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Focus 01/17/1973

SHOWID 111408

Set I

Focus III
Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!
Focus II
Anonymous Two
Focus I
Hocus Pocus
Sylvia/Hocus Pocus (Reprise)

Set II

 

Set III

 

Comment

Thijs Van Leer: Vocals, Organ, Flute
Jan Akkerman: Guitar
Bert Ruiter: Bass
Pierre van der Linden: Drums

Generally circulates as 1972-12-12 or 1973-01-30 with a different track order without Sylvia/Hocus Pocus (Reprise).

Collectors With This Show

User (active/rating) Media / # Show Sound Details DB Source User Source
Shearing (5/5) FLAC / 1 A View   2nd gen. SBD
Notes: "Focus - The Sky Will Fall Over London Tonight", PRRP-027 The correct date is unknown, but most probably in January 1973.
Shearing (5/5) FLAC / 1 A- View   FM (1986 re-broadcast) > Cassette > Audacity - track split & conversion to FLAC Level 8
Notes: This show is also commonly listed as December 12, 1972. The correct date is unknown, but most probably in January 1973.
John H (5/5) flac / 1 A- A- View   BBC Broadcast
Notes: FM > Cassette > Audacity - track split & conversion to FLAC Level 8 > TTD A bit of interference present on the broadcast in a few of places, and some hiss during the quiet bits, otherwise a decent recording. There are also a couple of minor dropouts in places during this recording which were inherent in the broadcast. Recorded by harryh using a Phillips cassette recorder. The setlist does not match but I would have to get into to it to correct it
PsyKies (5/0) CD / 1 View   Now officially released. Was BBC Transcription Disc Vinyl > ? FLAC with tracks in different...
rockcdr (5/5) CD / 1 View  
Notes: FM
Adam (5/5) CDR / 1 A View   SBD
Notes: BBC Broadcast-With Jan Akkerman: 1. (Bob Harris intro) / Annonymous Two / (band intro) [24:02] 2. Focus I [4:10] 3. Focus III [3:18] 4. Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! [12:44] 5. Focus II [4:28] 6. Hocus Pocus [7:43] Lineup: Thijs Van Leer (org, flt, vcls), Jan Akkerman (gtr), Bert Ruiter (bs), Pierre van der Linden (drms)
PeaceTrader (5/3) CDR / 1 View  
Michael Mersand (5/0) / 0 View  
taraimo (5/5) CDR / 1 A View   SBD
Greg Drummond (5/0) CD / 1 View  
Notes: Bob Harris Intro Anonymous II Bob Harris announc. Focus I Focus III Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! Focus II Bob Harris anounc. Hokus Pokus
Slammer (5/5) CDR / 1 A View  
wedsong1 (5/4.9) CDR / 1 View  
Captain Ten Hits (5/5) flac / 1 View   FM Broadcast
JPW (5/5) CDR / 1 A+ A View   FM broadcast
Notes: 1. (Bob Harris intro) / Annonymous Two / (band intro) [24:02] 2. Focus I [4:10] 3. Focus III [3:18] 4. Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! [12:44] 5. Focus II [4:28] 6. Hocus Pocus [7:43] Lineup: Thijs Van Leer (org, flt, vcls), Jan Akkerman (gtr), Bert Ruiter (bs), Pierre van der Linden (drms)
Rich Pucci (5/4.7) CDR Audio / 1 View  
Paul Conlon (5/4.9) cdr / 1 A A+ View   FM Broadcast
Rich (5/0) CD AUDIO / 1 A A View  
Notes: PRE-FM
Steven Bosley (5/0) SHN 1 / 1 A A View   Vinyl
Jud Joyce (5/0) CDR / 1 A+ A+ View  
Steve K (4/5) FLAC / 1 A View   FM
Andrew Davies (4/4.4) CDR / 1 A A View  
Andrew Davies (4/4.4) CDR / 1 A A View  
woodenalligator (4/5) CDR / 1 A+ A+ View   FM
Notes: Jan Akkerman's guitar is a little low in the mix
woodenalligator (4/5) CDR / 1 A A View   FM
woodenalligator (4/5) CDR / 1 A A View   FM
Rodney Rice (4/5) CDR / 1 A+ View   FM
Anthony Dellacioppa (4/5) CDR / 1 A+ View   FM
Mike (4/5) cdr / 1 A A View  
a thomson (4/4.9) cdr / 1 View  
Jon Sten (4/5) cdr / 1 View  
hightea (4/0) cdr / 1 a- a- View  
Notes: lp sourced
Mike (3/5) cdr / 1 View  
Bill d'Angelo (3/5) CDR / 1 View  
EFC1878 (3/0) CDR/FLAC / 1 A A View  
Notes: BBC broadcast so no lack of sound quality. The band are in great form.
Dragonfly (3/5) CDR / 1 A A- View   BBC session (SBD->LP>CDR??)
Notes: Some snaps and pops like an LP record, otherwise a relatively well balanced mix.
Rich Martelli (3/5) CDR / 1 A View   FM Broadcast
