Song Lyric Sunday – The Old Grey Whistle Test

This is a fun Song Lyric Sunday for me as I remember watching The Old Grey Whistle Test on the BBC in England. This week’s theme is to pick a song that was performed on TOGWT. Jim’s post has given you a description of what the term The Old Grey Whistle Test actually means, and a brief description of the show and what it was all about.

In the early 70s there was no cable TV and in the UK we only had three TV channels at that time. BBC1, BBC2 and ITV. For popular music lovers we would watch TOGWT, Ready, Steady, Go and Top of The Pops. Each show would be on once a week and it would be our only chance of seeing musicians on TV apart from the odd singer or band appearing as the starring act on a variety show. How things have changed!

I have chosen a really cool performance by Bob Marley & The Wailers from 1973. They are singing The Concrete Jungle and Stir it Up. It feels close up and personal in this studio setting.

Before he became the icon of weed smokers everywhere and the subject of terrible college dorm room posters across the globe, Bob Marley was a brand new type of musician.

Providing feel-good rhythms with his band the Wailers, he gained a reputation in London very quickly. That reputation was given its first shot on TV by TOGWT and the legendary singer did not disappoint.

Delivering a few different reggae renditions, Marley started a brand new revolution of sound and sentiment. His performance of ‘Stir It Up’ is particularly brilliant.

I am passing on the Lyrics again this week as I think it is more about the performance and the show itself.