Hocus Pocus - Focus | The Midnight Special

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Жыл бұрын

Focus performed on The Midnight Special October 5th 1973
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Пікірлер: 2 100

@danopticon 10 ай бұрын

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 9 ай бұрын

And boom! Thrash Metal was born!!!

@Hegstuffing 9 ай бұрын

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 9 ай бұрын

Buen dato!

@raheimgreen8550 9 ай бұрын

Excellent

@jackh7977 9 ай бұрын

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

@XxEpIcFrOzEnzZxxx Жыл бұрын

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

@ahmadbani1452 3 ай бұрын

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

@shawnbruce6934 2 ай бұрын

LoL.

@GeoWizard Ай бұрын

Probably the greatest live performance ever caught on tape

@Jen-br5hx Ай бұрын

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

@silverstem2964 19 күн бұрын

Not even close.

@HughCorbyCruick 19 күн бұрын

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 17 күн бұрын

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

@sgold989 Ай бұрын

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!

@rustyshackleford4059 Жыл бұрын

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

@RobbyTheGlitch Жыл бұрын

haha, right on.

@thehellyousay Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

Does any one have the tabs for this….

@JonnyTheLeprechaun Жыл бұрын

miss you Rusty glad you're still here.

@nanettefoster1625 Жыл бұрын

I was there 🤣

@johninama585 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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

@BIZARBIES Жыл бұрын

@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 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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

@gonepostal9101 2 ай бұрын

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

@quicolic Ай бұрын

Insane, right?

@gerardoa. 11 күн бұрын

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

@Stanggwarbeard 4 ай бұрын

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

@333wheeler Жыл бұрын

This live version has always been insanely great..

@CoCotheTurtle Жыл бұрын

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

@arron0bryant874 Жыл бұрын

This has an extra verse early on that doesn't appear on the version on KZfaq. 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 KZfaq version.

@artbk Жыл бұрын

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

@DidYouReadEULA Жыл бұрын

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

@dougfraser3295 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

That he can do those vocals live is pretty amazing.

@jerryhorton5708 Жыл бұрын

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 11 ай бұрын

Young and before the effects of decades of cigarette smoking.

@truthserum9157 11 ай бұрын

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

@TRUMP-2024-MAGA 11 ай бұрын

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

@beyondalpha1072 10 ай бұрын

white people dont seasonz dey yodeling

@robinleebraun7739 4 ай бұрын

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

@gus473 4 ай бұрын

Let's not forget the flute! 🪈😎✌️

@normanacree1635 4 ай бұрын

Don't forget the drums. Pretty wicked.

@JonasQuigly 2 ай бұрын

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

@3pan1 29 күн бұрын

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

@markvalery8632 11 ай бұрын

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

@jameskonners8304 11 ай бұрын

Lmao!!

@KittyGrizGriz 10 ай бұрын

Omg ‼️‼️

@erikkopsala3564 3 ай бұрын

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

@Theonceurbanmermaid 3 ай бұрын

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

@jeffallen55 2 ай бұрын

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

@thinkbeforyouvote Жыл бұрын

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

@thehellyousay Жыл бұрын

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 11 ай бұрын

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 8 ай бұрын

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 8 ай бұрын

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 6 ай бұрын

you didnt

@tonyhaslam186 Жыл бұрын

One of the coolest, most unique songs ever made.

@tripjet999 Жыл бұрын

"unique" is ALREADY one of a kind.

@scottalpert3444 16 күн бұрын

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

@francis5617 10 ай бұрын

This is why i love KZfaq. What a performance.

@danokerr9929 Жыл бұрын

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

@MimiJoys 11 ай бұрын

And chewing gum! 🤣

@RedbadvanRijn-ft3vv 10 ай бұрын

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

@Lichfeldian--Suttonian 8 ай бұрын

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

@wendellbrownbrown5968 8 ай бұрын

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 8 ай бұрын

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

@plentinough7222 Жыл бұрын

Yes! That performance demanded a standing ovation.

@johnmcleod8961 4 ай бұрын

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 3 ай бұрын

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 3 ай бұрын

me too! same age, same experience.

