Hocus Pocus - Focus | The Midnight Special

Focus performed on The Midnight Special October 5th 1973
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[@danopticon]

If you don’t know the story behind this legendary recording: Focus are a Dutch prog-rock band, and around ‘72/‘73 “Hocus Pocus” had become their well-known radio hit … which, notably, on the album is played at a much slower tempo, clocking in around 7 minutes in length. As the recording of the _Midnight Special_ drew to a close, the producers warned Focus that only five minutes of showtime remained, so could they please play another, shorter song … to which the Dutch group replied “No, it is not a problem, we will simply play our intended song much faster!” And so they did! Amazing band.

[@Metalkorpse]

And boom! Thrash Metal was born!!!

[@Hegstuffing]

Did not know that. Thanks for sharing. I was just a couple of weeks shy of my 14th birthday when this show aired. I was blown away! Stunned.... shell shocked! SO good!

[@ronyyr2251]

Buen dato!

[@raheimgreen8550]

Excellent

[@jackh7977]

Dude I was wondering why it sounded different lol it feels like two separate genres of rock with the difference in speed

[@rustyshackleford4059]

To all those in the crowd who had their minds melted witnessing this that evening, we salute you. There were no survivors....

[@RobbyTheGlitch]

haha, right on.

[@thehellyousay]

I watched this on tv the night after my 8th birthday, after watching wrasslin' with my dad. It blew my mind. Still haven't found all the pieces yet, 50 years later. Keep the bits I have found in a jar by the door ...

[@terrymckenzie8786]

Does any one have the tabs for this….

[@JonnyTheLeprechaun]

miss you Rusty glad you're still here.

[@nanettefoster1625]

I was there 🤣

[@XxEpIcFrOzEnzZxxx]

A comment I saw on an old upload of this clip: "They played like their tour bus was double-parked outside." 🤣

[@ahmadbani1452]

Another, "they rented the equipment and had 5 minutes left."

[@shawnbruce6934]

LoL.

[@Goggarin1991]

Another one was "No drugs were harmed during the making of this video"

[@professorgenki5959]

Sounds like Focus did a little cokeus!

[@GeoWizard]

Probably the greatest live performance ever caught on tape

[@Jen-br5hx]

after a long trek across the country, nothing beats high speed yodelling

[@silverstem2964]

Not even close.

[@HughCorbyCruick]

For me, it’s up there with the Vanilla Fudge over-the-top appearance on Ed Sullivan Show for “You Keep Me Hanging On”.

[@K7classicrockfan]

Wow, I'd never thought I'd see geowizard here hahaha crazy.I love your channel by the way!!!

[@drachireidnoc6659]

Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits has a great live performance that’s worth checking out

[@markvalery8632]

When the men in their white coats come to take me away, I want this playing in the background.

[@jameskonners8304]

Lmao!!

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Omg ‼️‼️

[@erikkopsala3564]

Well now a days they won't take you far , to a park then cut you loose

[@Theonceurbanmermaid]

We walked down the isle to this at our our wedding in November 2022 😂 Best song EVER 🎉

[@jeffallen55]

I'm going with Napoleon XIV's They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!

[@johninama585]

I think we should all recognize how amazing Jan Akkerman is on guitar. Holy shit. Sweep picking in 1973? He's probably one of the greatest guitarists no one has ever heard of. He totally gets overshadowed by the yodeling (and some poor camera angle choices during his solos).

[@BIZARBIES]

No kidding! I'm like where is the camera guy when he's soloing!?!? That Gibson Les Paul he's playing is pretty interesting too. The fretboard is at a slant by the neck pickup. Never seen that before. What a smoking guitarist!

[@johninama585]

@@BIZARBIES That's a Framus guitar. He had a signature model with them. Very LP inspired. I love the angled neck join.

[@BIZARBIES]

@John Inama wow! I never knew that! Cool! It looks like a Les Paul Recording but with normal Les Paul controls. I knew it was a Gibson because I saw the Gibson logo. Thanks for the info!

[@reverendtos4271]

One of my all-time favorite players. Have to admit, he was pretty sloppy here though. The intro was pretty jenky. Probably jet lag lol

[@mcostafernando]

Jan vas never scared of improvising (and making mistakes 😂) when playing live... In my opinion it gives a lot of charm in his playing!

[@thinkbeforyouvote]

I don't think I ever saw a standing ovation on Midnight Special other than these guys.

