Bob Harris Compilations...
The first album featured a number of live tracks from the show with last year’s 40th Anniversary album featuring a whole disc of live tracks.
2012 goes one better !, we have listened to what the fans want and have an album totally made up of live tracks, The first two discs featuring classic live performances from the show and include Elton John, Van Morrison, Lynyrd Skynyrd and a very rare clearance from Tom Petty, the third disc will featuring recordings from last year’s award winning Old Grey Whistle Test 40th anniversary radio show and includes Thin Lizzy, Cat Stevens and Paul Weller.
CD 1
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers-American Girl
Elton John - Tiny Dancer
Daryl Hall & John Oates - She’s Gone
Van Morrison - Into The Mystic
Gary US Bonds-This Little Girl
Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge - Help Me Make It Through The Night
Graham Nash- Another Sleep
David Gates & Bread - Baby I’m A Want You
Suzanne Vega-Luka
Lindisfarne-Meet Me On The Corner
Tom Waits-Burma Shave
Poco- Just You & Me
Humble Pie-Black Coffee
Brinsley Schwarz - Hooked On Love
George Benson - Breezin’
Bill Withers - Ain’t No Sunshine
CD 2
Lynyrd Skynyrd-Sweet Home Alabama
Argent - God Gave Rock And Roll To Us
The Doobie Brothers – Rockin’ Down The Highway
Rory Gallagher - Bullfrog Blues
Captain Beefheart - Upon The My O My
Sensational Alex Harvey Band- Delilah
The Waterboys-This Is The Sea
The Ramones- Medley (Don’t Come Close/She’s The One/ Go Mental)
The Cult –Love Removal Machine
The Undertones –Jimmy Jimmy
Aztec Camera-Walk Out To Winter
Tubeway Army-Are Friends Electric ?
Television- Fox Hole
Blondie-Heart Of Glass
Nine below Zero- Stone Fox Chase (Theme From The OGWT)
CD3 2011 sessions
Paul Weller-English Rose
Thin Lizzy – Jailbreak
Ian Anderson - Mother Goose
Loudon Wainwright-Swimming Song
Gordon Giltrap - Heartsong
Gregg Allman - I Can’t Be Satisfied
Nil Lofgren- Long May You Run
Julian Lennon - Stand By Me
Joan Armatrading - Empty Highway
Judie Tzuke - Stay With Me ‘Till Dawn
Kiki Dee- Running Up That Hill
Nick Lowe - Sensitive Man
Steve Harley - Friend For life
Ralph McTell - Zimmerman Blues
Thomas Dolby-I Scare Myself
Chuck Prophet - Summertime Thing
Gang Of Four-Not Great men
Billy Bragg - A13
John Otway – Cor Baby (That’s Really Free)
Yusuf/Cat Stevens- Trouble
When the 'Old Grey Whistle Test' was first broadcast in September 1971, the world was a very different place. Digital technology was a distant fantasy. CD's were eleven years away. You bought your music on vinyl.
In 1971, there were no downloads, no mobile phones, no personal computers, no internet. Video technology was in its infancy. In those days, multi-channel television meant BBC 1, BBC 2 and ITV. That was it.
Two music shows dominated our screens throughout the 70's and into the 80's. One was 'Top of the Pops', with a format based on the singles chart. The other was 'Old Grey Whistle Test', designed to reflect the massively growing album market. You had to have released an L. P. to appear on 'Whistle Test'. That was the deal. There was nothing else even remotely like it on British TV.
'Whistle Test' was uniquely eclectic, featuring big stadium bands and brand new acts, across a range of styles. From Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Bob Marley and Curtis Mayfield, to Freddie King, Steely Dan, Emmylou Harris and Elton John, the programme delivered the best of its time and premiered artists who went on to sell millions.
The format was amazing, with live performances, concert footage, archive, interviews and filmed reports...every week, forty two weeks of the year, for the best part of sixteen years. The impact of the programme was huge...in a way that is less possible in this multi-format age. 'Whistle Test' became the focus for a whole generation of serious music lovers, because it was all about the music.
The legacy is incredible and this collection is the first of a series, highlighting some of the tracks and performances that created the 'Whistle Test' ethos.
Analogue heaven for the digital age.
Bob Harris.
Blues music was an essential and dynamic element in the alchemic ‘Whistle Test’ music mix.
The show featured fantastic archive films of the some of the legendary R &B and Blues players...musicians who created the template for Rock ‘N’ Roll and influenced the generations that followed. More...
The ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ was first broadcast in September 1971, at the height of the Progressive Rock boom. It was fabulous. Musicians were pushing out the boundaries, stretching the technology of studio recording and stage presentation. The music had colour and invention and was great for television...lights, dry ice and massive solos. More...
America became my second home in the 1970’s and many of these songs provided the soundtrack to our ‘Whistle Test’ filming trips there, particularly in the Southern States. More...
The ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ was a huge supporter of Country music. Even the original theme tune came from the heart of Tennessee. ‘Stone Fox Chase’ was recorded by Area Code 615, a group of top Nashville session guys who took their name from the local telephone code. The record featured the wonderful harmonica playing of Charlie McCoy. More...
I was extremely fortunate to be in London at the heart of the Folk boom of the mid-1960’s and to witness first-hand the emergence of some of the finest and most influential musicians we have ever seen.
More...
Bob Harris Presents Volume 1
Bob Harris Presents Volume 2
Bob Harris Presents Volume 3
Bob Harris Presents Volume 4
Bob Harris Presents Volume 5
Bob Harris Presents Americana
