The Old Grey Whistle Test, Vol. 1

Movie / Show Details

Amazon.com

For 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.” The 180-minute DVD offers remarkably pristine picture and extraordinarily vivid sound, regardless of vintage. However, the menu won’t allow direct access to the individual songs other than through the artist gallery (and there is a “Random play” option), and the track listing itself is unhelpfully hidden in the packaging. –Andrew Mueller and Mark Walker