[@thehellyousay]

I can't remember seeing one either, but I only got to see this whenever we visited relatives in Leamington, Chatham, and Ridgetown area. Picked it up from the Detroit and Windsor stations. Where I lived 50 years ago, we were lucky to pick up CTV from Kitchener, and CBC from London, with CHCH, and TVO getting through when the cloud cover was just right, Oh, yeah, and party lines, too. Not pay to chat lines, no. Party line meant multiple houses using the same phone line. Ponder that.

[@johnnytyler5685]

I was literally going to write this EXACT same comment until I scrolled through and found this one. I was thinking the exact same thing. I can't remember a single instance of seeing a standing ovation at a Midnight Special performance outside of this one.

[@ravynskye1310]

Friday nights broadcast with Billy Preston (2006) host with Buddy Miles(2008)they did My Sweet Lord...audience reaction was nothing I've ever seen on Midnight Special was amazing and well deserved ..this is also amazing 👏 love it sped up lol

[@ravynskye1310]

Benefits of living across from Detroit at the time lol I remember barley getting channels..having to actually get up off our ass to change the channels but picked up ABC NBC, CBS😆 Midnight Special, Don Kirshners best thing on tv at the time and the rainbow still screen after 1am with the loud buzzing..woke up a few times 😖🥴

[@naturalmax8474]

you didnt

[@sgold989]

Over 40 years ago, I asked myself what the heck is what I just heard. I have the same feeling today and can't get enough of it!

[@Fat12219]

The old days 😂😂😂 70s 😂

[@gonepostal9101]

What’s maybe most incredible is when Thijs whistles the chorus. To nail that live? C’mon, man!

[@quicolic]

Insane, right?

[@gerardoa.]

That’s the easiest part!! Even I can do that!!

[@bite-sizedshorts9635]

@@gerardoa. Where's the video?

[@Stanggwarbeard]

Windows down blasting this out of my car speakers in 2024 is my new way of living.

[@333wheeler]

This live version has always been insanely great..

[@CoCotheTurtle]

No-no... there was that two-week stretch in October of '96 when it wasn't very good at all.

[@arron0bryant874]

This has an extra verse early on that doesn't appear on the version on KZbin. There's an ascending bit before the whistling and before that, 1st verse has Jan Ackerman pretty much playing chords only which is also cut in the edited KZbin version.

[@artbk]

Yes! This and the Wallace & Grommit video are the best versions

[@DidYouReadEULA]

Amen...the drummer is having a blast driving that train!

[@dougfraser3295]

The Midnight Special live performance was faster than usual and might have been trimmed simply due to 6 mins of original length was too long for the NBC program…..but i loved it. The insanity in singer’s face and expression was invigorating back then and still is today!

[@parzooman]

That he can do those vocals live is pretty amazing.

[@jerryhorton5708]

Based on the vocalist’s face at the top of the video, the vocals may have been chemically enhanced. Seriously, Focus was an unreal group of musicians

[@gregdolecki8530]

Young and before the effects of decades of cigarette smoking.

[@truthserum9157]

As a musician, if you can’t do it live then you really can’t do it at all.

[@TRUMP-2024-MAGA]

Awesom... no vocal computer help... the good ol days

[@beyondalpha1072]

white people dont seasonz dey yodeling

[@danokerr9929]

The drummer sure has the chops and a lot of jazz in his playing

[@MimiJoys]

And chewing gum! 🤣

[@RedbadvanRijn-ft3vv]

Brainbox the drummer and Jan Akkerman to played in that band Downman and Summertime you should hear.

[@Lichfeldian--Suttonian]

You want to hear his (Pierre van der Linden) 10 minute drum solo! He still cracks a hickory punch now!

[@wendellbrownbrown5968]

That drummer is so much fun to watch, i could watch this over and over again! Now when i think of it i might of sean this back in the day 50 years is a long time!

[@dennisp3314]

I thought the same thing in his intro (a real Jazz feel)

[@francis5617]

This is why i love KZbin. What a performance.

[@johnmcleod8961]

I'm 65 yo now and remember this song when I was a teen...it freaked me slap out...the guitar, the vocals...it punched you in the gut, and I loved it...still do to this day.

[@BruceEldridge]

Me the same age,someone just asked about a song played onthe radio (wbcn) that rocked,couldn’t remember the name. This is what i thought of!!!

[@sunshinegirl1217]

me too! same age, same experience.

