

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.
2005
Sep 12, 1972 - 1h 0m
Loggins and Messina: "Danny's Song" and "House At Pooh Corner"
Sep 19, 1972 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Sep 26, 1972 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Oct 3, 1972 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Oct 10, 1972 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Oct 17, 1972 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Oct 24, 1972 - 1h 0m
Birtha: Free Spirit / Too Much Woman For The Henpecked Man Mike Hugg: Blue Suede Shoes Again Rick Wakeman Interview
Oct 31, 1972 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Nov 7, 1972 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Nov 15, 1972 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Nov 21, 1972 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Nov 28, 1972 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 5, 1972 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 12, 1972 - 1h 0m
The guys in Focus were jamming in a small BBC studio in the heart of Television Centre, rehearsing for their first appearance on the Old Grey Whistle Test. It was 12th December 1972, The atmosphere was great, very light-hearted and enjoyable as the band rehearsed its set. They decided to play 'Sylvia', 'Anonymous II' and 'Hocus Pocus', with a seasonal slant. Instead of following the usual pattern of the vocal breaks, This launched into a mock-serious yodelling version of ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas...’ building up to that top falsetto with a heart-rending ‘And a Happy New Yeeeeeaaaaarrr...’, tailing off into Jan’s million miles an hour guitar playing. The performance was an absolute sensation. People had never seen anything quite like them before.
Dec 19, 1972 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Dec 26, 1972 - 1h 0m
Alice Cooper: Under My Wheels Dion / Runaround Sue David Bowie: Queen Bitch Ten Wheel Drive: The Night I Got Out of Jail The Beach Boys: You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone Steve Miller Band: Living in the USA Vinegar Joe: Rusty Red Armour Carole King and Merry Clayton: Oh No Not My Baby Curtis Mayfield: Keep On Keeping On Mick Jagger: Interview The Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice Poco: Just For Me and You The Beatles: Some Other Guy Roxy Music: Ladytron Stevie Wonder: Interview Janis Ian: He’s A Rainbow Jerry Lee Lewis: Think About It Darlin’ Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge: Help Me Make it Through the Night
Jan 2, 1973 - 1h 0m
Hammersmith, England, Old Grey Whistle Test, "Willow Farm"
Jan 9, 1973 - 1h 0m
J. Geils Band: Looking for a Love / Floyds Hotel Joan Armatrading: Child Star / Give it a Try David Geffen interview Captain Beefheart : Some Yo Yo Stuff (filmfinders) Barclay James Harvest: Thank You (Marquee film) Exuma: Baby Let Me In (filmfinders)
Mar 16, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Jan 23, 1973 - 1h 0m
Roberta Flack: Sonny and Sister Joy / I Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer Mike Absalom: Hector the Dope Sniffing Hound / Saga of WPC Sadie Stick The Rolling Stones: Happy, All Down The Line (concert clips) Frank Zappa: Cleetus Awreetus Awrightus (filmfinders clip)
Jan 30, 1973 - 1h 0m
The Who: The Relay / Long Live Rock Claire Hammill: The Artist / Please Stay Tonight Shawn Phillips Status Quo: Don’t Waste My Time (Marquee film)
Feb 6, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Feb 13, 1973 - 1h 0m
Rory Gallagher: Hands Off / Walk on Hot Coals Duncan Browne: Ragged Rain Life / My Old Friends Bette Midler interview Loggins & Messina: Your Mama Don't Dance (promo)
Feb 20, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Feb 27, 1973 - 1h 0m
Tony S McPhee: Write Me a Few Short Lines / Me and the Devil Tassavallan: Presidenti Lounge Donovan: Cosmic Wheels (film) / interview Mickie Most interview Country Joe MacDonald
Mar 6, 1973 - 1h 0m
Argent: God Gave Rock ’n’ Roll to You / It’s Only Money Shawn Phillips: I Took A Walk / Lady Of The Blue Rose Sha Na Na: Rock N Roll is Here To Stay (Crystal Palace, London clip) Roy Buchanan: Them Changes / After Hours (Madison Square Garden, New York, 1972 clip)
Mar 13, 1973 - 1h 0m
Roger Daltrey: Giving It All Away / One Man Band John Martyn: May You Never / I’d Rather Be The Devil John Lennon & Yoko Ono: Move On Fast (from ‘One to One’ concert) Edgar Winter Band: Heavy (concert clip)
Mar 20, 1973 - 1h 0m
Humble Pie: Black Coffee / Twist and Shout Ry Cooder: Goin’ To Brownsville / Vigilante Man / interview Led Zeppelin: No Quarter (filmfinders) Deliverance : Dueling Banjos (film clip)
Mar 27, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Apr 3, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Apr 10, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Apr 17, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Apr 24, 1973 - 1h 0m
Birtha: I Can't Stop The Madness John David Southern: How Long / Doolin’ Dalton vintage Motown clips of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
May 1, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
May 1, 1973 - 1h 0m
Yes, live in Concert at the Rainbow Theatre, Dec 1972. And You and I / Clap / Roundabout / Yours is no Disgrace / Wurm
May 8, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
May 8, 1973 - 1h 0m
Homesick James: Louisiana Blues Snooky Pryor: Do the Boogie Woogie Boogie Woogie Red: Hello Little Girl Washboard Willie - Love You Baby 24 Hours a Day Whispering Smith - Never Leave me Baby Lightnin’ Slim - Too Much Monkey Business
May 15, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
May 15, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
May 22, 1973 - 1h 0m
Nazareth: Bad Boy / Vigilante Man Harvey Andrews: Friend Of Mine / For My Father Camel: Never Let Go (promo) The Eagles: Outlaw Man (filmfinders) Del Shannon interview
May 29, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Jun 5, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Jun 5, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Jun 12, 1973 - 1h 0m
John Entwistle - Peg Leg Peggy / My Wife Kevin Ayers: Shouting in a Bucket Blues / Oh Wot A Dream Slick & Kanter interview Seals & Crofts: Dust On My Saddle (film)
Jun 19, 1973 - 1h 0m
Terry Reid: Without Expression / Live Life Del Shannon - Louise Kelly Strider: Higher & Higher (promo) Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells (promo) Pete Sinfield: Still (promo)
Jul 10, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Jul 17, 1973 - 1h 0m
Edgar Winter Group: Frankenstein / Rock N Roll Boogie Woogie Blues / Hanging Around Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: Walking My Blues Away / Sonny's Thing / Walk On Alan Hull: Numbers (film)
Jul 24, 1973 - 1h 0m
No overview available.
Jul 31, 1973 - 1h 0m
Freddie King: Boogie Funk Woman / Across The River Dr. John: Such A Night Doobie Brothers: Long Train Running (promo) Blue: Red Light Song (promo)