The Old Grey Whistle Test is an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers. According to presenter Bob Harris, the programme derived its name from a Tin Pan Alley phrase from years before. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys—doormen in grey suits. The songs they could remember and whistle, having heard it just once or twice, had passed the old grey whistle test.

Failed hunter Elmer Fudd laments that he's never able to catch the rabbit (Bugs Bunny); just then a bolt of lightning strikes, and the voice of God takes him through a flash-forward to the year 2000. Elmer and Bugs, now both elderly, look back to when they first met as babies.

1. Heads Hands & Feet, 2. Kevin Ayers, 3. Roxy Music, 4. Loggins & Messina, 5. The Who, 6. Judee Sill, 7. Argent, 8. Humble Pie, 9. Average White Band, 10. Montrose, 11. Bruce Johnston, 12. Be Bop Deluxe, 13. Nils Lofgren, 14. Daryl Hall & John Oates, 15. Joan Armatrading, 16. Roy Harper, 17. The Adverts, 18. Patti Smith, 19. Siouxsie & the Banshees, 20. Moore & Lynott, 21. Undertones, 22. Squeeze, 23. OMD, 24. Stanley Clarke/George Duke, 25. Tom Verlaine, 26. Aztec Camera, 27. Thomas Dolby, 28. Style Council, 29. Suzanne Vega, 30.Skiffle Jam, 31. Prefab Sprout, 32. Pet Shop Boys, 33. Pogues

Bob Hope wants to marry the mayor's daughter, but the mayor doesn't want his daughter to marry Bob Hope.

PART 1 (1971-72) - 1. Lindisfarne - Fog On The Tyne, 2. Curtis Mayfield - Keep On Keeping On, 3. David Bowie - Queen Bitch, 4. Wishbone Ash - Jailbait, 5. Fairport Convention - The Hanging Song, 6. The Crickets - Lovesick Blues, 7. Roxy Music - Ladytron, 8. Beach Boys - You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone, 9. Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild, 10. Jerry Lee Lewis - Chantilly Lace, 11. Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On. > PART 2 (1973) 1. The Who - Relay, 2. John Martyn - I'd Rather Be The Devil, 3. The Wailers - Stir It Up, 4. Average White Band - Put It Where You Want It, 5. Ry Cooder - Vigilante Man, 6. Clifford T Ward - Scullery, 7. Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Next, 8. Rory Gallagher - Walk On Hot Coals

PART 1 (1974) - 1. Tim Buckley - Honey Man , 2. Stevie Wonder - You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, 3. Dobie Grey - Drift Away, 4. Supertramp - Dreamer, 5. Johnny Winter - Jumping Jack Flash, 6. Splinter - Costafine Town , 7. Captain Beefheart - This Is The Day, 8. Grham Nash - On The Line, 9. Ducks Deluxe - Coast To Coast, 10. Chick Corea - Space Circus. PART 2 (1975) – 1. Little Feat - Fat Man In The Bathtub, 2. Ronnie Lane Slim Chance - You Never Can Tell, 3. Richard & Linda Thomson - A Heart Needs A Home, 4. John Lennon - Slippin' Slidin', 5. Billy Joel - Piano Man, 6. Jackson Browne - Jamaica Say You Will, 7. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Freebird.

Bob Harris presents a concert by the southern rockers, recorded in Shepherd's Bush, London for Old Grey Whistle Test on November 11th, 1975.

Lindisfarne David Bowie Jackson Browne Steppenwolf Stealers Wheel Roger Daltrey Humble Pie Fairport Convention Freddie King Brinsley Schwarz Robin Trower Supertramp Johnny Winter Richard & Linda Thompson Janis Ian Al Stewart John Martyn & Danny Thompson Chris Rea The Jam B.B. King John Cooper Clarke Joe Jackson Simple Minds King Crimson Orange Juice Howard Jones Sade The Jesus And Mary Chain Lone Justice Half Man Half Biscuit Bangles

Alice Cooper Elton John Curtis Mayfield Randy Newman Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge Bill Withers Focus Rory Gallagher John Martyn The Wailers Roxy Music Edgar Winter Group New York Dolls Tim Buckley Captain Beefheart Little Feat Dr Feelgood John Lennon The Sensational Alex Harvey Band Lynyrd Skynyrd Emmylou Harris Bonnie Raitt Tom Waits John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett Talking Heads XTC Blondie Val Doonican & Charlie McCoy Meatloaf Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Police Bruce Springsteen Iggy Pop Tubeway Army Specials Damned Ramones PIL The Teardrop Explodes U2 Nine Below Zero Japan Robert Wyatt REM Simply Red

Jo Brand narrates a profile of the BBC's first flagship live music programme, The Old Grey Whistle Test, which ran from 1971-1987.