[@laurahall3094]

Gary Hoey has a great version

[@Fat12219]

Old school music 🎶

[@marcvdm1111]

and let's not forget the drums. Fr*in amazing

[@tonyhaslam186]

One of the coolest, most unique songs ever made.

[@tripjet999]

"unique" is ALREADY one of a kind.

[@max-romano-santo]

Jan Akkerman is one of most underrated guitarmen ever!!!

[@MartinMaat]

He was elected best guitarist in 1973 by readers of the British magazine Melody Maker. He won several awards in his career. So hardly underrated.

[@snotpu]

Maybe best underheard guitarest ever? Anyone who rated him at all certainly must have rated him highly.

[@thehellyousay]

Not by guitarists.

[@raheimgreen8550]

Just casually shreddin in the background

[@kevsol7665]

One of the best guitar players, you never heard of

[@DigiLab360]

Guitar, drums, vocals…one of the all-time best performances by a band.

[@storytimewithunclekumaran5004]

keyboards flute ?????????????????????????????

[@SirManfly]

Even the guy on the bass was speed rocking !!

[@Elias_Veine_Wiig]

Thijs van Leer & Pierre van der Linden & Jan Akkerman

[@Guido.Gonzato]

When I was abducted by aliens, they asked me to provide one single reason why they shouldn't destroy the Earth. Simple, I said, watch this: and I pointed their browser to this video. And that was how Focus saved our planet.

[@timcrenshaw5920]

Can verify, I was also being probed,

[@ezekielbrockmann114]

That's funny, I just saw almost the exact same comment just this morning about Johannes Brahms' Alto Rhapsody.

[@ThatMeansHesMad]

Ziltoid the Omniscient also approves.

[@zJohnnyRingoz]

Thank you!

[@InanDante]

The answer to "Show us what you goooot"

[@robertholle5599]

Thijs Van Leer is an insanely talented vocalist. Mind melting talent. Loved this song growing up, still love it and refuse to grow old 😍🎸

[@ericvonharding3421]

Like a cartoon. With each new verse, the singer was pulling out a new comic device and the band responded in devastating form. Bravo!

[@pookiejames05]

Love this comment!

[@Hetnaset]

I always burst out laughing when he pulls the flute out of nowhere 😂😂😂

[@philsatterley5297]

From the days where you could see Progressive Rock on network TV! Out of all the performances I've seen of this song on video this has got to be the most energetic. Thanks for posting this!

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

Glad you like it!

[@ogam5]

.....AND hear it on AM radio stations!

[@plentinough7222]

Yes! That performance demanded a standing ovation.

[@johnnytyler5685]

The only problem with this is that it's SO MUCH BETTER than the album version that once you've heard this live version you simply can't listen to the original ever again without wishing it was this one instead. The increased tempo alone is a major improvement over the original. Frankly, I think every single aspect of this live version is better than the original. Tempo, vocals, guitar...everything.

[@zachjohnson637]

Agreed. I heard this first and then the studio version…and was left wondering why the original was so tame in comparison.

[@MasthaX]

@@zachjohnson637 Because radio and TV shows would give you 3 minutes of time to play, the original studio version is 6 minutes at least.

[@zachjohnson637]

@@MasthaX I know, but they should have just done the original at this tempo.

[@hansverschoor8546]

Same with Deep Purple and others then, much better live than in studio, today is the opposite.

[@baronderochemont8556]

Talking about Deep Purple: first time I heard Highway Star it was a cover by Metal Church. Only then did I listen to the original. And to this day I still think Metal Church's cover is much better.

[@robinleebraun7739]

The absolute pinnacle of Rock and Roll. Guitars and yodeling.

[@gus473]

Let's not forget the flute! 🪈😎✌️

[@normanacree1635]

Don't forget the drums. Pretty wicked.

[@JonasQuigly]

Hendrix set his guitar on fire. I would have liked to see these guys light up a couple pairs of wood shoes.

[@3pan1]

@@normanacree1635 i keep telling that the terrific drummer knows his stuff and is doing homages to the best drummer ever: Sid Catlett.

[@MPKleiman]

And Thjis van Leer is also amazing with his musical multitasking. A great Dutch group performing their signature tune.

[@scottlucas9551]

As a 12 year old, I remember being captivated by the rock instrumentals that ,weirdly, were pretty big hits. "Outta Space" by Billy Preston,"Frankenstein" Edgar Winter, and "Hocus Pocus". Had the 45's. Great time to be a kid.

