Hocus Pocus - Focus (1973) 8/24/21

Today's "Great Song of 1973" is the end result of 6-plus minutes of goofing off in the studio.

Here's how it happened: In 1971, the Dutch group Focus was in the studio recording their "Moving Waves" album when drummer Pierre Van der Linden started banging out some rhythms. Guitarist Jan Akkerman started noodling around with a melody, and then keyboardist/flautist/lead singer Thjis Van Leer jumped in on organ, while yodeling, whistling, spitting out nonsense words and screaming in a high falsetto.

To almost no one's surprise, when it was released at a single in 1971, it tanked everywhere in the world.

But Focus thought the song was a lot of fun...so they decided to make it "funner" by re-recording it faster and sillier...and calling it "Hocus Pocus 2."

They released it again in 1973, and THIS time, it became a Top 10 hit in their home country of The Netherlands...and, oddly enough, the US! (It reached #9 in both countries.)

If you've never heard the song before, you're in for a--let's say--unique experience. I've decided to link to the album version ONLY, so you can get the full effect. If you HAVE heard it before, enjoy it again!

"Hocus Pocus (2)" by Focus: it may be nonsense, but it's GREAT nonsense!