Classical Composer Reacts to Hocus Pocus (Focus) | The Daily Doug (Episode 253)

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Doug Helvering

Doug Helvering

Күн бұрын

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@thedeadsleeper
@thedeadsleeper 3 жыл бұрын
Doug doing a bong rip to Focus is one the greatest things i've ever seen... if he had done this in the church.... *EXPLODE*
@stanwray4070
@stanwray4070 3 жыл бұрын
Oh . My . God .
@MrPnew1
@MrPnew1 3 жыл бұрын
New found Doug respect ✊
@ignaciooleaherrera9940
@ignaciooleaherrera9940 3 жыл бұрын
AMAZING!
@ChristopherMarshburn
@ChristopherMarshburn 3 жыл бұрын
Not seen: the two whole pizzas Doug ate after filming the video.
@Chentinno
@Chentinno 3 жыл бұрын
@decibella
@decibella 3 жыл бұрын
Yayyy! Thijs is my dad and his band Focus is CURRENTLY touring in the UK. Yes. Still rocking at 73! Thank you Dough for this fantastic and highly entertaining review. I'll forward it to Thijs right away, sure he'll enjoy it!
@jims7465
@jims7465 3 жыл бұрын
Great to hear that your dad is still doing well! This is one of my favorite songs of all time, and my kids like it too!!
@jaysing67
@jaysing67 3 жыл бұрын
Hey, Bella! Seen your dad many times but gonna miss this tour (I'm in Spain for the winter). Here's hoping for another 50-odd years of Focus! (Unlikely, but you never know!) Still one of my top 5 bands and Thijs one of my favourite musicians ever. x
@crazy-4-cooking
@crazy-4-cooking 3 жыл бұрын
Wow, tell them there is still young folke loving this craziness. Hope he (and the others too) will be able to make music for many years to come. I really love the long version which was aired on danish tv in 75, where the whole band is introduced.
@AntonDangle
@AntonDangle 3 жыл бұрын
The National Anthem for the Oranje :)
@ObscureStuff420
@ObscureStuff420 3 жыл бұрын
Your dad is awesome! Please tell him I said so.
@MR-ml2po
@MR-ml2po 3 жыл бұрын
The guitarist, Jan Akkerman, is extremely underrated. He is also a classical guitarist who plays the lute..which is a notoriously hard instrument to play. He studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory when he was younger..
@Contextcatcher
@Contextcatcher 3 жыл бұрын
Yes the lute! His interpretation of John Dowland (e.g. 'Earl of Essex Galliard') on his solo album Tabernakel is the best I ever heard.
@onsesejoo2605
@onsesejoo2605 3 жыл бұрын
Back then he did win the reader's vote for "The Best Guitarist" in "The Melody Maker" magazine. The magazine was notable for being followed by musicians, many of them finding band through its advertisements set by other musicians and groups.
@MR-ml2po
@MR-ml2po 3 жыл бұрын
@@onsesejoo2605 I have been playing guitar for over 20 years and saw him always listed as one of the top 25 or 50 guitarists ever, but I only ever knew this song so I brushed it off. This song has nice guitar but I'd always compare it to the huge virtuosos. It wasn't until the last few years that I delved more into his music and Focus that I saw how incredible of a guitarist he is. Even though he's been previously rated as the top or THE top guitarist in the world, I think he's kind of forgotten. But here's a guy who can pretty much play anything including classical lute. Rock, Jazz, Classical, etc...lead, rhythm, etc. The guy can play it all. I think Doug should listen to the song Questions!Questions?Answers! from Focus next.
@Contextcatcher
@Contextcatcher 3 жыл бұрын
@@MR-ml2poAkkerman plays all genres with the heart, he isn't imitating it, he goes deeper he understands it. When you blind, without knowledge, listen to him you think there are different persons playing guitar. That's makes him very special. Only an experienced ear can recognise his typical touch.
@MR-ml2po
@MR-ml2po 3 жыл бұрын
@@Contextcatcher Agree. Once I got beyond thinking that the one song they're widely known for is silly...yep, he is criminally underrated these days and easily one of the greatest and best guitarists of all time.
@juniorjohnson9509
@juniorjohnson9509 3 жыл бұрын
When this tune first came out, everyone was "WHAT THE HELL????" And then "Play it again! That's cool as hell!"
@Dimchek970
@Dimchek970 3 жыл бұрын
Sums it up. Same thing 40 years later. A friend played the live version to two of us while going out, he said nothing...
@lougiacobbi725
@lougiacobbi725 3 жыл бұрын
I generally just call this song 6 minutes of awesome. No other way to describe it.
@donquixote3927
@donquixote3927 2 жыл бұрын
Great to get everyone on their feet in the rock clubs.
@jdk353
@jdk353 Жыл бұрын
I was 11 years old when I first heard this back in 1972, this, Hawkwind and Pink Floyd got me into prog rock at an early age. Loved this tune...it was so different!
@markoconnell2458
@markoconnell2458 6 ай бұрын
More like W T F then F ing Amazing
@blameit6
@blameit6 3 жыл бұрын
This song was originally done as a warm up for their performances and the audience loved it so much the demand became huge for them to put it on their album, so they did.
@FirebladeXXL
@FirebladeXXL Жыл бұрын
this honestly makes so much sense in hindsight.
@davebenjafield7037
@davebenjafield7037 3 жыл бұрын
Apparently, legend has it that, for the live version, the band were only given a limited time slot which wasn't enough enough to do the whole song at the original tempo. So, being unwilling to play a shortened version, they just played it as fast as they could to fit it onto the time available.
@rawli987
@rawli987 3 жыл бұрын
And it was incredible. I've watched that video so many times I've lost count.