[@marknewbold2583]

It's not an instrumental with that yodelling

[@daveg4236]

@@marknewbold2583 what is it then, genius?

[@Pat-nl4wk]

Yes, it was a great time to be a kid. I remember it well @ 9 years old.

[@NathanSmith-xf7rk]

Me too, we watched that all the time as teenagers, it was a great time to grow up in with the music, always loved that song, catchy 😎

[@Oenloveslife]

Yes! In 5th grade Outta Space was my favorite song!

[@charliebrown1976]

I have waited years of my life to see a quality transfer of this performance without watermarks on it. That day has finally come! So much thanks to everyone on the Midnight Special preservation team! P.S. If I could be a bit greedy for a moment, is there any way you all could upload/release a lossless FLAC/WAV audio recording of this performance? It would be an amazing thing to have in the collection, as this is by far the best live version of the song.

[@posmobin]

It's longer than the other YT video with 15M views too. I guess the extended yodeling part was cur from the live broadcast, but luckily it's preserved here. I've seen that other video so many times that I was taken by surprise to see this extra part (which I've seen Thijs do in other live performances, just didn't realize he did it here)!

[@KevyNova]

@@posmobinsame here!

[@jameshultman1666]

FAAAAAAACK YEEEEAAAAA!!!!!!!!

[@brian_nirvana]

"This content is culturally significant. Posting it on KZbin will ensure that future generations will have access to it and appreciate it. Thank you for sharing it."

[@JhonnyYngaRaymundo]

Hermoso magico,unicos,maravilloso.

[@StinkyBlack1]

lol. You must have forgot google video.

[@linctexpilot8337]

Even at this tempo....... They're tight & locked as hell!!!

[@journaloflouisfreycinet8454]

Apart from at the start when the band missed the cue and went another bar

[@Justhereforthecomments-u7t]

Cocaine will do that...

[@bradwilliams1691]

My brother absolutely loved this song when it was first released. He died as a result of a car crash in 1976, aged 16. RIP brother - you may be gone but, youll never be forgotten.

[@floydfanboy2948]

Your brother had good taste. Sad his life was cut short. Hold on to his memory.

[@bradwilliams1691]

@@floydfanboy2948 My brother was also a huge fan of Pink Floyd - as am I.

[@floydfanboy2948]

​@@bradwilliams1691now why does that not surprise me 😊 good taste runs in the family!

[@diaryofanaxeman539]

Condolences Brother, losing your Brother is a toughest thing to live with .... my heart goes out to you 😢

[@di-jt6jp]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

[@barbiedahl]

They don't make shows like this anymore, unfortunately. One of the best ever!

[@joeyblowey123456]

They don't make music like this anymore either.

[@barbiedahl]

@@joeyblowey123456 exact-a-mundo!

[@barbiedahl]

@@joeyblowey123456 exact-a-mundo!

[@rogerpr364]

period!

[@plentinough7222]

Without a doubt and no arguments here😀🖖🏻😎

[@skaladarrellgodeater1070]

This is a MASTERPIECE Not all days you can hear a rock band with yodelling vocal. That was on 70's. Absolutely BRILLIANT.

[@Piggy-Oink-Oink]

I'm pretty sure the guy told his parents "I;m gonna be a rock star" and they were like Uh Huh..RIGHT. See Ma I was RIGHT!

[@freckles9176]

I’m pretty sure you would be hard pressed to find a rock band these days

[@TruckingToPlease]

And jazz flute. "Ham and eggs comin' at ya".

[@samisami-qb5tl]

Yodel, skat, vocal, recitativo by one man

[@anselpeneloperainblossom-s3489]

The only other rock band over ever heard yodel was nirvana. Mind blown

[@mrvantagepro]

I actually watched this performance the very night it aired on The Midnight Special back in 1973 with my older brother. I was only 12 years old then. I was so excited reading the TV Guide Magazine and seeing that Focus was scheduled to be on that night in October 73'. Remember back then, the only way you could see your favorite band was either live in concert or on The Midnight Special or Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. My relationship with music went through the stratosphere when I first heard Hocus Pocus and it still blows me away. I love all of Focus' music, I have never stopped listening to Focus. The band line-up here is Thijs Van Leer, Jan Akkerman, Bert Ruiter and Pierre Van der Linden. Truly, a virtuoso performance.

