Rock Date Diary: Judee Sills appearance on the “Old Grey Whistle Test” on 20th February 1973
Todays Rockdate Diary page features the anniversary of Judee Sills appearance on the ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ on 20th February 1973 – a performance still talked about today.
Bob’s perspective:
“She was an extraordinary feisty yet vulnerable artist. David Geffen signed her to his Asylum label in 1971 but she was ill-equipped to cope with the glare of publicity that came with joining a roster of stars that included Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt and JD Souther. But her performance on ‘Whistle Test’ captured the hearts of everyone who saw it. She passed away, far too young, in 1979 but her fleeting moment was so indelible that many documentaries have been made about her life and career since, including a deeply moving Radio 4 programme called “The Lost Genius of Judee Sill”, first broadcast in 2014 and still available on the BBC Sounds app.
A personal postscript – she married a music producer and pianist called Bob Harris in 1966, who helped produce her debut album ‘Judee Sill’ which came out soon after she signed to Asylum in 1971.”
This is a signed copy (or original document if selected and available) of a “show playlist” from one of Bob’s shows.
The Strawbs, Judee Sill & The Moody Blues feature and the show includes an interview with Elton John.