@laurahall3094 Ай бұрын

Gary Hoey has a great version

@robertholle5599 10 ай бұрын

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

@skaladarrellgodeater1070 Жыл бұрын

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 11 ай бұрын

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 9 ай бұрын

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

@TruckingToPlease 7 ай бұрын

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

@samisami-qb5tl 5 ай бұрын

Yodel, skat, vocal, recitativo by one man

@anselpeneloperainblossom-s3489 Ай бұрын

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

@DigiLab360 Жыл бұрын

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

@storytimewithunclekumaran5004 Жыл бұрын

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

@MrManfly 10 ай бұрын

Even the guy on the bass was speed rocking !!

@Elias_Veine_Wiig 5 ай бұрын

Thijs van Leer & Pierre van der Linden & Jan Akkerman

@chanvalentine8283 27 күн бұрын

Goddamn 2024 this shit still rocks!

@mrvantagepro 2 ай бұрын

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.

@ericvonharding3421 Жыл бұрын

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 9 ай бұрын

Love this comment!

@Hetnaset 8 ай бұрын

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

@philsatterley5297 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

Glad you like it!

@johnnytyler5685 11 ай бұрын

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 9 ай бұрын

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

@MasthaX 9 ай бұрын

@@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 9 ай бұрын

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

@hansverschoor8546 2 ай бұрын

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

@baronderochemont8556 2 ай бұрын

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.

@barcham Ай бұрын

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!

@MPKleiman Жыл бұрын

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

@bradwilliams1691 Жыл бұрын

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 8 ай бұрын

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

@bradwilliams1691 8 ай бұрын

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

@floydfanboy2948 8 ай бұрын

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

@diaryofanaxeman539 8 ай бұрын

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

@di-jt6jp 6 ай бұрын

I’m so sorry for your loss.

@johnmcpherson5068 Ай бұрын

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

@brian_nirvana 5 ай бұрын

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

@JhonnyYngaRaymundo Ай бұрын

Hermoso magico,unicos,maravilloso.

@StinkyBlack1 Ай бұрын

lol. You must have forgot google video.

@scottlucas9551 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

It's not an instrumental with that yodelling

@daveg4236 Жыл бұрын

@@marknewbold2583 what is it then, genius?

@Pat-nl4wk Жыл бұрын

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

@NathanSmith-xf7rk Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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

@acme.videos Жыл бұрын

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

@briane173 11 ай бұрын

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 2 ай бұрын

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

@dfp9494 Ай бұрын

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

@ralphmueller3725 Ай бұрын

100% Accurate

@merlinsturley9668 Ай бұрын

100% cocaine

@proofprof50 Ай бұрын

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

@merlinsturley9668 Ай бұрын

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

@andr101 25 күн бұрын

200% speed

@MTGPeddler 5 ай бұрын

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

@NickNicometi Жыл бұрын

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

@barbiedahl Жыл бұрын

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

@joeyblowey123456 Жыл бұрын

They don't make music like this anymore either.

@barbiedahl Жыл бұрын

@@joeyblowey123456 exact-a-mundo!

@barbiedahl Жыл бұрын

@@joeyblowey123456 exact-a-mundo!

@rogerpr364 Жыл бұрын

period!

@plentinough7222 Жыл бұрын

Without a doubt and no arguments here😀🖖🏻😎

@ThereAreThoseWhoCallMeTim 11 ай бұрын

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.

@johnned4848 11 ай бұрын

Super rare audience reaction. A much deserved standing ovation 👏

@max-romano-santo Жыл бұрын

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

@MartinMaat Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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

@thehellyousay Жыл бұрын

Not by guitarists.

@raheimgreen8550 9 ай бұрын

Just casually shreddin in the background

@kevsol7665 6 ай бұрын

One of the best guitar players, you never heard of

@panheadcraig Жыл бұрын

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

@Elias_Veine_Wiig 5 ай бұрын

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

@linctexpilot8337 5 ай бұрын

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

@journaloflouisfreycinet8454 5 ай бұрын

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

@douglasarnold7085 4 ай бұрын

Cocaine will do that...

