View Full Version : Old Grey Whistle Test
The third and final Old Grey Whistle Test DVD is out this week.
It features such gems as David Bowie's Oh You Pretty Things, Steppenwolf's Born To Be Wild, The Jam doing A Bomb In Wardour Street and Jesus & Mary Chain's In A Hole and, no doubt some absolute hippy horrors.
I've got quite a lot of music I've taped on videos over the years, but it seems to me that TV can't be arsed with rock music. Even the deservedly maligned Top of the Pops sounds as if it is heading for the knacker's yard.
I don't know why this is. You rarely see a decent concert and documentaries on great bands are rarer than hen's teeth. Given the hours dedicated to 'lifestyle' and makeover programmes you'd think they could come up with one half decent music show.
El Aguila
19-02-2004, 04:55 PM
I was a bit disappointed with disc II, seemed a bit thrown together compared to the marvellous first one. I also think they're restricting themselves by only ever including one song from each artist - I remember bands always did two and I want to see the other New York Dolls track or the Undertones or PiL.
Yeah, I agree with that, El Aguila. It does say this is the third and last disc but I'm sure there must be more stuff in the archive.
You have to have very wide ranging tastes to go for the DVDs because they can range from seriously beardy shit to great stuff like the Adverts – obviously it depends on your era ;)
I do miss the Whistle Test. It was always very hit and miss but there's so little on TV for 'rock' (to use the word loosely) fans. You get Glastonbury in the summer, perhaps at Christmas they wheel out an Arena special on BBC Two, maybe the South Bank Show will profile one rock artist in a series and that's about it. Where's all the rest of the stuff? You've got magazines like Mojo which (I understand) has never failed to increase its circulation month on month so there's obvioulsy a market for it.
You'd think programme makers would be crying out for subjects that rock can offer in abundance, but look through the schedules and there's hardly any serious music programmes.
selhurst
19-02-2004, 05:23 PM
I miss the Whistle Test too, and can remember seeing some great acts on there. You just can't beat a late night live music show. I must get round to buying the DVDs, I didn't realise The Adverts were included! I'll never forget when they supported The Damned at the Sundown, in Charing Cross Road, back in the summer of 1977. Now, that was a gig! :cool:
Selhurst300
19-02-2004, 07:28 PM
Ah, the dulcet tones of Whispering Bob.
El Aguila
19-02-2004, 08:21 PM
It was part of the charm of the show, how hit and miss it was, I think.TV programmers are odd people, really. Most of them are a bit out of touch with the diversity that exists in the viewing public and seem to want to programme the same thing as each other all day. With videos and DVD recorders it should be no problem for them to cater to or speculate on diverse interests in some of the more arcane slots.
Jools Holland's programmmes have mostly been good though, I think.
I'm a fan of Later, but it is very eclectic indeed, sometimes I confess I find it quite hard going, also because as far as the TV people are concerned it should be called Much Much Later. How much later does it need to be, a show like that could surely be given a regular time slot at say 10pm.
If you had a one hour music programme once a week scheduled after Newsnight, which offered a Whistle Test style format with perhaps one live band in the studio, plus concert footage, a short documentary and maybe a couple of videos would that not work?
It's often said that rock music doesn't work on TV but so many of the programmes in the past have been too bitty, too concerned with the image, the presenters, the graphics [most of the stuff I've taped off tv is covered with scrolling writing, as if you can't be trusted just to sit and watch the performance] but if you look through the schedules there's nothing like that.
And you hardly ever see concerts. I taped the Smiths live at Derby from BBC2 probably 20 years ago, but I don't see them doing anything like that now for up and coming bands.
You've only got to browse the BBS to see how many people are really into music, but they're not served by telly at all and when it does do something it does it in such a brainless fashion.
Twyford Bee
21-02-2004, 10:51 AM
Even the specialist music channels are pretty miserly with live stuff, you hardly ever get a whole gig broadcast. I'm sure they'd get plenty of viewers for, say, one complete live gig a month, makes a change from the endless music videos.
