keywords:

Non Fiction

Cast

Bob Harris

...

Himself - Presenter / ... (15 episodes, 1972-1979)

Also Known As:

"Whistle Test" (UK) (new title)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The title derives its name from the notion that if the grey-haired doorman whistles your tune, then it's a hit.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Police: Every Breath You Take - The Videos (1987) (V)

Soundtrack:

Stone Fox Chase

The hits just keep on coming...

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!