Only group to get a standing ovation on that show.

this is like a seven minute song that they only had four minutes to play. they refused to cut the song, so they played it double speed.

No guitarist comes close to the beautiful variety of excellent work Jan Akkerman has produced over the years.

I had a Dutch step-father and he played this album in the car regularly, going into school with this blasting always raised a few eyebrows.

Guitarrist Jan Akkerman later toured the world with Paco De Lucia and Al Dimeola, a guy regarded above Page, Howe or Fripp. An absolute shredder.

Interesting fact, the guitarist ( Jan Akkerman ) was voted the best guitarist in the world by readers of the English music magazine Melody Maker in 1973

All members of the band are exceptionally good musicians, who are still active to this day. What is special is that they perfectly master every genre, up to and including classical. They demonstrate this, especially in their longer songs, and manage to combine so many styles and variations within a single song into a fluid unity.This, and their perfection, makes them an exceptional group. Many artists tried to copy them, but too often they missed the finer points of these artists.

The studio version of this song was the most awesome thing back in 73. This version is faster and shorter because of a time limit for the show. Great stuff.

Jethro Tull sang through his flute all the time.That is the same flute sounds from the Focus organist Treat yourselves to Jethro Tull LIVE at Isle of Wight concert 1970. Great film and LIVE sound.

The special sound with the flute is because he is using his vocal chords at the same time as playing the flute ('singing' into the flute).

The most amazing rendition of Hocus Pocus - shame you guys couldn't really appreciate the competence, precision and speed of this performance.

these guys were of the chain and nobody got a standing ovation on that show...love it.

The lady who introduced Focus was Gladys Knight (of Gladys Knight & the Pips), a seven time Grammy Award winner.

He is vocalizing on the inhale. Jethro Tull did this in Locomotive Breath.

This version of the song is unique, and the song itself is unique in Focus' catalogue. The song was written largely as a showcase for singer/flautist/organist Thijs van Leer's less-common skills, but fits well in general, and in most cases is played with panache and a sense of fun. This particular version, however, was restricted by Midnight Special's time constraints - the band had 3 minutes, but the song is well over 5 in its original version: rather than make it even shorter, the band cut some repetitions of the cycle with repeated yodeling sections, and played it significantly faster than usual (and still went over the time allotted!). Because of the changed tempo, there are a few errors in guitarist Jan Akkerman's intro, and van Leer didn't get enough breath to support his first yodeling part (that's why he looks like he's about to imitate a Yugo at 120 MPH!). Van Leer simply does not have the time to enjoy playing the song as he usually does simply because of the concentration it took to keep the mental metronome running at a notably different tempo than usual.

Saw this in 1971. They opened a music festival topped by Wishbone Ash & ELP. The members went into the crowd selling the LP.

Remember this was 1973. Metal wasn't even invented. The song performed there is still a 'head banging' act most Metal bands can only dream of ever making.

'...the vocals are an instrument...' Hell yeah!

Fastest four minutes of my life. Please play this at my funeral!!

If you’re familiar with Jethro Tull, Ian Anderson(lead vocal, flute, guitar) is awesome flute player and he incorporates humming and other sound effects while playing flute. You should check out Jethro Tull (name of the band, not a person in the band). There’s a live video of their song ‘Thick as a Brick’ in Madison Square Garden in ‘78 that’s an awesome show. They are an awesome live band!! 😎

Now this tune is so much a part of my youth. A four year older brother collected a vast amount of record's. 1973 I was almost 14 and, this was the latest recording he had put on the turntable. Shut the front door!! Mad..The reason I started playing the drum's, well, along with the "deep" desire to play as good as Ian Pace.

HE WAS PLAYING THE FLUTE AND USING HIS VOICE AT THE SAME TIME !

Half a century old. The public stood up at the end and that was the first time it happened.

Killer reaction. lmao Your faces when he starts yodelling were priceless. Speed Yodelling a new metal technique. lol

If you take away anything from that is Jan Akkerman was a monster guitar player almost ahead of his time

Check out Jan Akkerman with his band "Brainbox" (pre-Focus), Especially the song "Dark Rose". Focus drummer Pierre van der Linden was also in Brainbox.