@email4664
@email4664 2 жыл бұрын
And thus, Heavy Metal was born!
@dryder33347
@dryder33347 2 жыл бұрын
@@rawli987 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHeniGyYlMqdnKs Guess this is the version you are referring too. Great tune, and on this version, fantastic delivery too.
@birchsongsltd.6831
@birchsongsltd.6831 2 жыл бұрын
Great yarn
@OP-1000
@OP-1000 2 жыл бұрын
The studio version feels like slow motion after watching the live version.
@TheWares52
@TheWares52 3 жыл бұрын
"I can't believe this exists"... The perfect reaction. They are an incredible band and this track brings back so many memories. You can't hear this and not smile.
@scottstevens7639
@scottstevens7639 3 жыл бұрын
“I didn’t even know this existed”. Not only does it exist, but it was a fairly major hit on the radio in the early ‘70’s. It was definitely a different time back then.
@gwooledge
@gwooledge 3 жыл бұрын
It was also a staple on classic rock radio in the 90s and beyond. I've heard it _so_ many times.
@jazzpunk
@jazzpunk 3 жыл бұрын
Hit #9 on the US Top 100 Charts in its day...very different daze.
@prickyX
@prickyX 3 жыл бұрын
Songs like Hocus Pocus and Frankenstein by Edgar Winter would never get airplay in today's pop markets...
@jazzpunk
@jazzpunk 3 жыл бұрын
@@prickyX "Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band...IIRC, hit as high as #4. 2+ minutes of it is a Bob Babbitt bass solo. :-)
@davidflinn4521
@davidflinn4521 3 жыл бұрын
IIRC it was a hit at the same time as 'Autobahn' by Kraftwerk. That made an impression on me.
@anthonyhewetson5086
@anthonyhewetson5086 3 ай бұрын
An insanely talented band performing a song that seems to elicit joy in every sane sentient being who hears it.
@rolandconnor575
@rolandconnor575 2 жыл бұрын
The three guitar runs are the cleanest, most imaginative and technically perfect in the history of music. Jan was voted "Greatest Living Guitarist" by Melody Maker Magazine in 1972
@derekkelly4816
@derekkelly4816 2 жыл бұрын
I had heard that he was given this well deserved accolade . Great take on what you heard nice to see inside a good ear .
@toter-drache
@toter-drache Жыл бұрын
I've never had heard any guitar playing even close to this before or after this song came out on the radio back then. Didn't know anything about that award, glad to hear it, the man sure earned and desevered it.
@IanMcIntosh-h9s
@IanMcIntosh-h9s 10 ай бұрын
No Rory Gallagher in 1972. Think it was 73.
@Ranman1
@Ranman1 2 жыл бұрын
A classical composer who says y’all and rips the bong to a banger, fucking subbed!
@lovely_poekie
@lovely_poekie 8 ай бұрын
I've been going down the rabbit hole on this channel, and I really needed this laugh today. Thanks Doug!
@Doug.Helvering
@Doug.Helvering 8 ай бұрын
Happy you are here!
@atomosepicurus2850
@atomosepicurus2850 2 жыл бұрын
The live version is the most amazing rendition I've ever heard. Love it.
@outlawgamingrp
@outlawgamingrp Жыл бұрын
The funny story is that the show only gave them 4 and a half minutes to play, and they didn't want to edit it, so the just played it faster
@brentfreeland5834
@brentfreeland5834 Жыл бұрын
I recently learned that this is not the case. They always performed this song that fast in concert.
@JacobScharff
@JacobScharff Жыл бұрын
It's just fun watching super skilled musicians rock out while clearly having fun themselves.
@reginaschellhaas1395
@reginaschellhaas1395 2 жыл бұрын
When you said "I didn't know this existed", my heart was very sad. It means that millions of people have missed out on this incredible song (from my youth). The studio version had huge airplay in the 70s. We head-banged & danced like maniacs! The vocals were a language of their own, no translation needed. Many decades later, I saw Bobby McFerrin in concert, he also used vocal percussion, etc. Thanks for the bong hits, and for saying "y'all"...excellent review.
@michaelreifenstein2114
@michaelreifenstein2114 4 ай бұрын
Man I remember dancing to this.
@barrysoutthere
@barrysoutthere 3 жыл бұрын
Jan is a superb guitarist
@madaxman6537
@madaxman6537 3 жыл бұрын
Jan is a BEAST!
@GordonHeaney
@GordonHeaney 3 жыл бұрын
Agreed, can't recall many videos of the early 70's when someone is shredding that much. Should be better known than he is.
@ChickenatorJr
@ChickenatorJr 3 жыл бұрын
He was considered best in the world for rock guitarist for a time there in the 70s and I can see why. Doug I have been waiting for you to hopefully react to the song one day, knew you would have to eventually !!
@rimmersbryggeri
@rimmersbryggeri 3 жыл бұрын
Thijs Is pretty amazing to.
@ljw5768
@ljw5768 3 жыл бұрын
The best I’ve ever seen live.
@benho6251
@benho6251 3 жыл бұрын
For those of us who grew up with this music, it is fun to watch Doug react to this music 40 - 50 years later. This particular clip is priceless! Bravo.
@araaaraa9765
@araaaraa9765 3 жыл бұрын
Being Dutch, I have to fly the flag for this one. Brian May (Queen) rates Jan Akkerman as one of the best guitarists ,definitely of that era. The reason for the fast live version is time restraints in the 70's. Songs were 3 and a little bit long and they had to try and fit 7 minutes into that. They literally did a time warp
@jeroenschoondergang5923
@jeroenschoondergang5923 2 жыл бұрын
Flying one more flag for Jan Akkerman: Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore have admitted to have visited Focus concerts to check out the phenomenon that JA was.
