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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - American Girl | |||
| 2. Elton John - Tiny Dancer | |||
| 3. Daryl Hall & John Oates - She's Gone | |||
| 4. Van Morrison - Into The Mystic | |||
| 5. Gary US Bonds - This Little Girl | |||
| 6. Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge - Help Me Make It Through The Night | |||
See all 16 tracks on this disc
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| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama | |||
| 2. Argent - God Gave Rock And Roll To Us | |||
| 3. The Doobie Brothers - Rockin' Down The Highway | |||
| 4. Rory Gallagher - Bullfrog Blues | |||
| 5. Captain Beefheart - Upon The My O My | |||
| 6. Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Delilah | |||
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See all 15 tracks on this disc
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| Disc: 3 | |||
| 1. Paul Weller - English Rose | |||
| 2. Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak | |||
| 3. Ian Anderson - Mother Goose | |||
| 4. Loudon Wainwright - Swimming Song | |||
| 5. Gordon Giltrap - Heartsong | |||
| 6. Gregg Allman - I Can't Be Satisfied | |||
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See all 20 tracks on this disc
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Product Description
Review
The revitalised Old Grey Whistle Test brand’s latest compilation taps the archives for a spread of live recordings. Amongst the cuts are quite splendid renditions of familiar favourites, barnstorming bursts of fevered rock’n’roll, and a whole disc of new sessions recorded in 2011. It all adds up to a package well deserving of the OGWT seal of approval.
Disc one’s first standout is a wonderfully understated Tiny Dancer, finding Elton John alone with his piano and a bucket-load of emotion. Sure, the tracks been wheeled out for dozens of comparable compilations before this one; but this recording resonates with a tenderness less apparent on the studio version. Suzanne Vega’s Luka and Van Morrison’s Into the Mystic are fine takes, and Hall & Oates’ swaggering She’s Gone is a smile-inducing cut that leads the contemporary listener into imagining Flight of the Conchords giving it the pastiche treatment.
Best of all on disc one is Tom Waits’ Burma Shave, as uniquely dishevelled and as singularly menacing as any song one will ever hear. To this day Waits is a true original, and here he’s as raw as his reputation dictates, stealing the show from the ‘friendlier’ sounds of Lindisfarne, George Benson and the in-beautiful-voice Bill Withers.
Disc two kicks off with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s (likely) immortal Sweet Home Alabama, but the song sounds as if it was recorded from the other side of an aircraft hangar. Argent’s God Gave Rock and Roll to You resets the quality control, its sing-along chorus as glorious in 2012 as it was in 1973 – although these ears will forever be more receptive to the boisterous 1991 cover of the track by KISS. Captain Beefheart is maniacally mischievous on Upon the My-O-My, and Ramones thunder through an awesome medley of Don’t Come Close, She’s the One and Go Mental; but perhaps the most thrilling track on the second disc is Rory Gallagher’s Bullfrog Blues. Simply breathless, it’s a bracing nine minutes that regularly bursts into a brilliant racket, piano and guitar duelling until both are sweaty messes.
The newer sessions are primarily reserved for old hands, artists whose careers stretch back to the days of OGWT on the telly. Chuck Prophet is a notable exception, with his Summertime Thing. Overall, this release is a journey both of nostalgia and discovery – experienced ears will appreciate the rougher-edged versions, and fresh ones can explore superb talents for the first time.
--Al Fox
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
CD Description
The legendary Old Grey Whistle Test returns with the third in the series - this album delivers what the fans have been asking for. All Live tracks, CD1 and CD2 feature tracks from the original classic show including Van Morrison, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Elton John and the mighty Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. All original and all live - CD3 features tracks from the Old Grey Whistle Test's 40th anniversary BBC Radio 2 show as produced and presented by Bob Harris himself in 2011. All the artists featured on CD3 performed on the original show at some point. The album is lovingly packed in reverse board digipack and comes with sleeve-notes written by Bob himself.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By blade
Format:Audio CD
I have really enjoyed the previous OGWT album's but really wanted an album of fully live tracks, and what do you know... here it is.. OGWT Live really captures the essence of the show... the fact that the tracks are not perfect copies of the studio versions are great, they have a real energy and excitement .Really liking the diversity of the album, you get artists you would expect with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Van Morrison etc but also great artists like George Benson and Bill Withers that sound great on this album, there is also a bit of new wave, showing that the show didn't in fact hate punk and new wave as was the feeling. CD 3 is also interesting with some great tracks, Jailbreak being a highlight for me. Well done Bob Harris. Top marks.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Bluesman
Format:Audio CD
Having bought all the previous OGWT albums I was happy to hear that this one would be full of live tracks direct from the programme - and I wasnt disappointed! There are some legendary songs from Skynyrd and Elton John as well as some great rockers like Love Removal Machine and my personal favourite Black Coffee by Humble Pie. The 3rd disc was a welcome bonus of studio sessions that is full to the brim of great songs reworked by equally great artists! I can now take the OGWT live show anywhere I want!
