The Old Grey Whistle Test was 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…
The Old Grey Whistle Test was 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…
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Seasons (17)
Season 1
21 Sep 1971 – 11 Apr 1972 · 30 episodes
1America, Lesley Duncan21 Sep 1971
2Hands, Head and Feet, Bridget St John28 Sep 1971
3The Jack Bruce Band, Cat Stevens5 Oct 1971
4Lindisfarne, Wishbone Ash, The Who12 Oct 1971
5Stone The Crows, Loudon Wainwright III19 Oct 1971
6Buffy Sainte-Marie, Day of Phoenix26 Oct 1971
7Ralph McTell, Family2 Nov 1971
8Gordon Giltrap, Alice Cooper, Shaft, Yoko Ono9 Nov 1971
9Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention, Jean Luc Ponty16 Nov 1971
10Redwing, Alice Stuart23 Nov 1971
11The Move, Emitt Rhodes30 Nov 1971
12Fanny, Elton John7 Dec 1971
13Uriah Heep, Colin Blunstone14 Dec 1971
14Alexis Korner, Gerry Rafferty21 Dec 1971
15Andy Roberts, Lesley Duncan, The Roy Young Band28 Dec 1971
16The Kinks, David Ackles, Muddy Waters4 Jan 1972
17Fairport Convention, Jimmy and Vella11 Jan 1972
18Bell and Arc, John Martyn18 Jan 1972
19Curtis Mayfield, Rock & Roll Allstars25 Jan 1972
20Poco, Stevie Wonder1 Feb 1972
21David Bowie8 Feb 1972
22Mick Greenwood Band, Jimmy and Vella15 Feb 1972
23Rick Nelson, Hookfoot22 Feb 1972
24Seals and Crofts, The Strawbs29 Feb 1972
25David Elliot, Plainsong7 Mar 1972
26Episode 2614 Mar 1972
27Judee Sill, Audience21 Mar 1972
28Randy Newman, The John Dummer Band, Chuck Berry28 Mar 1972
29Kevin Ayers, Claire Hamill4 Apr 1972
30Vinegar Joe, Jonathan Kelly11 Apr 1972
Season 2
12 Sep 1972 – 29 May 1973 · 37 episodes
1Frampton's Camel, John Prine, Loggins & Messina, Roberta Flack12 Sep 1972
2The Everly Brothers, Jimmy Stevens and American Spring19 Sep 1972
3Steppenwolf, John Kay Band, Linda Lewis, Carly Simon, ELP26 Sep 1972
4Stone The Crows, Jim Croce3 Oct 1972
5Home10 Oct 1972
6Episode 617 Oct 1972
7Birtha, Mike Hugg24 Oct 1972
8Ellis, Harry Chapin31 Oct 1972
9Episode 97 Nov 1972
10Episode 1014 Nov 1972
11Bill Withers, Sparks, Neil Sedaka21 Nov 1972
12Babe Ruth, Philip Goodhand-Tait, Phil Spector28 Nov 1972
13Ralph McTell, McKendrie Spirit, The Doobie Brothers5 Dec 1972
14Focus, The Crickets, John Lennon, Yoko Ono12 Dec 1972
15The Faces, Fumble19 Dec 1972
16Episode 1626 Dec 1972
17David McWilliams, Stackridge2 Jan 1973
18J. Geils Band, Joan Armatrading9 Jan 1973
19John Prine, Rick Wiseman16 Jan 1973
20Roberta Flack, Mike Absalom23 Jan 1973
21The Who, Claire Hammill30 Jan 1973
22Crazy Horse, Roy Harper, Sharks6 Feb 1973
23Rory Gallagher, Duncan Browne13 Feb 1973
24Strawbs, Judee Sill20 Feb 1973
25Tony S McPhee, Tassavallan27 Feb 1973
26Argent, Shawn Phillips6 Mar 1973
27Roger Daltrey, John Martyn13 Mar 1973
28Humble Pie, Ry Cooder20 Mar 1973
29Badger, Medicine Head27 Mar 1973
30Roxy Music, Allan Taylor3 Apr 1973
31Spirit, Gallagher and Lyle10 Apr 1973
32Episode 3217 Apr 1973
33Birtha, John David Souther24 Apr 1973
34The Wailers, Pete Atkin1 May 1973
35Alaquin8 May 1973
36Roy Buchanan, Jan Akkerman, Lean Russell, B. B. King15 May 1973
38Golden Earring, Loudon Wainwright III29 May 1973