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What are you listening to ? Part2


The Major

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The Old Grey Whistle Test was an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from September 1971 until 1987. The first host was Richard Williams, then features editor of the Melody Maker music weekly. During this initial period, there was a remarkable correlation between the featured artists on the show, and those appearing on the magazine's front page. Eventually, Williams was replaced by DJ Bob Harris (nicknamed "Whispering Bob Harris", due to his quiet voice and "laid back" style). The programme hosted many seminal acts of the era, including the first British TV performance of Bob Marley and the Wailers. The show's focus on "serious" rock music rather than chart hits was emphasised by the lack of showbiz glitter; bands would often perform their songs in front of plain wooden boards (actually the backs of set walls from other programmes). As with many BBC productions, this was (initially at least) as much a matter of money as of style. Other late night shows of the time, having only 'minority' appeal, also had to be content with spartan sets.

The series' opening titles consisted of an animation of a male figure (known as the 'Star Kicker') made up of stars dancing. The programme's title music, with its distinctive harmonica theme, was a track called "Stone Fox Chase" by a Nashville band, Area Code 615.

Annie Nightingale took over as host in 1978, and in the early 1980s Andy Kershaw, David Hepworth, Mark Ellen and Richard Skinner also took turns as presenters. In 1983 the programme had its title abridged to Whistle Test; was moved to a live mid-evening slot; and had both title credits and music changed. Although many felt that the show had run its course by the time it went off the air, it laid the template for many successive "serious" British music programmes, such as The Tube and Later with Jools Holland.

A parody of the show as part of Rutland Weekend Television in 1975, featuring Eric Idle as Harris is the first known mention of fictional band, Toad The Wet Sprocket - a later reference on a Monty Python album gave rise to the band of the same name.

The series was parodied on the highly influencial sketch show: The Fast Show, with the unforgettable Jazz Club, hosted by the eccentric (but quiet) Louis Balfour (a play on Bob Harris).

Origin of programme name

According to Harris, the programme derived its name from "a Tin Pan Alley phrase from years ago. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the "old greys" - the collective nickname for the office cleaners who would typically start work at 5pm as office staff were leaving. The tunes they could remember and could whistle, having heard them just once or twice, had passed "the old grey whistle test".

Some Classic Whistle Test :

The Ramones

ZZ Top !

BB King

The Specials

And a classic Rolling Stones with Brian Jones my favorite Stones track :

We love You.

I think The Stones brought this tune out for fans who after public outcry got them off a jail term for drugs. Hence Jagger dressed as Oscar Wilde at trial in video. I think the police set The Stones up with a drug bust or it was The News of The World. Legend says that when London police raided a Rolling Stones party in the 1960s, they found lead singer Mick Jagger eating a Mars Bar from between girlfriend Marianne Faithfull's legs. But this was False.

:wassnnme:

Edited by The Major
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