Jan Akkerman was incorporating sweep picking in his play in the early 70's - something that you only saw in jazz players up to then. He was really ahead of his time and it's sad that he doesn't really get the credit he deserves.
In 1973 readers of Melody Makers voted for him as the best guitarist in the world (for what it's worth) but you're probably right. As long as it doesn't come from the Uk or the US it's a lot harder to be well known.
@RD400D78 Clapton was incognito with a cap on his head,back in the days,when Jan akkerman played in Brainbox. Yes,,,,,,,,,, spying hahahahhahahahhahahhahaha. He knew he was les then Jan.
One of the best, under-rated bands in the world, except among those who know so to speak. There is a lot to be said about the talent of these guys but one little fun fact might be the most impressive of them all. As you might know, the original song (Hocus Pocus) isnt exactly a short song with some live versions easily hitting the 8 minute mark. In 1973 they were invited to play "Hocus Pocus" at the popular NBC music tv show "Midnight Special" in the USA, hosted by Gladys Knight. Their song being in the region of 7 minutes, they were asked to cut it down to 4 minutes due to time restraint on the show. Focus said "no, we wont cut it short, but... we can play it faster if you want?" And that is exactly what they did, they sped up the song into an epic 4 minute FULL version, mind you.. the original song isnt exactly a slow song, yet they pretty much doubled the tempo. th-cam.com/video/g4ouPGGLI6Q/w-d-xo.html What this showed, and gave us was.. how talented they actually were, and it turned into one of the best and most ridiculous (the good kind) live performances ever recorded. Think about it, not too many bands today, could pull of playing "Hocus Pocus" live, at its regular tempo, so i'd challenge them to double down on the tempo and give that a try..... its pretty much mindblowing. Thnx for the react Fil :D
@@Yvolve As a brazilian kid from Rio de Janeiro, my basic school music teacher played Sylvia and Focus II in 1977, but fortunately I had already been introduced to those guys.
I never really liked the song "Hocus Pocus" so the band Focus never really did it for me. I have always loved some of Jan Akkerman's solo-albums thought, especially Eli. From Dutch '70s prog bands, I like Supersister over Focus. BTW, for some older music from Jan Akkerman & Kaz Lux, I also enjoy the 1970 album "Brainbox" from the band "Brainbox". Focus-drummer Pierre van der Linden also plays on that album.
Jan Akkerman blew me away when I first heard his playing in '70s. If you go and look at recent videos on TH-cam of his playing he is even better now. Amazing player!
"Sylvia" is my favorite tune by them. The song is a masterclass in harmony. BTW, "Thijs" is the Dutch equivalent of "Matt" - short for Mathijs/Matthew.
Excellent Fil! I've always liked Focus. Akkerman was indeed amazing. I still have the Moving Waves album, purchased in the '70s. It's hard to fathom why they did not receive commercial success or greater appreciation in the U.S. Same with another excellent band from the Netherlands...Golden Earring.
Yep, Golden Earring! Oldest band in the world (formed 1961). I challenge anyone in here to list a string of consecutive masterpiece hard rock/progressive albums such as the ones Kooymans and co. released from 1970 through 1976 (Golden Earring, Seven tears, Together, Moontan, Switch, To the hilt, Contraband). "Live" from 1977 is my favourite live album of all times. Speaking of Kooymans, his guitarsolo on "you're better off free" off Seven tears, 1971, is just mind boggling! As are his various live solos on Vanilla Queen! The Dutch had it going for them in the seventies!
Also, they hold the record for the longest time with the same members. Some people claim that ZZ Top holds the record, but I maintain that it's Golden Earring. Indeed, Kooymans has always been underrated. Eelco Gelling, another underrated guitarist, played with them for a few years in the late '70s. I think the best live version of Vanilla Queen is from '75 at Winterland in San Francisco. An amazing performance! th-cam.com/video/_xzj7umf--g/w-d-xo.html
The Winterland concert is just fantastic. Hope they release a remastered version of it some day. As for Vanilla Queen, I also thoroughly enjoy Kooyman's solo at the 1982 Rockpalast concert. It is totally different in feel, more melodic, perhaps less pyrotechnical than what we hear at Winterland - he also holds back for much longer until he unleashes volume and runs, but still, those last 4 minutes make my blood boil! th-cam.com/video/G-Jco-RMgDw/w-d-xo.html
Jan Akkerman is an amazing player. He was light years ahead of most everyone in the 70's. Cool, he has a Filtertron PU in the neck position of that Les Paul Custom.
I'm Dutch and proud that this band did this in the early seventys. I agree with you Fil. This is rediciously good. I guess lot of bands listened very good to Focus. Thanks for your very nice reaction.
Not many rock players can bring tears to ones eyes with the sheer beauty of phrasing and way of shaping a melody. Thinking of the track Focus 2 and the soaring passages in Eruption from moving waves. Saw Focus once in 1974. Wonderful. Their drummer has such a distinctive sound. In some ways he reminds me of John Bonham. Perhaps if Bonzo had been a jazzer. Such a resonant sound and so full of invention with his fills. They were def one of the best bands of the 7O’s. Jan Akkerman .... 😮
Sylvia was written by Van Leer as a song (with lyrics) but he shelved it. It was only after Akkerman joined the band that he had the idea to make it an instrumental.
