Focus - Sylvia / Hocus Pocus - Live at BBC TV Old Grey Whistle Test 1972 (Remastered)

[@fernandogarajalde4066]

This should be the Dutch national anthem! 😎

[@ricardolivi9158]

As well Down Under could be to Australia

[@lukagovorcin3610]

I AGREE,THIS IS FANTASTIC!!!

[@user-ky6vw5up9m]

Ding Ding a Dong

[@skabuoy]

@@ricardolivi9158 Isn't it already?

[@jissim76]

Way better then the Wilhelmus 4 sure 😜😜😁😁😎😎🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@jissim76]

As a Dutch lady born in '76....still love to listen to these guys....and still proud of them.

[@wilberfloss832]

👍♥️👍

[@tacofortgens3471]

1st time I hward them I lvoed them

[@neiltrotter5933]

As an English fella who, aged 15, watched this very performance as it was broadcast, I love them too :-)

[@chadbennett7873]

You should be proud of them, the opened the doors for many other remarkably talented musicians from the Netherlands. Thijs is still a major force and Jan was one of the finest guitarists of all-time! My son was born in '78, so I have many years on you!

[@harrynikken]

Jan Akkerman is still playing for sure. Yesterday Nov 12 2023 he gave a concert in my village (Pius X in Volendam)

[@PlanetRockJesus]

I held Jan Akkerman's guitar in my hands when it was in for repairs at Northern Prairie Music in Wilmette, Illinois around 1975 or '76.

[@antrygis1]

Wow. I wonder what they were doing near Wilmette? I lived in Skokie and came back to Evanston in 77. Maybe they knew and were staying with someone near you in Wilmette? bet it's a good story. Shows R in the city but Wilmette. I was a mailman there i the early 80's Delivered to every property. Was Northern Prairie Music on Green Bay rd? Curious. I may have went there as a child.

[@TheHanzel41]

You held Guitar’s God Guitar in your hands. Your live is good.

[@jonselby1879]

still got there album all them years my wife thinks im mad listening to this at 64 😁😁😁😁😁

[@manuman27]

Good music lives forever. Enjoy I do, i am 71

[@Tebanovich]

The moment you deny yourself listening to that album, kiss your sanity goodbye.

[@dianecheraghi-sohi6305]

Me too!

[@senianns9522]

I was an apprentice in the North East of England. To stay up late to watch OGWT was difficult as I started real early in the mornings! However I actually saw this vet clip on the day it was broadcast! Amazing! loved then ever since! I'm now 73, Live the life!

[@adriangoede7433]

Unfreakin'-believable. Damn, that's my generation baby!

[@seanmcgain-harding2814]

Isn't this absolutely wonderful?

[@Heisenberg-to4bq]

Brilliant drummer

[@andrevanderkerken167]

Dit IS FOCUS de beste band EVER Niets vergelijkbaar met Jan Akkerman en Thys Van leer

[@DaveRucci]

That Merry Christmas/Hocus Pocus segue was perfect!

[@davidnorth4703]

The awesome Pierre Van Der Linden so cool, even drumming in a pullover. Not the usual attire for drummers

[@chrisg6086]

An utter delight to see the current Focus line-up play this piece in Sheffield two days ago

[@BurnsTennis]

Including the Christmas and New Year wish? :-)

[@nealsholto-douglas6134]

Loved them as a kid growing up in the 70's and in 2025 going to see them perform on the Isle of Wight with my musician son who also loves them!

[@kenmalanick]

Bought this single when it came out... good taste for a 14 year old eh!!

[@richardmaguire9536]

So good my football club (Partick Thistle) still play it (studio version) as the team come on to field. The sound of pure joy.

[@MahlerHolic1860]

Do they? That's class!

[@craigmurphy1204]

I've been looking for a reason to go see Thistle play, as I live in the city centre - I think I just found one

[@rainblaze.]

Partick thistle coming oot tae play is shear joy ? You having a laugh? Is he having a laugh?

[@smacrae76]

it’s class 🇧🇪

[@jetbike81]

Which one Richard ,sylvia or hocus pocus.

[@willrichards32]

They were so good, and like so many bands of the 60s and 70s, creative and original. Love this incredible track

[@paulgardner9763]

Mind blowing and unforgettable composition and performance. Those power chords in 'Sylvia' would strip paint at 100 metres. Akkerman's soloing unreal. Van Leer fascinating. Ruiters and Van der Linden so tight.

[@jameseadie7145]

I was 14 when this came out, at high school next day all everybody (well the boys) talked about was Focus on TOGWT brings back a lot of memories, thanks for this 🙏.

[@SteveLFBO]

Same here. But I wasn't allowed up late to see the OGWT. So I went out and bought their Live at the Rainbow album. It's still my desert island disk choice.

[@PIGDOG50]

see them London 1972 50p to get in stamp on the back of me hand I was 17 happy days.

[@colinrunciman5166]

Your correct pal, I bought the album,!!!

