Browse episode ratings trends for The Old Grey Whistle Test. Simply click on the interactive rating graph to explore the best and worst of The Old Grey Whistle Test's 558 episodes.
Best Episodes of The Old Grey Whistle Test
Genesis in concert
S9 Ep34
8.5
17th Jun 1980
Genesis in concert highlights at London’s Lyceum Ballroom 07/05/80.
Behind the Lines / Duchess / Guideline / Medley: In the Cage/Slipperman solo / Afterglow / Dance on a Volcano / Los Endos
Edgar Winter Group / Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee / Alan Hull
S2 Ep47
8.0
17th Jul 1973
Edgar Winter Group: Frankenstein / Rock N Roll Boogie Woogie Blues / Hanging Around
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: Walking My Blues Away / Sonny's Thing / Walk On
Alan Hull: Numbers (film)
Focus
S2 Ep14
8.0
12th Dec 1972
The guys in Focus were jamming in a small BBC studio in the heart of Television Centre, rehearsing for their first appearance on the Old Grey Whistle Test.
It was 12th December 1972, The atmosphere was great, very light-hearted and enjoyable as the band rehearsed its set. They decided to play 'Sylvia', 'Anonymous II' and 'Hocus Pocus', with a seasonal slant. Instead of following the usual pattern of the vocal breaks, This launched into a mock-serious yodelling version of ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas...’ building up to that top falsetto with a heart-rending ‘And a Happy New Yeeeeeaaaaarrr...’, tailing off into Jan’s million miles an hour guitar playing.
The performance was an absolute sensation. People had never seen anything quite like them before.
Series 2, Episode 1
S2 Ep1
8.0
12th Sep 1972
Loggins and Messina: "Danny's Song" and
"House At Pooh Corner"
Freddie King / Dr John / Doobie Brothers / Blue
S2 Ep49
7.0
31st Jul 1973
Freddie King: Boogie Funk Woman / Across The River
Dr. John: Such A Night
Doobie Brothers: Long Train Running (promo)
Blue: Red Light Song (promo)
John Entwistle - Kevin Ayers - Slick & Kanter - Seals & Crofts
S2 Ep44
7.0
12th Jun 1973
John Entwistle - Peg Leg Peggy / My Wife
Kevin Ayers: Shouting in a Bucket Blues / Oh Wot A Dream
Slick & Kanter interview
Seals & Crofts: Dust On My Saddle (film)
Worst Episodes of The Old Grey Whistle Test
The Move
S1 Ep11
6.0
30th Nov 1971
The Move performed two songs, Ella James and The Words of Aaron
The Beach Boys
S1 Ep34
6.0
16th May 1972
"You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone"
Birtha / Mike Hugg / Rick Wakeman
S2 Ep7
6.0
24th Oct 1972
Birtha: Free Spirit / Too Much Woman For The Henpecked Man
Mike Hugg: Blue Suede Shoes Again
Rick Wakeman Interview
Tony McPhee / Tassavallan / Donovan / Mickie Most / Country Joe MacDonald
S2 Ep25
6.0
27th Feb 1973
Tony S McPhee: Write Me a Few Short Lines / Me and the Devil
Tassavallan: Presidenti Lounge
Donovan: Cosmic Wheels (film) / interview
Mickie Most interview
Country Joe MacDonald
Argent / Shawn Phillips / Sha Na Na / Roy Buchanan
S2 Ep26
6.0
6th Mar 1973
Argent: God Gave Rock ’n’ Roll to You / It’s Only Money
Shawn Phillips: I Took A Walk / Lady Of The Blue Rose
Sha Na Na: Rock N Roll is Here To Stay (Crystal Palace, London clip)
Roy Buchanan: Them Changes / After Hours (Madison Square Garden, New York, 1972 clip)
Nazareth / Harvey Andrews / Camel / The Eagles / Del Shannon
S2 Ep40
6.0
22nd May 1973
Nazareth: Bad Boy / Vigilante Man
Harvey Andrews: Friend Of Mine / For My Father
Camel: Never Let Go (promo)
The Eagles: Outlaw Man (filmfinders)
Del Shannon interview
The Old Grey Whistle Test Episode Guide
The Move
S1 Ep11
6.0
30th Nov 1971
The Move performed two songs, Ella James and The Words of Aaron
The Beach Boys
S1 Ep34
6.0
16th May 1972
"You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone"
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.
The best rated episodes of The Old Grey Whistle Test are:
Genesis in concert S9E34 rated 8.5
Edgar Winter Group / Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee / Alan Hull S2E47 rated 8.0
Focus S2E14 rated 8.0
Series 2, Episode 1 S2E1 rated 8.0
Freddie King / Dr John / Doobie Brothers / Blue S2E49 rated 7.0
John Entwistle - Kevin Ayers - Slick & Kanter - Seals & Crofts S2E44 rated 7.0
The lowest rated episodes of The Old Grey Whistle Test are:
The Move S1E11 rated 6.0
The Beach Boys S1E34 rated 6.0
Birtha / Mike Hugg / Rick Wakeman S2E7 rated 6.0
Tony McPhee / Tassavallan / Donovan / Mickie Most / Country Joe MacDonald S2E25 rated 6.0
Argent / Shawn Phillips / Sha Na Na / Roy Buchanan S2E26 rated 6.0
Nazareth / Harvey Andrews / Camel / The Eagles / Del Shannon S2E40 rated 6.0
The first episode of The Old Grey Whistle Test aired on September 21, 1971.
The last episode of The Old Grey Whistle Test aired on April 22, 1987.
There are 558 episodes of The Old Grey Whistle Test.
There are 16 seasons of The Old Grey Whistle Test.