I have been listening obsessively to Focus playing Hocus Pocus live on the Midnight Special show but had no idea who the guys were but I am so impressed with the musicianship of all the band members.
Thijs van Leer's name has the T followed by H, but the Dutch don't use the sound for that combination that is used in the English language. So it is pronounced like you'd say; Tice. Jan Akkerman is from Amsterdam, but lived quite near me in Friesland for a good few years.
Jab Akkerman was voted Best Guitarist in the World by readers of Melody Maker in 1973, above people like Clapton, Page, Gallagher and Ronson who were all producing the best of their careers at the time.
Your review gives Focus the credit they deserve! Thanks for pointing out the rhythm section! They were key to the successes of the harmonies of Thijs and Jan. Jan is still a beast by the way. His musclememory is still breathtaking!
Great pick Phil this one! Not only his left hand technique is great but you can see in this clip right from the beginning that his right hand is exeptional too. Perfect feel for timing and phrasing. The nice thing thing with Jan is it never gets dull, he never plays a solo the same way twice on stage but always another phrasing or timing, every time a new approach, just look at some other clips of the same song. That's how you recognize the great players. He's more than 70 years now but still rocking the stage.
The skills of the guitarist is phenomenal! Totally mesmerizing to watch ( and to listen to 🔥🎸). The voice is so distinctive it’s all great: completely original and melodic. ! Thanks fil for another spot in analysis !
MAGIC indeed! I first heard Focus in the 70s. Their first four albums are progressive masterpieces with Hamburger Concerto being the absolute pinnacle of their achievements. Akkerman just blew me away, he STILL does! He can play absolutely everything under the sun: Jazz, blues, hard rock, heck, even the classical lute. If you want to dig deep, check out pre focus bands The Hunters and Brainbox, as well as his prolific solo work up to this day. It's a career spanning 55 unparallelled years. I haven't seen or heard his like.
brad zybola hey Brad! I love seeing bands in small clubs! I used to go out a lot years ago and saw so many great bands in little clubs...so much better than big arenas and stadiums! I'm not real familiar with Big Country, but if I'm correct, isn't that the era when pop artists actually were musicians and played instruments! Lol...I can't stand pop music now, but back in the 80's, there were a lot of great pop bands I really liked. They played great music and had catchy lyrics. My youngest is into pop music and it's hideous! Seems like it's all electronic! Even their voices are auto tuned! Hopefully she'll grow out if this stage and find real music! Take care!☺
brad zybola ya...there's a few rap songs I can handle, but like you, after a few, I'm done. I wish your cousin good luck! I'll check out that video. Things were really different back in the day! A guy like Fil could be touring the country. If not his own band, at least as a guitarist in a good band! Fil and guys like him have so much talent, but these days it's difficult to go anywhere with it! I hope he can get a break...he deserves it! I'd like to go see a show or two before I get in too bad if shape to do it. My sister and her husband still travel all over seeing top bands...the older guys mostly, like Springsteen, Clapton, etc. I can't think of any newer bands I'd want to see...they're out there, for sure. Just harder to find these days!😀
Saw Focus around this time frame on LI, NYC. In addition to being blown away by Jan's blinding speed was the band was VERY LOUD! Jan with multiple stacked Marshalls. I had been to my share of loud shows by that time, but these guys were off the charts...Great analysis, Fil. Half the fun of these vids is watching you enjoy them so much!
I get shivers down my spine and well up with emotion every time i listen to this. I absolutely love the intro and middle bit where hes doing that crazy one chord rhythm bit. Id love to see Thijs vocal get an analysis. Cheers man.
Hocus Pocus Focus was a long version in America and a lot of it was fast. But that guys voice was just insane. Us hippy freaks loved it but we never heard anything from them again.
Focus were an amazing group of top notch players Fil. Jan was incredible and the track 'Hocus Pocus' was the Prog headbangers standard fair with my mates and I in the 70's lol
YES,I AM VERY HAPPY THAT YOU KNOW ALL THIS WHAT YOU HEAR AND SAY! THIS BAND AND ACKERMAN IS FANTASTIC AND UNIQUE!! I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU HEAR THIS MASTERS OF PLAYERS!! BIG GREATINGS FROM CROATIA FROM ROCK PIANO 🎹 PLAYER! I PLAY THIS THINGS ON PIANO AND AC/DC,AND IRON MAIDEN,FEAR OF THE DARK! ON PIANO!!?? HIHIHI
I doubt that Ackerman has ever played the anything the same way twice. I was lucky enough to see him in a three piece at Bush Hall a handful of years ago and he does it with the biggest of smiles too. Focus remind me of Patto. Brilliant, well matched players who can move as one.
Fil, the glass in my windows just broke mate !! I loved this growing up. Hell I don't think I've heard it since JR. High school. Enjoyed this very much !! Thank you. \m/✌
When I was growing up my older brother had there "In and Out of Focus" and Moving Waves" albums. They blew my away. So original and still so melodic. Love Focus. I owe a lot to my brother for my musical tastes. Thanks Joe, you done good.
