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.
The Who / Claire Hammill / Shawn Phillips / Status Quo
S2 Ep21
7.5
30th Jan 1973
The Who: The Relay / Long Live Rock
Claire Hammill: The Artist / Please Stay Tonight Shawn Phillips
Status Quo: Don’t Waste My Time (Marquee film)
Roberta Flack / Mike Absalom / The Rolling Stones / Frank Zappa
S2 Ep20
7.5
23rd Jan 1973
Roberta Flack: Sonny and Sister Joy / I Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer
Mike Absalom: Hector the Dope Sniffing Hound / Saga of WPC Sadie Stick
The Rolling Stones: Happy, All Down The Line (concert clips)
Frank Zappa: Cleetus Awreetus Awrightus (filmfinders clip)
J Geils Band / Joan Armatrading / David Geffen / Captain Beefheart / Barclay James Harvest / Exuma
S2 Ep18
7.5
9th Jan 1973
J. Geils Band: Looking for a Love / Floyds Hotel
Joan Armatrading: Child Star / Give it a Try
David Geffen interview
Captain Beefheart : Some Yo Yo Stuff (filmfinders) Barclay James Harvest: Thank You (Marquee film)
Exuma: Baby Let Me In (filmfinders)
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"
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
Terry Reid - Del Shannon - Strider - Mike Oldfield - Pete Sinfield
S2 Ep45
6.0
19th Jun 1973
Terry Reid: Without Expression / Live Life
Del Shannon - Louise
Kelly Strider: Higher & Higher (promo)
Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells (promo)
Pete Sinfield: Still (promo)
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 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
The Who / Claire Hammill / Shawn Phillips / Status Quo S2E21 rated 7.5
Roberta Flack / Mike Absalom / The Rolling Stones / Frank Zappa S2E20 rated 7.5
J Geils Band / Joan Armatrading / David Geffen / Captain Beefheart / Barclay James Harvest / Exuma S2E18 rated 7.5
The lowest rated episodes of The Old Grey Whistle Test are:
The Move S1E11 rated 6.0
The Beach Boys S1E34 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
Terry Reid - Del Shannon - Strider - Mike Oldfield - Pete Sinfield S2E45 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.
