TV The Old Grey Whistle Test - 1973/4 The Old Grey Whistle Test - 1973/4 7.5/10 by 2 users 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. Details Casts Posters Images Title The Old Grey Whistle Test - 1973/4 Alternative Titles First Air Date 1971-09-21 Last Air Date 1987-04-22 Number of Episodes 558 Number of Seasons 16 Genres , Networks BBC Two, Casts Bob Harris, Annie Nightingale Plot Keywords , Bob Harris Annie Nightingale Episodes List The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 1 Blue / Jim Croce Blue / Jim Croce 1973-09-25 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 2 Reggae in Edinburgh special Reggae in Edinburgh special 1973-09-25 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 3 Rolling Stones / Country Gazette / Leo Kottke Rolling Stones / Country Gazette / Leo Kottke 1973-10-02 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 4 Leo Sayer / Don McLean Leo Sayer / Don McLean 1973-10-09 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 5 Bloodstone / John Martyn Bloodstone / John Martyn 1973-10-16 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 6 Episode 6 Episode 6 1973-10-23 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 7 Episode 7 Episode 7 1973-10-30 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 8 Brinsley Schwarz / Gallagher & Lyle / Golden Earring Brinsley Schwarz / Gallagher & Lyle / Golden Earring 1973-11-06 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 9 Episode 9 Episode 9 1973-11-13 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 10 Clifford T Ward / Greenslade / Stealers Wheel / Man / Bees Make Honey Clifford T Ward / Greenslade / Stealers Wheel / Man / Bees Make Honey 1973-11-20 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 11 New York Dolls / Michael Chapman / B.B. King New York Dolls / Michael Chapman / B.B. King 1973-11-27 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 12 Hudson Ford / Gordon Giltrap / Mickey Dolenz Hudson Ford / Gordon Giltrap / Mickey Dolenz 1973-12-04 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 13 Episode 13 Episode 13 1973-12-11 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 14 Sensational Alex Harvey Band / Rita Coolige / Kris Kristofferson / Linda Lewis / Jackson Browne / Billy Preston Sensational Alex Harvey Band / Rita Coolige / Kris Kristofferson / Linda Lewis / Jackson Browne / Billy Preston 1973-12-20 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 15 Emerson, Lake & Palmer Emerson, Lake & Palmer 1973-12-26 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 16 Episode 16 Episode 16 1974-01-01 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 17 Dave Mason Dave Mason 1974-01-13 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 18 Sutherland Bros and Quiver / Ralph McTell / Ducks Deluxe Sutherland Bros and Quiver / Ralph McTell / Ducks Deluxe 1974-01-20 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 19 Episode 19 Episode 19 1974-01-27 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 20 Stevie Wonder / Doobie Brothers / Neil Sedaka Stevie Wonder / Doobie Brothers / Neil Sedaka 1974-02-03 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 21 Pete Berryman / Cockney Rebel / Marshall Tucker Band Pete Berryman / Cockney Rebel / Marshall Tucker Band 1974-02-10 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 22 Horslips / Roy Harper / Joe Walsh / Maggie Bell Horslips / Roy Harper / Joe Walsh / Maggie Bell 1974-02-17 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 23 Babe Ruth / Argent / Loggins and Messina / Cheech and Chong / Steve Howe / Rick Wakeman / Cousin Joe / Bonnie Raitt Babe Ruth / Argent / Loggins and Messina / Cheech and Chong / Steve Howe / Rick Wakeman / Cousin Joe / Bonnie Raitt 1974-02-24 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 24 Canned Heat / Van Morrison / Bill Haley / Alquin Canned Heat / Van Morrison / Bill Haley / Alquin 1974-02-26 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 25 Episode 25 Episode 25 1974-03-10 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 26 Rab Noakes / Chic Corea / Stefan Grossman Rab Noakes / Chic Corea / Stefan Grossman 1974-03-12 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 27 Saffrons / Stefan Grossman Saffrons / Stefan Grossman 1974-03-19 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 28 Lindisfarne / Isotope / Sharks / Alice Cooper Lindisfarne / Isotope / Sharks / Alice Cooper 1974-03-26 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 29 Cashman & West / Argent / Cat Stevens Cashman & West / Argent / Cat Stevens 1974-04-03 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 30 Strawbs / Judi Pulver / Jobraith Strawbs / Judi Pulver / Jobraith 1974-04-10 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 31 Jesse Colin Young / Robin Trower Jesse Colin Young / Robin Trower 1974-04-17 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 32 Episode 32 Episode 32 1974-04-24 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 33 Episode 33 Episode 33 1974-05-01 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 34 Beckett / Graham Nash / Bill Wyman Beckett / Graham Nash / Bill Wyman 1974-05-08 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 35 Nazareth / James Griffin / Lesley Duncan / Tangerine Dream Nazareth / James Griffin / Lesley Duncan / Tangerine Dream 1974-05-14 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 36 Montrose / Tim Buckley / James Gang / Black Oak Arkansas Montrose / Tim Buckley / James Gang / Black Oak Arkansas 1974-05-21 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 37 Van Morrison in concert Van Morrison in concert 1974-05-28 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 38 Episode 38 Episode 38 1974-06-04 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 39 The Butts Band / Bridget St. John / Groundhogs / Pink Floyd The Butts Band / Bridget St. John / Groundhogs / Pink Floyd 1974-06-11 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 40 Captain Beefheart / Dory Previn / Paul Simon Captain Beefheart / Dory Previn / Paul Simon 1974-06-18 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 41 Heavy Metal Kids / Pete Atkin / Ian Hunter / Loudon Wainwright III / JSD Band Heavy Metal Kids / Pete Atkin / Ian Hunter / Loudon Wainwright III / JSD Band 1974-06-25 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 42 Elton John / Dobie Gray / Adam Faith / Stevie Wonder Elton John / Dobie Gray / Adam Faith / Stevie Wonder 1974-07-09 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... The Old Grey Whistle Test Season 3 :Episode 43 Rolling Stones, 1965 US tour film Rolling Stones, 1965 US tour film 1974-07-09 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...