"Yodelling in the Nethelands makes sence" made me laugh😂because we have no mountains.. flat as a pancake!!😉

They are insane!

It might not be a metal song/tune but many metalheads love it. An all time air guitar classic.

When it came on the radio it was introduced as hocus pocus by focus!

that is an amazing band.

You might have only seen this as insanity, but what it was in realty was an insanely talented vocalist and musician, backed by an equally insanely talented band. They took a nearly 7 minute long hit, and played it in double-time to fit the time slot on the show. The result was an absolute frenetic shred, a gut-punch of hard rock and roll that could literally leave you breathless. No, they were not known as a "heavy metal" band, but this version of their hit most definitely qualifies as heavy metal, IMO.

There is a longer version of this clip to be found on YT. And it was beautifully "choreographed" in a long scene in "Baby Driver" (2017).

The Noise with the flute is what Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull was doing in 1967

He played the flute and sang at the same time. Check out Jethro Tull for a more in depth flute/singing. Ian Anderson is the lead singer of Jethro Tull.

Great,that your open for fun.....thank you from berlin/Germany

Genius ❤

This is ALL....... progressive, heavy, trash,speed...... This is ROCK!

Geez, I'm old. We had Saturday Night Live, Soul Train, Midnight Special, American BandStand.

Look much much deeper into all of these musicians. You will find magic

Check out Jethro Tull. He vocalized while playing the flute. Love the (non) reaction and for covering this one.

One of the most eclectic songs ever. As others have stated, this is a 7:00 minute song. Most artists cut stuff out of their songs they just played it double time. You probably heard that style of flute playing in Jethro Tull music. As a Metal Head myself, I can tell you that there is so much more different stuff that is out there. Broaden your horizons.

Dude during the flute solo the sound you heard was guitar counterpoint

Since yodeling doesn't even make sense in the mountains, it sure doesn't make sense in the Netherlands 😂

Yodelling is really something from Austria or Switzerland. Believe me, it has nothing to do with the Netherlands. Look at the name of this song 'hocus pocus', that should ring a bell😉😂.

I’ve never seen your channel before but when I was scrolling through and saw you were doing this song 😂it’s always such a funny reaction. I don’t know your names but the one of you that hadn’t seen it before your eyes got huge lol . Anyway just wanted to say great reaction it was fun. It’s not for me but they are all excellent musicians and the vocalist has crazy range. Just subscribed 😊

Please, please react to the Edgar Winters group, Frankenstein. The live video is far more interesting. But you will love it.

Dude on the right tatally unqualified to comment on this spectacular tune BTW The flute sound is his voice on the inhale Ian anderson does it alot

They said theyd play it faster, but then, not only did they play it WAY faster, they get faster each time around and ad lib and do extra stuff. They still ended up with a 6:08 version, (the album version from 1971 was 6:45, but much slower). This is the shortened, edited version. The 6:08 version is out there, and many reactors have covered it, including vocal coaches such as TheCharismaticVoice and FairyVoiceMother, all of whom have an absolute field day with this.

Shame we never saw the first ever standing ovation on that show...

Time restrictions ment they would have to cut out a verse or...... play it fast baby. I think it was a good choice.

DUDES! YOU JUST DISCOVERED HOCUS POCUS!

A lot of fun and they aren’t making songs or bands like this anymore

They were not drugged out. It is just his stage presence. Those weird flute sounds are done by inhaling violently while making a short "wr" sound I'm the front of the mouth. Check Jethro Thull locomotive breath. Same genre, prog/folk rock.

Moving Waves >> Standing Waves

The sounds during the flute part was vocal noises (not guitar) ... I think it is called 'eefing'.

"Midnight Special" was all-music. It aired late at night. You should check out some other videos from that show. The best performers were featured on it.

wonderful combination of talent, skills and fun

love it.

WOW!!!