Jim Decker (3/5) CDR / 1 View   SBD
steve w. (3/5) SHN / 1 View   SBD/FM
Bluesthinker (2/4.9) flac / 1 View   fm
Notes: PRRP 027 Title: The Sky Will Fall Over London Tonight
OBIE (2/5) FLAC / 1 View  
zosa (2/4.9) CDR / 1 A A+ View   FM->?
Notes: great sound considering its age
Uncle Duke (2/0) CD / flac / 1 View   FM
Scott J (2/0) / 1 View  
Michael Taylor (2/5) CDR / 1 A View  
Igor Grunschev (2/5) / 0 View  
Danjiri (2/5) CDR / 1 A+ View  
Danjiri (2/5) CDR / 1 A View  
Hugh Macpherson (2/0) CD / 1 View   SBD
blewsman (2/5) shn / 1 View  
Notes: PRRP DVD 1
AngryJ5 (2/0) SHN / 1 View  
buc2220 (1/5) CDR / 1 A View   FM
buc2220 (1/5) CDR / 1 A View   FM
Hanf (1/5) Flac / 0 View  
Notes: "The Sky Will Fall Over London Tonight" ( PRRP 027)
kam (1/0) flac / 0 View  
Janaja (1/5) CD / 1 A View  
stringman67 (1/5) CDR / 1 A+ View  
Notes: FM/SBD (55.33)
Danny Smack (1/5) / 1 A- View   LP?
Notes: sounds like an LP>CDR transfer
Aaron Wiedmann (1/4) CDR / 1 A A+ View   SBD
Mike (1/5) CDR / 1 A View   FM
Malibu Jesus (1/5) 1 cd / 1 A+ View   SBD > FM Broadcast
Notes: Great Stuff
bluibootleg (1/0) FLAC / 1 View   Pre-FM
bluibootleg (1/0) FLAC / 0 View   Soundboard
tee-waii (1/5) CDR / 1 A View  
Martin McNally (1/0) FLAC / 1 9.5 View   FM
Notes: PRRP027 THE SKY WILL FALL ON LONDON TONIGHT 335MB
Doug B (1/5) CDR / 1 View  
Notes: FM - The Sky Will Fall Over London Tonight
Dene Wright (1/5) CD / 1 View   FM
Notes: Part
raincooker (1/0) / 1 A+ View   SOUNDBOARD
whammer (1/5) CD / 1 View  
Tom Bashara/Eric Linstrom (1/5) FLAC / 1 View   Studio Recording
Notes: Studio Recording
dlnlee (1/4) CDR / 1 View   FM
Notes: Vinyl source: BBC transcription disc? For setlist, see what's listed under 1972: "BBC Studio" -- it's the same show.
bewise (1/0) flac / 1 View  
Notes: 331mb sd 16
Ringo (1/4.8) CDR / 1 A- View   BBC
Notes: [55'52"]
Ringo (1/4.8) CDR / 1 A View   FM Broadcast
Notes: [55'32"]
Pete Morin-Smith (1/5) CDr / 1 View   Liberated Boot
Notes: On to England 1972 was a good year for the band Focus. The world was beginning to take notice of the 4 musicians from Holland, particularly those in the British music scene. The band was named the best new talent by the influential New Musical Express (NME) and brightest hope by Melody Maker. With these endorsements, Focus began an initial summer tour of England. The trip would prove significant for the band and provided a great opportunity for them to expand their fan base. At the time, England was having a power crisis. Electricity was inconsistently provided to the people of the country and so most bands had a difficult time performing. The amount of power needed to put on a show was just not available. But Focus came to the island country with all the necessary equipment, including a generator. As Jan Akkerman recalls, Nobody was able to play in London or England at all because of the power strike. We had a generator with us and played the universities that memorable week all round London. The gigs were packed probably because it was the only thing going on. We got a lot of airplay because the people must have phoned the BBC about us. And phoned they did. Over the next few months the popularity of the band gradually increased, as did the call for more performances. Focus returned to England to perform as the Melody Makers Poll winner at Oval Cricket Ground in London on September 30th. They then performed almost daily for over four weeks, starting in mid-October. With the British music scene turning its attention to the band, the BBC decided to invite Focus to return in December and appear on its influential television show, the Old Grey Whistle Test. At the time, many thought this was going to be just another performance for Focus, but in the opinion of the shows host, Bob Harris, this was a major event for both Focus and the music program. The guys in Focus were jamming in a small BBC studio in the heart of Television Centre, rehearsing for their first appearance on the Old Grey Whistle Test. I was there, the new host of the program... rookie broadcaster and music fan, three months into the job, enjoying the camaraderie. It was 12th December 1972 and we were all about to make a big discovery. The atmosphere was great, very light-hearted and enjoyable as the band rehearsed its set. They decided to play Sylvia', Anonymous II and ...er... 