Jan Akkerman's solo debut album 'Talent for sale' is still on my playlist today. His palet of guitar skills was/ is so broad it never bores me. He did some solo stuff with much too much synth stuff to please my taste and he can be quite the character, I understand. Anyways he's much more than just the guitar shredder of Focus.
Great band, great memories , great vid Fil !!! They were uniquely different and bloody awesome!! I Remember when I was a kid playing guitar with the lads,hocus pocus was one the first riffs l learnt!!! Still listen to their music today!!!!
Astounding competence on every level . I always come away thinking that I've learned something , in addition to being thoroughly entertained . That is what 'art' - by definition - ought to look like .
Well ahead of his time,string skipping and shredding,jazz fusion,on Hocus Pocus ,and this beautiful piece ,just love the melody[and yodels] classic ,still sounds good. Nice to hear you appreciate this ,Fil,
I'm so glad you have highlighted what a great guitarist Akkerman is and what a brilliant band Focus are. The first album I ever bought was Moving Waves, in about 1973 and the first live gig I ever went to was Focus at the Glasgow Apollo in May 1974. I am still listening to them all these later. It was a pleasure to listen to your analysis and to have you point out things about their playing that I hadn't noticed.
The OGWT was the reason I found ,so many great bands ,and musicians ,films from the U.S.[Joe walsh Kansas, boston,and many more,and live performances ,too miss Bob Harris ,and such a great show,
I remember Hocus Pocus being some of my earliest childhood memories on AM, yes AM, radio. This was one of those songs I was truly frightened of. (I was four.) But anyway, truly an exceptional band on Grey Whistle Test. Insane to watch really. So glad we at-will video access vs. a (single) 6” speaker in Datsun B-210. Solid review, sir!
Back in early 70s Jan was an absolutely brilliant player. Focus produced some of the most beautiful and powerful music in rock. Hocus Pocus was mental in the best possible way. When I play their stuff I'm transported back to my youth. Great times.
Love your Videos, you always get it on point, and good taste, it is touching that these heroes of my youth are not forgotten by some of the younger generation.
I LOVE this clip, perfect prog fix and a hoot with that silly singing! Jan Akkerman's playing is beautiful, he's one of the great underrated guitar heroes. Gotta love the 70's.
Yeah, I come from that time. There was a guy and his name was Guy and he played exactly like Jan. We were all jamming and when Guy started his solo , all of us stopped and were in awe.
Thanks for this vid. review. Focus isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I love them. Still listen to them regularly. One of my top 3 favorite rock bands of all time.
Jan was a major influence on us American players at the time. We were so lucky that there were many places on television to see focus. It seems to me they always filmed Jan's playing technique and I know many of us in the states lifted this technique in our own playing. To many of us he was a bigger influence than all the "Guitar Gods" 🎸 of the Era. Watching the original version of Hocus-pocus on the whistle Test brings back such wonderful memories of informative years as players. Fil thanks for the videos 📹 they're quite enjoyable. Peace ✌☮🕊🏳
hocus pocus blew my mind when I first heard it and it still does it's so amazingly unique my first milestone in serious playing was getting good enough to solo along with this track and I still play my own twist on this focus such a perfect name for this band it's like ELP with red hot guitar all over
Focus. Dutch pride Fil. Jan was and is a great guitar player. But as you very wel recognizd the whole band is very tight togheter. The drums and bass are keeping it all in shape. Great stuff and great comment. Thx Fil!
All these years later Jan is still turning heads & as much on top of his game as he was back in the day. Got the chance to see Focus on the only US tour they did in 1973. Peter Frampton's Camel opened the gig for them.
I used to work in a studio/practise rooms thingie in Amsterdam a long time ago. One time one of the owners scraped some musicians together to play but they had no bass player so I "had" to play. I was/am not very good but I CAN say i played with Jan Akkerman one time. lol
Great review of an Awesome Guitarist and Incredible Band. I first heard Hocus Pocus when I was 14 in 1971 on the radio in Australia and it totally Blew my Mind and I have dug Focus ever since. Jan Akkerman is an Amazing Guitarist and He also plays a mean Lute. Cheers Fil.
I met Jan while shopping in a supermarket in Amsterdam last summer, absolutely wonderful guy to talk to. I mentioned the London shows I saw Focus in the early 70s (The Roundhouse, The Rainbow etc) and he seemed to remember those shows still... Amazing guitarist.. still is.
I’ve flipped through a bunch of comments and haven’t seen a suggestion to watch the Midnight Special 1973 version of Hocus Pocus. Hocus Pocus runs over six minutes. The Midnight Special producers told them to do it in four minutes in order to fit in the commercials. Jan just SHREDS it. You think he plays with technical skill here-just listen to him in the sped up version. And the drummer-it is just crazy good.
In my youth back in the 70s this was one of my favorite bands. I bought all the focus albums and played them all the time. Loved Hamburger Concerto. Appreciate you noticing how brilliant they were. An awesomely talented band that never got the credit they deserved. Jan Akkermann was a guitar god and if you like Focus check out his solo albums that came later.
