Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 9780790794105
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0790794101
Label: BBC Warner
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: BBC Warner
Region Code: 1
Release Date: January 17, 2006
Running Time: 145 minutes
Sales Rank: 20407
Studio: BBC Warner
Theatrical Release Date: 2003
Related Items:
Editorial Review:
Product Description:
BBCs The Old Grey Whistle Test was the UK's seminal live music show. For over 15 years it was essential viewing for fans of album rock and serious music. It was the only place on British television for live avant garde progressive and jazz rock performances and the ideal venue for American artists looking to break in the UK. If you removed the comedy from Saturday Night Live and featured only the music acts you would have The Old Grey Whistle Test. Volume two includes performances by rock legends The Who as well as Roxy Music Meatloaf The New York Dolls Jim Croce Tim Buckley and many more! The Old Grey Whistle Test is a showcase for the best of the album rock era when commercial interests took a back seat to musical innovation. It's a must own for collectors of live music on DVD.Running Time: 120 min. Genre: MUSIC DVD/CONCERTS UPC: 794051202628 Manufacturer No: E2026
Amazon.com:
From the great to the near great to the not-so-great, from legends to obscurities, it's all here on The Old Grey Whistle Test, Vol. 2, an entertaining compilation of pop music performances from England's seminal live music TV program (well, mostly live--in some instances, the musicians are clearly miming to pre-recorded instrumental tracks). The show aired from 1971 to 1987, and the thirty complete songs occupying this lengthy (about 150 minutes) disc cover virtually every style that was in vogue during that period, along with some that weren't. When Whistle Test (so named for the notion that if a certain grey-haired doorman whistles your tune, then it's a hit) started, singer-songwriters were much in vogue, and that brigade is well represented by already-were or soon-would-be stars (Loggins & Messina, Jim Croce), others who never hit it quite that big (Joan Armatrading, Suzanne Vega), and still others whose legends have since eclipsed what they actually accomplished at the time (cf. Tim Buckley, whose 'Dolphins' from '74 is a highlight). Glam rock was popular as well, so we get Roxy Music and the New York Dolls (the riotous 'Jet Boy'), who bridged the gap to punk; the latter is represented by bands little known in the States, like the Adverts and the Undertones. The dubious virtues of New Wave are represented by the likes of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Siouxsie and the Banshees, hard rock by Montrose (featuring a very youthful Sammy Hagar), and classic rock by the Who, Argent, and Meatloaf (whose 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light,' featuring singer Karla DeVito, is a sweaty, salacious, over-the-top delight). Add to that the pop-cum-soul of the Average White Band, Hall & Oates, Simply Red, and the Style Council, and you've got something for pretty much everyone. Brief artist profiles and some amusing audio commentary by a Whistle Test presenter (i.e., host) and 'archivist' are among the extras. --Sam Graham
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - More Great Performances
"The Old Grey Whistle Test Vol 1" is the favorite music DVD in my collection. Volume II offers up more of the same type of intimate performances that this show was famous for. Unlike many shows of this nature, particularly those in the US, Whistle Test focused completely on the music. It was substance over style, though the dress favored by some of the acts looks hilarious now. Start with Volume 1 and then like me, you're going to want the second and third volumes. I hope there's more of these editions in the pipeline.
Rating: - What a shame!
I haven't bought either of these volumes yet, but what a shame the Beeb doesn't put out complete shows. Do I want to buy a disk where I don't care for maybe 1/3 of the content? No! For example, I have a DVD of Rory Gallagher on OGWT whose set is presented in its entirety and it blows me away.
THAT'S how this material should be released!
Rating:  - Big Dropoff
There is a huge dropoff in quality from Vol 1. of the Whistle Test clips to this package, simply because there is a huge dropoff in the quality of the artists between the two volumes. Sorry, but Loggins and Messina, Average White Band, Jim Croce, Hall & Oates, Thomas Dolby and Simply Red just don't match up to Bill Withers, Captain Beefheart, Talking Heads, XTC, Iggy Pop and the Specials. The commentary from the show's hosts and the various musicians is still enjoyable and enlightening, as on the first collection, and this whole volume is almost made worthwhile simply for the stunning clip of the sublime Judee Sill sitting at the piano and painfully/beautifully singing her majestic ballad. And Jools Holland is a lot of laughs, both when talking about the Squeeze clip that is included and in the clip itself. So there's some nice moments here, but I really don't want to own anything that includes Loggins and Messina on it.
Rating: - Mixed bag - as was the show.
The BBC have chosen to treat OGWT as if it's run was one long homogeneous series and the selection of music a history of the show. It wasn't. It was obvious at the time and interviews from Vol 1 really confirm that it was really 2 shows... The Bob Harris era, which featured eclectic art rock in a tiny studio characterized by high quality and occasionally impenetrable musicianship and the Anne Nightingale era characterized by whatever pseudo counter culture image the major labels were promoting that year.
In keeping with the fact that the BBC, when it caught on, ditched the former in favour of the latter - a lot of the real gems have turned up missing from these collections.
That said, they're still pretty good and have a few magnificent performances on them. In keeping with the OGWT philosophy this is mostly about the music. The chats before each are vaguely interesting but can be skipped once you've heard them once. Scene breaks separate the music from the chats in a way which music lovers love and video producers hate. Kudos.
Back to the real content. There is some good music, some disappointments, a couple of nice surprises and a couple of real gems here.
Patti Smith was disappointing, singing Because the Night like she'd been moking cigars constantly for the last 3 hours and was afraid to breathe for fear of her lungs collapsing.
Head Hands and Feet were a nice surprise with a neat bluesey opening number I'd never heard before. ... Read More
Rating: - Not bad.
I liked the first one better, but there's a few memorable performances on this volume. Roxy Music is fascinating to watch AND listen to. If you're suffering from "complete-ism" like I am, g'head and get it.
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