@juanar4305
@juanar4305 2 жыл бұрын
I guess it was not for technical reasons but for commercial reasons.
@jeroenschoondergang5923
@jeroenschoondergang5923 2 жыл бұрын
@@juanar4305 time slot reasons: the segments in the show were prob max 3.5 minutes
@drachireidnoc6659
@drachireidnoc6659 3 жыл бұрын
5:15 to 5:35 greatest 20 seconds of youtube I've ever seen
@ORagnar
@ORagnar 3 жыл бұрын
9:10 "I can't believe this exists." LOL You're not the only one. 1/8/22, 12:25
@dudamack
@dudamack 3 жыл бұрын
Moving Waves is a masterpiece, timeless, everlasting, the root of progressive rock. Listen to this albun everytime you can, it's good for your creativity and health as well.
@ih302
@ih302 3 жыл бұрын
Yep, it's an awesome album.
@poppajoe11
@poppajoe11 3 жыл бұрын
Heh, yeah man, im pretty stoned myeslf
@joaomarcelo__
@joaomarcelo__ 3 жыл бұрын
I like your words, it's a important truth!! I fell in love with Prog Rock, and this will continues for all my life...
@austinmucciante3108
@austinmucciante3108 3 жыл бұрын
In my opinion the root of progressive rock has to be the Beatles Revolver or Sgt. Peppers
@dudamack
@dudamack 3 жыл бұрын
​@@vagabond197979 Like many other progressive rock bands, we need to listen many times to understand the sense of progression, mainly on very long songs. It happens on classical music and there's no hurry to get to the end. Just sit, "close your eyes and begin to relax..."
@suzycreamchez123
@suzycreamchez123 3 жыл бұрын
Focus is one the best underrated prog bands. Doug listen to the whole album and then check out Hamburger Concerto. Great stuff.
@adriangoodrich4306
@adriangoodrich4306 3 жыл бұрын
Too right on all counts! I LOVE Hamburger Concerto!
@chrisy8989
@chrisy8989 3 жыл бұрын
I agree. I'm sure Doug would love Focus.
@thewal1ofsleep
@thewal1ofsleep 3 жыл бұрын
Absolutely. Moving Waves, Focus 3 and Hamburger Concerto are all classics.
@charleshill9546
@charleshill9546 3 жыл бұрын
#He really, really needs to do this one
@raymo6795
@raymo6795 3 жыл бұрын
...I will check it out Suzycreamchez...I think I heard this on "King Biscuit Flower Hour"
@Paulnap
@Paulnap 3 жыл бұрын
So... within the first minute or so we got an explosive minor-key RnR, a drum solo, a yodelling section and A5 soprano singing.... wtf this is amazing!
@mookyyzed2216
@mookyyzed2216 4 ай бұрын
Don't ignore that drum performance! He's one of the best alive.
@casadelosotte
@casadelosotte 2 жыл бұрын
Being American, we will forgive you not to know this amazing band from the early 70´s. The guitar player is actually one of the best from these times, as well as the flute player. But I enjoy your surprises to the crazy stuff that is going on in this song. Welcome to Focus.
@cslloyd1
@cslloyd1 3 жыл бұрын
Been listening to this for 50 years and it still knocks me out every time I hear it.
@simply_psi
@simply_psi 3 жыл бұрын
The reason the live version was so fast was that Midnight Special only allowed just over 4 minutes for the performance and asked the bank to cut the track to fit, but the band decided to speed the whole performance up and see how much of the song they could fit into the time allowed, hence the manic nature of the performance, I think that if used in conjunction with the studio version it is a great bit of fun, but some purists don't like the TV version
@ljw5768
@ljw5768 3 жыл бұрын
Nah they always play it that fast and the performance is (badly) edited too. Just listen to end.
@mikewoodrow5878
@mikewoodrow5878 3 жыл бұрын
@@ljw5768 you got that right. The version that Doug heard was the radio version, which was the “slow” cut. They had the “fast” version on their Dutch Masters greatest hits LP. Peace from Toronto
@sarah2.017
@sarah2.017 3 жыл бұрын
It sounds like they switched it from 4/4 to cut time.
@duncanparsons
@duncanparsons 3 жыл бұрын
It's about the same speed as the Live At The Rainbow version :-)
@LinasVepstas
@LinasVepstas 3 жыл бұрын
I remember a different TV appearance, where they got a full 25 minutes. Aside from this, their signature radio hit, they played lots of other stuff, but at the time, I was not at all familiar with it (yet). It came off as a wall of impenetrable sound. It wasn't instantly catchy like Yes or Genesis. Add to that the pretty low-quality video of a garishly lit stage, and the crappy TV and antenna I watched it on, and it was a rather dense experience.
@Frontdesk99
@Frontdesk99 3 жыл бұрын
Are we going to ignore the EXCEPTIONALLY good recording for that day and age?
@pistonburner6448
@pistonburner6448 Жыл бұрын
Yup, I thank God for allowing this to be preserved so well for us. Just like Heart's "Live at KWSU TV studio" gig which was recorded by college students no less!
@pit2ryan3
@pit2ryan3 Жыл бұрын
Frontdesk99 - This is from the 70s, I mean 1970s, not 1870s! Never played vinyl records from that period?
@Frontdesk99
@Frontdesk99 Жыл бұрын
@@pit2ryan3 It's from 1971. And yes I have, I AM from that period. Recording studios were mostly crap back then, numerous examples come to mind. This recording (the Focus one, not the rip off cover) is - considering the technical possibilities, the equipment available and the know-how of studio technicians in that era, is exceptionally good. I don't think you know what they had to use back then. I do.
