OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST 1977 Bearsville Picnic

[@donrevie721]

My jaw literrally dropped to the GROUND when I heard the flawless, creative compositional and performing brilliance of TODD RUNDGREN !!! Wow . I really mean WOW !!

[@mhlevy]

I loved that Todd called "Close to the Edge" "pop music!" But also, I never thought I'd ever see much of Singring and the Glass Guitar played live! Just wow! I wished I could have seen that concert. I saw photos of Todd climbing the pyramid. Todd, Rodger, Willie and Kasim, what an incredible band.

[@wrekker69]

Wow. Remember this when it was shown. Never thought that I would ever see it again. Nice one.

[@bungalowmo]

Love watching the RA show! Great concert....saw that twice! They were all so young!! I guess...so was I! haha

[@chriz1976]

I had no idea that the 'BBC' did a special on 'Bearsville' artists from yesteryear. This is simply fascinating. I especially like 'Tony Wilson' and 'Utopia' performances. Thank you 'mojorisen' for taking time and effort and patience with uploading this priceless 'Old Grey Whistle Test' special.

[@superspartonbros9550]

OGWT and Bob Harris always featured his much loved Americana (not that it was called that then) or UK bands that emulated them (Brinsley Schwarz, Roy Young Band etc.) he still presents a Country/Americana show on BBC Radio 2 available on BBC iPlayer

[@chrisrickert8638]

This is SO AWESOME! I Love the FOGHAT and the Utopia....Just awesome, I love the Bearsville attitude and why they sign the bands that they do...just BRILLIANT!!!!

[@robertsinko3044]

Todd using Yes' Close to the Edge (audio) at the start of his video FX demo reel - That's Fukin' Cool.. How the hell did he have soo many things on the go during those years.. Solo records, Utopia, touring, producing so many bands.. Video Production .....etc.. Love the man!.

[@camillas5917]

I'm in this video at about 22:05 with my then boyfriend Rich. I worked for Bearsville at the time. How nice to see myself back then, and the 70's in full swing! Lots of love to all of you Bearsville folks out there.

[@josephliptak]

Cool "Rod the bottle Price", this guitarist was so goddamned good and never got the recognition he deserved. Man could he play slide guitar!!

[@gwensciora8516]

I can't wait to mention this to Kasim Sulton!¡ WUSB.FM NY

[@greghenderson4582]

And you will never meet a nicer more humble man !!! He and I were email buddies....I cried two days straight when he passed ......he was very underated !!!! And under appreciated ..no one sounds like Rod !!! And no one ever had a better Rock N Roll voice than Lonesome Dave !!!

[@DiBiasehere]

​@greghenderson4856 You are So Correct.

[@MIKE-D158]

And yet he didn’t play slide on Foghat’s performance on this. Standard tuning and regular lead on a goldtop Lester

[@Pess354]

I saw the RA tour but never thought I'd be able to see any part of it again, so thank you for sharing this - totally great footage of Utopia and especially TODD!!!! And special thanks to Doug at Rundgren Radio for finding it!

[@smolinger5656]

More concert coverage of the original members of Foghat

[@SanderAnderon]

what a find, such a rare vid...god, i miss the '70s so so much, but watching this is a sweet trip to those days, thanks again mojo

[@markrogers54321]

This is a great piece of rock and roll history. Many thanks to you for posting. So damn good.

[@bobobaldy1]

Saw this the first time around as a starry eyed teenager.Finally glad to have found it again.

[@Aquariusproduct]

I mix over at the Bearsville Theater currently. This footage is amazing. Can't imagine Woodstock being like this ever again, I remember it being more like this in the 90's but it's long since people like Albert Grossman (owned Bearsville studio/theater managed Janis, Dylan, etc) We gotta take it back again!

[@MichaelManolagas]

I even recall in one interview with TR on the inspiration behind the original Utopia album, in particular, "The Ikon." He said something like this, and I'm paraphrasing: One day I was having breakfast in some little restaurant in Manhattan while enjoying some psychedelic recreation. I heard this song come on that was really cool and different and somehow managed to get and retain the name of it. It was "Close to the Edge." That was one of the inspirations for me to create Utopia...

[@mirrortime]

Pretty much a perfect video. The ending with Utopia blew my mind!