This song was actualy used in several movies series and nike comercials for the world cup . The song started out as a jam sesion , in the late 60s each having an own solo . as he Keyboard player /flutist is not a singer he started to make different types of sounds insturmentals etc . Its been coverd by many artist as well even Iron maiden made a cover with drummer niko mcbain doing the vocals. Brain may of queen was a big fan of the guitar player Jan Akkerman. and tried and admitted failed several times to reproduce this song. back in the day. The most recent movie it was used in was Baby Driver .

no drugs were harmed by this band btw... that happens when you are not allowed to play your whole song, due to some commercial sjit.... and also the tourbus was double parked out side.... i shared your reaction to the Nightdreamers Reacticide Discord (Nightwish) .... pls stay safe and grts. from a dutch cheesehead in Germany

The guitar backed the flute up at some time with some sharp high notes.

"Flute noises" was made by Thijs van Leer with his own voice

Check out, 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' for some awesome live bands.

I remember when this song came out my brother and I were just kids we used to love to listen on the radio and yodel along with it they would drive my mother totally batty. Remember we were under 10 at the time so we were just Brad and kids but it was a great song

Midnight Special was a music show featuring the most popular bands of the day.

There is one show I am aware of that is both big name acts and up and comers playing their music. The Grand Ole Opry. It started as just a radio show and now it is in person, radio, TV, and streaming. They have been running live shows for almost a century now. It is focused mostly on country music for their main weekly shows but other stuff is broadcast from their stage. Other than it I'm not aware of any wide programs to have different artists come on and play music weekly. The only other stuff is things like some talk shows or SNL having a single band do a song or two but just one band. I say wide shows because there may be local ones here and there hosted by local radio stations or venues.

Relively fairly Recently in a movie Baby Driver, Superb car chase

The Slim Whitman of Prog Rock. Ack!

In between the flute was the guitar making that noise.

"I was waiting for the singer to have some personality." TO Chris, If you didn't see it then you perception needs a complete overhaul. And in my experience very few musician in the world could be able to play like that when under the influence of any drug.

Just a novelty song, but this is a great band, start with "Moving Waves" great album from 1971

How quick to label the band that they were on drugs … they were professional musicians playing hard … they were known for their over the top shows and produced great music … have a little respect on your posts … the guy ‘Tottenham’ was more respectful, thanks for that at least … Full respect to the amazing Focus !!!

"the singer was taking it too seriously"? he was acting like a stand up comedian all the way through.

On the left a sensitive, open-minded and quite articulate man. On the right, not precisely.

The epic chase scene in the film Baby Driver plays the studio version of this song.

Jan Akkerman and Thijs van Leer later had a feud, refusing to play together anymore

Later with Jools Holland was great, not sure if it's still going.

You guys need to check out Jethro Tull - Aqualung

COYS

Guitar dual

Jan Akkerman was considered to be the best guitarist in the world, and then there is Eddie van Halen …….. dutch guitar masters

When you think about it how many rock band singers ever took the risk of sounding and looking crazy or silly or foolish or unserious hmm hmm? Approximately 0 well I almost forgot Jethro Tull. Note that Zappa stuff sounded wild and there was zero drugs involved. Playing and singing like they did also makes me think they were not on drugs during performances

How many bands would give their drummer's right nut, to get a standing ovation, from a Midnight Special crowd?

I guess Chris and Dustin are More Important the the AMAZING CLIP !

Best joke on KZfaq: " from the Netherlands? I guess that explains the jodeling...." . Netherlands means " the low countries". We have 1 Mountain in our country. It is 350 meters high!!!😂. The Alps are a bit higher. About 10 times!!! Knowledge of the world of the average American: always funny.

iron maiden and helloween did cover of this song

I respect it!!

It's too good for the guy on the right

By the way, your assumptions are probably right. Many bands back in the day, are very heavy into drugs.

Yodeling, scatting, flute (probably inhale last part) and whistling.

No noise with the flute , the lead guitar synced with the flute so it sounded like the flute was the culprit.

Double time due to the TV show’s time limitations Google it.. Thanks for not interrupting

6:29... how does jodeling makes sense when talkingh about the Netherlands..... o_O

Jan Ackerman never played any song the same way twice. The Old Grey Whistle Test live version is better.

The singer was taking the piss and just having a laugh.

If you want flute solos, you need to check out Jethro Tull

the singer allways looked that way lol

Well we are the flattest country in the world so no yoddling for us I fear. But Focus was something different. And remember we live twenty leagues under sea.