21st September 1971 passing Old Grey Whistle Test, but what was it?

Old Grey Whistle Test Presenters

David Attenborough commissioned the program, which was created by Rowan Ayers.

The show went through several presenters over its long run, starting in 1971 with Richard Williams, the first presenter, who was also editor of Melody Maker. The following year Bob Harris would take over and would become become the presenter most associated with the show. Bob was a radio DJ with the nick name, ‘Whispering Bob Harris’, on the account of his low toned whispering radio voice. Other presenters over the years would join the line up including Ian Whitcomb, Annie Nightingale, Andy Kershaw, David Hepworth, Mark Ellen, Richard Skinner, Ro Newton.

Unknowns who became known

Music performances from non-chart artists who became known later on such as Roxy Music, David Bowie, Elton John, Alice Cooper, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Roger Daltrey from THE WHO, John Lennon, Dire Straits, Gary Numen. The list is vast all first appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test

The show ran from 1971 to New Years 1988 on the late night BBC 2 slot and rebooted on BBC 4 up to 2018.

Old Grey Whistle Test 40th Anniversary

Old Grey Whistle Test 2 [DVD] [2003] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

The Old Grey Whistle Test – Vol. 3 [DVD]

The origin of the name, “The Old Greys”

The name seems to arrive from a real term, “The Old Greys” that was given to elderly service people working in the buildings where music writing and publication happened, back from the Tin Pan Alley days in the USA. These people would be exposed to the songs and those who could retain part of the melody or hook whistling or humming it, would be a sign that these tunes were likely to be a success. This was known as passing the “Old Grey Whistle Test”.

Theme tune of the Old Grey Whistle Test “Stone Fox Chase”

Area Code 615 was the name taken from the dialling code for Nashville and used by the country rock band of the same name. The harmonica playing tune “Stone Fox Chase” by Charlie Mccoy is the theme tune of the programme.

The Old Grey Whistle Test – The Definitive Collection [DVD] [1977]

Though Stone Fox Chase, would be the bands most recognisable music, the band was made up of largely session players for other music greats of the time.

The Old Grey Whistle Test theme tune

Which bands appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test?