Thanks phil saw focus live and jan at guitar show what a brilliant guitar player is was and still is today all focus was great musicians underated band 👍
I still remember where I was the first time I heard Hocus Pocus. 50 years on, and it's still on my playlist. My friends and I all bought Moving Waves from the cutout bin at the local record store for maybe $4. Can't beat that for enjoyment per dollar. Another great track from Moving Waves that showcases Akkerman's great melodic sense is Tommy from the side-long concept piece Eruption.
HOLY SHIT! A TV Jones Filtertron pickup in the neck position of an early 70's Gibson Les Paul Custom??????? Now THERE'S something you don't see every day!
beautiful version of Sylvia, always loved them, van Leer's voice/singing makes the music playful and innovative in that way too, he is such an asset for the band. Who doesn't want to sing like him and sound so good and funny in a good way .... I played some of their instrumental melodies at the fashion show in early seventies as a DJ responsible for music at the show and the their music was loved by so many, not too many heard them before (who is plays that music ?, I was asked after the show). we had to stop the show for about half an hour, because one of the model missed the end of the catwalk and stepped "into ans abyss", she was okay, just embarrassed and shocked ....
Thijs van Leer may have been the face of the band, and with his musicality, singing skills, and songwriting, he deserves plenty of credit for all he did. But Jan Akkerman was one of the most outstanding rock guitarists of all time, with a rare sense of melody along with his mad technical skills, and is nowhere near as well remembered except by a select few. I love how "Hocus Pocus" sounded at least slightly different every time that Focus performed it.
This is the second time I've watched this, but this time I came from a Vocal Coach that did a reaction to Focus. I lasted 1 minute and 32 seconds, just because I wanted to see what your competition could do. Fil, you spoil us. I saw you in the sidebar and I just had to clear my mind and have your comments since I couldn't take the mindless critiques of someone who just said "Yeah, that was cool", You are a good teacher. I don't believe that if you can't do you teach, you can do and you can teach. And you can analyze. I took a Music Appreciation course in College, since it was an easy credit. I'm redoing the course but this time I'm learning something. Glad to be in your group of subscribers, would love to support you but it's a rough time now. But, when my fortunes change, you'll get what you've earned. Rock.
Jan Akkerman was incorporating sweep picking in his play in the early 70's - something that you only saw in jazz players up to then. He was really ahead of his time and it's sad that he doesn't really get the credit he deserves.
👍
We used to call it 'economy picking'.
In 1973 readers of Melody Makers voted for him as the best guitarist in the world (for what it's worth) but you're probably right. As long as it doesn't come from the Uk or the US it's a lot harder to be well known.
foggy4180
And what did Clapton say? Why give it to him, he’s just a Dutch country bumpkin. Jan is for the purists, Clapton is for the masses.
@RD400D78
Clapton was incognito with a cap on his head,back in the days,when Jan akkerman played in Brainbox.
Yes,,,,,,,,,, spying hahahahhahahahhahahhahaha.
He knew he was les then Jan.
Jan Ackerman blows the likes of Clapton’May away he’s phenomenal Phil 🎼🙏
Jan can make me smile and cry in the same song. Unreal. Nobody expresses mood in music as well as him.
One of the best, under-rated bands in the world, except among those who know so to speak.
There is a lot to be said about the talent of these guys but one little fun fact might be the most impressive of them all.
As you might know, the original song (Hocus Pocus) isnt exactly a short song with some live versions easily hitting the 8 minute mark.
In 1973 they were invited to play "Hocus Pocus" at the popular NBC music tv show "Midnight Special" in the USA, hosted by Gladys Knight.
Their song being in the region of 7 minutes, they were asked to cut it down to 4 minutes due to time restraint on the show.
Focus said "no, we wont cut it short, but... we can play it faster if you want?"
And that is exactly what they did, they sped up the song into an epic 4 minute FULL version, mind you.. the original song isnt exactly a slow song, yet they pretty much doubled the tempo.
th-cam.com/video/g4ouPGGLI6Q/w-d-xo.html
What this showed, and gave us was.. how talented they actually were, and it turned into one of the best and most ridiculous (the good kind) live performances ever recorded.
Think about it, not too many bands today, could pull of playing "Hocus Pocus" live, at its regular tempo, so i'd challenge them to double down on the tempo and give that a try..... its pretty much mindblowing.
Thnx for the react Fil :D
As a Dutch kid, my high school music teacher introduced us to this band. Our lives were never the same.
@@Yvolve As a brazilian kid from Rio de Janeiro, my basic school music teacher played Sylvia and Focus II in 1977, but fortunately I had already been introduced to those guys.
BHAM BHAM
AT 45rpm 😁
Weed Me
GOT TO SEE IT
WHEN AIRED
THAT NIGHT...
AUDIENCE ALL
STANDING 😁
I never really liked the song "Hocus Pocus" so the band Focus never really did it for me. I have always loved some of Jan Akkerman's solo-albums thought, especially Eli.
From Dutch '70s prog bands, I like Supersister over Focus.
