Focus - Live at the BBC (Old Grey Whistle Test) December 1972 (Full Session) extremely rare

Focus the Band home page:
www.focustheban...
Jan Akkerman home page:
www.janakkerman...
Facebook:
/ 197272485986

[@edljnehan2811]

Jan akkerman along with the late Jeff Beck are were the greatest guitar players on the planet😮 vanleer is criminally underrated on the keyboards he is also one of the greatest😊

[@COLDMKULTRA]

I saw them at the Rainbow Theatre in 1973 ... THAT concert blows this performance out of the water ... I will never forget it ... it was truly something else!

[@djnicksedits5525]

Lucky wish time machines were invented.

[@andybenstead7240]

How Focus never took over the world i shall never understand

[@markshorter76]

In a way they did, as much as one can do, playing such music & coming outside of the US and the UK.

[@scotth1992]

I loved Focus. Moving Waves is still one of my favorites!

[@valley_robot]

Loved the song “Sylvia “ since I was a small child

[@Happysongkla]

From Tokyo. I remember buying a Focus video for $ 40 because I wanted to see it. We Japanese are now in an era where focus images can be viewed for free. thank you.

[@jidhed]

Have you seen the Focus 50 years anthology box set? in that you get hours of live material with Focus, including the whole, uncut Live at Rainbow 1973 in film

[@Michael-dz9vk]

saw them live at the chancelor hall chelmsford in 1972 ,i was 15 years old ,with two friends,got to front of the stage ,they were amazing ,such good musicians ,who formed the perfect band together unique,great memories of wonderfull times ,❤😊 mick ,chelmsford

[@tecotrovao3007]

Simplesmente Fantástica Essas Pérolas Perdidas no Tempo ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤.

[@smoothjazzuk5168]

God bless the BBC this is awesome.....no one could give a shit any more for technical ability.....

[@glenbrett6039]

How you can only have 45 likes after over 1000 views is testiment to the amount of idiots that are out there.God bless you for putting this video on KZbin. God bless you and Goodnight.

[@PIPEHEAD]

I don't live in Liverpool, but I actually live nearer to the Cavern than most people who do ( there's just a river between me and the Cavern ) . Two nights ago, somebody I've known since 1977, and I, had the following conversation : - Me : " I only ever went to the Cavern once, to see Focus ( October 26 1972 ) - who did you see at the Cavern ? " Ros : " Focus - I was embroidering my hat at the gig ; Dave and I were getting married the next day ".

[@xxgachacloudxx8087]

Superb.bought Sylvia and hocus pocus on single 1973.

[@triorubino-michakoeppen9105]

that's a great, famous melody! I didn't know, it was by this band!

[@smoothjazzuk5168]

The group that changed everything for me....Jan was a demon and an angel...he challenged everyone!!! His timing is on another plane....harmonically and rhythmically never been surpassed....total genius....but only when he plays with Thijs...on his own...he is great...but without Thijs...great player....

[@rickblackers88]

Yeah i think Thijs brings out the rocker side of Akkerman to an animal level but without Thijs the maestro is more oriented to jazz,wich is great but...

[@Kohntarkosz]

For anyone who cares to know 00:00 Sylvia take 1 (breakdown) 03:34 Sylvia/Hocus Pocus take 2 (the version on the "Focus Sight & Sound Vol. 1 DVD in the 50 Years boxset, though there, it appears to be erroneously identified as take one) 10:07 Sylvia/Hocus Pocus take 3 18:28 Anonymous II take 1 28:30 Anonymous II take 2 (the version on the Focus Sight & Sound Vol. 1 DVD)

[@donaldkunzer3427]

thnx

[@olivierbodnar853]

Quite rare to see Thijs playing Fender Rhodes! Brilliant

[@rickblackers88]

This is great!!Favorite band here!!

[@barrydougan4859]

Classiest group ever.

