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!
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.
"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
What is often overlooked is that Jan Akkerman is not only an unbelievable soloist in technique and frasing, but that he is also one of the best rythm guitarist I ever heard
@@wingsofpegasus Your Focus review was the most illuminating one, and really delves into the depths, rather than being distracted by the novelty of Van Leer's vocals. I appreciate your insights and will watch the hands closer. This drummer/bassist combination was phenomenal in FocusIII
Jan Akkerman was always full of surprises. Just when he was lulling you with some Gary Rossington kind of pentatonic groove, then he would blister your ears with some lightning-fast chunk that sounded classical. Amazing talent. Equipment notes on Jan: he did have a Gretsch Filtertron in the neck of that LP Custom. Later on he had a luthier customize that guitar with an overlay of flamed maple. The guy even bent thin maple around the sides of the guitar and finished it in a light brown sunburst. The guitar body ended up being about an inch bigger all round, and the maple overlay, along with the pickups being rewound for more treble, gave him his characteristic sound. He also had a midrange cut circuit put in the guitar, so he was probably one of the first guys out there scooping his mids. He played on .008 to .038 strings, claiming that it forced him to keep a very light and precise touch. He can be seen and heard playing this souped-up guitar on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, which is still up on TH-cam. Thanks again, Fil, for a listen to a really fine band from the 1970s!
I've been to a couple of Jan Akkerman concerts. Both in small venues, Huntington Hall, Worcester, UK and De Kade, Zaandam, The Netherlands. Both events were incredible. I'm planning on seeing him again at, P60 in Amstelveen, The Netherlands on 11Sept 2020. It should be a great night out. Jan Akkerman is without question a virtuoso and great to see in small venues. Het wordt gezellig 😃!
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!
I remember the very day I heard this song. I was about 7 years old and at the swimming pool at our apartments in St. Augustine Fla. I was captivated by the yodeling and whistling parts. When I hear it today it takes me back to that day. As a kid I missed what was actually going on. When I got older I saw it for the jam that it was, and today I can appreciate the actual technique and talent of the band. For me, Hocus Pocus did age like a fine wine.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 !
Thanks Phil. Another huge Akkerman fan here. Seen him live many times and go with the opinion that had he been English or American, he would be another member of the holy 5 of Hendrix, Blackmore, Page, Beck and Clapton. There is NO other player that has his diverse range of styles and musical genres. Classical, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Disco, Dance, Rock, Prog, Renaissance, Orchestral etc etc. And name me anyone else that has graced the stage with Ice T, Paco and BB King !!!!
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.
Loved this. Sylvia is beautiful. The first time l heard Hocus Pocus I was crossing the road and l stopped dead in my tracks and nearly got hit by a bike. It has that effect. There’s something so wildly pure about it, his vocals are just…it’s like listening to Catweazle sing with Queen. I loved it. Thank you Fil!❤️
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!
Grew up listening to focus live. These guys were off the charts. Jan Ackerman is a phenomenal guitarist and turned acoustic in his later years. The early 70s let groups develop themes and expand on ideas. Awesome stuff!!!!
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.
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!!!!
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.
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 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!
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.
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/✌
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!😀
So true about a great lead guitarist needing a solid rhythm for context. People today focus on learning a solo, and that's fine for practice, but a bare solo pales beside a solo in a song's proper context. That's where fills and solo playing becomes integral and spectacular.
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
Before Satriani there was Jan Akkerman. Nobody minded Thijs van Lear's vocals because they were pretty trippy at the time. Hocus-Pocus hit the charts around 1971. I just heard the song during a Chase scene in the movie Baby Driver. He's still around and pretty active according to Wikipedia keeping most of his work in Europe and the UK.
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.
I remember this song quite well back when I was in high school in Denver, Colorado. I and many of my friends were really impressed with this unique style. The accelerated rock pace and the yodeling really was revolutionary.
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.
I was blown away in 1972 when I heard this in US and I am still in amazement today. I am sad you did not continue with the video for the guitar solo breaks as he gets faster and faster with each break. After watching Alvin Lee in 1968 at Woodstock and this group, you wonder why the Rock and Roll Hall does not have these 2 in their group yet. Both influential and way ahead of the pack that came 15 years later.
Fil glad to see your subscribers ramping up,I'm not a guitar player, but, I do know what I like and since watching Justin Johnson I'm more interested than ever in a very talented guitar players. And your descriptions have been very informative. Thanks buddy !
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.
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.
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 drew from Rock, Jazz and classical to great effect . Jan is amazing Tys is incredible not to mention top notch bass and drums. This was amazing era in popular music is was so interesting so creative so out side the box. Fabulous stuff ! Brain may was inspired by Jan both are fabulous melodic players
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.