BTW, for some older music from Jan Akkerman & Kaz Lux, I also enjoy the 1970 album "Brainbox" from the band "Brainbox". Focus-drummer Pierre van der Linden also plays on that album.
@@TimvanderLeeuw i forgot about Supersister (ty for the reminder), but i actually have Brainbox on vinyl and it a truly great album.
One of the most understated guitarist
My favourite guitarist to this day.
Akkerman is a great guitarist. Nice phrasing an groovy licks. Great guy as well
Jan Akkerman blew me away when I first heard his playing in '70s. If you go and look at recent videos on TH-cam of his playing he is even better now. Amazing player!
"Sylvia" is my favorite tune by them. The song is a masterclass in harmony.
BTW, "Thijs" is the Dutch equivalent of "Matt" - short for Mathijs/Matthew.
superb intonation
Excellent Fil! I've always liked Focus. Akkerman was indeed amazing. I still have the Moving Waves album, purchased in the '70s. It's hard to fathom why they did not receive commercial success or greater appreciation in the U.S. Same with another excellent band from the Netherlands...Golden Earring.
Yep, Golden Earring! Oldest band in the world (formed 1961). I challenge anyone in here to list a string of consecutive masterpiece hard rock/progressive albums such as the ones Kooymans and co. released from 1970 through 1976 (Golden Earring, Seven tears, Together, Moontan, Switch, To the hilt, Contraband). "Live" from 1977 is my favourite live album of all times. Speaking of Kooymans, his guitarsolo on "you're better off free" off Seven tears, 1971, is just mind boggling! As are his various live solos on Vanilla Queen! The Dutch had it going for them in the seventies!
👍
Also, they hold the record for the longest time with the same members. Some people claim that ZZ Top holds the record, but I maintain that it's Golden Earring. Indeed, Kooymans has always been underrated. Eelco Gelling, another underrated guitarist, played with them for a few years in the late '70s. I think the best live version of Vanilla Queen is from '75 at Winterland in San Francisco. An amazing performance! th-cam.com/video/_xzj7umf--g/w-d-xo.html
The Winterland concert is just fantastic. Hope they release a remastered version of it some day. As for Vanilla Queen, I also thoroughly enjoy Kooyman's solo at the 1982 Rockpalast concert. It is totally different in feel, more melodic, perhaps less pyrotechnical than what we hear at Winterland - he also holds back for much longer until he unleashes volume and runs, but still, those last 4 minutes make my blood boil! th-cam.com/video/G-Jco-RMgDw/w-d-xo.html
Have you heard Sandy Coast as well? Slightly more poppy, but very, very, good indeed. Hans Vermeulen was a near genius.
Jan Akkerman is an amazing player. He was light years ahead of most everyone in the 70's. Cool, he has a Filtertron PU in the neck position of that Les Paul Custom.
Amen!
I'm Dutch and proud that this band did this in the early seventys. I agree with you Fil. This is rediciously good. I guess lot of bands listened very good to Focus. Thanks for your very nice reaction.
Not many rock players can bring tears to ones eyes with the sheer beauty of phrasing and way of shaping a melody. Thinking of the track Focus 2 and the soaring passages in Eruption from moving waves. Saw Focus once in 1974. Wonderful. Their drummer has such a distinctive sound. In some ways he reminds me of John Bonham. Perhaps if Bonzo had been a jazzer. Such a resonant sound and so full of invention with his fills. They were def one of the best bands of the 7O’s. Jan Akkerman .... 😮
Cool!
absolutely!
Sylvia was written by Van Leer as a song (with lyrics) but he shelved it. It was only after Akkerman joined the band that he had the idea to make it an instrumental.
I also love his bends where he can adjust the emotional impact by mere milliseconds to convey a different feel.
His guitar playing is so melodic that the tune has been used in a lot of TV commercials, movies, and shows
As a vocalist, Van Leers vocal range is just amazing! As is his manipulation of his vocal chords. A truly blessed specimen of vocal talent!!!
I have been listening obsessively to Focus playing Hocus Pocus live on the Midnight Special show but had no idea who the guys were but I am so impressed with the musicianship of all the band members.
Thijs van Leer's name has the T followed by H, but the Dutch don't use the sound for that combination that is used in the English language. So it is pronounced like you'd say; Tice. Jan Akkerman is from Amsterdam, but lived quite near me in Friesland for a good few years.
Jan's guitar work is like singing with focus. Got the joy seeing him solo as a ten year old on the first row. That made me play the guitar
Jan Akkerman is frigging awesome and plays in an awesome group.
Jab Akkerman was voted Best Guitarist in the World by readers of Melody Maker in 1973, above people like Clapton, Page, Gallagher and Ronson who were all producing the best of their careers at the time.
Not many bands these days would have the balls to play live on TV ..real musicians eh? Cheers fil
Exactly, and try taking on this track with that vocal!
The whole band was nuts! ..got this album when I was 12-ish! still on my playlist !
I was only 12 years old when this band hit the charts, loved them ever since.
I was 10 when I first heard it on the radio, and was like, "What the hell is that?"
@@scubadiva666 I assume after thinking that, you couldn’t stop listening to their songs?