@pit2ryan3
@pit2ryan3 Жыл бұрын
@@Frontdesk99 - Thanks for your kind reply... Though I'm nearly sure that the sound has been remastered here, it's not like it used to be and a bit out of sync too... Regards!
@drbarchitect
@drbarchitect 3 жыл бұрын
I love it. Taking a bong hit on this song is needed to fully engage. And honestly this song is exactly what music is all about. Self expression and having fun.
@rawli987
@rawli987 3 жыл бұрын
Doug, I've been watching your channel for a little while now and the fact you are jamming to this song, and doing bong rips, makes me an even bigger fan. What a good time this was watching this video.
@martinmay8919
@martinmay8919 3 жыл бұрын
This was a massive hit back in the day. Sylvia was another big hit, with brilliant guitar work by Jan, House of the King the B side. Both worth a listen.
@ImpressionismFTW
@ImpressionismFTW 3 жыл бұрын
That looked like a massive hit at the beginning of the video 😂
@Lafiel17
@Lafiel17 3 жыл бұрын
Sylvia is awesome. One of my favorite songs.
@steve.hoffman
@steve.hoffman 3 жыл бұрын
Jan was quite the shredder for early 70’s. The live video of this on KZbin is pretty insane!
@Mi5terMarc
@Mi5terMarc 3 жыл бұрын
House of the King seconded. Love that tune.
@stecumo6459
@stecumo6459 3 жыл бұрын
sylvia is a masterpiece martin
@rattfink9
@rattfink9 3 жыл бұрын
After a particularly rough start to the 5th chemo round, this brought me genuine joy. Doug, you RULE!
@dont7913
@dont7913 3 жыл бұрын
I wish you well and pray for the best for you.
@gregorp8406
@gregorp8406 3 жыл бұрын
Wish you well, may all the strength and love in the world be with you!
@rattfink9
@rattfink9 3 жыл бұрын
@@gregorp8406 thank you!
@MB-co6qj
@MB-co6qj 3 жыл бұрын
Hang in there!💪
@Chamomileable
@Chamomileable 3 жыл бұрын
We're just strangers on the net, but I wish you the best in your battle. You've got this!
@davidm8320
@davidm8320 3 жыл бұрын
Hope it’s live version, from ‘73, as the manic pace and facial expressions of lead singer add to my enjoyment of the song. But studio version is solid as well 🙂
@EvilSean62
@EvilSean62 3 жыл бұрын
sadly no but i linked it so here's hoping 🎸
@ljw5768
@ljw5768 3 жыл бұрын
I hope it isn’t.
@bigstam1234567890
@bigstam1234567890 3 жыл бұрын
@@EvilSean62 what do you mean, it is on the video
@EvilSean62
@EvilSean62 3 жыл бұрын
@@bigstam1234567890 the link i was referring to is actually on the main vid ... my mistake , multiple and profuse apologies forgive me ... i offer you the blood of my unborn child as sacrifice please dont thumb me down ... or ..do either way sorry for the misunderstanding
@marcdemell5976
@marcdemell5976 3 жыл бұрын
The Midnight special live version is great.
@tracycapilot2002
@tracycapilot2002 Жыл бұрын
I gotta say - this is the best Daily Doug by far! Even though I'm not a musician I always love the professional commentary on scales, what notes, etc. I like how you appreciate all forms of music as do I. Here's to many more Daily Dougs!
@frankshailes3205
@frankshailes3205 2 жыл бұрын
From what I read, they had to get out of the live performance really fast because of some parking/traffic violation if they didn't. They do some other songs so the whole thing is a continuous piece really.
@ljw5768
@ljw5768 3 жыл бұрын
Focus is so much more than this novelty hit. Listen to Eruption from Moving Waves. It is steeped in classical references and the musicianship is astonishing.
@christopherheckman7957
@christopherheckman7957 3 жыл бұрын
Van Leer didn't really consider his band to be progressive rock; he said in an interview that they only used traditional tonality.
@JohnLRice
@JohnLRice 3 жыл бұрын
Agreed, Eruption is one of the great epics from the 1970's!
@mrmusic248
@mrmusic248 3 жыл бұрын
LJW: One of the most ignored prog masterpieces is "Eruption". These guys proved they could play with "Hocus Pocus", but with "Eruption" they took their skills and climbed a musical MT. EVEREST.
@mcwulf25
@mcwulf25 3 жыл бұрын
Eruption - such a good track.
@u3uu3u
@u3uu3u 3 жыл бұрын
Eruption has my vote too.
@smitlag
@smitlag 3 жыл бұрын
Jan was shredding long before the term had been invented. Truly an amazing guitarist in every way. Goes from performing classical lute concertos to blues,rock or jazz.
@PeterLaman
@PeterLaman 3 жыл бұрын
Thijs van Leer once said in an interview that "Hocus Pocus" emerged from unplanned jamming. Actually Jan Akkerman had setup his gear, while the other were still busy. He just played something and came up with this rif. Then the other members joined in and so the song came into existence... It became a huge hit back then.
@sidneyvandykeii3169
@sidneyvandykeii3169 Жыл бұрын
WOW...I have heard this song a couple of hundred times in my life. I have NEVER heard this live version. As a hard rock and metal head I absolutely love this live version. Great job Focus!!!
@glennjohn3824
@glennjohn3824 3 жыл бұрын
I get so much satisfaction from observing people listen to this for the first time!❤❤❤
@devonvergiels5185
@devonvergiels5185 3 жыл бұрын
I believe there is a version of this song that may make your brain explode. A television show they went on only allowed a short time for them and rather than cut it they sped it up perfectly. Mind blowing craziness!
