I remember this when it originally aired. Whispering Bob’s serious, thoughtful intro was almost Pythonesque considering what followed, and Wild Willy’s classic line between songs was the icing on the cake: “If you’ve just made a coffee, you’ve got time to make cheese on toast to this one.”

I can vividly remember watching this OGWT performance in '77 and going out to buy the album the next day. The performance, Otway's manic behavior, WWB's overblown but brilliant guitar work: they all blew my mind. But the raw pain in Otway's lyric forever haunts me. A little off topic, but I lost my provincial girlfriend to the bright lights of London on Easter weekend 1977 and I was heartbroken. Then when I bought the album, I heard JO and WWB's Geneve. Every fucking word of it was my story; just a different city. I still can't hear it without tearing up :( John Otway, you sure knew how to put into words the most painful feelings a boy can have.

This is what makes KZfaq worthwhile.

Sheer genius. Saw him playing outside a pub on May Morning in Oxford a couple of days ago. An old age pensioner, still behaving like an effing nutcase and long may he do so.

For me, the most memorable performance on TOGWT. It looks like WWB make his guitar in woodwork 😄

Quite possibly the greatest moments captured by BBC cameras. Thank you JO and WWB.

I remember watching this when it aired all those years ago. Impressed me so much that I spent my next paper round money on the very first single I ever bought. Really Free from Pink Panther Records in Carlisle. Fantastic stuff!! 🤘

Otway, demented, Barrett, musical genius, this is something to treasure!

Now in my 66th year. I bought Really Free in '77 pronto. Are we all still beware of the flowers!

I'm actually Freinds with willy we met when I was about 8 and im 11 now. Him and my grandad are good freinds

We are never going to see any thing like this on x-factor!

Sensational. Seriously, the kids these days continue what they're missing.

Forget leatherette and spiky hair, this is the true spirit of punk

Otway and Barrett absolute legendary performance. Loved it in the 70's and still do.

There is no one who can follow that performance, utter genius.

Otway crazy as only a genius can be...

How much is Otway like Alex Harvey!! Even the movement and expression.

I saw him in Chester Le Street. Never forgotten it. Halfway through it someone came on stage and said Otway will soon be back, but at the minute he is working on a song about chemistry. He was sat just behind us on his own with a notepad and pen scribbling furiously. It was Bunsen Burner!

TOGWT, Was the best music programme ever.

The wonderful genius of John Otway and some nice guitar licks from Wild Willy Barrett. Seen these guys live several times

Wild Willy is an awesome guitarist and John has his own style of vocals. Fantastic

I saw this aged 14...............it was good to see ; rules were broken there in front of me . Thank you guys .

Amazing guitar sound.

I remember this so well, first song I had the kettle on and had a nice cup of coffee by the time they'd finished. Second song I whipped up three slices of cheese on toast in time to see the credits. Absolutely cracking.

Superb , once seen never forgotten 😂 Absolute masters 👍

Watching it 40 years later to the day and near the time to connect with good music , absent from todays soundscape. Thanks for keeping the past alive and living on.

Saw John Otway at Reading Festival in 1978. Loved the performance.

I went out and bought the single...16 years old and life was a gas! On the flip side was "Beware of the Flowers coz they're gonna get you, yeh"

I remember this like yesterday. Loved it then and love it even more now cos I was there when it first aired

Bob Harris... so calm and relaxing. John Otway.... so very funny!

On a whim I saw Otway's Big Band at Tut's in Chicago in 1980. A year later Otway came back with Willy. They're the best.

"You're more likely to be John Otway than The Beatles, but Otway's still on tour, hats off to show people." - FTHC

I saw him at the Royal Northern College of Music last night and he's a really funny guy... really enjoyed it.

" teetering triumph " was a fairly prescient phrase as it turned out ...

O and B tried to sell me a pre order of their first album at Tring Folk Club (1973 I think) but I didn't have any money (I told them). I bought it later (plain sleeve with a stuck on label). Been a fan ever since!

I don't care what anyone else says, this is pure Punk Rock, hapless, shambolic, fun and without any pretense. Well, not much.

Classic performance

77 what a blast. Never forget this. Class.

This is what Billy Bragg would sound like if he had a sense of humour :)

Many, many fun evenings spent in pubs in various parts of the South East in the 80s (and 90s) listening to this man. Usually playing with one or another guitarist..... Never saw him with Barratt. Such a good entertainer. He had about six jokes and everyone in the audience knew them.... and still it was funny. All the daft covers..... I still smile when I think of those gigs.

Pure brilliance saw this first time round cheers Bob.

Those were the days!

Brilliance

Not only John Otway and Wild Willy but also an intro by Whispering Bob.😀😀

When music was real.. Watched first broadcast on TV aged 13.. Inspirational.

Fucking crazy,but BRILLIANT never be another like them 2🎸😂😍

Unforgettable

Madness, certainly, but there is method to it!