@NickNicometi 8 ай бұрын

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

@Fygee Жыл бұрын

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

@daleknight7472 11 ай бұрын

Indeed

@metalmacabre9991 11 ай бұрын

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

@franklee6301 10 ай бұрын

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

@metalmacabre9991 10 ай бұрын

@@franklee6301 lmfao

@wcollins7557 9 ай бұрын

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

@hassenfuttingah2744 Жыл бұрын

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

@Twirlip2 Жыл бұрын

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

@PeterBrown-mz4nv Жыл бұрын

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

@yunarukami14 Жыл бұрын

@@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 10 ай бұрын

@@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 10 ай бұрын

@@RedbadvanRijn-ft3vv Thanks!

@blackbeardsghost6588 10 ай бұрын

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

@carlystuart1178 3 ай бұрын

this has a home here in 2024.

@massapower Жыл бұрын

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

@toekid7179 Жыл бұрын

I will create a song like this with my band

@massapower Жыл бұрын

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

@seltaeb3302 Жыл бұрын

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

@donniecothern9842 11 ай бұрын

And they never will !!!!!

@briane173 11 ай бұрын

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.

@TheNucaKola Жыл бұрын

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

@briane173 11 ай бұрын

Yeah this was a surprise to me, there are cuts in this video that weren't on the "original" one floating around KZfaq 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 9 ай бұрын

It's an edit of the original to extend it for some reason. Compare: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nZqfqLN4rLKtZoU.htmlsi=48NsvOZjTpOEhuiR

@bonvoyageauLSD 5 ай бұрын

@@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 5 ай бұрын

@@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 5 ай бұрын

@@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.

@MRLL9292 11 ай бұрын

That is a man who absolutely loves his job!

@dawnclaibourne2183 10 ай бұрын

I was 9 when this song came out. My sister and I would watch the Midnight Special and Don Kirschner's Rock Concert every weekend. So many great performances, and this was one of the most electrifying. I'm incredibly grateful to my parents for passing on their love of all kinds of music to me, especially rock music. I'm so glad I got to experience this era first hand. I would go back in a heartbeat if I could...

@Elias_Veine_Wiig 5 ай бұрын

Focus performed on both shows, Midnight Special, as seen here, in 1973 and Don Kirsner’s Rock Concert in 1974.

@RolandAyala Жыл бұрын

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

@Potato-pn8sg Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

@@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 Жыл бұрын

@@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 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q7Z3lZiavtrdmqM.html starting at around 4:25.

@brucywarren 11 ай бұрын

And a shit ton of cocaine.

@daleelenaexcellent1405 11 ай бұрын

Real musicians playing real intruments.

@tracyjacoby2382 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@jenndavin 11 ай бұрын

Perhaps the only yodel rock classic ever! Fantastic.

@grahammaguire404 7 ай бұрын

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👍

@mobanewman7139 Жыл бұрын

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

@charliebrown1976 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

@@posmobinsame here!

@jameshultman1666 Жыл бұрын

FAAAAAAACK YEEEEAAAAA!!!!!!!!

@cherylalikhani5957 Ай бұрын

I've listened to every version of this song I can find, and there are a lot. What I find fascinating is that no two are the same!

@jeffreythornton7695 11 ай бұрын

Back again this has to be one of the most underrated guitarist in rock

@jeffreythornton7695 11 ай бұрын

...and most underrated whistler . What about that drummer?

@jannetteberends8730 Ай бұрын

He proclaimed the best in the world by an English music magazine once. Guitarists know him.

@keithf_ Жыл бұрын

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

@rockingbirdey Жыл бұрын

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 8 ай бұрын

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

@Ken-z3e 15 күн бұрын

WOW! brings back memories. (I think)! Used to stick a lot of quarters in a jukebox listening to this at a restaurant to entertain my mom and sisters in the mid 70'S. I was 16 or 17. Used to watch Midnight Special. Just read about this song in the news today as being a weird old song. Glad I looked it up to see it again, put a grin on my face!

@kevinkiffe 8 ай бұрын

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

@TheKingInHiding Жыл бұрын

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

@robcreel4257 Жыл бұрын

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

@themidnightspecialtvshow Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@rader1175 10 ай бұрын

Saw them in concert , in Cincinnati , they opened I think for the James Gang. Went to many back in early seventies, always got so buzzed, without even bringing anything, didn't drive yet. They were great, and loud. Popular song back then.