@masonevans4297
@masonevans4297 3 жыл бұрын
Eruption + Hamburger Concerto + Answers Questions are all Focus tracks that I’d be happy to see you look at any of… a band that doesn’t get enough attention
@JohnLRice
@JohnLRice 3 жыл бұрын
ABSOLUTELY! 🙌 Their three best epic pieces IMHO. 👌 I think I like the live version of Questions Answers Answers Question on the Live At The Rainbow album better than the studio version on Focus 3, but it's been a while since I've listened to either.
@martinparker1270
@martinparker1270 3 жыл бұрын
Definitely their best epics! The rest of the Hamburger Concerto is also some of their best work especially Birth
@JohnLRice
@JohnLRice 3 жыл бұрын
@@martinparker1270 Agreed, not a bad song on the whole album!
@seabud6408
@seabud6408 3 жыл бұрын
Absolutely! These are among my favourites too. One of the best live “rock” experiences ... ever 😀
@andrewdaniel3047
@andrewdaniel3047 3 жыл бұрын
Doug, they are still playing live. I saw them in a small music venue in Leeds October 2019. Brilliant. They did a 15 minute version of Hocus Pocus with extended drum and guitar solos. The yodelling is still great although understandably the high notes are left to lead guitar!!
@christopherheckman7957
@christopherheckman7957 3 жыл бұрын
They're still releasing albums, too. I think they've got pieces up to "Focus 11" at this point.
@AJ_NL_1963
@AJ_NL_1963 3 жыл бұрын
Still playing but in different musician configuration
@Psychograce93
@Psychograce93 3 жыл бұрын
Gonna see them live in December (hopefully). Very excited!
@TheTrumpingtonRiots
@TheTrumpingtonRiots 3 жыл бұрын
At The Brudenell! We were there too.
@bryandirks5864
@bryandirks5864 3 жыл бұрын
I prefer the live version of this tune on The Midnight Special; it's significantly faster and more maniacal, but every bit as tight. Plus, I'm old enough to remember seeing that episode of The Midnight Special on it's first airing date, and it was my first exposure to Focus ever. Later that December, The Midnight Special also gave me my first time hearing/seeing Genesis; one of the tunes they did was "Watcher Of The Skies", and I was a Genesis fan from then on. You should sometime do one of your videos on "Watcher of the Skies"...a great progressive rock tune. By the way, the unique vocalizing at about 6 minutes on your Focus "Hocus Pocus" video is an example of "eefing"...yep, it's an actual vocalization technique, that dates back to rural Tennessee about 100 years ago. All the best to you!
@ShaunHensley
@ShaunHensley 3 жыл бұрын
That show was so great
@ryotaryuu
@ryotaryuu 3 жыл бұрын
Fun fact the show wanted the band to cut the song short for time. They refused and instead decided to speed it up to fit the time slot.
@rinuspoll8590
@rinuspoll8590 3 жыл бұрын
I love that one
@fredreed8462
@fredreed8462 3 жыл бұрын
They were even better on Don Kirschner's Rock Concert, and they played complete Hamburger Concerto and couple of other tracks from the album. That was in '75
@toddmoore4887
@toddmoore4887 3 жыл бұрын
My kids got me the Midnight Special DVD set, it is so cool to go back and remember those performances I watched late at night in my youth.
@shanepowers7566
@shanepowers7566 3 жыл бұрын
Halloween and Iron Maiden covering your song, what an honor!
@cometogether999
@cometogether999 3 жыл бұрын
It's fitting that you're smoking up during this. A good way to experience it for the first time. Your facial expressions say it all. I never tire of people seeing/hearing this for the first time.
@Jovian999
@Jovian999 3 жыл бұрын
This was such a wonderul era of musical creativity. I'm always finding hidden gems of songs and artists that the early 70s has squirrelled away.
@billyobong4469
@billyobong4469 3 жыл бұрын
"Eruption" from this album is a masterpiece!
@JohnLRice
@JohnLRice 3 жыл бұрын
Eruption is one of my most favorite music pieces by any band or composer in any genre! 🥰
@MAF93Arg
@MAF93Arg 3 жыл бұрын
@@JohnLRice There is an Argentinian musician (Gustavo Cerati one of the greatest in this country) that used a sampled from that track in the song Bocanada from the 1999 album with the same title. It's amazing, listen kzbin.info/www/bejne/inbMlYutYtl0h7s
@raleighkirschman2011
@raleighkirschman2011 3 жыл бұрын
Much of the music you're hearing for the first time, Mr. H., is what I grew up with. Completely delightful to hear your reactions and analysis.
@hewystudio7832
@hewystudio7832 2 жыл бұрын
“I can’t believe this exists” could be the slogan for Focus 😂
@carlsalazar4490
@carlsalazar4490 3 жыл бұрын
Jan’s lead guitar playing just blew me away when I started playing guitar. Saw this on TV and watched Jan play guitar. His hands moved up and down the neck like a spider. Never have I seen a guitar played like that. Never get tired of this song.
@Frankincensedjb123
@Frankincensedjb123 3 жыл бұрын
If you watch the live version he yodels, plays the flute, whistles, chokes, stutters, stammers and encourages hamsters to sing along.
@estefaniasucre6966
@estefaniasucre6966 3 жыл бұрын
Indeed! He's awesome xD
@ih302
@ih302 3 жыл бұрын
Yep, it's insane...
@logicalthought1225
@logicalthought1225 3 жыл бұрын
The live version is covered in the last part of the video!
@liys540
@liys540 3 жыл бұрын
don't forget long yodeling and musical band introduction
@markparee99
@markparee99 3 жыл бұрын
So here's my Focus story. Saw them live at a local college gymnasium around 1971-72 (hardwood floors, omg). One thing that can't be appreciated from the album was the IMMENSE VOLUME that they played at. Jan Akkerman with a gorgeous black Les Paul Fretless Wonder running through 2 Marshall stacks cranked to 11. I think Hocus Pocus was the encore and it was played at ear-splitting levels. What fun!!!