@@yunarukami14 Fortunately I came back to them.
@@scubadiva666 Awesome
I had forgotten about Thijs whipping out a flute and playing like a madman; just adds another level of awesome to this track.
Your review gives Focus the credit they deserve! Thanks for pointing out the rhythm section! They were key to the successes of the harmonies of Thijs and Jan.
Jan is still a beast by the way. His musclememory is still breathtaking!
Great pick Phil this one! Not only his left hand technique is great but you can see in this clip right from the beginning that his right hand is exeptional too. Perfect feel for timing and phrasing. The nice thing thing with Jan is it never gets dull, he never plays a solo the same way twice on stage but always another phrasing or timing, every time a new approach, just look at some other clips of the same song. That's how you recognize the great players. He's more than 70 years now but still rocking the stage.
👍
@@wingsofpegasus 72 years young!!
Thank you for this great special! Jan is one of the greatest.
No problem ☺
The skills of the guitarist is phenomenal! Totally mesmerizing to watch ( and to listen to 🔥🎸). The voice is so distinctive it’s all great: completely original and melodic. ! Thanks fil for another spot in analysis !
MAGIC indeed! I first heard Focus in the 70s. Their first four albums are progressive masterpieces with Hamburger Concerto being the absolute pinnacle of their achievements. Akkerman just blew me away, he STILL does! He can play absolutely everything under the sun: Jazz, blues, hard rock, heck, even the classical lute. If you want to dig deep, check out pre focus bands The Hunters and Brainbox, as well as his prolific solo work up to this day. It's a career spanning 55 unparallelled years. I haven't seen or heard his like.
Yeah there's a reason Brian May is still starstruck to this day!
I find most of his post focus work lazy compared to this
Don't worry, it took us all by surprise back in the day as well!
These guys were never really that popular in the U.S., but I always liked their style! So cool and different! Thanks for the video, Fil!👍😎🎸🎶
No problem!
brad zybola hey Brad! I love seeing bands in small clubs! I used to go out a lot years ago and saw so many great bands in little clubs...so much better than big arenas and stadiums! I'm not real familiar with Big Country, but if I'm correct, isn't that the era when pop artists actually were musicians and played instruments! Lol...I can't stand pop music now, but back in the 80's, there were a lot of great pop bands I really liked. They played great music and had catchy lyrics. My youngest is into pop music and it's hideous! Seems like it's all electronic! Even their voices are auto tuned! Hopefully she'll grow out if this stage and find real music! Take care!☺
brad zybola ya...there's a few rap songs I can handle, but like you, after a few, I'm done. I wish your cousin good luck! I'll check out that video. Things were really different back in the day! A guy like Fil could be touring the country. If not his own band, at least as a guitarist in a good band! Fil and guys like him have so much talent, but these days it's difficult to go anywhere with it! I hope he can get a break...he deserves it! I'd like to go see a show or two before I get in too bad if shape to do it. My sister and her husband still travel all over seeing top bands...the older guys mostly, like Springsteen, Clapton, etc. I can't think of any newer bands I'd want to see...they're out there, for sure. Just harder to find these days!😀
My brother was one of the few that bought the Quadraphonic Stereo System. And yes he had this album in Qudraphonic. Something I brag about.
Still one of the best channels on YT.
No bs, and looks at different genres.
Excellent.
Thanks!
Saw Focus around this time frame on LI, NYC. In addition to being blown away by Jan's blinding speed was the band was VERY LOUD! Jan with multiple stacked Marshalls. I had been to my share of loud shows by that time, but these guys were off the charts...Great analysis, Fil. Half the fun of these vids is watching you enjoy them so much!
Thanks!
Still my favourite guitarist,I spent hours trying to play Jan's licks off side one of his profile album,some truly bizarre sounds on there.
Proto Thrash Mayhem is what I call it ! Unbelievable album
I get shivers down my spine and well up with emotion every time i listen to this.
I absolutely love the intro and middle bit where hes doing that crazy one chord rhythm bit. Id love to see Thijs vocal get an analysis. Cheers man.
Going to see them live tonight March 25th 2022
Hocus Pocus Focus was a long version in America and a lot of it was fast. But that guys voice was just insane. Us hippy freaks loved it but we never heard anything from them again.
Highly recommend anyone who does'nt know about Focus to check the linked video out. They were all outstanding.
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I loved Hocus Pocus and Edgar Winter's Frankenstein. Two great progressive instrumentals from a time when the radio played a much greater variety.
Interesting and unique Focus rediscovered on channels like this one keeping the music alive :)
Focus were an amazing group of top notch players Fil. Jan was incredible and the track 'Hocus Pocus' was the Prog headbangers standard fair with my mates and I in the 70's lol
Haha cool!
YES,I AM VERY HAPPY THAT YOU KNOW ALL THIS WHAT YOU HEAR AND SAY! THIS BAND AND ACKERMAN IS FANTASTIC AND UNIQUE!! I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU HEAR THIS MASTERS OF PLAYERS!! BIG GREATINGS FROM CROATIA FROM ROCK PIANO 🎹 PLAYER! I PLAY THIS THINGS ON PIANO AND AC/DC,AND IRON MAIDEN,FEAR OF THE DARK! ON PIANO!!?? HIHIHI
Such an experimental and unique time for music. Bombastic rock sounds coupled with melodic and complex arrangements.