Gerry from Sussex
21-02-2004, 10:56 AM
I went to a recording once at Sheperds Bush. Can't remember the band but Annie Nightingale did the audience warm up (well, they could hardly expect Bob to do it could they!!)
David Murray
21-02-2004, 11:33 AM
Blimey this brings back memories - when I worked for the BBC I used to go to the recordings nearly every week.
Gerry from Sussex has just shown his age :eek:
Gerry from Sussex
21-02-2004, 04:16 PM
fraid so
Tim of the 80's
23-02-2004, 01:06 PM
Haven't got this yet, but I'm sure I'll be shelling out the £16 or whatever, even though I've probably got some of it already (the Bowie stuff is on his DVD). It is a shame there's nothing like this anymore but I guess that declining record sales and programming by focus groups run by accountants prevents anything like this turning up on terrestrial TV again. Incidentally, anyone remember a programme on Satruday nights, presented by Joe Melia - it was around 1972, general arts with a lot of music content - definately saw Roxy Music on it. I wish I could remember what it was called!
1fd7
Stellavista
23-02-2004, 01:10 PM
Originally posted by selhurst
I'll never forget when they supported The Damned at the Sundown, in Charing Cross Road, back in the summer of 1977. Now, that was a gig! :cool:
I'll never forget it, either, it was a f*cking terrible gig in a cr*p venue.
The Sundown was basically an old disco, completely unsuitable for seeing a live band. The room was configured in such a way that only the first couple of rows of punters could see the band, who, if I remember rightly, put in a stinking performance, replete as they were with their new guitarist, Lu Edwards.
Their 1st Anniversary shows at the old Marquee on Wardour Street, and the gig in April '77 at the Roundhouse, with Motorhead (first ever gig, I think) and The Adverts supporting, now they were memorable.
As for The Whistle Test, I haven't bought any of the DVD's, but I have a fair amount of the stuff on video, from the New Year's specials they used to compile.
I kind of like the total dog's dinner of a mix that these programmes are, with Alex Harvey, followed by The Damned, followed by Led Zep, and Little Feat. Laugh at the hairies and enjoy the rest....
Gooders
23-02-2004, 04:23 PM
Had a look at it at lunchtime today but there wasn't much on there to inspire me I'm afraid.
They surely ought to be able to do better than the 3 compilations they've come up with - I can only assume that they didn't want to pay some of the royalties that people would have demanded.
moverman
23-02-2004, 04:44 PM
Some of my favourites from The Old Grey Whistle Test:
Paradise by the dashboard light - Meatloaf
Put it in your pocket - The Average White Band
Reeling in the Years - Steely Dan
Freebird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Misty Mountain hop - Led Zeppelin
Blowin' free - Wishbone Ash
Gerry from Sussex
23-02-2004, 04:46 PM
Wishbone Ash were brilliant live
Gooders
23-02-2004, 04:48 PM
Originally posted by moverman
Misty Mountain hop - Led Zeppelin
Blowin' free - Wishbone Ash
Neither of these are on the DVD's though are they? Not on the first and third editions anyway.
El Aguila
23-02-2004, 04:52 PM
Originally posted by Gooders
They surely ought to be able to do better than the 3 compilations they've come up with - I can only assume that they didn't want to pay some of the royalties that people would have demanded.
Or the artists refused permission. Which I can see happening with people like Steely Dan or Led Zep. I thought the first one was brilliant, mind.
moverman
23-02-2004, 05:33 PM
Originally posted by Gooders
Originally posted by moverman
Neither of these are on the DVD's though are they? Not on the first and third editions anyway.
Don't know about the DVD's Gooders but I have them on Video somewhere.