The stuff of legends. Totally mad but brilliant.

Simon Hansen runs on to stand the combo up.

Brilliant

I actually met and worked with John Otway and Wild Willy. I had the pleasure of introducing them at a music festival a few years ago. They lived up to the promise that I saw on OGWT years earlier! #OGWTneverbettered

Saw mad Mr O on saturday at "Silly Moo's" campsite on the Isle of Man. He was there for the owner Brian's birthday, the man's totally batshit and a genius!

Happy birthday John Otway, true English musical eccentric

John is on BBC radio 2 now 💛💙💛💙💛💙 🥰🇯🇲🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🕊️🔥✝️

First time I saw them on TOTP's I never forgot them.

Just brilliant.

Saw this when it went out live. I remember hearing the studio crew laughing at the very end.

The perfect performance. Inspiring

7:19 Stevie T. reference!

I played with John at a party in Norfolk in 2012 or so it was brilliant what a talent still then

I remember buying the single 'Really Feel' when it came out, i was n still am a punk. I didn't think anything of the long hair, only what brilliant stuff it was. Still is one of my many favourite tunes, Otway......punk as fuck!! This is Sowf London Calling.... ☠️🏴

Ottway was and is still brilliant

Bloody excellent!

Saw this live fail in a Stevie T video of live fails, had me dying the first time!! 🤣🤣 Love this clip! Thanks Steve!! Shred!!! 🤘🤘

7:41 A MAN DEFEATED. HE KNOWS WILLY IS GONNA GIVE HIM HEADBUTTS

Reminded me of seeing Wilko Johnson in a pub on white heart lane. Fucking magic.

Anyone remember the b-side, beware of the flowers coz I know they're gonna get you, yeah.

Saw this the first time round as a young 'un and fell off my chair laughing. Still laughing now. Bloody marvellous!

They are playing in my town in September. Can't fucking wait.

Thanks Steve, this is how I remember it. Ran home fast from the Oranges & Lemons in Oxford, to see that!

живите ещЁ!

Bob Harris nails it in the introduction - they're crazy. Then as now.

PS. At 7.10, Willy plays a riff that reminds me of "Circumstances" on Beefheart's Clearspot album. Now there's a thing- Wild Willy in the Magic Band (that would be brill!)

really free says it all

It’s Barrett saying something along the lines of ‘you’ve ruined the night’ while threatening to strangle Otway that still cracks me up all these decades later. He actually MADE the night, mate.

am I allowed to swear on here? that was fucking brilliant.

John Otway in the moment. Pure genius. :)

I had the great pleasure of introducing Otway and Wild Willy at a music festival in Sussex. Favourites of mine since I saw this performance. I was compèring as Billy Connolly at the time. John said "That is a bit spooky, BILLY CONNOLLY was in the audience at OGWT that night." ❤️🙏🎵🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💡

John Otway!

Gold. Solid fucking Gold

What did I just watch ? This is as wild as Frank Zappa! XD

Wonderful x

Bob Harris was actually Bungle in the ITV children's series Rainbow. Ritchie Blackmore sued him for preventing him taking the lead role. He got 50p in damages and a weekend in Matlock.

I figured I could start my day off with this. Why the fuck not? >LOL

Priceless

The speed was definitely of a finer quality back in 1977.

unique and raw

I'm crying. This is hilarious!

I love the ending😂

Saw them last night, and they were hilarious and musically brilliant. The wheelie bin amp has to be seen to be believed. They don't do requests on the night - they practice and do them the next night, so they played one for Dan from Aldershot. We were in Fareham, and Dan wasn't. Grab them while they're still going.

Saw this on the night-a bunch of sixth formers having a sleepover at school to ensure we stuck to the rules of a sponsored fast.Classic stuff.

Young Benny Hill and his sister's first time on OGWT. : - ) Sublime. Happy memories and stoned nights in front of the telly awaiting the first sound of harmonica announcing that " Whispering Bob" was about to hold court. There was nothing like it then, and there is nothing like it now. I wish you rainbows gentlemen. ( pre-politicised rainbows, that is )

I saw John a couple of times but to see Syd Barrett is just amazing

I was there.

Someone asked me the other day 'What was the last concert you went to?'...... Answer "JOHN OTWAY!!!" and I immediately came here AGAIN!!!!

One of the most important tracks at its highest in that time

Thanks for uploading the original broadcast! The snipped version is indeed annoying: it hadn't occurred to me that the Beeb' didn't have it without the old end titles - at least this time the wiping didn't cost us everything. The greatest OGWT and possibly the greatest broadcast performance of all time: Otway at a stroke just made everything else look dull. Gigs are still best when things go wrong: what would be the point otherwise?

I bet the bloke from Dr Hook dropped his maracas and lifted his eye patch to really believe what he was seeing.

6:56 that assistance always cracks me upp