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I doubt that Ackerman has ever played the anything the same way twice. I was lucky enough to see him in a three piece at Bush Hall a handful of years ago and he does it with the biggest of smiles too. Focus remind me of Patto. Brilliant, well matched players who can move as one.
I really like how you have a very fair approach to each member's contribution. Brilliant. Thanks. :)
Love Jan Ammerman's work with Flamenco Maestro Paco DeLucia .
Fil, the glass in my windows just broke mate !! I loved this growing up. Hell I don't think I've heard it since JR. High school. Enjoyed this very much !! Thank you. \m/✌
No problem!
The Grey Whistle videos are great! Hocus Pocus taught me how to swear, first time I heard it in the 70s I said Holy $hit!
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When I was growing up my older brother had there "In and Out of Focus" and Moving Waves" albums. They blew my away. So original and still so melodic. Love Focus. I owe a lot to my brother for my musical tastes. Thanks Joe, you done good.
I was watching that when it broadcast live. It was truly unique, and the most original thing I'd heard since The Beatles.
Great Band and good comment I enjoy Focus always and your make s me learn more of the music. best regards
So jolly!
Jan Akkerman's solo debut album 'Talent for sale' is still on my playlist today. His palet of guitar skills was/ is so broad it never bores me. He did some solo stuff with much too much synth stuff to please my taste and he can be quite the character, I understand. Anyways he's much more than just the guitar shredder of Focus.
Great band, great memories , great vid Fil !!! They were uniquely different and bloody awesome!! I Remember when I was a kid playing guitar with the lads,hocus pocus was one the first riffs l learnt!!! Still listen to their music today!!!!
Thanks!
Astounding competence on every level .
I always come away thinking that I've learned something , in addition to being thoroughly entertained .
That is what 'art' - by definition - ought to look like .
Well ahead of his time,string skipping and shredding,jazz fusion,on Hocus Pocus ,and this beautiful piece ,just love the melody[and yodels] classic ,still sounds good. Nice to hear you appreciate this ,Fil,
I'm so glad you have highlighted what a great guitarist Akkerman is and what a brilliant band Focus are. The first album I ever bought was Moving Waves, in about 1973 and the first live gig I ever went to was Focus at the Glasgow Apollo in May 1974. I am still listening to them all these later. It was a pleasure to listen to your analysis and to have you point out things about their playing that I hadn't noticed.
Very Good Guitar work
I agree.great player Jan
Fantastic drums and bass
Don't be fooled by the novelty of the yodeling, there is a lot of skill and talent going on here!
I had forgotten how excellent all of these guys were, haven't heard this in years and it was a pleasure!
The OGWT was the reason I found ,so many great bands ,and musicians ,films from the U.S.[Joe walsh Kansas, boston,and many more,and live performances ,too miss Bob Harris ,and such a great show,
I remember Hocus Pocus being some of my earliest childhood memories on AM, yes AM, radio. This was one of those songs I was truly frightened of. (I was four.) But anyway, truly an exceptional band on Grey Whistle Test. Insane to watch really. So glad we at-will video access vs. a (single) 6” speaker in Datsun B-210. Solid review, sir!
Back in early 70s Jan was an absolutely brilliant player. Focus produced some of the most beautiful and powerful music in rock. Hocus Pocus was mental in the best possible way. When I play their stuff I'm transported back to my youth. Great times.
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to this day I still aspire to play guitar like akkerman can. unbelievable he is a guitar God.
Love your Videos, you always get it on point, and good taste, it is touching that these heroes of my youth are not forgotten by some of the younger generation.
I LOVE this clip, perfect prog fix and a hoot with that silly singing! Jan Akkerman's playing is beautiful, he's one of the great underrated guitar heroes. Gotta love the 70's.
Yeah, I come from that time. There was a guy and his name was Guy and he played exactly like Jan. We were all jamming and when Guy started his solo , all of us stopped and were in awe.
Thanks for this vid. review. Focus isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I love them. Still listen to them regularly. One of my top 3 favorite rock bands of all time.
David Linde well you would do, your name is linde!
@@heydude7568 What?
Complete analysis of the whole band. I like that very much. It is a sign that take your reactions serious! Rock on, Fil!
Thanks Rene!
They did Anonymous II in that OGWT session, too. Astonishing.
Jan was a major influence on us American players at the time. We were so lucky that there were many places on television to see focus. It seems to me they always filmed Jan's playing technique and I know many of us in the states lifted this technique in our own playing. To many of us he was a bigger influence than all the "Guitar Gods" 🎸 of the Era. Watching the original version of Hocus-pocus on the whistle Test brings back such wonderful memories of informative years as players. Fil thanks for the videos 📹 they're quite enjoyable. Peace ✌☮🕊🏳
hocus pocus blew my mind when I first heard it and it still does it's so amazingly unique my first milestone in serious playing was getting good enough to solo along with this track and I still play my own twist on this focus such a perfect name for this band it's like ELP with red hot guitar all over
Very cool how they function as a unit. The pioneers of progressive rock are still fun to cue up and listen to some forty years later.