[@Galaxyman2903]

Ah FOGHAT says it all, and the late great Lonesome Dave and the late great Rod Price blazing on lead guitar!

[@jamesian-allen8725]

Glad i watched this...excellent. I never realized hot chocolate was such a bad ass group...yes kiddies there was a magical time when music was music and bands really knew how to cook. And hot damn levon helm was something else, an immensely talented fella, r.i.p brotha.

[@Muddyspace]

This is where I discovered Foghat back in the '70s! Strangely, in the UK they weren't well known despite their past, so it was relatively easy to pick up the albums cheap from the likes of Cob records in Porthmadog

[@lemmno]

Wonderful! thanks! so coo to see Bearsville footage from this era!

[@DMVawter]

Hey! It's Whispering Bob Harris! And Foghat! And Todd exploring the limits of 1970s video technology. This is fabulous. Thank you for sharing it.

[@makissoflife]

Priceless! Thanks so much for this upload...much appreciated!*****

[@Tseringlhatso]

Remember watching this on TV at the time, never thought |I'd be watching it again in 2023! Saw Todd on the Ra tour in Scotland. They were late in arriving in Glasgow due to heavy snow, and didn't have time to erect the sphynx and the pyramid. In fact, they were still carrying out a soundcheck while we waited to get in. Had to stand outside in the snow for over an hour, it was freezing!

[@peacesofregalia]

Wow! This is immense, thank you so very much for posting. Came here via the Mick Ronson biog, can't believe the footage survived, thank God for KZbin!

[@carolloveskiwis]

Such a great vid. Never saw it before. Thanks for sharing!!

[@brickerb2]

Sights unseen. Sounds unheard. Mind blown.

[@frankny4947]

Rod Price fuckin' tearin' it up on 'Fool for the City'

[@rayjr62]

Underrated. Never got the credit he deserved as a blues player.

[@TheOlesarge]

Agreed.

[@pohl54]

Once again foghat show's how it should be done. You will never get a better rock/boogie band.

[@ibacook]

It would be nice to go back in time

[@traceyswanberg8796]

The amazing Paul Butterfield , Levon and Mac what amazing music

[@michaelb59]

Great footage, thanks !!

[@MRSHORTFUSE100]

Thanks,I checked it and it was a cool show,love the 70s Utopia!

[@ronnola]

OMG. I read about this program in the Mick Ronson biography but didn't dare to hope it'll appear on youtube. THANKS!

[@birdsnbows]

this year has a new moon every day of the week rock and roll every day and night of the year rockon!!!

[@RonWinter335]

Anything to do with Todd gets my vote!!

[@johnparker7784]

Todd is just greasy kid stuff. What else would you expect from a meth head.

[@euanshanks]

Thanks for sharing mate.

[@imautopian]

Thank you for this!! Wonderful!

[@def717]

This is so fucking cool! Talk about a walk back in time! Barry Feinstein's bald head, Paul Butterfield (!!!), Levon, my brother sitting on the grass, front row with his three best friends (RIP Jim, Dana & Herbie), just to name a few people...Thanks for posting this video.

[@TheWacky46]

Has anybody noticed that Paul Butterfield's band is an all-star lineup? David Sanborn on alto sax, Dr John (Mac Rebennack) on keyboard and Levon Helm (The Band) on drums.

[@ohmtronseedling]

+John Geary i THOUGHT that was Levon Helm. thanks for confirming.

[@frankcanino7768]

The sound of heroin

[@WearyCowboy]

I don't think that's Levon.....

[@tomclifton1822]

WearyCowboy it’s Levon. No other drummer is that tight

[@brötzmannsax]

It is very apparent the second you see him you know it's Levon.

[@MrTikitube]

Man, how I wish I had had an opportunity to see this tour!!

[@birdsnbows]

this is great thank you so much

[@ninamaria5409]

Bearsville Forever!! 🐻✌🏼

[@TallTallDaddy1]

Un. Be. Lievable. Thanks mojorisen!!

[@JeffWeavil]

Thanks so much...this is INCREDIBLE!

[@alexstorm1074]

Performances are in field next to Bearsville Theater and inside Utopia studio (Soundstage).

[@schralperman1]

...and as I recall the Ra performance was set up in a field up by the studio on Turtle Creek Rd.

[@meesalikeu]

the whole picnic was enjoyable. my fav was the epic singring from utopia. its just nerdy nuts.

