FOCUS Sylvia/ Hocus Pocus (Old Whistle Test 1972) Reaction

[@nicholasbomia4799]

It is utterly stunning how fast Jan strums. He is so amazing. One of the greatest for sure.

[@robertcraane7910]

Dutch pride here... Jan Akkerman defeated Clapton in NME as the guitar god of the world....

[@wbertie2604]

Akkerman is/was technically incredibly proficient - just listen to all those cross-rhythms. The soloing is quite restrained on Sylvia for Akkerman, though, but very melodic. And then you hear the whole ensemble on Focus III and it turns out they are ALL incredibly proficient... Ian Anderson wishes he was as good as Thijs on flute, and I say that as a big fan of Tull. It's much more jazz-rock fusion than Tull, of course.

[@martinking4181]

Jan Akkerman is simply a genius on guitar, played more jazz style as he got older. Also plays the Lute covering medieval tunes.

[@NoLegalPlunder]

From the land that gave us Rembrandt. A very exceptional bunch of musicians.

[@cyclist3969]

Hocus Pocus makes sense as an Auditorium Sound Check by the band, recorded and released as a single propelled the band to near-legenday status in 1971

[@mickmarsh2890]

I've seen Jan few times and had a beer or two with him, he's a really nice guy. He's not doing rock now but he's still making beautiful music.

[@liefde1911]

Well, nobody expects this......and every time it sounds completely different. Just having fun in playing.....beautiful

[@matthewdrake4385]

Sounds like something out of Star Trek. If you want a real laugh check out the version they did on Midnight Special. The Hocus Pocus track was like twice as fast.

[@buzzbomb67]

The 6:05 complete version, not the edited 4:45 minute version

[@nightwishlover8913]

The Old Grey Whistle Test (BBC rock programmme) was so named from a Tin Pan Alley phrase. The first pressing of a new song was played to the doormen (who at that time wore GREY suits) and if they went away whistling it, it had passed the test. Didn't guarantee a hit, of course, but at least it was memorable.... Search "Focus (band)" on Wikipedia for more info...

[@SuperDutchjohn]

Jan Akkerman on guitars is my hero, when you love the drums of Pierre van der Linden you should listen to Anonymous II of Focus, his drum-solo in this piece is simply magical!!!!

[@lukagovorcin3610]

YES LISTEN TO FOCUS POCUS SONG ON MIDNIGHT SPECIAL,THAT WAS CRAZY FANTASTIC!!!!

[@steviegarza1166]

Omg I love this song my dad tuned me on to these guys 🙌

[@wynkindeworde6504]

Kids that have never heard classic prog rock... they missed out!

[@thomaslauder4406]

Scotland flag in background pure class !

[@douglaspalmer9678]

Now that's just.....strange!

[@moefeaux1442]

Andy and Alex did a drunk reaction to this as just about everyone else on YT.

[@ljw5768]

Listen to Eruption from Moving Waves. Studio album.

[@sns2112]

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with David King. While the studio version is good, I think that the live version he mentions is well worth the watch. I think the song works better in the faster version, it jams more, and actually seeing what Thijs is doing to make the sounds brings it all to another level. Search for 'Focus - Hocus Pocus Live '73'.

[@oafratos]

He be like ; whats going on

[@guerillaguru8650]

1973: Shredding is not a thing! Jan Akkerman (guitar): It is now!

[@AndrewGruffudd]

The only four sung songs with lyrics that I know of that they have done are Mescaline/Happy Nightmare, Why Dream, Moving Waves and Round Goes the Gossip, whose verse is sung in latin. There is another vocalisation though - the hymn just before the finale of the Hamburger Concerto album, which is sung in Dutch.

[@daveking9393]

When the yodeling starts you are into the Hocus Pocus song. Wild ride for sure. CLASSIC song to many. This was Not the correct version. Whole song is very long. DO NOT WATCH the version they did for televison. They had a big feud with the producers who said they had to shorten the song to fit TV format... instead they kicked up the speed and performaed the whole song in the time slot. Sounds like a train wreck compared to the original studio version which I recommend giving it a shot. This Really is a classic jam you should hear correctly

[@henrijansen4224]

I love "House of the King"

[@robertcraane7910]

Now do some Captain Beefheart... also from Dutch origins... Icecream for crow... you never heard anything like it!

[@VerMaarte]

They're Dutch ... The organ player is also a classical flutist. Most of their songs are prog. If you want to hear the guitarplayer in a more mainstream setting; Brainbox is the band.

[@yambo59]

Theres a much better live version of Hocus Pocus