The Old Grey Whistle Test

Available for over a year

Paul Jackson reveals how the BBC's influential music show devoted to rock albums, The Old Grey Whistle Test, survived on TV for 16 years from 1971 to 1988. It provided British TV debuts for the likes of Bob Marley and the Wailers, Billy Joel, Judas Priest, Judee Sill and Lynyrd Skynyrd - and yet was accused of ignoring punk. Looking at how it divided the musical nation, Paul speaks to presenters 'Whispering' Bob Harris, Annie Nightingale and Mark Ellen, plus artists including PIL's Jah Wobble, Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson and Wishbone Ash's Martin Turner. There's also a rare interview with Mike Appleton, the show's producer throughout its 18-year history. Producer: Paul Kobrak. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2011.