Can I just say, the first 5 and a half minutes of this performance is a song called Sylvia. Great channel, guys.
@RealLifeCoupleReact5 ай бұрын
Ahhh doh!! Sorry about that and thank you for commenting and also for the kind words ❤️ it's nice to be diverse and show the world some awesome music
@stevesmith66425 ай бұрын
@@RealLifeCoupleReact no apology needed. If you want more awesomeness from The Old Grey Whistle Test, can I suggest the Sensational Alex Harvey Band's cover of Delilah or Argent playing God Gave Rock and Roll To You? 🤘
@martinaalderink77735 ай бұрын
For who is interested : Brian May on this guitarist , Jan Akkerman. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoipcmStr5WqfM0 . Jan Akkerman was once named world best guitarist in the 70`s. Also, from this recording, up until 5:40 the song is Sylvia. After that is Hocus Pocus.
@YNGWIE9985 ай бұрын
In this video Focus were actually playing two pieces, they started with 'Sylvia' then morphed into a scaled down version of 'Hocus Pocus'. Focus used to be my favourite band in the 70's. I saw them I think twice then, and also in 2023 in Sale, Manchester.
@RealLifeCoupleReact5 ай бұрын
Thank you for this ❤️ really enjoyed it and his guitar playing was incredible! Gonna do Edgar winter from the old grey whistle test too, I wonder how Belle will react to that one 😜
@tonygriffin_5 ай бұрын
Used to love the Old Grey Whistle Test in the 70's. A big alternative to Top Of The Pops, which was mainstream Pop but the main music programme on TV. The name came from the fact that artists who wanted to appear on the BBC had to perform in front of a panel who were old guys (old greys) who dismissed prospects they didn't like with a whistle. So the story goes, anyway.
@WNYretiree5 ай бұрын
I never heard this version, played at the correct speed. I really enjoyed it. This group was certainly full of very talented musicians. For some extra fun, you should take a look at the version from NBC's Midnight Special downloaded by Elvis Amadeus Jackson. This song is long, and they were told to keep it under, I think it was four minutes. They decided that, rather than take anything out, they would just speed it up. The results are breathtaking.
@PhilH9195 ай бұрын
Used to have an LP years ago of "guitar greats". Focus were on it doing. The lead guitar is Jan Akkerman. Dutch I believe.
@corsa1805 ай бұрын
I hadn't seen this performance, I'm mostly familiar with their Midnight Special performance of it. Check it out if you haven't seen it before. kzbin.info/www/bejne/farbhKmQhMesa5Y
@BrendonChase_20155 ай бұрын
Okay, this calls for some Ayreon in your lives. Absolutely positive that you'll love it. See the dude on keys there, Thijs van Leer? He's still going very strong and as a testimony to that, here's his 2019 performance (on flute) in a great piece of prog metal: "Ayreon - Amazing Flight (Electric Castle Live And Other Tales)". Cheers from Amsterdam! 🤘
@bobby6666665 ай бұрын
That was fun. I have heard it a while ago. Yes they are Dutch. Two tracks that may be of interest is Frankenstein by Edgar Winter also on the OGWT and Ride The Sky Live Version by Lucifer's Friend. A German Group with John Lawton on vocals. He went onto Uriah Heap in the late 70s. The album came out late 1970 and Ride The Sky sounds similar to the first track on Led Zeppelin III also late 1970.
@RealLifeCoupleReact5 ай бұрын
Edgar is on the list as is captain beef heart!!
@tasminoben6865 ай бұрын
Dankeschön! Ich habe mich sehr gefreut! Damals war ich 17 und besaß nicht nur diese Single, sondern auch noch Haare! LOL!❤😅
@shankly45 ай бұрын
This is a great song. I saw Focus a couple of times back in the 70s. They were so talented. The Midnight Special version that is mentioned elsewhere is interesting. They were told they would have to edit Hocus Pocus as they were only allowed 4 minutes, so they just decided to play twice as fast - it's incredible.
@RealLifeCoupleReact5 ай бұрын
Haha that's amazing, great musicians
@alastairmcintyre47525 ай бұрын
Such a pleasure to have someone react to the original version of this rather than the manic US TV version people usually do . Saw them Live for the first time a few weeks after this OGWT recording ( that's a scary thought - only 52 years ago )🤣 - superb innovative band ( what's even scarier is that the ticket cost just 60p 😱 ) . Thijs van Leer can be seen still performing with Ayreon ( and Focus ) . Jan Ackerman was voted Best Guitarist in the World 1973 in a Melody Maker poll .😱
@rodconnah42495 ай бұрын
Used to love OGWT and I reckon Focus were the best thing to come out of Holland since Gouda cheese ... I smiled, Finn, when you were talking about the worn fingerboard on the Les Paul because Belle had a look on her face like my wife when I'm talking about my Fender Precision :) another awesome reaction.
@theooppie96155 ай бұрын
A great Dutch band 🙂
@kgsimracing4 ай бұрын
I never seen this video where they played 2 of their songs mixed. I wish y’all seen him whistling and playing the flute
@CrYou5755 ай бұрын
I assumed it was going to be the crazy 'Please keep your track short for a break for our sponsors" Saturday Night Live version introduced by Gladys Night (which is worth watching for a laugh) that everyone reacts to. Focus were a great band, some of their longer stuff is fantastic.
@waynebenedict57855 ай бұрын
Loved this song when it was new and still do! Quite unique! Love the Jammies, btw!
@jonno555 ай бұрын
Great Dutch band of the 70's. Seen them several times in the seventies. Superb music with very talented musicians. The keyboard player now a days plays sometimes in projects of Arjen Lucassen.
@kicorse5 ай бұрын
I've always loved the experimental spirit of the 70s, and appreciate the fact that music like this was regularly on the BBC (feeling nostalgic for a time before I was born here). It's not a song I'd put on rotation, but I enjoyed it a lot in the context of a reaction video, and I'm sure I'll revisit it. Funnily enough, another reactor mentioned this specific song in connection with Band-Maid a few days ago and I was meaning to check it out, but then forgot.
@cyclops605 ай бұрын
What a fantastic live performance! They were mainly an instrumental band which isn't normally my thing but I just clicked with Focus. Cheers
@renedekkers-gm8nj3 ай бұрын
Focus … there are even better video’s … but all of them are so good. As a young child I must have heard them playing, but I was too young to know (I think). Heard it many years later and it was … wow … this was sooooo good. But they had so many great songs. Difficult to !
@JuanSan665 ай бұрын
Amazing band
@TinyWorldOfTom5 ай бұрын
hello guys. Please try out some great viking/pagan/nordic folk music - Heilung - Anoana LIVE | LIFA Llyn Dain
@mikeg50185 ай бұрын
Great reaction! Could you react to a Jeff Buckley song? Maybe "Grace" Live in Paris? -Cheers, Mike.
@nikkihayes54115 ай бұрын
Yay please do the Gladys Knight special fast mental version🤯
@grahameveale64835 ай бұрын
No, please don’t. It’s piss poor.
@kenford47985 ай бұрын
If you want to sing like him yodel have to practice a lot!