New: The Old Grey Whistle Test, Live: BBC4 Friday, 9pm.

[Legacywr]

For One Night Only.

Bob Harris hosts a live tribute to the series, featuring music, special guests and rare archive footage to mark the 30 years since the last broadcast.

[anonymous-user]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1AWV3F8muI

[doogalman]

Gonna watch that for sure. Wish they would re-run the series if they exist.

[Plastic chicken]

Looking forward to that too! BBC4 regularly screens shows with titles such as Great Guitar Riffs, Guitar Heroes, The Whistle Test Years & Prog at the BBC, many of which feature original Whistle Test appearances. These shows often crop up on the Yesterday channel too.

Over the years I've recorded a lot of these compilation programmes on my Humax and play them back through a surround sound system; considering much of this stuff was laid down over 40 years ago the sound quality is quite remarkable.

[K12beano]

OK....




Well i’m Loving this.......

[CooperD]

Me too.....

[Escort3500]

Fantastic so far

[Honk]

[YorkshirePudding]

[bingybongy]

I forgot all about it and stumbled across it with a minute to go. Who was the last band. They were great.

[CooperD]

Robert Vincent was the artist's name.

[Lynchie999]

... it was all before my time, but why don't we get music and programs like this anymore ??

[doogalman]

Danny Baker, summed it all up to a tee when he was describing how it was from a viewers point back in the day.
Great program, great memories.

[Mr Pointy]

Lynchie999 said:

... it was all before my time, but why don't we get music and programs like this anymore ??

Well who would they have on it? Ed Sheeran? As for many of the other known names maybe they can't play 'live' without a massive amount of supporting technology & there simply isn't the time or space to assemble that in a program like the OGWT.

[wolfracesonic]

Isn't Later with Jools Holland in the same mould as Whistle Test?

[Black can man]

I basically grew up watching The OGWT but completely missed this.


Thanks for posting OP i'll catch it on the catch up .

Isn't modern technology bloody fantastic.

[bingybongy]

CooperD said:

Robert Vincent was the artist's name.

Thank you.

[Too Drunk to Funk]

Lynchie999 said:

... it was all before my time, but why don't we get music and programs like this anymore ??

Because live music on TV doesn't get many viewers.

[doogalman]

wolfracesonic said:

Isn't Later with Jools Holland in the same mould as Whistle Test?

I think Later is more about Jools wanting to be the big man. I'm also sure I have seen people lip synching on Later.
Personally I'd watch a rerun of any TOGWT anytime over seeing Ruby Turner, Gregory Porter or any other of Jool's mates being on over and over.
The whole thing about most of TOGWT was the Band was playing to so few people, often just the production team that was present. The audience was not an integral part of the program which just worked so well.

[Escort3500]

doogalman said:

wolfracesonic said:

Isn't Later with Jools Holland in the same mould as Whistle Test?

I think Later is more about Jools wanting to be the big man. I'm also sure I have seen people lip synching on Later.
Personally I'd watch a rerun of any TOGWT anytime over seeing Ruby Turner, Gregory Porter or any other of Jool's mates being on over and over.
The whole thing about most of TOGWT was the Band was playing to so few people, often just the production team that was present. The audience was not an integral part of the program which just worked so well.

Agree. I don’t enjoy Later... much, esp with the repetitive appearances as you say. Used to love the ‘atmosphere’ of the OGWT - scruffy warehouse feel, studio crew, presenter and a rawness that no other show’s managed to capture since.