[@MTGPeddler]

The level of musicianship on this stage is beyond measure…it’s phenomenal

[@NickNicometi]

Every player is solid. I smiled, laughed, and jammed to this great performance! 😄 😂 🤘😠🎸

[@acme.videos]

Even the TV audience appreciates Focus' genius performance and gives them a standing ovation!!! 🥳🤯🥳👏👏👏👏👏

[@briane173]

As far as I can remember it was the one and only time anyone on _Midnight Special_ got a standing O after they were done.

[@Dr_Paul_Proteus]

T REX got a standing O for a beautifully crazed performance of Bang A Gong (Get It On).

[@rockingbirdey]

Smart decision posting this video. It's gonna get a lot of views since it's one of the most bizarre yet coolest live performances in music history.

[@sammydo8749]

It has been posted long before on YT; this is just a repost

[@thezombiequeen1908]

I love how instead of abridging the song or playing something else, they just invented speed metal.

[@scottalpert3444]

That keyboard player, whistler, flute player and yodeler is off the HOOK!! Wow! What a talent! That song rocks!!!!

[@loupasternak]

look up the names dude. thay aint Dogpoop X, Little GeTHo, and KrackKok

[@massapower]

I've yet to see anyone out there in the 21st Century even come close in creating a CLASSIC like this ! 😎🤟

[@toekid7179]

I will create a song like this with my band

[@massapower]

@@toekid7179 Ya !! You do that and have the whole world BOW to you ! 😏

[@seltaeb3302]

Music now is utterly boring & you can't sing along can you, unlike this! Dool aloo lo do do do ahhhhh..

[@donniecothern9842]

And they never will !!!!!

[@briane173]

And it's doubtful you will, since all we're getting is rap, hip-hop, and auto-tuned canned music that is barely tweaked from song to song. I'll take the raw talent of a group of musicians like this over the uber-produced computer-aided cookie-cutter compositions we hear now.

[@TimRileyGPlus]

Monster talent. Absolutely deserved standing "O" from a totally stoned audience. I had to check if my playback speed was at 1.5X. @Rick Beato needs to discuss this song.

[@ostrich67]

The story goes that the producers asked them to cut this song from nine minutes to six, so instead of shortening it they played it at heavy metal speed.

[@hendrikheemels8615]

Agree in every way. Also thought about Beato paying attention to this live version.

[@andrewp7509]

Beato is way too into himself lol

[@jeremyc9593]

Beato only does songs that are in video games. That's how he gets all of the separated audio.

[@philsmith2444]

@@jeremyc9593Xanadu is in a video game?

[@panheadcraig]

Trippy !! Thats not easy the drummer is amazing as is the entire band ! These guys deserve credit !! Very good !

[@Elias_Veine_Wiig]

The drummer, Pierre van der Linden is now 78 years old, and still plays with Focus.

[@nicholasholmes-siedle5119]

Since matter and anti matter cannot exist in the same space .If Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull ) and Thijs Van Leer met , would the universe would implode ?

[@bobbonnefin673]

Probably just create some form of plasma or ectoplasm from which future creativity springs forth maybe like the plasmatics x

[@RevMikeBlack]

Jan Akkerman. Jan Akkerman. Jan Akkerman.

[@hassenfuttingah2744]

Pierre van der Linden ,terrific drummer,really brought something wonderful out of that Premier kit.

[@Twirlip2]

The relaxed way he moves through the madness, basically keeping it together, is a joy to watch.

[@PeterBrown-mz4nv]

Fantastic drummer. What else did he do? He must have done more.

[@yunarukami14]

@@PeterBrown-mz4nv Check out his work in 'Trace'. The band itself sounds somewhat like ELP, but it does have its own unique sound to offer

[@RedbadvanRijn-ft3vv]

@@PeterBrown-mz4nv Pierre van de Linden started with Brainbox. The numbers----Downman and Summertime are great to hear to. Stil love to hear the singer of that band Caz Lux

[@PeterBrown-mz4nv]

@@RedbadvanRijn-ft3vv Thanks!

[@Fygee]

Seeing Van Leer psyche himself at the beginning really sets the tone for what's to come. An absolute legend of a performance.

[@daleknight7472]

Indeed

[@metalmacabre9991]

With the help of some of the best cocaine in the world. Lol

[@franklee6301]

​@@metalmacabre9991exactly, phsycing himself isn't what I saw, I saw a fella reacting to a rainbow rail the length of his keyboard. 😂

[@metalmacabre9991]

@@franklee6301 lmfao

[@wcollins7557]

I believe I once saw someone describe this as him performing a 'face solo.' That is my favorite characterization so far.

