Back in the 1970s classic rock was in its prime. Some of that music made it to the singles charts and got plenty of airplay on TV and radio. A lot of classic rock was album-based. You had to listen to the entire disc to hear what the artists were sharing.
There wasn't the same opportunity for albums and their tracks to be heard. Seeing the artist live or buying (or borrowing) the album was the main route. So when a new TV show was launched in the UK aimed at non-chart music it provided a whole new opportunity to hear and see a wide range of artists.
Old Grey Whistle Test (OGWT) had its first screening on the BBC in 1971. It went on to showcase many great bands and artists. Some were already very successful and making a rare TV appearance. Others were much less well-known and hoping for a breakthrough. The show certainly helped many get a step up; it also made a minor hit for Nashville band Area 615 with their song “Stone Fox Chaser,” which was used as the theme tune along with the Starkicker imagery used in the program introduction.
Five of the best performances on this legendary show
Most of the shows were presented by Bob Harris and usually featured pre-recorded sessions broadcast live a day or so later, with occasional videos and interviews. On other occasions, the show switched to feature a live-in-concert approach. Sadly, the BBC re-used a lot of the tapes and only a few sessions remain available today.
The range of music was extensive and gave many viewers a real insight into new sounds. Even though they were studio sessions, the bands often put on superb performances, crackling with energy and excitement. Here are just five of the best performances from the show during the 1970s; there were many, many more, too.
Sensational Alex Harvey Band - May 30, 1975
The OGWT program on May 30, 1975, was a Scottish music special. It featured several top acts with Nazareth, Average White Band, Rab Noakes, Blue, and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band (SAHB). It was just SAHB and Noakes for the studio sessions and video film of the others.
This wasn't the first time the SAHB had appeared on the show, but it certainly made a huge impression. The band was pretty unique with a superb guitarist in Zal Cleminson, usually featuring a slightly scary mime makeup. They were, of course, led by Alex Harvey, a tough, charismatic, and somewhat maniacal Glaswegian who was one of the ultimate frontmen.
That all came to the fore superbly on this OGWT version of the Tom Jones hit, “Delilah," Everyone knows the song and its almost happy-go-lucky singalong chorus. Less well-known is that the lyrics and the song are about a man stabbing and killing his girlfriend after she slept with someone else.
When SAHB delivers the song there is no doubt about the nature of the song. Harvey, Cleminson, and the band bring a sinister menace to the music, but there is a light-hearted touch in there too. The OGWT performance of it is an absolute showstopper. There are some unofficial videos of their performance which are very much worth seeing. It helped them catch the ear of the UK public. SAHB released their version of “Delilah” soon after and got a top 40 hit from it.
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