Bob Harris introduces the Kinks in concert at the Rainbow Theatre, London, on Christmas Eve 1977.

01.Talking Heads, 02.Andy Kershaw Intro, 03.Ramones, 04.Be Bop Deluxe, 05 The Cult, 6.Frank Zappa, 07.James King & The Lone Wolves, 08.Patti Smith, 09.Nils Lofgren, 10.Wangford, Bragg & Croker, 11.Linda Ronstadt, 12.Run DMC, 13.Smiths, 14.Marillion, 15.Echo & The Bunnymen & Billy Bragg, 16.Heart, 17.Johnny Winter, 18.Kinks, 19.The Boys, 20.King Crimson, 21.Iggy Pop, 22.Neil Young, 23.Young interview, 24.Emmylou Harris, 25.Ritchie Blackmore, 26.Blackmore interview, 27.Deep Purple, 28.Adam & The Ants, 29.PIL, 30.David Bowie, 31.Bob Harris Intro, 32.Rolling Stones

01. Intro, 02. Bob Harris Intro, 03. U2, 04. Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, 05. The Runaways, 06. Chris Rea, 07. Cheap Trick, 08. Randy Newman, 09. Jack Bruce, 10. Lene Lovich, 11. Tubeway Army, 12. Madness, 13. Fabulous Thunderbirds, 14. John Cooper Clarke, 15. OMD, 16. Linton Kwesi Johnson, 17. Gang Of Four, 18. Scars, 19. Eurythmics. 20. Altered Images, 21. Joe Ely, 22. The Sound, 23. Ry Cooder, 24. Robin Trower, 25. Rolling Stones, 26. Rolling Stones, 27. Billy Preston with the Rolling Stones, 28. Terry Reid, 29. Ian Dury & The Blockheads

or better and for worse, The Old Grey Whistle Test was probably the most resolutely serious music program ever broadcast on television. During its 16-year run it showcased only the most earnest exponents of whichever musical style was currently popular, and given that the program's heyday coincided with the early '70s, some of the footage included here (e.g., the prog noodlings of the Edgar Winter Group) will provide humor as exquisite as only unintentional comedy can. However, the good stuff collected here is very good, both in terms of performance (Tom Petty snarling "American Girl", a pre-irony U2 whooping up "I Will Follow") and historical interest, notably a shockingly youthful Elton John crooning "Tiny Dancer."

Bob Harris presents a concert special from the BBC Television Theatre in Shepherd's Bush, first broadcast on 25 November 1975, featuring the zany antics of Dr. Hook.

Over its incredible 16-year run from 1971-1987 The Old Grey Whistle Test was THE destination in the U.K. to see cutting ed live performances by the hottest emerging acts in music. Until now! On Sept. 16 BBC Video is importing a DVD jam-packed with 28 vintage live performances from The Old Grey Whistle Test. Most have NEVER BEEN SEEN IN THE U.S. The first in a series of three Old Grey Whistle Test DVD compilations to be exported to the U.S. The Old Grey Whistle Test features performances by such legends as John Lennon Elton John Bob Marley Lynyrd Skynyrd Rory Gallagher The Police REM and U2 often at the start of their legendary careers! PLUS historic interviews with Mick Jagger John Lennon Keith Richards Robert Plant Bruce Springsteen and Elton John.

Hosted by Bob Harris, this live studio show features music, special guests and rare archive to mark 30 years since the legendary series was last broadcast. Featuring performances from Peter Frampton, Richard Thompson, and Albert Lee among others. Guests include Dave Stewart, Joan Armatrading, Ian Anderson, Chris Difford and Kiki Dee along with fans such as Danny Baker and Al Murray. A night of reminiscence, great music and fun.

The original documentary of Dallas radio legend Mike Rhyner follows the improbable rise of the architect of SportsRadio 1310 The Ticket, the first all-sports station in Dallas which redefined the genre and begat a cultural revolution in our fair berg. Written, directed and produced by former FOX4 sports reporter Crystal Vasquez, Not in This Town is a trip down memory lane with vintage footage of Rhyner’s unparalleled career plus interviews with luminaries who were along for the ride, such as George Dunham, Corby Davidson, Randy Galloway, Dale Hansen, Brad Sham, John Rody of KZEW-FM and, yes, Greg “The Hammer” Williams.

Bob Harris introduces film of Emerson Lake and Palmer's 1973 Euro concert tour. Behind the scenes antics include Greg Lake falling prey to laryngitis in Vienna, Keith Emerson destroying a keyboard and Carl Palmer rehearsing the 1812 overture.