[@keithf_]

MADnificent. I've heard this great song so many times but this live performance is insane. 4 brilliant musicians !

[@ThereAreThoseWhoCallMeTim]

I just heard this song for the first time yesterday on a classic rock radio station (shout out to 101.5 WPDH!!!). Words cannot hope to express how cheated I feel that I, a *MASSIVE* fan of 70s rock music since I was like 16, haven’t been exposed to this insane masterpiece till just now at 32 years old.

[@matthoward923]

They play the song faster than the album to fit in the time allotted by the TV producers. And nailed it.

[@robertfitzsimmons9428]

Old wives tale.

[@gabington8990]

@@robertfitzsimmons9428 Yeah I noticed that too, they absolutely are playing faster though, listen to this one then the album version, I don't buy the time allotment thing tho, I think they were just having a fun time.

[@gib59er56]

@@robertfitzsimmons9428 I have no idea if that is true or not. But I see other people saying the same thing about the frenzied pace of the song due to time constraints. That sounds like a real story to me because television has to adhere to a very strict time schedule. But many bands play songs live faster than usual, either from drugs, raw energy and adrenaline, and sometimes because they have grown sick of playing a fan favorite for the millionth time, just get it over with so we can play our new material and boost interest for the sales. Don`t matter now anyway cuz there ain`t a new record to promote. It is just streamed now and everything is free. That`s why so many bands block their material. They break their asses to make an album, and nobody pays them a red cent to enjoy their music.

[@BillyTheKidder]

No click track needed

[@mobanewman7139]

Double time because they did not want to cut the song. Brilliant!!

[@RolandAyala]

Things were just better back then. Amazing. No effects, no voiceovers, no auto-tune, etc. just raw talent.

[@Potato-pn8sg]

They did tons of effects back then, they might not have talked about it like now, and they might not have had the same variety, but they still had stuff, I think Link Wray's Rumble was the record to use distortion. In 1958. Rock and Roll was a term dating back to 1922, in the aptly named "My Man Rocks me (with One Steady Roll) by Trixie Smith.

[@RolandAyala]

@@Potato-pn8sg I was speaking in terms of by comparison to today where we manufacture far too many no-talent pop stars over-utilizing digital processing as crutch lack of talent -- should have been more clear, as no stranger to effects and a good thing when not overused.

[@jackal59]

@@RolandAyala Sometimes overuse is good. There's a recording here of Van der Graaf Generator playing at Bataclan around '72 where Hugh Banton is running his Hammond through a Copycat tape echo, and he reaches up and manipulates the arm holding the tape heads to get some absolutely ungodly howling noises. It's kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4Gqk2ifjtmsoNE starting at around 4:25.

[@brucywarren]

And a shit ton of cocaine.

[@daleelenaexcellent1405]

Real musicians playing real intruments.

[@robcreel4257]

This just brought a huge smile to my face today! Thanks!

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MRLL9292]

That is a man who absolutely loves his job!

[@tedfeast]

Remember when popular music was made by musicians and was incredible?

[@loupasternak]

that was long ago and far away . folks are getting what they deserve I reckon. glad we still have the 'classics' that never get old

[@TheNucaKola]

Wow! I didn’t even know an extended version even existed!! One of the best live performances ever!

[@briane173]

Yeah this was a surprise to me, there are cuts in this video that weren't on the "original" one floating around KZbin for years. All I saw before this was Gladys Knight introducing them and a 4-minute version that obviously left out a couple stanzas.

[@JoshuaCromarty]

It's an edit of the original to extend it for some reason. Compare: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWXSpoN9fLF8bLMsi=48NsvOZjTpOEhuiR

[@bonvoyageauLSD]

@@JoshuaCromarty So your explanation for the extra part in this one is that this has been edited, not that the other version has been cut down? That doesn't make sense.

[@JoshuaCromarty]

@@bonvoyageauLSD You're right, it doesn't. Why would anyone make a performance seem longer, when the cool thing about it was the band playing faster to fit it into a tighter schedule? But there it is. Listen to the original version I posted side-by-side and you'll hear it yourself - they match to a point and then this version repeats not only the audio but the video.

