Old Grey Whistle Test 1973

[Kev Hunter]

I'm starting a blog using my 1974 diary as the basis for it, including a regular look back at the music and TV I enjoyed 50 years ago, and in the 'notes from 1973' section I had written about that year's OGWT 'best of' compilation which was broadcast in the afternoon of Monday 31 December 1973.  It included film of Jimi Hendrix, music from Pink Floyd and Mike Oldfield, and studio performances from Edgar Winter Group ("Frankenstein") and more. Apparently this particular edition of OGWT had been scheduled for 1 Jan 1974 broadcast in its usual late evening slot, but had been shown a day early due to the incoming Energy Crisis restrictions which led to TV shutting down earlier than usual. Does anyone know if this edition still exists? I'm pretty sure that it also included Rick Wakeman performing "Catherine Howard" from his 'Six Wives Of Henry VIII' album, and Jim Croce.

[stevedinsdale]

genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_two_england/1974-01-01

Hi Kev, Your memory would appear to be pretty clear. It's not listed in the Radio Times as being TX'd on 31/12/73, but as these were emergency measures I
wouldn't expect it to be. The listing for late 01/01/73 states: "In this New Year's Day edition Bob Harris looks at highlights from the last series including: Roy Buchanan, Ry Cooder, Humble Pie, Roberta Flack, Rick Wakeman, Steppenwolf, Everly Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Edgar Winter".

I think it's highly likely that this episode still exists as the BBC tended to be attracted to keeping `Best Ofs' (sometimes at the expense of the weekly shows though, sadly)

[Kev Hunter]

Thanks for the link, Steve - I guess that the Radio Times for the Christmas and New Year period must have been printed well in advance of the energy crisis restrictions being put into place. I remember a mate of mine telling me that it was due to be on when I arrived at his house around lunchtime on 31 December, so he must have seen or heard a trailer for it earlier in the day. I have found some of the performances on YouTube, but there's no way of telling whether they are from the original programme editions during 1973 or from that end of year compilation.

[stevedinsdale]

One way of telling if they were original clips or from the compilation is possibly the absence of Bob Harris. I think the clip shows were put together obviously to sum up the year's music, but also as a pre-recorded item to give the presenter the Xmas hols off ! If I recall correctly, the Boxing Day 1973 OGWT was the ELP
tour documentary (which has come to be known as `The Manticore Special'). So that would give Bob his Xmas as well as New Year off !

I'm interested in what you recall about the energy restrictions in Jan 1974, as I believe this might have been the cause of a show featuring German band Can to be one of the few from that year that there is no trace of in the BBC archive. (I worked there 25 years back, and I looked !! General rule of thumb, OGWT shows had much more chance of being kept after 1973 than before it...where coverage is very patchy)

[John Green]

Am I right in thinking that the BBC will ammend Genome where PAB details differ from the RT?

[tonyrees]

The track listing ...

BBC2 The Old Grey Whistle Test - Highlights of 1973 3.30 - 5.00 pm
This show was scheduled to be broadcast on New Year's Day 1974 10.45 pm - 12.00 am (according to Radio Times) but was brought forward to an earlier time slot due to energy blackouts. As you can see from the broadcast times the New Year's Eve version was longer.
Grin - Love Or Else (Filmfinders clip)
Roy Buchannan - Sweet Dreams (West Germany TV)
Jimi Hendrix - In From The Storm (film clip)
Terry Reid - Live Life
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (Filmfinders clip)
Edgar Winter Band - Frankenstein
Freddie King - Boogie Funk
Everly Brothers - Stories We Could Tell
Steppenwolf - Born to be Wild
Jim Croce - Operator
Pink Floyd - Echoes (Ian Emes film clip)
Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine
Rick Wakeman - Catherine Howard
Roberta Flack - I Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer
Derek & the Dominoes - Why Does Love Got To Be So Bad (Filmfinders clip)
The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There (The Collesium, Washington 1974)
Roger Daltry - One Man Band
Ry Cooder - Vigilante Man
Humble Pie - Black Coffee

[Kev Hunter]

Mar 2, 2024 23:48:14 GMT John Green said:

Am I right in thinking that the BBC will ammend Genome where PAB details differ from the RT?

It would be good if that was the case as there were a few instances where some guests didn't appear on the show despite being billed; for instance Loudon Wainwright III is listed as being on the edition of 25 June 1974 but I have made a note in my diary saying that he pulled out. However, the Heavy Metal Kids and Pete Atkin were on, along with the JSD Band (on film), a Ry Cooder track ("Tamp 'Em Up Solid"), and Ian Hunter being interviewed.

[John Green]

Drat. It's "As a result of the OCR process, some Programme Index listings derived from Radio Times can contain typos or other text errors. If you spot any of these, there is an “edit” function that allows you to correct mistakes. Each edit will be approved by a member of the BBC Programme Index team.

Please note that we cannot accept additions to the data, as the listings must reflect what was originally printed in Radio Times." genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/faqs