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.
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 👍
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 can make me smile and cry in the same song. Unreal. Nobody expresses mood in music as well as him.
One of the most understated guitarist
Akkerman is a great guitarist. Nice phrasing an groovy licks. Great guy as well
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.
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!
Jan Akkerman is one of those guitarists that I describe as shredding before shredding was even a thing. Such a great player!
Amen!
Yes. With the exception his phrasing was more jazz like not the monotonous tripe covered in exaggerated vibrato that was later to be known as shred.
Him and Ollie Halsall. Check out 'Loud Green Song' by Patto for a great example. Allan Holdsworth was great, too.
@@wingsofpegasus Only 2 others that were in the same year that could do this were Uli Roth(Scorpions) and Phil Keaggy(Glass Harp) ahead of their time
shredding these days doesn’t come close to what Jan was doing which was much more musical
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.
"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.
I smile every time I watch those old videos, thay were having so much fun.
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.
My favourite guitarist to this day.
Going to see them live tonight March 25th 2022
What is often overlooked is that Jan Akkerman is not only an unbelievable soloist in technique and frasing, but that he is also one of the best rythm guitarist I ever heard
Don't be fooled by the novelty of the yodeling, there is a lot of skill and talent going on here!
Hocus Pocus is a big favourite with my kids aged 4 and 7. They call this "The Crazy Song" when they ask for it. :)
😂
I recently discovered your channel and have been binge watching your videos. You have such a great positive attitude, you have a new fan!
Thanks David!
@@wingsofpegasus a bit
@@nikuman9605 ????
@@wingsofpegasus Your Focus review was the most illuminating one, and really delves into the depths, rather than being distracted by the novelty of Van Leer's vocals. I appreciate your insights and will watch the hands closer. This drummer/bassist combination was phenomenal in FocusIII
Thank you, they are truly from another planet! 🎸🎹🍾❤️
Jan Akkerman was always full of surprises. Just when he was lulling you with some Gary Rossington kind of pentatonic groove, then he would blister your ears with some lightning-fast chunk that sounded classical. Amazing talent. Equipment notes on Jan: he did have a Gretsch Filtertron in the neck of that LP Custom. Later on he had a luthier customize that guitar with an overlay of flamed maple. The guy even bent thin maple around the sides of the guitar and finished it in a light brown sunburst. The guitar body ended up being about an inch bigger all round, and the maple overlay, along with the pickups being rewound for more treble, gave him his characteristic sound. He also had a midrange cut circuit put in the guitar, so he was probably one of the first guys out there scooping his mids. He played on .008 to .038 strings, claiming that it forced him to keep a very light and precise touch. He can be seen and heard playing this souped-up guitar on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, which is still up on TH-cam. Thanks again, Fil, for a listen to a really fine band from the 1970s!
I've been to a couple of Jan Akkerman concerts. Both in small venues, Huntington Hall, Worcester, UK and De Kade, Zaandam, The Netherlands. Both events were incredible. I'm planning on seeing him again at, P60 in Amstelveen, The Netherlands on 11Sept 2020. It should be a great night out. Jan Akkerman is without question a virtuoso and great to see in small venues. Het wordt gezellig 😃!
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!!!
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!
I remember the very day I heard this song. I was about 7 years old and at the swimming pool at our apartments in St. Augustine Fla. I was captivated by the yodeling and whistling parts. When I hear it today it takes me back to that day. As a kid I missed what was actually going on. When I got older I saw it for the jam that it was, and today I can appreciate the actual technique and talent of the band. For me, Hocus Pocus did age like a fine wine.
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 do not know a soul that does not appreciate and has not rocked out to them guys! Way, way ahead of their time! Glad for analyses Fil.
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!
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.
His guitar playing is so melodic that the tune has been used in a lot of TV commercials, movies, and shows
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.
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
Still one of the best channels on YT.
No bs, and looks at different genres.
Excellent.
Thanks!
The whole band was nuts! ..got this album when I was 12-ish! still on my playlist !
I also love his bends where he can adjust the emotional impact by mere milliseconds to convey a different feel.
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 !
Thank you for this great special! Jan is one of the greatest.
No problem ☺
Thanks Phil. Another huge Akkerman fan here. Seen him live many times and go with the opinion that had he been English or American, he would be another member of the holy 5 of Hendrix, Blackmore, Page, Beck and Clapton. There is NO other player that has his diverse range of styles and musical genres. Classical, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Disco, Dance, Rock, Prog, Renaissance, Orchestral etc etc. And name me anyone else that has graced the stage with Ice T, Paco and BB King !!!!
