Sylvia - Focus | The Midnight Special

[@dragon2knight]

The talent in this band is off the hook! Jan Akkerman is one of the best guitarists few folks out of Europe ever heard of. More, please!!!!

[@gregoryduncan3067]

They've given us the whole enchilada of this band, I think.

[@60zeller]

He is good, the drummer is solid as hell to boot

[@MediaGrope]

He's on fire

[@chicolopez8722]

Right on,baby!

[@rjs2005]

I can never get enough of Focus- they were such a unique, talented and exciting band to watch and listen to. Another Midnight Special gem!

[@gregdolecki8530]

This band was amazing. Their improvisations were mind blowing.

[@sebastian.arancibia]

They're still rocking, man. And better than ever. :)

[@robcreel4257]

God I miss the 70s.

[@bernardwill7196]

Me too

[@StephenMerchant-up8sg]

God I miss Jan Akkerman 😞

[@CliffNark]

​@@StephenMerchant-up8sg You made that sound like he died

[@StephenMerchant-up8sg]

@@CliffNark Ah...I meant as a member of Focus 👍

[@marcelopignatari9528]

I miss even though was born a long after that

[@keithf_]

No words can describe just how fantastic this is ! Dutch masters.

[@coloaten6682]

My parents had a Focus album when I was growing up in 70s south London and Sylvia and Hocus Pocus were on LOUD a lot when parents were at work. Me and my brother used to do the whistling bits really loud. I was about 7 and loved Focus ever since!

[@FelixWheatfield]

Finally, the other song from this performance!!!

[@alanredversangel]

Can't believe this was uploaded six days ago. I just educated my ten year old daughter on this gem of a band.

[@Dfcameron13]

My daughter’s name is Sylvia

[@SteveOuimette]

I love how unhinged and off the hook the whole thing is. Feels like it's about to collapse at any minute but it never does...just goes to the next level. Unreal good and crazy. I wish I could have experienced this live.

[@StephenMerchant-up8sg]

That audience couldn't believe what it had just seen. Focus should have been huge in America

[@LeonardoRodrigues-wy7ds]

Amazing song and great band I miss the 70s

[@robertbennett9063]

Hocus Pocus to boot! Love Focus; I have Focus 3 on vinyl and it's great end to end. Just great music by any measure. 70's ruled!

[@StephanieJeanne]

That was some wild and crazy rockin'! Watching the singer, he's amazing with that operatic/almost yodeling style!! Great performance by this very unique band!

[@brelfpv1437]

I thought everyone thought this was yodeling without question.

[@ronaldcatullus]

@@brelfpv1437only that last bit where they went into Hocus Pocus for a second. The rest was clearly much more operatic

[@brelfpv1437]

@@ronaldcatullus I'Il keep that in mind.

[@AlfUckhamHall]

What a clear guitar tone, it could cut glass in two.

[@johnshields6852]

I was 13 and I watched every show back then in the 70's, the music was incredible, so many great songs and bands.

[@luvbasses5487]

That snare drum tone! What a freakin band this was my god!

[@dougmphilly]

thiys and jan get all the hype. perre is very underated. was this bert ruiter on bass?

[@luvbasses5487]

I honestly don’t know.

[@ChrisMezzolesta]

@@dougmphilly Yes, Bert Ruiter, RIP.

[@elisamandra1778]

@@dougmphilly Yes, that is Bert Ruiter on bass.

[@fjfandino]

What a song, what a group!

[@Mark-ph1dp]

Эпитет СУПЕР этого мало! Непрезвойденны, Уникальные в своём Таланте!

[@MrKeys57]

Akkerman went a little ahead in the beginning, Leer took it down right away! ;) we used to play this in our jazzrock group in the 70.ies, Focus was right on spot! wonderful musicians! - best studio recording of Sylvia is on the album "Focus 3" - but this is awesome too!

[@andrewpetik2034]

Thijs is amazing!! Incredible vocalist! What a spectacular individual! Jan is a very under-appreciated guitarist! Bert Ruiter was magnificent on bass. R.I.P. March. 24, 2022. Pierre Van Der Linden is outstanding on drums. What a wonderful, talented group of people! ✌️

[@gh-vi9tk]

Shook Pierre's hand after a gig on may 1st 😎

[@ivanmay7890]

I have not really listened to much Focus, aside from Hocus Pocus, but I must say that Sylvia is very good. I respect Thijs Van Leer's flute and organ solos.

[@Blockoumi]

Listen to their great albums. They’re mindblowing

[@Dfcameron13]

Thanks. Sylvia is my daughter’s name - she’d appreciate

[@dr.michaelr.foreman2170]

I think I missed that show. Right out of high-school I hitch-hiked across Canada. Shucks, I am so devastated to have missed this performance.

[@harrypalmer7169]

A very special, special. Great performance.

[@paulocapella1774]

Simply amazing, fast pace.

[@kerryknauf8196]

Omg amazing

[@mariorossi6420]

The Singer Is a real phenomena 👏👏👏🤪

[@therandomshowthing8413]

Awesome

[@amcaesar]

Old Dutch Masters.

[@StructuralAmbient]

wow, excellent

[@josephzirngibl633]

WOW!🎤🥁🎸🎹🤯💥🤘

[@markboller4313]

These guys Rock hard....❤❤❤

[@johnroberts3723]

Fukin brilliant!.

[@FrankLeePlaying]

So good--on steroids! When I first heard this song come on the radio I pictured in my mind an older female opera singer. Then when I saw this episode in 73 I was blown away!

[@judithwalsh7645]

Love it. Used to go to Shefied in the late 60s. X

[@Amberbaer469npa]

I remember watching this is a young kid going what the fuck! Now at age 60 I see the genius behind all of it!

[@kevinkiffe]

I forgot about these guys. Love it!

[@larrybethune3909]

Came for the "Sylvia's Mother" song. Surprise!

[@gloriamaryhaywood2217]

😁.....Same!! What a Frigging Surprise!😅

[@StephanieJeanne]

That's so funny, because I thought the same thing at first glance of the thumbnail. But I know Dr. Hook sings that one, so I wasn't surprised, but I didn't quite expect this either. Lol.

[@rodglen8435]

Just a little different, then?

[@richarddavison3975]

You are the best love that song bad ass

[@jonflowers8823]

They were the first rock group to introduce opera music into rock n roll music before Freddie Mercury of Queen existed.

[@RobertSmolarczyk-e4d]

😊 big fire !!!!❤

[@simonb6982]

3:19 INSANE chaotic energy

[@KingfisherLtd]

Akkerman is still one of my fave guitarists

[@psimonsen123]

And then they return to Hocus Pocus ind the end ... please hear them in that order - first Hocus Pocus then Sylvia ... what have been great to be in the audience that evening !!!

[@enzoenzo-i5f]

veri musicisti mi svegliavo il mattino andavo ascuola e ascoltavo house of the kinge poi prendevo il tram

[@charliebe28]

On the evening of *October 6, 2023,* that I am watching the video-clips of the songs "Slyvia" and "Hocus Pocus" from the appearance of the band Focus on The Midnight Special - , it is the *5oth anniversary* of the *initial broadcast* of that episode of the show.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Always entertaining

[@matthewclark9652]

The song "Harem Scarem" from 1974 "Hamburger Concerto" album on ATCO failed to chart & their last swan song in US.

[@MrKeys57]

Awesome channel! i subbed, all music from my youth, but i went to become a more jazzfusion drummer later on, greets, Levi in Sweden (but a native Finn..)

[@CliffNark]

The strumming hand on that guitarist during the intro is insane, one of the fastest I've heard Edit: 4:18 damn

[@gregoryduncan3067]

TMS gave us a 2 for 1 today.

[@spencerphayes]

holy shit

[@amitraam1270]

Is this the show where they were told they only have time for one song, so they played both superfast?😅

[@redbarchetta8782]

Boy that sure sounds and looks like a Dallas Rangmaster to me on that Marshall.

[@ljw5768]

Akkerman. The best guitarist I ever saw.

[@Spyhook]

When was the last time you heard Focus on the Radio?

[@MsJenLa]

This past week, I heard "Hocus Pocus" on my way to work. WBLM out of Portland, ME does a Vinyl Vault Thursday. Was a great way to start the day.

[@orazioscardace911]

😮

[@Jay-nq2jl]

What do you get when a classically trained operatic/yodeler does to much acid…😂

[@klips4192]

o mai fakin god

[@singlefather01]

What the... This is from 1973?

[@swzg1986]

Akkerman = Unbelievable

[@mooghead]

Everyone looking at him thinking 'slow the fuck down!'

[@rrp1127]

Next up ? Hamburger Concerto !

[@MediaGrope]

JAN AKKERMAN ON FIRE

[@MirlitronOne]

While "Hocus Pocus" was a comic masterpiece, I always preferred the musically superior "Sylvia".

[@Dfcameron13]

My daughter’s name is Sylvia - glad you find her musically superior

[@jimlassiter749]

if they only had talent at the mixing board like they do onstage.....

[@cyclesgoff9768]

Akkerman just rips it to fk.

[@willspies5869]

I think I'd like this song better if it weren't for the vocal noise being made by the keyboardist. Seems really unnecessary. Otherwise, the arrangement was very good.

[@gloriamaryhaywood2217]

Welp, I gotta second that opinion! Could've done without that insane weird noise!😣😁

[@MI-sm5ge]

what a stupid and ignorant comment.The vocals are magnificent.

[@martijn_yt]

Thats like saying Mondrian would be better without all the stripes 😂

[@willspies5869]

@@martijn_yt WTF are you talking about? What the hell is a mondrian?

[@CliffNark]

​@@willspies5869 you could've searched it up you know