[@bonvoyageauLSD]

@@JoshuaCromarty You don't get my point...There is an extra round in this version, and it's not repeated and it's clearly from this performance. The obvious answer is that nothing was added, instead something was cut from the other TV version.

[@marcosbaracca3001]

pierre van der linden a fantastic drummer

[@steveyankees1]

Jan Akerman so underrated.

[@grahammaguire404]

This is absolutely and purely ICONIC AND EPIC, these guys were in a different " STRATOSPHERE" During this performance, they were way ahead and unbelievably innovative even by today's standard, Thank God For Rock n Roll, the worlds a better place with bands like this in fact almost invincible and what a legacy and inspiration to so many bands and shook the recording industry to its core👍

[@Nestorglass]

4:02 this WHOLE verse is removed from the older upload of this performance on someone else's channel!! I was watching this one 'cause it clearly has superior video/audio quality and when this part hit I thought my pc was crashing for a second LOL

[@EyeDaWitchfinder]

Jesus Christ I didn’t know that their Midnight Special performance was edited, thank you so much for sharing this.

[@annebokma4637]

Same here 😂 even better unedited

[@sweavenger]

I’m surprised not many are picking up on this, first comment I’ve seen about it.

[@d-d-i]

Yess, finally this masterpiece in high quality

[@Tokego]

And complete

[@AyliCarper]

It's not complete without Gladys Knight's epic introduction.

[@blackbeardsghost6588]

This came out when I was a kid, 11 years old. I had no idea it could possibly be performed LIVE. INCREDIBLE!

[@johnned4848]

Super rare audience reaction. A much deserved standing ovation 👏

[@donaldpetersen3513]

They knew they'd seen greatness. Such a unique performance and, as others have commented, at least a decade ahead of its time.

[@SKFirstEditions]

Amazing! Thank you so much for making these treasures available.

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

Our pleasure!

[@asherbearboy]

You'll never see a cross between Tull, Winter and Deep purple again...

[@trondrew]

I have been waiting to see a hi def version of this. Might be one of the coolest and weirdest and funkiest one hit wonder of all time. Amazingly, still going today singing this madness. Also: There's a yodeling verse in here and a follow up solo that I've never heard before - the original youtube upload must have had it edited out?

[@KentTeffeteller]

Double time and "Hocus-Pocus" is already uptempo. Warp Speed Focus!!!

[@marxman6896]

Yodel guy is *very* high. Preposterously high.

[@jameskonners8304]

4:02

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@jameskonners8304just tears of joy 🥹,,,😂

[@laurajane2300]

When you only have six minutes to play a ten minute album track live and you refuse to cut a note.

[@samheppener7878]

What? The studio version on the album is 6:35

[@TheKingInHiding]

YES! Bring on more of these lost acts we no longer hear of!! Awesome🤘

[@tracyjacoby2382]

Oh my god!!! Absolutely incredible!!😳 What a vocal range!!👏 This was an awesome show, I was a grade schooler when The Midnight Special was on, nothing like this today!

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dfp9494]

100% Talent 100% Tecnique 100% Energy 100% Fun 100% Magic

[@ralphmueller3725]

100% Accurate

[@merlinsturley9668]

100% cocaine

[@proofprof50]

​@@merlinsturley9668High, maybe. They were from the Netherlands, after all.

[@merlinsturley9668]

@@proofprof50 him tweaking in the first shot of the video is so funny

[@andr101]

200% speed

[@NickNicometi]

Listening again - what a fat sound; drums, bass, guitar are ripping! Brilliant.

[@whosoever9198]

Takes me back to Junior high school 1973. Hocus Pocus by Focus. Who could ever forget a title like that? Perhaps in the top 100 all-time rock songs ever.

[@jackwezesa1081]

I know . I remember hearing it on an AM radio in the locker room junior year. I’m pretty sure it was around early spring time?

[@INgirl812]

High school for me. I’d forgotten about this song. Loved this song .

[@buckeyechuck4064]

The first time I ever heard of this band was when they opened for Yes at a concert I attended in the early seventies. They rocked it.

[@TheSteveSteele]

Jan Ackerman, Uli Roth and Ritchie Blackmore are the trinity of ‘70s rock guitarist. Jan Ackerman is insanely great though. That solo from 3:10 to 3:22 is 😝😜🤪

[@kevinkiffe]

Thijs van Leer has a great sense of humor. Trying to whistle above his range with that face! - LOL (Excellent Tune, by the way)

[@mickandrews6989]

Brilliant version but a little faster pace than the original i bet that American audience didnt know what hit them

[@markinsacramento]

Ever wonder why no one covers this? That range and come on yodeling in a rock song. One of music's finer moments.