[@laninelson8094]

Fabulous footage, mojorisen!

[@MrSmokeydog]

Foghat was in a league of their own as far as hard rock blues went.

[@oregonpatriot1570]

I saw Foghat about this same time two nights in a row. It was like 'groundhog day'.

[@motorpsych0]

Awesome to see this footage, J! Enternally grateful!!!

[@donalddavidson1216]

this footage of the ra tour is the holy grail of all rock video. where are these masters and where is the rest of the show?? I've waited 34 years to see this again. Calderone concert hall long island and the premier of the sphinx, the paramount theater in asbury park. the best shows by one of the greatest bands ever.

[@davidvawter4859]

No one has ever brought more fun to rock than TR. And you can catch them together again in all their pomp RIGHT NOW (sadly minus Roger and the pyramid, but playing as well as ever).

[@lilleo59]

Wow! Thank's for this early Christmas gift !

[@virginiaderrenkamp8413]

Hi Jimmy, I have never heard of this band.But they are a lot younger than me.They sound good.Hope your doing good. I REMARRIED 5 yrs. ago.

[@artmonk8596]

Also Van Morrison & Dr. John was there for a while. My friends parents have a sick house up the hill (when you get to the fork go right up the hill) from the Bearsville Studio & Theater ( I was excited to see from right off the road). Is that Levon & Mac with Butterfield - Love the RCO Live album. Always thought of Woodstock/Bearsville area sort of what some of Marin County north of S.F. must have been like. Similar artists hung/recorded/lived & played in small bars & clubs in both places.

[@creativematrix2625]

BearsvilleNY, Todd, The Band (produced by Todd), Dillon...friggin Woodstock....what a place to be at in the 70s

[@peterkennedy6798]

+Big Bang Lasers (bigbanglasers) Todd only engineered The Band. One album: Stage Fright. There's an alternative mix for that album, too. Todd liked to work FAST. The Band did not particularly. Plus they were distracted by some demons...But there is a great B&W photo in The Band box set of Todd and Rick Danko playing chess during a break in recording.

[@paniola1]

truth... i was there in the 70's...don't get no better!

[@klezmando]

I was there .

[@harvey1954]

The late David Sanborn playing sax with Paul Butterfield. along with Levon Helm on drums and Doctor John on keyboards.

[@RadioLadyOh]

Fabulous! Thank you J.R for finding and posting this lost treasure (chest!) SMASHING!

[@MRSHORTFUSE100]

As someone else stated thereshas got to be a full video concert of the Ra tour.Would love to see a dvd of this to see them play Mister Triscuits live from this tour,maybe some day!!!

[@Frankygenesis]

AWESOME !

[@garyrasberryjr.552]

Love that Veleno "Ankh" guitar Todd played.

[@livingabovethe12th]

foghat...rod price....'nuff sed.

[@mojorisen74]

The bands are Foghat, Jesse Winchester, Elizabeth Barraclough, Tony Wilson, Corky Laing, Paul Butterfield, Utopia. All of them were Bearsville Records artists with the exception of Corky Laing, I don't believe his Bearsville album was ever released.

[@OssMan25]

+mojorisen74 I wonder who all of the other musicians in the various bands are/were. Can you share that with us?

[@mojorisen74]

+Steve Ossias I don't know

[@ronevans6584]

Nice look into Al Grossmans Records. Apparently he screwed many of these artists over like many managers of that time. Some of them survived but he wasn't the help he should have been.

[@doodleedledoo]

Looks like Levon Helm on drums with Paul Butterfield, I know he was a Woodstock resident (Woodstock as in the town just down the road from Bearsville) "Big Pink" is up there too. I made a couple of records at Bearsville in the mid 80's, just after Albert died. His widow was running the studio, which was residential. I remember seeing Mick Ronson coming up the driveway too, and Mink Hollow not far away (as in Hermit of....Todd). Colorful place.

[@mirrortime]

@@doodleedledoo Yeah, That's gotta be Levon with Butterfield. Did your albums get released? Just curious. I bet you have some great stories. Are you still doing music?

[@toddfan3263]

Vote Todd into the 2021 R&R Hall of Fame! Go to "rock hall fan vote" and vote with several emails!

[@petermcintyreA1]

I wish someone would find the video of me, enjoying this period of my youth......

