Whistler was an obscure and forgotten progressive folk-rock band from England who released just a sole album in 1971 on the progressive Decca sub-label Deram. George Howe (keyb, g, voc), John Chuter (g, b, voc) and Anthony Grout-Smith (keyb, g, b, sax, voc), who also created the cover artwork, played a melodic, gentle rock that spanned a spectrum from folk to progressive and pop. During the recording sessions at Decca Studios in March 1971, the trio were supported by the crème de la crème of the British studio scene: the three drummers Barry Morgan, Clem Cattini and Dougie Wright, Thin Lizzy founding member Eric Bell on guitar, flautist Jimmy Hastings, Maltese percussionist Tony Carr, Gordon Huntley on pedal steel guitar and the two singers Lisa Strike and Doris Troy (the latter of whom featured on one track on Nick Drake’s LP Bryter Layter).

The twelve gently and carefully orchestrated tracks were underpinned by a sensitive and rich-sounding production by Peter Johnson, assisted by sound engineer Dave Grinsted. But none of this could prevent the band and their first and only LP from fading into obscurity. Today, the album Ho-Hum ranks among the most sought-after rarities on the British Deram label and is particularly highly coveted by Asian collectors. As a test pressing, there are probably only a few copies in existence worldwide.