@robblaber6655
@robblaber6655 Жыл бұрын
He goes even higher with the vocals in the live version 😳😳😳👍
@juliesadler6481
@juliesadler6481 3 жыл бұрын
Doug, I love how you just ENJOY the music, no matter what it is, which was what my generation was all about.
@davidmullins3936
@davidmullins3936 3 жыл бұрын
Jan Akkerman was just on a different level with his playing, he is unbelievable
@historyguy5942
@historyguy5942 3 жыл бұрын
“I think he’s upset with the person who sold him his shirt.” PRICELESS!
@sarah2.017
@sarah2.017 3 жыл бұрын
Hey, it was 1973!
@aquatarkus2022
@aquatarkus2022 3 жыл бұрын
Focus Live at the Rainbow is one of the greatest live albums ever.
@GETOBA
@GETOBA 6 ай бұрын
Abso-f++king-lutely !
@maureenparas6195
@maureenparas6195 3 жыл бұрын
I knew the fast version would blow you away as it even speeds up after the flute solo. The musicianship is astounding. My brother introduced this to me when I was 11 & I'm still entertained by it.
@elisamandra1778
@elisamandra1778 Ай бұрын
I first heard Hocus Pocus when I was 11 years old and immediately fell in love with it. My brother bought the album that featured Hocus Pocus, the album Moving Waves, which was their 2nd album. I listened to it constantly and fell in love with the entire album. I was hooked and have been a fan of Focus ever since. I'm confident that I have heard Hocus Pocus well over 1,000 times. I am 63 years old now and love it just as much as when I was an 11-year-old. Thanks for your critique, very fun and insightful!
@akaFrits1
@akaFrits1 3 жыл бұрын
Nice fact: readers of Melody Maker in 1973 chose Jan Akkerman as the best guitarist in the world.
@mauriciosimoesdealmeidabot5641
@mauriciosimoesdealmeidabot5641 3 жыл бұрын
Still is.....
@AJ_NL_1963
@AJ_NL_1963 3 жыл бұрын
Jan’s solo work is amazing 26 cd’s total in collection
@DavidLazarus
@DavidLazarus 3 жыл бұрын
Jan is fantastic. No doubt. However, I'd challenge him to play King Crimson's Fracture. Robert Fripp himself says it's impossible to play. He also said that he spends 80% of his rehearsal time practicing that song. There was a guitarist, I don't recall his name, who spent 20 years learning Fracture. His final rendition is excellent, but not perfect.
@akaFrits1
@akaFrits1 3 жыл бұрын
David: Jan has a more bluesy/jazzy style with feel. Robert Fripp is almost the opposite and probably couldn't do what Jan does. Two completely different musicians who accidentally play the same instrument. And if you want a third: think Paco de Lucia.
@DavidLazarus
@DavidLazarus 3 жыл бұрын
@@akaFrits1 - Good point.
@Kruisje2000
@Kruisje2000 3 жыл бұрын
I enjoyed this very much, although it's a pity in the "Focus live"-part you talked through almost every Jan Akkerman solo because you reacted to every Thijs van Leer intervention. So you missed a lot of brilliant stuff Jan played there.
@goytabr
@goytabr 3 жыл бұрын
The best version of "Hocus Pocus" is from the "Live at the Rainbow" album. It's BREATHTAKING! (LITERALLY so, as at one point Thijs van Leer yodels for almost A FULL MINUTE, and don't ask me how he breathed!) But seriously, that's not the best of Focus. The very best is "Hamburger Concerto" (it's about actual hamburger patties, with "movements" titled "Rare" and "Well Done", and the cover is the name of the record in the form of a diner neon sign). AMAZING musicianship! No yodelling, but Thijs does redefine the meaning of "vocalese" in several sections, and Jan Akkerman is at his best (and that's saying a lot when it comes to a guitar legend like him!). You should also check their solo albums, especially Jan Akkerman's ever-changing moods over the years. Thijs is also a renowned classical flutist and I suggest you have a listen to "Introspection 3", for example.
@auniversalwoman
@auniversalwoman Жыл бұрын
Please don't say hocus pocus, it's a slur against Jesus. In Latin, " This is my Body" translates " Hoc es Corpus Meum" and back in the day God's enemies made up the word Hocus Pocus to make fun on His Last Supper.
@goytabr
@goytabr Жыл бұрын
@@auniversalwoman, and how do you suggest I refer to Focus' song instead, if it has always had this title?
@auniversalwoman
@auniversalwoman Жыл бұрын
@@goytabr HP ?
@goytabr
@goytabr Жыл бұрын
@@auniversalwoman, nah, this song deserves to be treated by a magical name fitting its magical sound. Besides, I'm not superstitious.
@auniversalwoman
@auniversalwoman Жыл бұрын
@@goytabr yeah I guess if you honor a sing more than Jesus Christ, you would. But we all will answer for our choices in the end.
@theplasticlens
@theplasticlens 3 жыл бұрын
I love your reactions to this classic Doug. When you took a hit from the bong I nearly fell over, I think that's exactly what I did 35 years ago when I first heard this!
@geoffreyhughes1
@geoffreyhughes1 4 ай бұрын
Thanks for putting me on to the cover version. It's pretty dang cool.
@sandraandmichaelfield1602
@sandraandmichaelfield1602 3 жыл бұрын
On April 7, 1973 I saw Focus at Winterland in S. F., as the 2nd of two opening bands for Yes's 'Close To The Edge" tour...the opening band was Poco. Looking back, it now seems like an unbelievable lineup. But at the time it was one of many great concert lineups at Winterland arranged/produced by Bill Graham. Needless to say most everyone in the audience had been "timing" their hallucinogens to be peaking when Yes arrived on stage...And just as Focus was coming on, so were we. Nothing quite prepares one for the joyful and mind blowing experience we had that evening! I'll never forget it. BTW - These concerts, in the early '70s, happened during my "experimental" college years, well before I met my lovely wife Sandy. Peace and Love to all!
