Old Grey Whistle Test

Nice.

Mmmmmmmmmm........

Best not shout about it - a whisper will do. 

That was my never miss programme back in my youth, and has never been successfully replaced since.

Could someone explain the logic of highlights from a TV program being played on the radio? 

Is it something to do with licencing the music from the artists, and it's easier to get clearance for radio rather than TV?

Most likely that highlights of The Old Grey Whistle Test picked by Bob Harris are not expected to get high enough viewing figures for a TV audience.

Harris will probably have a lot of creative control on radio, but on TV there would probably be a lot of interference from producers. The compilations shown on TV so far have been of the most commercial, or most easily packaged material.

Radio is much cheaper to edit and broadcast than TV, and so is more flexible. There may be some difference between licensing from the artists but it is more likely to be from the BBC.

I asked a producer I knew a few years ago about going through Granada's music library and broadcasting a best of things like 'The Oxford Road Show' but he felt it would not be viable. Even the library access costs are prohibitive.

Could someone explain the logic of highlights from a TV program being played on the radio? 

Watching a band of the OGWT variety standing in a shit studio with utilitarian lighting  bent double over their instruments with hair masking there faces -  ? err ?  hmmm  ?  might be a good idea to have it on radio

Seriously,  for OGWT fans of those days,  radio is an excellent way to relive those times

Finally,  despite the best efforts of the BBC schedule department,  I have found out when the OGWT series starts. 

Wednesday 24th August 10.00-11.00pm BBC RADIO 2

16-part series 

Programme 1 covers Sept 1971 to July 1972.

Bob interviews Alice Cooper and Elton John & plays archive sessions

Also original recordings from David Bowie and Curtis Mayfield.

Yusuf Islam, plays 2 live acoustic numbers and chats about OGWT & when he was Cat Stevens.

Hope a few of you tuned in.   You missed a treat if you didn't.

Chat included the original producer Mike Appleton about the creation of the show & where they got the name from.

Alice Cooper waxed lyrically about it & how it helped him & so many other serious musicians at a time when radio & TV was all about not so serious "pop" & that we really do need something like it today for the promotion of real musicians.  Elton added how OGWT was so significant in his early career.

Bob played Alice & Elton archive sessions & also Bowie & Curtis Mayfield.  I had forgot how good Bowie was live in the "Spiders" days,  ditto Curtis Mayfield. 

Yusuf (Cat Stevens) had a chat & performed 2 live numbers.  Nice,  better to listen to than watch.  

A big surprise was a live session from band from my past,  Wishbone Ash. I had no idea they were still running, still with leader Martin Turner. I saw the very first WA gig in 1969 on a first night out with my new wife at Dunstable Hall, still got the program (as you do).

Next week has great promise:  

Live from Argent, Colin Blunstone & Ralph McTell  

Archive sessions from Bill Withers, Del Shannon, Rory Gallagher and the first ever UK session by The Wailers & some guy called Bob Marley  

Just catching up on iPlayer. This has to be one of the best format for a music show. Album based and far away from the pop charts. Some very special moments to be had. 

This format still works today , especially with whispering Bob in charge.

What BigH said +1.

Brilliant.

Its the first radio show i have recorded in years.

Stu

I must say a big thanks to Terry Franks for giving me a call yesterday to remind me it was on.

 It was alot better than the West Ham game.

Stu

Tel,

Did you get a good recording from your Nat 01 to your Nak?

I hope you did man?

If you didnt?

DONT let Tracy do any pick ups  that start in beach and ends in head near Sussex

Stu

Thoroughly enjoyed this. I particularly appreciated that some of the archive live tracks weren't merely repeating the ones that have been included on the official release DVDs - the Bowie and Elton John tracks seemed to fall into this category. 

Looking forward to more. Just need to remember to be in front of the recorder every Wednesday evening....

Must catch this on the iPlayer before it expires

Managed to catch the first episode last night........"Five Years" is still one of my favourite Bowie tracks

Enjoyed listening to the interviews and the Yusuf (Cat Stevens) session....nice.

Looking forward to tonight!

Almost at the end of tonights show.

Great stuff.

Next week another great line up.

I used to want to be 10 years older when i was younger.

I now want to be 10 years younger now i am older.

I think i grew up in the best times for music ever.

Stu

Great show again,  nice to hear my old mate Ralph McTell is still around - listened & even played with him a few times around the clubs when the world was black & white & 405 lines.

Wailers,  I have that track on CD so it gets a regular run,  but the master at work for sure

Mi soon come Cari-bee-an for 4 weeks in October - will get overdose of Marley for sure.

+100  -  I think i grew up in the best times for music ever.

I had the whole of the 60's for misspent yoof & the obligatory D,S & R&R    

Then with a new wife & the domestication training period, OGWT provided the regular fix of how it used to be.   

My knees wish they were 10 years younger - got new ones coming - 1st gets done in November. 

Talking of which,  I wonder if OGWT is going to run any Ten Years After.  

>  I think i grew up in the best times for music ever.

Me too, but don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone; they paved paradise and put up another $%&£€ Tesco. 

> Ten Years After

Great band - got quite a few of their records. Definitely agree more TYA, more Groundhogs, more Uriah Heep, more Ralph McTell, more Plainsong, more ..... if only Alan F was still with us pop pickers. 

Mike,

I wish you well with your new knees.

I know two people that have had one knee done this year.

 Both are in no hurry now to have their other ones done.

Stu

Stu,  were the knee replacements complete or half knee  ??

As far as i know they were both complete replacements.

That should be three people i know this year.

 My sons Grandmother had hers done, lig/tendant that had to be sorted at the same time.

She wishes she had never bothered.

Stu