[@Kylora2112]

Iron Maiden has a cover of this on one of their more recent singles as a B-side. Thys's vocals are replaced with Nicko McBrain being an absolute goofball, but they did do a cover of Hocus Pocus :)

[@markinsacramento]

@@Kylora2112 thanks I did not know that...

[@mrJimCharles]

Should have included their introduction by Gladys Knight

[@jedibasschoke8909]

This is the soundtrack to walking bare foot through a room full of Lego bits

[@MAMAGGray]

left my focus record on the front seat of a VEGA car in JULY 75' in Louisiana - turned it into an omelette WAVY man!!

[@donaldpetersen3513]

The hot Louisiana sun probably melted the aluminum block of the Vega first though.

[@barcham]

51 years after I first watched this live and it puts a huge smile on my face just as it did the first time I heard it! Probably the most original rock song ever written and performed live on American television!

[@johnwesolowski7393]

I remember going into high school the next Monday talking about this version. I liked the album version. I loved this version.

[@mtxmind]

The genesis of Prog-Metal, long before there was a name for it!😎👍

[@jenndavin]

Perhaps the only yodel rock classic ever! Fantastic.

[@daverboy]

I think my favorite thing about this performance is the story about why it's so different from the album version. The segment they were given wasn't long enough to play the full song, so rather than cut any part of it, they just played it twice as fast.

[@sawbonesquad4876]

Just noticed the tempo change my 3rd time watching the live. Brilliant.

[@Scottocaster6668]

I thought I heard this slower before, now I know why.

[@mikicoal]

Trouble is, they cut it in editing for the broadcast version. This might be the first time in 50 years the full version has been seen.

[@michaelnelson7558]

The vocal break where he doesn't breathe, that's new to me. @@mikicoal

[@mikicoal]

@@michaelnelson7558 About a third of it was cut from the original broadcast, all restored here. It's cut in huge chunks, like a minute at a time.

[@johnmcpherson5068]

I will turn 65 very short time I remember this song clearly I close my eyes and I actually feel young again what amazing talent Simply Amazing

[@Comet-hn3gm]

So strange, yet very satisfying ! I loved this song the first time I heard it on the radio in the seventies. Look at the crowd loving it.

[@SRV2013]

Prog-Rock at it's magnificent wackiness. Back when actual musicians played music. I lived this era in real time, and I'm glad to Focus here.

[@AttilatheThrilla]

Actual musicians still play music.. The hell are you talking about?? 😂

[@SRV2013]

@@AttilatheThrilla Not from what I can tell. Autotune and drum machines.

[@AttilatheThrilla]

@@SRV2013 Listen to more than electronic music and pop

[@SRV2013]

@@AttilatheThrilla I listen to all sorts of music performed by real musicians.

[@MarkTurner-vs7uc]

They had very little effects if any. Everything was straight forward, honest. Raw and true.

[@marktroiani5401]

Rock and Yodel. I was there for it then and I’m here for it now.

[@peterdavis2020]

Holland should have made this song their national anthem...would love to have heard it played at the Olympics

[@markbourrie3537]

They're actually playing and singing, not doing syncs!

[@leestamm3187]

I had several of their albums back in the 70's. They played a variety of music, ranging from high energy rock to light classical to jazz. Outstanding musicians all around.

[@KevyNova]

Thank you so much!!! There is an old video of this on KZbin that I’ve watched literally hundreds of times since around 2008 but it’s so awesome to see an official release! The picture and sound is much improved and there’s a whole other section that was edited out before!!!!

[@milt6208]

I saw Hocus Pocus by Focus when it first came on the Midnight Special and bought the album "Moving Waves" the next day. The whole album was totally mellow except for this one song. But one heck of a song it was.

[@Capgpro1]

The original studio recording sounds like a ballad in comparison.

[@Jwainio-jb7yk]

Wow, People in the 70s were on a LOT of drugs.

[@Tbear37144]

I was 15, drunk and a little high. I just kept saying WTF over and over

[@i_am_diegoacosta127]

Damn! This version has a bit that is missing in other videos I've seen before. Thank you so much for uploading it in a excellent quality 👏👏👏👏👏