@georgesilva3645
@georgesilva3645 3 ай бұрын
I was there too! Wow, Bill Graham knows how to pick them... I was working for FM Productions at that time. I saw a lot of rock history. What fun!
@amitraam1270
@amitraam1270 3 жыл бұрын
Can you imagine that such a song was a hit? things were so much wider, possibilities. Focus 2 aka "Moving waves", and "focus 3" are amazing good albums.
@The73rdSecret
@The73rdSecret 3 жыл бұрын
This is one of my favorite "classic" rock tracks of all times
@michaelde3gen539
@michaelde3gen539 3 жыл бұрын
I grew up in the 70s and this was such a part of my life. Your dad is an amazing man and one of my hero’s
@johnkishap
@johnkishap 2 жыл бұрын
when I saw their performance, then in the last part, I immediately fell in love with what creativity and talent this eccentric is.
@johnmatthews273
@johnmatthews273 3 жыл бұрын
Can't believe a guy with a grey beard has never heard of this amazing band!
@andyhilton3359
@andyhilton3359 3 жыл бұрын
Focus were such a crazy band and we loved them in the 1970's just brilliant and bonkers, loved it!
@taterdawg
@taterdawg 3 жыл бұрын
Never get tired of seeing reactions to what I call the "drunk and high yodeling leprechaun rock opera"..... especially when it's a reaction by someone as musically knowledgeable as Doug. Glad you enjoyed. Glad you watched the live version of Focus playing the song so you can see the facial expressions of the singer.... priceless.
@b.c.2281
@b.c.2281 2 жыл бұрын
I still remember finding this on KZbin when I was like 17. I was teaching myself guitar and I had to learn it immediately. The riff was so cool, and Akkerman's solo is still one of my all time favourites.
@promodes
@promodes Жыл бұрын
Hi Doug. Today I attended a Focus concert in The Netherlands, where the band was founded. After fifty (!) years still touring the globe. Vocalist Thijs van Leer (75 years old) and drummer Pierre van der Linden (76 years old) of the original line-up, performed just as powerful as they did in the seventies, including the astonishing jodeling parts! Former Focus guitarist Jan Akkerman was in 1973 voted 'best guitar player of the word' by the british music magazine Melody Maker. Todays line-up: Thijs van Leer: organ/flute/vocals, Pierre van der Linden: Drums, Menno Gootjes: guitar, Udo Pannekeet: Bass.
@adriangoodrich4306
@adriangoodrich4306 3 жыл бұрын
Plenty more Focus from the 1970s to go at, Doug! Including some absolute epics, and some you may recognise. And of course "Sylvia". But this was one of "the" albums you HAD to own in the early 1970s, as a young male here in the UK. Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman... unique! Great band!
@cjshardcorepunkmusicvault8474
@cjshardcorepunkmusicvault8474 3 жыл бұрын
I have to hand it to you Doug. That really was one of your best videos to date. I had the best time watching your reactions to that song. I knew you wouldn't believe what you were hearing. Focus is a criminally underrated band. Who are just put down as a 1 hit wonder and to a degree it is not wrong. But within Europe they have been well known for DECADES. I applaud you sir for your open-mindedness. Don't let my user name fool you, I listen to a lot of different types of music. Cheers from Scotland.
@ih302
@ih302 3 жыл бұрын
They aren't under rated by those who know...
@clansome
@clansome 3 жыл бұрын
@CJ'S HARDCORE & PUNK MUSIC VAULT You're forgetting Sylvia off Focus 3 so they were a 2 hit wonder. Strangely never bought Moving Waves but bought Focus 3 (double LP !!) instead. One of the first records I bought I think.
@rmyikzelf5604
@rmyikzelf5604 9 ай бұрын
Apparently they are still very popular in Brazil too
@paulkelcher824
@paulkelcher824 3 жыл бұрын
Nicko's first Maiden lead vocal :) Hope he gets suitably paid :) Check out " House of the King " by Focus. It was used as a TV theme in the UK, fits perfectly :)
@stevegreen5552
@stevegreen5552 3 жыл бұрын
"Don't Ask Me" with Myriam Stoppard & Dr Magnus Pyke. When I discovered Focus I was surprised to recognise the TV theme.
@paulkelcher824
@paulkelcher824 3 жыл бұрын
@@stevegreen5552 Steve Coogan used it in Saxondale as well. Magnus and david Bellamy were legends :)
@erickvermeulen9734
@erickvermeulen9734 Жыл бұрын
Hi Doug, relistening to this after a year. Thijs van Leer would be great to interview on your channel, you being a classical composer. He was taught piano by his mother from age three, later his father encouraged him to study the flute. As a kid of 8 years he wrote a song that was later recorded with Focus (Moving Waves), he recorded flute albums with his own music and Bach music with the classical orchestra led by Rogier van Otterloo in the seventies (Introspection), and performed a few years ago in one of the Ayreon live shows. Focus (with Thijs van Leer and drummer Pierre van der Linden) still gives concerts.
@user-pw6qe7ur4q
@user-pw6qe7ur4q 3 жыл бұрын
I remeber hearing this on the Dutch and Belgian radio stations back when I was a kid in the early '70s... boy, does that bring back memories!
@rtalbot87
@rtalbot87 3 жыл бұрын
This band was one of the best in the Progressive era. Nothing else like it at the time, and some real musicianship (which was also lacking at that time).