This is the track listing for OGWT DVD 3
Lindisfarne - Meet Me On The Corner; 12.10.71
David Bowie - Oh You Pretty Things; 8.2.72
Jackson Browne - Jamaica Say You Will; May 1972
Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild; 26.9.72
Stealers Wheel - I Get By 7.11.72
Roger Daltrey - Giving It All Away 13.3.73
Humble Pie - Black Coffee 20.3.73
Fairport Convention - Brilliancy Medley 17.4.73
Freddie King - Boogie Funk 31.7.73
Brinsley Schwarz - Surrender To The Rhythm 6.11.73
Robin Trower - A Little Bit Of Sympathy 17.4.74
Supertramp - Dreamer 22.10.74
Johnny Winter - Jumping Jack Flash 29.10.74
Richard and Linda Thompson - A Heart Needs A Home 7.3.75
Janis Ian - At Seventeen 12.10.76
Al Stewart - Year Of The Cat 30.11.76
John Martyn & Danny Thompson - Couldn't Love You More 1.3.77
Chris Rea - Fires Of Spring 16.5.78
The Jam - ‘A' Bomb In Wardour Street 23.5.78
BB King - When It All Comes Down/Hold On 17.10.78
John Cooper Clarke - I Don't Want to be Nice 7.11.78
Joe Jackson - Sunday Papers 20.2.79
Simple Minds - Chelsea Girl 27.3.79
King Crimson - Frame By Frame 18.3.82
Orange Juice - Rip It Up 8.10.82
Howard Jones - No-one Is To Blame 29.1.85
Sade - Is It A Crime 5.2.85
Jesus & Mary Chain - In A Hole 12.3.85
Lone Justice - Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling) 4.6.85
Half Man Half Biscuit - All I want for Xmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit 6.5.86
Bangles - Walk Like An Egyptian 1.7.86
Also Bob harris has his own website and has some terrific pictures from the Whistel test in his Gallery
http://www.bobharris.org/pages/index.htm
Stellavista
24-02-2004, 09:17 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tony
[B]This is the track listing for OGWT DVD 3
Lindisfarne - Meet Me On The Corner; 12.10.71
David Bowie - Oh You Pretty Things; 8.2.72
Jackson Browne - Jamaica Say You Will; May 1972
Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild; 26.9.72
Stealers Wheel - I Get By 7.11.72
Roger Daltrey - Giving It All Away 13.3.73
Humble Pie - Black Coffee 20.3.73
Fairport Convention - Brilliancy Medley 17.4.73
Freddie King - Boogie Funk 31.7.73
Brinsley Schwarz - Surrender To The Rhythm 6.11.73
Robin Trower - A Little Bit Of Sympathy 17.4.74
Supertramp - Dreamer 22.10.74
Johnny Winter - Jumping Jack Flash 29.10.74
Richard and Linda Thompson - A Heart Needs A Home 7.3.75
Janis Ian - At Seventeen 12.10.76
Al Stewart - Year Of The Cat 30.11.76
John Martyn & Danny Thompson - Couldn't Love You More 1.3.77
Chris Rea - Fires Of Spring 16.5.78
The Jam - ‘A' Bomb In Wardour Street 23.5.78
BB King - When It All Comes Down/Hold On 17.10.78
John Cooper Clarke - I Don't Want to be Nice 7.11.78
Joe Jackson - Sunday Papers 20.2.79
Simple Minds - Chelsea Girl 27.3.79
King Crimson - Frame By Frame 18.3.82
Orange Juice - Rip It Up 8.10.82
Howard Jones - No-one Is To Blame 29.1.85
Sade - Is It A Crime 5.2.85
Jesus & Mary Chain - In A Hole 12.3.85
Lone Justice - Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling) 4.6.85
Half Man Half Biscuit - All I want for Xmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit 6.5.86
Bangles - Walk Like An Egyptian 1.7.86
Nothing much that grabs me there, except for the Bowie, Simple Minds when they were a tad more experimental than the stadium bores they were shortly to become, the wonderful Half Man Half Biscuit, Daltrey's single from his first solo album, and the truly out there Johnny Winter's version of Jumping Jack Flash. That man was a certifiable rock n' roll genius.