'Hocus Pocus', with a seasonal slant. Instead of following the usual pattern of the vocal breaks, Thijs launched into a mock-serious yodelling version of 'we wish you a merry Christmas...' building up to that top falsetto with a heart-rending ' and a happy new yeeeeeaaaaarrr...', tailing off into Jans million miles an hour guitar playing. The performance was an absolute sensation. People had never seen anything quite like them before. Whistle test had been on air for just over a year when, the bang first appeared. Although we knew that we had a loyal following, there were no recent viewing figures available and we were guessing that the audience for the show was probably fairly small. It was Focus who made us realize that we'd guessed wrong. Their performance generated incredible reaction and suddenly everything seemed to be happening very fast. We were inundated with calls, letters and enquiries about this amazing band. 'Hocus Pocus' broke into the U.K. singles chart, then 'Sylvia' the following week, climbing into the top 5. Moving Waves and Focus 3 stormed into the top 10 of the album chart. For a time, the demand for their recordings was so great that Polydor had to switch the resources of its entire pressing plant to the production of Focus vinyl. The UK press followed up with great support and soon they were winning reader polls, collectively and individually. As I write, almost thirty years have passed since Focus made that ground breaking Whistle Test appearance but I still look back on that momen with massive warmth and affection. It wasn't just because the band was so great to work with and the day so enjoy- able, it was special for more than that. On the 12th December 1972, we discovered something that was to change our lives. We discovered that we had an audience out there... and it numbered in millions. Bob Harris, October 2002 Notes from the Re-Master This soundboard recording comes to us as a second generation source. Still, the quality was outstanding. The main problem with the recording was the frequent clicks and pops heard throughout. These were eliminated using both automatic and manual techniques. The tonality also needed adjustment. The bass and sub-bass components were quite deficient and needed a boost. A small correction to the upper treble region was also made. Because this was an in-studio live recording from the soundboard, the sound lacked ambience. Some have described this type of sound as dry. To make the recording sound a bit more Live a small amount of echo was added. This helps to give the auditory perception of a concert hall or theater. A few other small flaws such as track gaps and bumps were found and removed.
John Banks (1/5) CDR / 1 A+ View  
Drewalex (0/0) CD / 1 A A View  
Radoslav Stoyanov (0/0) cd / 1 5 View   Audience
Notes: Anonymous Two
Lars F. (0/0) / 0 View  
Lars F. (0/0) / 0 View  
calgarytrader (0/4.8) cdr / 1 a a View  
DudeMan (0/5) CD-R / 1 A View   FM>audio tape>CDR(PhilipsCDR570)>wave(EAC)>flacf(8)>wav(cdr)
Notes: Filler: Focus - Appeldorn,Netherland xx.xx.1973 10.Focus III & Focus II 07:10 11.House Of The King 02:25 12.Sylvia 03:40 13.Tommy 02:32 14.Hokus Pocus 06:25
mike (0/0) MP3 / 0 A View  
Notes: Introduction Anonymous Two Focus 1 Focus 3 Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! Focus 2 Bob Harris Speaks Hocus Pocus
kimbro (0/0) / 1 A+ View   SBD
Matt Gardner (0/0) CDR / 1 View   FM Sourced
Cecil (0/4.9) CDR / 1 View  
Sydster (0/5) CDR / 1 A A View   FM
Notes: Beautiful recording, smokin' performance! A must hear!
Danjiri (0/0) CDR / 1 A+ View  
Tom Gunn (0/0) DVD / 0 A- View   SBD