@abimaelmarquez2757
@abimaelmarquez2757 3 жыл бұрын
Other iconic hipie song is Frankenstein of the Edgar Winter Group. I fully recomend it.
@malcolmbrimecome5992
@malcolmbrimecome5992 3 жыл бұрын
first record I brought must see old grey whistle test live version
@u3uu3u
@u3uu3u 3 жыл бұрын
Rock guitarist Dave Ulrich has done an awesome cover of Frankenstein, well worth a listen.
@malcolmbrimecome5992
@malcolmbrimecome5992 3 жыл бұрын
@@u3uu3u Thanks I will
@MycontentisgoldJerryGold
@MycontentisgoldJerryGold 3 жыл бұрын
Kirk and Rob of Metallica released a short cover of Frankenstein.
@commanderk3829
@commanderk3829 3 жыл бұрын
Saw them in 1973. Crazy wild show. They did the whole album, we wanted more after the encode so they repeated the first two songs from the album over again. Spencer Davis Group opened. The band and the audience where in outer space that night.
@seabud6408
@seabud6408 3 жыл бұрын
Saw them on that tour too. Real music, great virtuoso improvisations one of the best live bands ... ever😀 I would have paid to listen to their drummer on his own, he’s that good.
@rinuspoll8590
@rinuspoll8590 3 жыл бұрын
The guitarist Jan Akkerman was named best guitarist in 1973 by the English music magazine Melody maker.
@danhurley2274
@danhurley2274 2 жыл бұрын
Hey Doug! Thanx for playing on of my faves from my misspent youth! I have had the great pleasure of seeing and meeting Focus several times on Cruise To The Edge.They always put on a great show and Thijs was always playing something with or for someone. Lots of fun!
@kevinz8930
@kevinz8930 3 жыл бұрын
When this would come on the radio when I was a kid, which was quite frequent, I would jump around like crazy and play air guitar to this and of course sing the yodel. This was on the radio many times a day during the early to mid-70s. ☺ still love it
@fredreed8462
@fredreed8462 3 жыл бұрын
Me too!
@gj8683
@gj8683 3 жыл бұрын
Glad for you, Doug, that you finally heard this song. It was HUGE in the early '70s.
@novakingood3788
@novakingood3788 3 жыл бұрын
I believe the flute sound is achieved by the player vocalising the notes he's playing on the flute. Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull is one of many exponents of this type of playing.
@tonybaker55
@tonybaker55 2 жыл бұрын
Brings back memories of my school years. Another track they are famous for was entitled "Sylvia".
@joemiller401
@joemiller401 2 жыл бұрын
This is probably the best review I have ever seen or heard from Doug - my hats off to you!
@cameronag12
@cameronag12 3 жыл бұрын
Amazed you went for this track, Doug. Wouldn't have been my first choice to showcase Focus's excellence, but for Hallowe'en it makes sense! But you HAVE to listen to the rest of the album, as others have said. For a short piece from the same album, check out Focus III, then dive into Eruption, featuring "Tommy" for an emotional rollercoaster.
@andrewplumb6544
@andrewplumb6544 3 жыл бұрын
agree with that entirely. Focus III really showcases their talents. Tommy is excellent from Eruption. I saw them live around the time III came out. I've never really come down! In and Out of Focus is very different and fun too.
@brodieenoch1
@brodieenoch1 3 жыл бұрын
One of my all time favorites
@cjpmugsr999
@cjpmugsr999 2 жыл бұрын
Cut my teeth on this album in 1973. One of my earliest influences and probably my first exposure to jazz/rock. Akkerman was amazing. They considered it a joke.
@MercutioUK2006
@MercutioUK2006 2 жыл бұрын
I wasn't expecting that rip......and honestly, it was perhaps the most epic I've seen - perfectly timed. Worth noting that Jan was a phenomenal player - sweeps and blistering scale fragments in the very early 70s!
@danserdutz6700
@danserdutz6700 Жыл бұрын
Saw Focus around 1973 in Los Angeles. Opened for Steely Dan and the main act, Black Oak Arkansas. All three bands blew the place up! Those were the days of cheap tickets, three bands and wonderful music.
@timothygrayson
@timothygrayson Жыл бұрын
This track takes me back I was 9 years old. Shocking era. Creative genius in this band.
@michaelehrhart9670
@michaelehrhart9670 3 жыл бұрын
I bought this single when it came out in 1973...though I wore it out, I still have what is left of it...great song by a band ahead of its time.
@rogerhennie8939
@rogerhennie8939 3 жыл бұрын
Focus is an amazing band! 1000 people have reacted to this song. It’s their Circus number. But They have so much more. Fabolous musicians! Check out first 5 tracks off the next album Focus 3, or their Magnus opus Hamburger Concerto! And that’s just a start.
@feathersandspikes2166
@feathersandspikes2166 3 жыл бұрын
I remember listening to this when it came out. It grows on you the more you hear it. Just rifs, solos and yodeling. 😂
@kallsop2
@kallsop2 Жыл бұрын
This takes me back to my misspent youth back in the 70's and into the 80's. You always knew when this song was played on the stereo at a party that the party was getting good. I like the cover by Helloween and by Iron Maiden. It was sad that they had to speed it up for "The Midnight Special" but they had to fit the time constraints of the show. The fortunate thing about being on The Midnight Special was that it got them exposure to people that might not have heard them. THat show was so good because so many people got to see groups and artist that they liked and those that they didn't know, and got to see them perform live. No lipsync back then.
@AlexWorrell
@AlexWorrell 2 жыл бұрын
My two favourite comments here: "I can't believe this exists" and "I think he's just upset with the person who sold him that shirt" lol
My scorpion was taken away from me 😢
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