@jerrystreet9542 4 ай бұрын

WOW! That was amazing. Heard this for years and years as I'm 55 years old. Never seen it. Cool video

@d-d-i Жыл бұрын

Yess, finally this masterpiece in high quality

@Tokego Жыл бұрын

And complete

@AyliCarper Жыл бұрын

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

@whosoever9198 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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 Жыл бұрын

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

@rustymewha1 8 ай бұрын

This absolutely fucking SLAYS. Just virtuosic madness.

@blacksabbathmatters3365 Жыл бұрын

I also stood up and clapped after this beautiful performance!!!

@buckeyechuck4064 Жыл бұрын

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.

@TimRileyGPlus Жыл бұрын

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.

@WilliamGerringer-vc2ld 23 күн бұрын

If that's not a Rock n Roll Experience in my ears there has never been one. Thanks Hocus Pocus - Focus & The Midnight Special.

@rayb.457 10 ай бұрын

This tune makes me smile .

@Comet-hn3gm Жыл бұрын

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.

@leestamm3187 Жыл бұрын

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.

@bananabread6148 4 ай бұрын

This came on in a playlist earlier and I'm so thankful to have found this masterpiece. This vocalist is an absolute madman

@SKFirstEditions Жыл бұрын

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

@themidnightspecialtvshow Жыл бұрын

Our pleasure!

@EyeDaWitchfinder Жыл бұрын

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

@annebokma4637 Жыл бұрын

Same here 😂 even better unedited

@stevenwhaley3945 29 күн бұрын

Stunning mastery of an already complex jam. These fellas were/are phenomenal…

@andrewpetik2034 9 ай бұрын

Holy mackerel....what am I watching?!??!!! It's FANTASTIC!

@Bootzzgvgs Жыл бұрын

WOWWW!!! I was 12 when I originally watched this. I almost passed it by but remembered there was something epic about it. IN MY FACE!!!! Music was exceptional, no voice dubbing, pre recorded rhythm, bands would break out and JAM. Most artists today are studio artists and an image. So much gratitude for you and others that post these nugs of gold for people who appreciate Music at its best. 🎶

@conanthedestroyer7123 Жыл бұрын

No lip-sinc here!!! Magnificant!!!

@markelmore66 6 ай бұрын

Such depth and meaning behind the lyrics! Makes you stop and think!

@garybrady5319 Жыл бұрын

Great to see the full version at last

@MAMAGGray Ай бұрын

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

@DrumWild 11 ай бұрын

And the award for "Best Performance While Double-Parked" goes to..... Saw this when it aired. Word has it that show producers asked them to make cuts to the for time, and they instead opted to speed things up. Nothing today is as bad-ass. Love it!

@umarae27 9 ай бұрын

😂 I literally laughed out loud. (Dbl prkg)

@Disidaus 8 ай бұрын

#me2!!!

@RunTFC 6 ай бұрын

I've known this song since it came out but I've never seen this performance. One of the best live performances ever! Thijs van Leer went OFF!

@Isacjacobmaleh Жыл бұрын

The great Focus... This video will never die!!!

@garywagner2466 Жыл бұрын

I recall hearing this tune for the first time. Seems like a lifetime ago. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Astounding skill and a sense of humour appealed to an eclectic music fan. This is the best live performance copy I’ve seen. Most others suck. Thanks for posting. Nobody could be that creative today.

@matthoward923 11 ай бұрын

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

@robertfitzsimmons9428 9 ай бұрын

Old wives tale.

@gabington8990 8 ай бұрын

@@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 7 ай бұрын

@@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 2 ай бұрын

No click track needed

@TerryKoss32 5 ай бұрын

One of the best live performances I have ever seen

@Guido.Gonzato 8 ай бұрын

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 4 ай бұрын

Can verify, I was also being probed,

@ezekielbrockmann114 3 ай бұрын

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

@ThatMeansHesMad 3 ай бұрын

Ziltoid the Omniscient also approves.

@zJohnnyRingoz 2 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@InanDante 2 ай бұрын

The answer to "Show us what you goooot"

@markinsacramento 10 ай бұрын

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

@Kylora2112 10 ай бұрын

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 9 ай бұрын

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

@milt6208 11 ай бұрын

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.