[@MrMjp58]

At the time, I couldn't afford many albums and relied on radio and especially TV programmes like this to inform my teenage musical tastes. My long-suffering parents allowed me to watch OGWT most weeks [only one TV back then] and I cringe a bit now to realise what I put them through. Bands like this seemed to be both super-skilful as well as being imaginative with arrangements and such. I always preferred instrumental stuff [on OGWT], to basic blues rock or singer/songwriter material, but I enjoyed most of what was on offer, until the advent of Punk Rock sealed my fate as a rock fan. Some people professed to like both, a concept that was beyond me.

[@paulwestwell7160]

Pure genius each one of them 🔥

[@michealfrancis770]

I know that Jan and Thjis usually get all the attention but Pierre and Bert were some rhythm section. The sound that Bert gets from that Fender Jazz is awesome. We are lucky to have these clips at all as the BBC were notorious for wiping over tape to use them again. Wonder what Bert is up to now?

[@garyoldroyd2239]

The different lineups never seemed to stay together long enough to find out where they could take it. Shame because I thought Bert and Pierre could sure nail it!

[@63Baggies]

You could tell Pierre was influenced by the likes of Max Roach and Buddy Rich...he swung his arse off..

[@anthonyfrederick2829]

The whole entire band is awesome! This is the lineup! I love every one of these guys in this band.

[@fmtfniuprog8029]

@michealfrancis770, Unfortunately Bert Ruiter passed away on March 24, 2022! After Focus left, Bert joined Earth & Fire and had a well-known commercial success...kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2epfKiCitiWrc0

[@AndriesMulti]

Bert Ruiter passed away on 24 mrt 2022. He was 75 years old and married to Dutch female singer Jerney Kaagman (Earth & Fire).

[@erwinderuiter1320]

Completely underrated, world class musicians and where do you find humor in music?

[@dominiquemarie7661]

Amazing! Focus is the best! 🤘🏻

[@andybenstead7240]

Sylvia the greatest instrumental ever

[@stevenjohnston2263]

It could well be. Although Tommy runs it very close.

[@beckfreak2000]

saw them at Stoke Poly 1972 Jan's guitar playing was totally over my head at that time but led me to liking of jazz rock

[@johnroberts3723]

Just great!.

[@skidco1]

Awesome sound quality as you'd expect with the BBC. Classy rhythm section. I'd no idea that they did multiple takes of the same track, it's fun to spot the small variations. How did they motivate themselves on, say, a cold Monday morning in front of disinterested white coated recording technicians? Terrific upload, thanks.

[@ThePwoo666]

Just.....awesome

[@jbpverdan]

Excepcional!!!!!!!!

[@davidmetcalfe4218]

3 versions of Sylvia.

[@williammolina1380]

They Best sound

[@robyheavyguitar]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@bobfromwork]

Was it always a "Whistle test" With these guys ? I'd like to think so.

[@viniciusantoniocavalari8395]

Collin Allen was a great drummer for Focus, but Pierre Van der Linden always knew how to fill all empty spaces.

[@KlausBlackFlower]

Zemaitis Guitar for Ian Akkerman, the real Les Paul.

[@bachtobebop]

Zemaitis Guitar is the real Les Paul? I was a good friend of Les Paul, I did not know he worked for Zeimaitis guitars?

[@Kohntarkosz]

@@bachtobebop He didn't. I don't know what the OP was tryign to say, but that's definitely not a Zemaitis that Akkerman is playing here. It's a real Gibson Les Paul Custom, with a Gretsch pickup in the neck position.

[@iancrombie8862]

Think they messed up Sylvia with out of tune/broken string.Live at Rainbow 1973..was miles better..i have the album..A total masterpiece!!

[@dutchcub]

Jan Akkerman sucks in Sylvia here....he definitely did not have his day.

[@mtlgas]

It happens to everyone. He was a fantastic guitar player .

[@bachtobebop]

Since it's such a simple tune, it's not easy to make it sound different every time and make it work for the audience.

[@donnaashbrook8169]

@@bachtobebophow can anyone say that Jan, the total genius “sucks”.

[@donnaashbrook8169]

The whole musical experience that is Focus is pure, mind exploding magic. Love Thjis he is multitalented and mad!

[@bachtobebop]

@@donnaashbrook8169 A feared guitarist, who demands respect.