[@Veaseify]

Its incredible how big Foghat were back then, they probably accounted for 90 percent of Bearsville's profits! They didn't seem to fit with anybody else on the roster either..

[@MrTikitube]

Considering this video is some 35 years old, compressed as hell to even be on KZbin, it doesn't look to bad. One would wonder how good it could get with some "love", some color correction, perhaps some noise reduction. Bet we would all love to see this complete performance.

[@Racoldgin]

A live version of The Glass Guitar by Utopia? Wow....

[@905Alive]

screaming version of Fool for the City, Price was such a great player

[@MrJonman69]

The Ra tour, in case you haven't found it yet was recorded for German TV's Rockpalast. It's here.

[@rehconcepts935]

Awesome stuff!! I love the Corky Laing tune he performs - does anyone know if this song was ever released? I have been googling and you tubing and can find it..?

[@mojorisen74]

It's unreleased as far as i know. He recorded an album for Bearsville but it wasn't released

[@KOexSinger]

Fantastic! Love the RA footage! Thanks!

[@Reapprsr1]

re 18:30 :: A singer, blues harpist has to have an attitude, especially if he's fronting a band and living the blues - AOD at 44 - Paul B. R-I-P.

[@aarfeld]

Sadly this studio no longer exists. It was still in operation until about '03.

[@cradrock]

Funny seeing Willie Wilcox and Kasim Sultan around the 25:45 mark!

[@mojorisen74]

Yeah, That was awesome! He was a big yes fan at the time. Influenced his Snare drum sound around AWATS, even had Eddie Offord record a couple for tunes for the RA Lp

[@markbagley54]

WOW !

[@chrishutt8]

Bearsville one of the first "indie" labels!

[@davidcallahan3615]

Ahh yes Rundgren’s “Minecraft - The Musical” stage. I remember it well.

[@VonHoganSchmidt]

ROD AND LONESOME DAVE WERE THE DAMN BEST

[@JohnLittle-ze7sp]

Saw foghat at least 7 times in the 70's they always blew me away, Rod price was the shit and lonesome Dave too

[@VonDrumhamma]

FOGHAT!!! \m/

[@tonygooda5641]

wish they would bring out the 77 ra tour ' great post mate'

[@scottjackson163]

Foghat. Already dinosaurs purveying a dying genre of music, but sounding great.

[@andrewgillis8572]

Butterfield with 10 years left, sadly - but what I found is Corky Laing a rather high-tech drummer and dead ringer for Mike Laing - the Woodstock organizer

[@michaelnunes5129]

Todd Rundgren playing Spinal Taps " Jazz Oddysey ".

[@camillas5917]

Hey, Bill, I'm at about 22:05-22:11 or so in the video. That's me with boyfriend Rich (in Dictator's jacket) and me in the big dark glasses.

[@wbfojnewton1]

That's pretty cool.Did you see Foghat perform ?

[@tasteekakes1206]

Singring and the Glass Guitar live.

[@jordandickerson4069]

DIDN'T RECOGNIZE TONY WITHOUT A NICE SUIT AT FIRST!

[@rockinrobb4350]

I didn't recognize him cause he grew himself a "stach"!! Long live the FOGHAT!!

[@gmanning4881]

w/ the great mick ronson

[@johnkirk4]

Johnny, fast forward to 44.50 & watch the whole concert.

[@GCAT-zv9in]

boom chika boom...don't ya just it? I DO!

[@ToldAlthea]

This is the BALLS.

[@clownprince0801]

@ 52:53 ...incredible.

[@gnomepark]

Yes!!! So I assume that the whole RA show was taped/filmed? Where would it be????

[@johnkirk4]

Damn. Where is the rest of this show?

[@scorpiousantares]

awesome video. who can list the bands in order for me?. I know foghat, but none the rest. any help is appreciated.

[@BeansMaskSheen]

i thought the OGWT was in stereo?

[@chuckpriselac7958]

Name of the song at the 34:00 minute mark? What a song!

[@mojorisen74]

"Homeboy" I think his album never got released.

[@johnsluggett1822]

25:55 is that Maggie Roche sitting on the grass and sister Terre on her right?

[@fastteddyb]

I wondered what Richard Branson was doing before Virgin

[@FF-so3su]

Why do I have to live in today's world😭