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Focus. Dutch pride Fil. Jan was and is a great guitar player. But as you very wel recognizd the whole band is very tight togheter. The drums and bass are keeping it all in shape. Great stuff and great comment. Thx Fil!
All these years later Jan is still turning heads & as much on top of his game as he was back in the day. Got the chance to see Focus on the only US tour they did in 1973. Peter Frampton's Camel opened the gig for them.
Cool!
I used to work in a studio/practise rooms thingie in Amsterdam a long time ago.
One time one of the owners scraped some musicians together to play but they had no bass player so I "had" to play.
I was/am not very good but I CAN say i played with Jan Akkerman one time. lol
Great review of an Awesome Guitarist and Incredible Band. I first heard Hocus Pocus when I was 14 in 1971 on the radio in Australia and it totally Blew my Mind and I have dug Focus ever since. Jan Akkerman is an Amazing Guitarist and He also plays a mean Lute.
Cheers Fil.
No problem!
Genius, madness at its best!
This is where Queen started! Early seventies!
🤘That’s what I’m talkin’ about! 🤘
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Absolutely thrilled Fil covered Focus! In the US we were a very, very small Jan/Thijs fan club in the 70's... but we knew what we heard =]
I met Jan while shopping in a supermarket in Amsterdam last summer, absolutely wonderful guy to talk to. I mentioned the London shows I saw Focus in the early 70s (The Roundhouse, The Rainbow etc) and he seemed to remember those shows still... Amazing guitarist.. still is.
I’ve flipped through a bunch of comments and haven’t seen a suggestion to watch the Midnight Special 1973 version of Hocus Pocus. Hocus Pocus runs over six minutes. The Midnight Special producers told them to do it in four minutes in order to fit in the commercials. Jan just SHREDS it. You think he plays with technical skill here-just listen to him in the sped up version. And the drummer-it is just crazy good.
In my youth back in the 70s this was one of my favorite bands. I bought all the focus albums and played them all the time. Loved Hamburger Concerto. Appreciate you noticing how brilliant they were. An awesomely talented band that never got the credit they deserved. Jan Akkermann was a guitar god and if you like Focus check out his solo albums that came later.
Cool!
Thanks phil saw focus live and jan at guitar show what a brilliant guitar player is was and still is today all focus was great musicians underated band 👍
I still remember where I was the first time I heard Hocus Pocus. 50 years on, and it's still on my playlist. My friends and I all bought Moving Waves from the cutout bin at the local record store for maybe $4. Can't beat that for enjoyment per dollar. Another great track from Moving Waves that showcases Akkerman's great melodic sense is Tommy from the side-long concept piece Eruption.
Great video man! Thank you!
No problem!
HOLY SHIT! A TV Jones Filtertron pickup in the neck position of an early 70's Gibson Les Paul Custom??????? Now THERE'S something you don't see every day!
beautiful version of Sylvia, always loved them, van Leer's voice/singing makes the music playful and innovative in that way too, he is such an asset for the band. Who doesn't want to sing like him and sound so good and funny in a good way .... I played some of their instrumental melodies at the fashion show in early seventies as a DJ responsible for music at the show and the their music was loved by so many, not too many heard them before (who is plays that music ?, I was asked after the show). we had to stop the show for about half an hour, because one of the model missed the end of the catwalk and stepped "into ans abyss", she was okay, just embarrassed and shocked ....
Thijs van Leer may have been the face of the band, and with his musicality, singing skills, and songwriting, he deserves plenty of credit for all he did. But Jan Akkerman was one of the most outstanding rock guitarists of all time, with a rare sense of melody along with his mad technical skills, and is nowhere near as well remembered except by a select few. I love how "Hocus Pocus" sounded at least slightly different every time that Focus performed it.
Love it, Focus was great and your paying homage to masters. The Jeff Beck group next please. I love this channel and your wise beyond your years.
Thanks!
Way radical for back then!
Haha yep!
@@wingsofpegasus
1968 Jan Akkerman with Brainbox downman.
I named my daughter after a Focus song (not Sylvia). Awesome talents and music.
This is the second time I've watched this, but this time I came from a Vocal Coach that did a reaction to Focus. I lasted 1 minute and 32 seconds, just because I wanted to see what your competition could do. Fil, you spoil us. I saw you in the sidebar and I just had to clear my mind and have your comments since I couldn't take the mindless critiques of someone who just said "Yeah, that was cool", You are a good teacher. I don't believe that if you can't do you teach, you can do and you can teach. And you can analyze. I took a Music Appreciation course in College, since it was an easy credit. I'm redoing the course but this time I'm learning something. Glad to be in your group of subscribers, would love to support you but it's a rough time now. But, when my fortunes change, you'll get what you've earned. Rock.
Thanks Lawrence!
@@wingsofpegasus Told you! :)
You talk so great. From Caracas, Venezuela
Hocus Pocus by Focus. Tough and smooth guitarist.
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Great insight. Respect!