Hocus Pocus-Best of [Import, Original recording remastered]

Focus | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 19, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Red Bullet
• ASIN: B00005B361
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,761 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #2 in Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Netherlands
  • #23 in Music > Imports > Classic Rock
  • #72 in Music > Imports > Rock

Editorial Reviews

Reissue of 1994 compilation for the Dutch progressive rock act best known for their 1973 hit single 'Hocus Pocus', featured here alongside 15 other tracks (16 in all) including the U.S. single version of 'Hocus Pocus'. 2001 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dutch Treat !, June 2, 2004

By 

peterfromkanata (Kanata, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hocus Pocus-Best of (Audio CD)

Has it really been over 30 years since this terrific group of musicians from Holland scored a huge success with their "Moving Waves" album, and the highly original signature tune, "Hocus Pocus" ? Time flies--but, in the case of Focus, time has been kind--their music still sounds fresh, melodic and exciting.

The band went through some personnel changes, but the key members were Thijs Van Leer ( keyboards, flute, vocals ), and guitar whiz, Jan Akkerman. I have fond memories of seeing them live in Montreal--an awesome concert.

This CD is an excellent retrospecive of their most memorable numbers. Their music was primarily instrumental,and "progressive" in the most positive sense. The "focus" here--if you'll pardon the pun--was on musicianship--these guys could really play. I suspect Akkerman and Van Leer might have had some classical training in their youth. All their well-known numbers are included--"Harem Scarem", "Sylvia", "Janis" and two different versions of "Hocus Pocus".

The 70s was an era where bands flourished who had only the most talented musicians. Later, progressive rock groups were often labelled pretentious--usually by critics who could only appreciate three-chord boogies ! Well--this "pretentious" music gave us some of the most incredible musicians rock has ever had--Steve Howe, Tony Banks, Keith Emerson, Dave Gilmour, Phil Manzanera, Robert Fripp, Daryl Way and--yes--Jan Akkerman. When I hear some of the junk that is selling today, I don't know whether to laugh or cry !

OK--I'm off my soapbox ! Bottom line--Focus were easily one of the best 70s bands, and this CD is a worthy compilation. Recommended.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enough To Move Arctic Icebergs in the Morning!!, November 6, 2003

By 

Arctic Voice Earl (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hocus Pocus-Best of (Audio CD)

Imagine this: Barrow, Alaska, the farthest north city in the US at 71 degrees north.
About 20 degrees one windy and dark November morning and the public radio station (the only radio station) ---KBRW---emits the full-length version of "Hocus Pocus" from this album during the annual membership drive.The CD had just arrived by mail, not by dog sled anymore, but rather a daily 737 jet plane. (no road connections)
Almost instantly, classic and progressive rock fans from the 60s and 70s, respond, stretch, wake up a bit and call the dj (my job) and say "Hey, is that 'Focus'?"
"Yes indeed," I respond, and they wake up more, start their feet moving and hands clapping and put on the coffee, grab some pilot bread, maybe a bit of last night's caribou soup, and charge into a new day.
Thats what a classy and classic album like this can do--even in the Arctic. Imagine what vibrations it could emit in communities to the south.
In additon to the long and short version of the title song,there are instrumental songs of varying length and intensity --the keyboards really smoke and the guitar work is almost as powerful as an adult polar bear.
Get this album and cue it up for early morning fun! (and various tempos of instrumentals to get you through the day with a smile.)

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars At their best, Focus was a solid prog-rock band, November 9, 2002

By 

woburnmusicfan (Woburn, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hocus Pocus-Best of (Audio CD)

Focus was a Dutch progressive-rock band of the '70s, centered around Jan Akkerman's guitar and Thijs van Leer's flute and keyboards. This best-of album won't make you forget Yes or Genesis, but provides a good summary of a band that is largely forgotten today. There are few vocals and no lyrics. The earliest tracks are reminiscent of early Jethro Tull, with Akkerman playing a blues-rock style and van Leer's breathy flute playing a near-exact duplicate of Ian Anderson's. "House of the King" sounds like a long-lost Tull track, while "Anonymus" provides a jam session. The best and most original tracks are the cuts from the "Moving Waves" album ("Hocus Pocus", "Janis", "Focus II", and "Tommy", which is a guitar-solo excerpt from the long piece "Eruption") and "Sylvia", a catchy single from the following "Focus 3" album. "Hocus Pocus" is probably the best novelty single prog-rock ever produced, with a blazing metallic guitar chorus combined with yodeled verses, a Popeye-on-uppers scat-singing break, and flute solo. It's the only Focus song that every got significant radio play in the US ("Sylvia" went to No. 4 in the UK). "Janis" is a lovely ballad with van Leer playing three flute parts. The later pieces on this album are enjoyable, but I probably wouldn't buy an LP on which they were the best cuts. Akkerman has a metal style on "Anonymus" and "Hocus Pocus"; on later cuts, his sound reminds me of Camel's Andy Latimer. In fact, tracks like "Bennie Helder" and "Red Sky at Night" would fit right in on a Camel album.

(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal)