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. :)

[@keithf_]

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

[@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 👍

[@LeonardoRodrigues-wy7ds]

Amazing song and great band I miss the 70s

[@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!

[@paulocapella1774]

Simply amazing, fast pace.

[@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

[@FelixWheatfield]

Finally, the other song from this performance!!!

[@fjfandino]

What a song, what a group!

[@StephenMerchant-up8sg]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@harrypalmer7169]

A very special, special. Great performance.

[@Mark-ph1dp]

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

[@AlfUckhamHall]

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

[@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.

[@kerryknauf8196]

Omg amazing

[@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.

[@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

[@amcaesar]

Old Dutch Masters.

[@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!

[@therandomshowthing8413]

Awesome

[@mariorossi6420]

The Singer Is a real phenomena 👏👏👏🤪

[@StructuralAmbient]

wow, excellent

[@johnroberts3723]

Fukin brilliant!.

[@markboller4313]

These guys Rock hard....❤❤❤

[@kevinkiffe]

I forgot about these guys. Love it!

[@josephzirngibl633]

WOW!🎤🥁🎸🎹🤯💥🤘

[@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!

[@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!

[@richarddavison3975]

You are the best love that song bad ass

[@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?

[@simonb6982]

3:19 INSANE chaotic energy

[@KingfisherLtd]

Akkerman is still one of my fave guitarists

[@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 !!!!❤

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Always entertaining

[@gregoryduncan3067]

TMS gave us a 2 for 1 today.

[@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 !!!

[@CliffNark]

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

[@enzoenzo-i5f]

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

[@spencerphayes]

holy shit

[@matthewclark9652]

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

[@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.

[@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..)

[@ljw5768]

Akkerman. The best guitarist I ever saw.

[@Jay-nq2jl]

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

[@amitraam1270]

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

[@swzg1986]

Akkerman = Unbelievable

[@redbarchetta8782]

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

[@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.

[@MediaGrope]

JAN AKKERMAN ON FIRE

[@klips4192]

o mai fakin god

[@rrp1127]

Next up ? Hamburger Concerto !

[@mooghead]

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

[@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.....

[@singlefather01]

What the... This is from 1973?

[@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