Song:Hocus Pocus
Album:The Best Of Focus: Hocus Pocus
Hocus Pocus was a top ten hit in 1973. So I assume it still get played on oldies radio. And folks must hear this song and go "What the hell is that?" It was a fluke hit single from the Dutch progressive rock group Focus. They were formed in 1969 by keyboardist, singer and flautist Thijs van Leer. He wrote most of the songs. The band came out of a theater group in Amsterdam. Guitarist Jan Akkerman joined and he came up with the name Focus. Focus' first job was the pit band in a local production of Hair. They were supposed to go on European tour with the show but they decided to become a full time band instead. The rest of the band was Martin Dresden on bass and Hans Cleuver on drums. Focus recorded the album Focus Plays Focus and Imperial Records released it in Europe. Then Sire Records owner Seymour Stein saw them live and he signed them to a US deal. Akkerman was unhappy with the rhythm section and he threatened to leave if they weren't replaced. And he was going to leave but a new manager kept the band together. Dresden and Cleuver were out. Drummer Martin van der Linden and bassist Bert Ruiter were in. van der Linden and Akkerman were previously in a band together. Mike Vernon was brought in to produce their next album. Like Stein, he liked Focus live but didn't like their first album. That album was Focus II in Europe but it was called Moving Waves in the US. Hocus Pocus was first released as a single in 1971. But it wasn't until they recorded a second much faster version that it reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. I guess van Leer's yodeling is part of why fans liked the song. It's certainly different. van Leer and Akkerman wrote the song. But since Akkerman left Focus in 1976, Akkerman claims he wrote it alone. After leaving Focus, Akkerman has recorded jazz fusion guitar. This comp is a good intro to Focus' music. van Leer disbanded Focus in 1978 and they reunited a few times. van Leer and van der Linden reformed Focus in 2001 and they still tour and record today. Here's Focus performing Hocus Pocus on The Midnight Special 1973.
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