14d8
El Aguila
24-02-2004, 09:24 AM
I think I can convince someone else in the office to get this one - got the Jam on.
Gooders
24-02-2004, 09:38 AM
Originally posted by Tony
This is the track listing for OGWT DVD 3
Lindisfarne - Meet Me On The Corner; 12.10.71
David Bowie - Oh You Pretty Things; 8.2.72
Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild; 26.9.72
Roger Daltrey - Giving It All Away 13.3.73
Supertramp - Dreamer 22.10.74
Johnny Winter - Jumping Jack Flash 29.10.74
I'd be interested to see/hear those, but the rest of it I doubt I'd watch more than once!
Del Gland
24-02-2004, 09:58 AM
Funnily enough I found and watched an old 3 hr video that I compiled in the early 80's from concert footage and OGWT and couldn't believe the stuff I had that didn't make it.
The Lynyrd Skynyrd version of Freebird from their Stones gig is absolutely stunning showing the crowd initially laid back in the sun and being transformed into a heaving mass of leaping loonies by the sheer power of the guitar interplay.
What about ZZ Top doing "I Thank You"? What about Springsteen doing the "can't go on" bit in "Quarter To Three"?
They really have been slapdash in these compilations. Perhaps, there is a sense of embarrasment that they haven't got all the good stuff to choose from. It probably disappeared into the skip with loads of Spike Milligan stuff and the Rutland Weekend Televison series that I would kill to own on DVD.
I was also recently horrified to find John Peel making a major contribution to a programme on "Prog Rock" spending most of his time totally ridiculing it and saying how poor it was and yet I seem to remember him championing early Pink Floyd to death!
DANGERMOUSE
24-02-2004, 10:15 AM
Originally posted by Del Gland
I was also recently horrified to find John Peel making a major contribution to a programme on "Prog Rock" spending most of his time totally ridiculing it and saying how poor it was and yet I seem to remember him championing early Pink Floyd to death! He certainly liked the Velvett Fogg, if the back of their album can be believed.
Don't think I'd rush out and buy this D.V.D., but the highlight is bound to be the Supertramp footage, which includes John Anthony Halliwell playing a wine glass! :cool:
selhurst
25-02-2004, 08:33 PM
Originally posted by Stellavista
I'll never forget it, either, it was a f*cking terrible gig in a cr*p venue.
The Sundown was basically an old disco, completely unsuitable for seeing a live band. The room was configured in such a way that only the first couple of rows of punters could see the band, who, if I remember rightly, put in a stinking performance, replete as they were with their new guitarist, Lu Edwards.
Their 1st Anniversary shows at the old Marquee on Wardour Street, and the gig in April '77 at the Roundhouse, with Motorhead (first ever gig, I think) and The Adverts supporting, now they were memorable.
You never cease to amaze me Stellavista! The reason is that you were there, and in reality there weren't many of us. Of course you're spot on, The Sundown was a gay disco venue, which didn't have a raised stage. The DJ thought it was a good idea to play 'Anarchy In The UK' before the band came on, NOT a good idea! The whole place erupted, and there was a delay before the gig started (I remember kicking-in some barriers at the front). I also went to The Damned First Anniversary gigs at the Maquee (I used to go to this club about 1-3 times a week in 1977!), and I got the 'Stretcher Case Baby/Sick Of Being Sick' free single!
Oryol
25-02-2004, 10:08 PM
Originally posted by Del Gland
Funnily enough I found and watched an old 3 hr video that I compiled in the early 80's from concert footage and OGWT and couldn't believe the stuff I had that didn't make it.
The Lynyrd Skynyrd version of Freebird from their Stones gig is absolutely stunning showing the crowd initially laid back in the sun and being transformed into a heaving mass of leaping loonies by the sheer power of the guitar interplay.
I would dearly love to see that. Hard to imagine how a live "Freebird" fits on a single 3hr video, though.
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