[@colinrunciman5166]

Thanks! Colin.

[@colinrunciman5166]

Its brilliant.

[@caljim01]

Utterly, utterly brilliant! Brings back beautiful memories.

[@arthurdog3]

Rock is beautiful...yesterday, today, tomorrow & forever ! 🤘🤘 - ✌️✌️- ☮️☮️

[@Mr60smusicman]

Musical Magic by these amazing musicians, never get tired of this, thank you for posting this classic gem!!

[@pianystrom8137]

This is great muic. Clever, heavy, catchy and hilarious! I feel a special love for Focus.

[@zoki-kj3ox]

Absolute agree with you!!! 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@johnnymoondog]

Just wonderful !

[@wirebrushofenlightenment1545]

Genius and Madness all in one song! - What's not to love!

[@kimnielsenthewordyvikingett159]

Gosh focus I believe was astonishing especially the vocalist stunning to say the least!!!! That man was a God amongst any and all vocalists!!!!!!! I've not heard that kind of range in any other since!!!! A truly gifted individual and the lead guitarist was also astounding in his own right !!!!! This level of accomplishment hasn't been since!!!!

[@randar1969]

was? believe it or not the band still plays till today.

[@kimnielsenthewordyvikingett159]

@@randar1969 Yeah but can he still hit each and every octave as before???

[@mennobults6464]

Absolutely Kim, an amazing band. Still fun to hear it.

[@kimnielsenthewordyvikingett159]

@@mennobults6464 I couldn't believe how awesome 👍😎 this band was!!!! My feeble attempt to explain them is definitely lacking!!! I don't think those kind of words exist even in the webster's unabridged dictionary!!!! Astonishing stunning stupendous awe inspiring magnificent a regular party for the ears???? I still fall short of trying to explain just how much there more than that!!!!!👍👍👍👍 A vertual rainbow 🌈 of beautiful sounds ???? I just can't do it!!!! I fall way way short of an explanation!!!!! 🥰🤠🥰

[@piratapan]

Downloaded this version over 10 years ago and then could not find it anymore, glad to se it back online

[@rogerhoner3718]

Superb drummer - jazz trained by the look of it.

[@jorgenbadstue5890]

a masterpiece

[@toxic_badasss9656]

These guys were incredible.

[@rennsandale296]

What a spectacular collection of divine musicians!

[@christiancox9614]

Fantastic band. Great musicians all round and that voice is so unique. Can't wait to see them next week

[@lhpl]

Oh my God. I know this song. My brother likes Focus, so I guess I may have heard it from his room when I was 5-8 years old back in the 70es. Or on the radio. I am only just beginning to explore Focus, but this one sure is a classic. Now I'm going to find the studio version.

[@wilberfloss832]

Surely the greatest ever riff 👍👍👍

[@robinrushton662]

Brilliant, I remember this from my youth, I would love to hear this without the Hi-hat.

[@deppurple700]

What a unique voice this man possessed

[@christiancox9614]

Still does now. I'm going to see them next week.

[@patrickcasey3155]

great musicians great song

[@PeterMorris-f3t]

Fantastic...saw them live on Friday night in Sussex, England. Amazing venue and superb performance

[@kenny832]

Best performance of this - Silvia is gorgeous & Hocus is legendary. Akkerman's demure guitar brilliance is mesmerising.

[@alanlevy9193]

there is a definite shortage of Dutch yodelling people these days, lol :D

[@pistonburner6448]

They're maybe missing a few mountains for that, though they do get high through other means...

[@yunarukami14]

@@pistonburner6448 Best comment so far! Cheers! 🤣

[@carlwatson5840]

the drumming is superb.

[@martyndj]

They're still going strong seen them twice this year and hope to see them again next year love them.

[@Thombene77]

Saw them play in Central Park August 1972 Schaefer Music Festival Good times...

[@chrissturgess4323]

These guys opened my ears to unbelievable music..

[@Stompedout818]

Masterpiece

[@FeliceDeFalco]

my best memories bring me back to those tunes :)

[@paulh2981]

I am amazed this band wasn't more famous. I remember the studio version Focus from the 1970s and I liked it a lot but that's all I ever heard of them...this band is far and away at their best in live performances and I didn't know that until the 2010s.

[@georgechitoi7679]

A beautiful and strong band !

[@scottkew6278]

Avocado green and burnt orange appliances, brown corduroy bell bottoms, orange flower wide lapel shirts and swede vests along with the groovy rose round glasses and platform shoes and afros and wide sideburns...yeah man! This was PART of all that... and EVERYONE had a V.W.

[@muckydish]

Wonderfully bonkers! Remember this well and still love it.

[@OlafProt]

I dated a woman once who remembers clearly seeing this appearance on OGWT, and was struck dumb by Focus. No one had heard of them, and ALL her friends were talking about it the next day apparently. (Trolls World Tour fans go to 3:52 - don’t dis’ it folks those films bring our kids to this music).