Cool!
Zappa liked him too.
He blows Clapton etc away 🙏🎼
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!!
Loved this. Sylvia is beautiful. The first time l heard Hocus Pocus I was crossing the road and l stopped dead in my tracks and nearly got hit by a bike. It has that effect. There’s something so wildly pure about it, his vocals are just…it’s like listening to Catweazle sing with Queen. I loved it. Thank you Fil!❤️
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
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!
superb intonation
Jan Akkerman is frigging awesome and plays in an awesome group.
Grew up listening to focus live. These guys were off the charts. Jan Ackerman is a phenomenal guitarist and turned acoustic in his later years. The early 70s let groups develop themes and expand on ideas. Awesome stuff!!!!
Amen!
I really like how you have a very fair approach to each member's contribution. Brilliant. Thanks. :)
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!
I had forgotten about Thijs whipping out a flute and playing like a madman; just adds another level of awesome to this track.
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 .
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.
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.
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
Thank you for this video.
Focus has always been one of my favorite bands.
Moving Waves, a true classic, and a great introduction to yodelling!
Interesting and unique Focus rediscovered on channels like this one keeping the music alive :)
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,
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.
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!
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 had forgotten how excellent all of these guys were, haven't heard this in years and it was a pleasure!
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 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!
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.
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.
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!
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
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!
after this appearance on whistle test, their record label had dedicate an entire pressing plant to produce the album, such was the demand
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!😀
Very Good Guitar work
I agree.great player Jan
Fantastic drums and bass
So true about a great lead guitarist needing a solid rhythm for context. People today focus on learning a solo, and that's fine for practice, but a bare solo pales beside a solo in a song's proper context. That's where fills and solo playing becomes integral and spectacular.
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!
"Hocus Pocus " studio version is phenomenal Fil. Big time stuff.
👍
Such an experimental and unique time for music. Bombastic rock sounds coupled with melodic and complex arrangements.
👍
Don't worry, it took us all by surprise back in the day as well!
I remember I was 6 and my 14 year old brother playing this non stop back in 72/73.....great memories
Before Satriani there was Jan Akkerman. Nobody minded Thijs van Lear's vocals because they were pretty trippy at the time. Hocus-Pocus hit the charts around 1971. I just heard the song during a Chase scene in the movie Baby Driver. He's still around and pretty active according to Wikipedia keeping most of his work in Europe and the UK.
👍
And Bill Nelson
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.
readers of British magazine Melody Makers voted Jan Akkerman as 'Best Guitar Player in the World' in 1973
I remember this song quite well back when I was in high school in Denver, Colorado. I and many of my friends were really impressed with this unique style. The accelerated rock pace and the yodeling really was revolutionary.
Yeah it's very cool!
The smile on Fils face on the opening riff of Sylvia is priceless and it just gets bigger as the video goes on
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.
Great Band and good comment I enjoy Focus always and your make s me learn more of the music. best regards
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!
😂
I loved Hocus Pocus and Edgar Winter's Frankenstein. Two great progressive instrumentals from a time when the radio played a much greater variety.
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 was blown away in 1972 when I heard this in US and I am still in amazement today. I am sad you did not continue with the video for the guitar solo breaks as he gets faster and faster with each break. After watching Alvin Lee in 1968 at Woodstock and this group, you wonder why the Rock and Roll Hall does not have these 2 in their group yet. Both influential and way ahead of the pack that came 15 years later.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has become a bit of a... popularity content, instead about musicians and their influence.
Fil glad to see your subscribers ramping up,I'm not a guitar player, but, I do know what I like and since watching Justin Johnson I'm more interested than ever in a very talented guitar players. And your descriptions have been very informative. Thanks buddy !
No problem!
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!
to this day I still aspire to play guitar like akkerman can. unbelievable he is a guitar God.
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.
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
Highly recommend anyone who does'nt know about Focus to check the linked video out. They were all outstanding.
👍
Saw Focus again last week in Basingstoke. Still awesome after 40+ years despite different lead and bass players.
I remember when Hocus Pocus came out. It got a lot of airplay and was definitely UNIQUE! I remember thinking Jethro Tull on steroids 💥
Great answer!
Focus drew from Rock, Jazz and classical to great effect . Jan is amazing Tys is incredible not to mention top notch bass and drums. This was amazing era in popular music is was so interesting so creative so out side the box. Fabulous stuff !
Brain may was inspired by Jan both are fabulous melodic players
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.
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.
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 was watching that when it broadcast live. It was truly unique, and the most original thing I'd heard since The Beatles.
Another fantastic choice. Congrats on 10k
Thanks!