Old Grey Whistle Test - was it really that good ?
Discussion
techiedave said:
I do have VERY fond memories of the Friday Rock show with Tommy Vance.
The Friday Night Connection! (I think it was called) find the link between three tracks and supply your own for next week, I didn't have a big enough music collection to ever do it.Also the 'top 10' every year which pretty much always had the same tracks, Stairway/Stargazer/Suppers Ready/something by Rush (Xanadu?), and amongst the epic prog classics there would always be 'Whole Lotta Rosie', could never understand that.
I used to lie in bed with a tranny (careful!) to my ear and frequently drift off to sleep only to waken up when something really special came on and it cemented it in my head. LA Woman was one such track.
Edited by SickAsAParrot on Thursday 2nd June 09:33
There was a lot more 'miming' than you think on OGWT, although some of it was miming to a 'live' recording (if you see what I mean). Roxy Music's "Do The Strand" is definitely not live, for example; it's definitely not Brian Eno playing the piano riff! Nevertheless, it's great to see these classic bands in something approximating to a live appearance.
OGWT - every who followed music at school one watched it. There was nothing else on. Rock Goes To College came a bit later I think.
I watched every episode and my only complaint was that Bob Harris's tastes were essentially US rather than UK so you'd have Maria Muldour for example in whom I had zero interest.
Some of it looks a bit staid now but that's not how it appeared at the time.
I watched every episode and my only complaint was that Bob Harris's tastes were essentially US rather than UK so you'd have Maria Muldour for example in whom I had zero interest.
Some of it looks a bit staid now but that's not how it appeared at the time.
lockhart flawse said:
OGWT - every who followed music at school one watched it. There was nothing else on. Rock Goes To College came a bit later I think.
I watched every episode and my only complaint was that Bob Harris's tastes were essentially US rather than UK so you'd have Maria Muldour for example in whom I had zero interest.
Some of it looks a bit staid now but that's not how it appeared at the time.
Yes, Whispering Bob presented a series of OGWT anniversary programmes a few years back and the 'highlight' was an hour of Billy Joel in concert. Give me strength.I watched every episode and my only complaint was that Bob Harris's tastes were essentially US rather than UK so you'd have Maria Muldour for example in whom I had zero interest.
Some of it looks a bit staid now but that's not how it appeared at the time.
Halmyre said:
There was a lot more 'miming' than you think on OGWT, although some of it was miming to a 'live' recording (if you see what I mean). Roxy Music's "Do The Strand" is definitely not live, for example; it's definitely not Brian Eno playing the piano riff! Nevertheless, it's great to see these classic bands in something approximating to a live appearance.
Pretty sure the New York Dolls were miming too when they played 'Jet Boy'....Bob Harris called them Mock Rock! Loved the Ramones when they played a heavier version of 'Don't Come Close', and The Runaways were good too.techiedave said:
I know it is Sacrilege a to some to suggest it but was it really that good.
I think you have to put it in the context of what else was on television at the time - which, in the 70's was utter rubbish. Crossroads, Z Cars, The Golden Shot, Ask The Family, Stars on Sunday, On The Busses etc etc... I hated it all - the Whistle Test could be a bit hit and miss with some 'esoteric' nonsense, but it was 'our' show.You'd hear about Steely Dan (rarely) or see Little Feat.... it felt cutting edge. Well, to me anyway.
OGWT had some great performances on there, Bruce Johnson doing Disney Girls springs to mind add to the fact video footage of music was in short supply back then unlike today with sites like Youtube.
Yes the programme did start taking a turn for the worse when punk/new wave came along and went downhill from there.Someone made a point of the American influence on there which to me was the best draw of the show as us bikers all loved the Eagles,Joe Walsh, Doobie's etc.
Who remembers the Geordie Scene with lots of Lindisfarne and the early days of the future LV in AC/DC? Or the camp bloke fronting a show called Supersonic?
Yes the programme did start taking a turn for the worse when punk/new wave came along and went downhill from there.Someone made a point of the American influence on there which to me was the best draw of the show as us bikers all loved the Eagles,Joe Walsh, Doobie's etc.
Who remembers the Geordie Scene with lots of Lindisfarne and the early days of the future LV in AC/DC? Or the camp bloke fronting a show called Supersonic?
ocd said:
Other monster performances were the Edgar Winter band.
Yes -- his version of Jumping Jack flash >>>> The Stones' versionRaygun said:
OGWT had some great performances on there, Bruce Johnson doing Disney Girls springs to mind add to the fact video footage of music was in short supply back then unlike today with sites like Youtube.
Love it - audidoody said:
"you could be led to believe that acts like Nick Lowe/ Dave someone(Lowes mate)"
If serious, I'm not sure how much attention I should pay someone who can't identify Dave Edmunds.
At least they weren't citing Noel Edmunds If serious, I'm not sure how much attention I should pay someone who can't identify Dave Edmunds.
In people's defence, some of us are Old Gits now, so have difficulty remembering how to spell the name of he other chap in Focus - i.e. Not Jan! Or remember if Stone Fox Chase was the name of the band, or the track.
Amazing memory for less-important-trivia, mind!
K12beano said:
There were some awesome performances between the average stuff.
But then it was like it's Jools Holland of its day - I rarely get excited by that. Not quite a live performance and sometimes managing to worry about people looking good.
Back to OGWT, I bet some acts didn't get long to set up and get comfortable.
My favourites I can think of at the moment and seem good to me:
Wishbone Ash - particularly "Vas Dis" which I would have liked to see live
Lynnyrd Skynyrd - I think there's a "Sweet Home Alabama" or "Freebird" which was classic
Focus - completely barking, but loveable
Of course, citing just three may be proving they were just needles in the haystack?
I was just scanning this thread to see if anyone mentioned this. I saw them live many times. In fact, I lost count.But then it was like it's Jools Holland of its day - I rarely get excited by that. Not quite a live performance and sometimes managing to worry about people looking good.
Back to OGWT, I bet some acts didn't get long to set up and get comfortable.
My favourites I can think of at the moment and seem good to me:
Wishbone Ash - particularly "Vas Dis" which I would have liked to see live
Lynnyrd Skynyrd - I think there's a "Sweet Home Alabama" or "Freebird" which was classic
Focus - completely barking, but loveable
Of course, citing just three may be proving they were just needles in the haystack?
Was mentioning it the other day, Wishbone Ash (not the split in two bands they are now) how they rarely get airplay anywhere. Yet they were so good. My girlfriend (at the time) used to get fed up with my playing their first and second LPs, but knew I couldn't wait for their next LP. When she gave me my birthday pressie, I couldn't believe it, she and her mate knew every word and were singing them when I put the new LP on!
It was Argus. She was, like many, converted over night. By the way, she's my wife!
Vas Dis is a strange song but shows their talent at that early stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRrcTd1Tfh4
If you don't like it, listen to 'Phoenix' by them.
Edit
Phoenix is brilliant, but I really meant the other OGWT of them doing 'Jail Bait'!
this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsdXh8eBcts
Steve Upton (drummer) looks like a smurf! He didn't he later years.
Edited by dandarez on Wednesday 13th July 20:14
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