[@mrsrowdy]

That was quite common then, OGWT would play these amazing bands whom nobody had heard of and then we'd be raving about them the next day.

[@OlafProt]

@@mrsrowdythey were great days when we all only watched OGWT (just Whistle Test in my day) or TOTP. Endless discussions at school the next day! And all those shared experiences.

[@annemariefranz8832]

Thanks ❤

[@andrevanderkerken167]

best band ever without dispute..

[@onkarbahia875]

Born in 82. This is class!

[@xavilend]

One of the greatest performances ever, just utterly fantastic front start to finish

[@furtles]

Glorious tinkly-bonk Euro-prog!.....Hats off!..

[@neilparnell5712]

Genius. That's the genre I've been looking for to describe Focus ''Tinkly bonk Euro-prog'' Sure beats Krautrock.

[@kiwi_comanche]

Some of the finest to ever do it. Awesome.

[@annebuyukkara6650]

Love it! Brings back so many memories.

[@pale_saint]

Yes, after all those yyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[@grahamspence-music8777]

Thanks for this post. Wonderful track, band and TV programme.

[@maryfanning4361]

Great Band saw them in Amsterdam. BRILLO (from Mary In Dublin)

[@ludwigmaple1911]

Wonderful ☺️

[@stephenthomas3085]

Amazing, almost otherworldly. Jan Akkerman was/is a phenomenal musician.

[@derekgreenwood9672]

Immense!!! Many thanks for posting me back to my youth.

[@DavElectr0]

My brother's favorite prog band, and mine.

[@paullacey3946]

Just BRILLIANT!

[@duncanatkins1748]

Modern music is not even a fraction as good as this .... insane yet musically brilliant!

[@markjackson2276]

Classic! Never let them be forgotten 👏

[@randlerobbertson8792]

Now that is f*****g amazing.😊

[@harry9392]

I am 14 again I loved this track and band

[@caeserromero3013]

Somewhere around the 2 minute mark it sounds like he starts to go into "Here we, go, here we go, here we go,"🤣

[@josephmuir2366]

Utterly brilliant

[@jimduffy1967]

This band in the early 70s were brilliant,so underated

[@simongilliat2205]

Great memories!

[@matthewstollar2678]

very good!!! first heard of these guys ten minutes ago aged 47.

[@janscorpio2323]

🤷🤗

[@JohnLRice]

👍 If you haven't got them yet I highly recommend my three most favorite Focus studio albums Moving Waves, Focus 3, and Hamburger Concerto, plus the album Live At The Rainbow.

[@matthewstollar2678]

@@JohnLRice THANKS i'll definately look into them

[@saoirseblue5353]

A piece of art.❤. Love them.

[@MahlerHolic1860]

Glorious!

[@MrFlyagaric]

Brilliant now as it was then. From one of the audience when 'Live at the Rainbow' was recorded

[@cyclesgoff9768]

A gift from whatever your personal god is.

[@elayaSP]

Gotta love the Hammond (or whatever variant it is). Love this guys!

[@whitelotus_zero]

Way ahead of their time. They might still be! 🌈🖖🏻😉

[@pale_saint]

...and also a happy new yyyyeeeeeeeeeeeee

[@jonnorton8864]

That guitar fast strum later became a sound for Jazz funk and soul classics, Focus where the first

[@shockingmoment]

Floral Pavilion New Brighton last night. Fantastic show. Completely sold out. Not as much yodelling anymore though! Well done boys!

[@darrenshebell3563]

That dude can really hit the high notes...

[@JillDuffy-zy6lp]

Awesome❤❤

[@byron5357]

porfin encontre este tema doble mortal

[@patrickcasey3780]

the dutch always seem to have the same taste in rock music as the english god bless this band

[@ericbond5276]

I like the group Kayak

[@johnbailey9314]

Jan was brilliant 🌟

[@abdulaziz_Saud22243]

Here 3:30 his sound reminds me of the moog synth 🎼✌

[@miguelmolinayvedia8969]

Netherlands 1974 football team if it were music

[@wilberfloss832]

Amen!

[@alanstudd6259]

Genius

[@philnorris9179]

wow !

[@ivanmay7890]

Progressive rock Focus has an excellent Hammond organ player in Van Leer.

[@TheFocus3]

不屈の名曲😂❤

[@gumusluk05]

WOW ❤️❤️❤️

[@hadywellbie2368]

Thijs van Leer - Keyboard / Vocal Jan Akkerman - Guitar Bert Ruiter - Bass Pierre van der Linden - Drums

[@simaesthesia]

Epic! Unsurpassable.

[@silvacore]

Fantastic!!!😀😀

[@AmandaSaaD]

Maravilloso! Esta canción me recuerda a mi abuela ❣️

[@geoffrennox9539]

Extraordinary…..and that’s all I have to say about that.

[@Bazza8199]

Holyfantastic.