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
At last the mother lode has been struck and the gold seam starts to be mined. This reviewer spent a large part of his spotty youth sellotaping a microphone from an aged cassette deck to the television speaker to record episodes of Whispering Bob's Old Grey Whistle Test. To finally have these recordings in pristine live quality is therefore manna from heaven and now that the live performances of the show begin to appear it only serves to wet your appetite for more. That aforementioned cassette deck managed to capture Rory Gallagher's classic 1976 OGWT special (and a rather loud cat fight outside the window) , Steely Dan doing a ferocious rendition of "Reelin in the Years" with a solo from Jeff "Skunk" Baxter that required a defibrillator to bring you back to consciousness and of course a "loved up" version of "Help me make it through the night" by Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge where you watched the two of them to get up to a sort of "live" naughtiness. The OGWT was an oasis in the most barren of deserts at that time not least having to endure the weekly musical "waterboarding" of Top of the Pops. Sure Bob Harris was a bit of an old hippy but what goes around comes around and we loved him dearly. Indeed he was championing Alt Country before any one really gave it the label and words cannot capture in the days prior to the "Tinternet" and U Tube the joy of seeing artists like Poco, Tom Waits and Tom Petty for the very first time in the flesh.
One would imagine that there is much more to follow this release but for now saviour Television doing the best ever version of "Foxhole" in 1978 where Tom Verlaine yet again proves that he was touched by God not least when he hits that whammy bar 2.13 minutes in.... Read more ›
One would imagine that there is much more to follow this release but for now saviour Television doing the best ever version of "Foxhole" in 1978 where Tom Verlaine yet again proves that he was touched by God not least when he hits that whammy bar 2.13 minutes in.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This purchase was an impulse buy. I prefer to listen to live or unplugged music over the studio album version and was not disappointed by this album.
The track listing is sure to contain something for everyone. All of the live performances on the CD are up to my expectations for a "best of Whistle test" selection.
Given the number of performances in the history of OGWT, I'm looking forward to volume 2 should it appear.
The track listing is sure to contain something for everyone. All of the live performances on the CD are up to my expectations for a "best of Whistle test" selection.
Given the number of performances in the history of OGWT, I'm looking forward to volume 2 should it appear.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm just listening to this now and what a superb package it is. Even the old stuff sounds refreshed and renewed and the third CD of 2011 sessions is fantastic. Judie Tzuke even improves on her impeccable original song, and Kiki Dee does a John Martyn acoustic reading of Running Up That Hill that even beats Kate's version. Don't believe me ? Then check it out for yourself. There are so many instances of artists improving on the originals, whether they be their own songs or not, from Nils Lofgren doing Long May You Run, to Steve Harley on a lovely version of his A Friend For Life, or Ralph McTell revisiting his Zimmerman Blues. Loudon Wainwright finds new shades of meaning in Swimming Song, Ian Anderson revisits his lovely Mother Goose, Southern Rock legend Greg Allman really carries off I Can't Be Satisfied, Billy Bragg goes down the A13 one more time like Lonnie Donegan never died, Otway does the best version of Really Free that I've heard in ages, and Chuck Prophet's Summertime Thing is sung beautifully. Every track on the first two discs feels like it belongs there, even though there's such a breadth and variety of material and there's not one inclusion that I'd change. Everyone will have their highlights but for me it's Tom Petty kicking the whole thing off with the wonderful American Girl, Elton's totally honest and faithful performance of Tiny Dancer, Graham Nash on the lovely Sleep Song, Poco, Stevie Marriot and Humble Pie, Brinsley Schwarz, George Benson, Bill Withers, Aztec Camera, the much missed Alex Harvey, and the Captain once more Upon The My-O-My in what was one of the best ever OGWT appearances. That brief list even misses out some of my favourite artists who are all on here with wonderful recordings. I think I'll be playing this a lot !
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3.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Value for Money
Speedily sent, well packaged and a great list of songs and artists. recommended for everyone who like me is that old!
Published 1 month ago by M H Clements
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great
Got this for my dad as a gift a while back and he loves it! Happy dad and happy son, great all round gift.
Published 2 months ago by Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brill.
It arrived in good time for Christmas.
Great range of artists. Took me back!
Wish the Whistle Test would come back.
Great range of artists. Took me back!
Wish the Whistle Test would come back.
Published 5 months ago by Mrs S C
1.0 out of 5 stars
poor reproduction
Most music is now remastered in stereo but not this album, really disappointing. Come on BBC, make more of an effort.
Published 5 months ago by Paul M Riddle
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Old Grey Whistle Test Live
The Old Grey Whistle Test Live C.D. is everything that I expected because I was waiting a long time for this C.D. to be released as I used to watch the series on t.v. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. G. R. Lloyd
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old is Gold
A must for music lovers everywhere, especially those of a certain age. Great quality recordings from one of the best and most informative music shows ever broadcast.
Published 11 months ago by IAIN SCOTT
4.0 out of 5 stars
LOVE CLIFF RICHARD BUT PLEASE DON'T TEASE!!!!!!
this is a pure delight,three cds of good old grey tracks
CD ONE(58.01)
TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS..... Read more
CD ONE(58.01)
TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS..... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Finbar the looney
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Old Grey Whistle Test Live CD
This was for my husband for Fathers Day from the boys he has played it in his vanwhilst driving all over the country ever since a brilliant buy with loads of great tunes. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mrs. Debra J. Allen
4.0 out of 5 stars
good cross-section of music
the 3 cd set represents a good cross -section of the music at that time.good value for the money.brings back a moment in time for some old grey listeners or maybe some who add a... Read more
Published 11 months ago by ripvan01
4.0 out of 5 stars
Love you live....!
Well here I go again - the third in my trilogy of OGWT compilation album reviews! Well first and foremost what you are getting for your money is actually a 3CD set of live... Read more
Published 11 months ago by C. H. Turnbull
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