Hocus Pcous by Focus from 1973.  Who covered in either the 80s or 90s?

Helloween did a cover of the song as did a band called Witness, who had mild successs in the 80's
they're the only two cover versions I know of.

Edit to add:

I almost forgot Iron Maiden's version of the song,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28CQvDkIYXM&feature=related

Gary Hoey is the one you are thinking of.

i love that song. i checked out the iron maiden and gary hoey covers and like them both but the iron maiden version is a little better imo for keeping the humor of the original.

badfinger mike needs to post on this thread. i share his love of early 70s mophead rock. you can't beat the original of this tune, as far as i'm concerned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-yZDpMw3PU

never mind, this one's better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj-ZZcUS-cs

i love how the guitar player cracks up at the yodeling the first time it happens.

never mind, this one's better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj-ZZcUS-cs

i love how the guitar player cracks up at the yodeling the first time it happens.


That was stangely enjoyable......

i love that song. i checked out the iron maiden and gary hoey covers and like them both but the iron maiden version is a little better imo for keeping the humor of the original.

badfinger mike needs to post on this thread. i share his love of early 70s mophead rock. you can't beat the original of this tune, as far as i'm concerned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-yZDpMw3PU
thanks for the invite Tia but Henk is the guy that should post here as Focus are his fellow countrymen. A coincidence that yesterday I grabbed an old cassette to listen to in my car on the way to work "Classic Songs From The 70's" & I'd forgot that Hocus Pocus is on that tape & I listened to it at least 3 times, along with Sweet "Ballroom Blitz" another kickass tune that has a bit of humor in the intro. Hocus Pocus is quite unique. If anyone can find lyrics please post them. I don't think there are any. The looney sounding cartoon/gibberish vocals are unlike anything in any song. what the f*ck were these guys smoking? I know the yodeling is what it is, but I really love that rapid fire gibberish. I tried to imitate it yesterday as I listened and it's possible, people, you should all try it, it's actually quite fun  ;D  and then I thought, Tia could do this! I've seen and heard his music & I think he could do the gibberish part. so there ya go Tia, my challenge to you is to record this song with yodeling, the ultra high falsetto, and the frantic gibberish. I've never heard a cover of it, but will check em out, but I can't see it being done any better than Focus.

and another thing. if you watch or listen to shortened versions, you'll miss out on the flute and whistling solos which totally rock so here's another video of them performing this song with flute & whistling  8)            http://www.heavy.com/video/27633

thanks for the invite Tia but Henk is the guy that should post here as Focus are his fellow countrymen. A coincidence that yesterday I grabbed an old cassette to listen to in my car on the way to work "Classic Songs From The 70's" & I'd forgot that Hocus Pocus is on that tape & I listened to it at least 3 times, along with Sweet "Ballroom Blitz" another kickass tune that has a bit of humor in the intro. Hocus Pocus is quite unique. If anyone can find lyrics please post them. I don't think there are any. The looney sounding cartoon/gibberish vocals are unlike anything in any song. what the f*ck were these guys smoking? I know the yodeling is what it is, but I really love that rapid fire gibberish. I tried to imitate it yesterday as I listened and it's possible, people, you should all try it, it's actually quite fun  ;D  and then I thought, Tia could do this! I've seen and heard his music & I think he could do the gibberish part. so there ya go Tia, my challenge to you is to record this song with yodeling, the ultra high falsetto, and the frantic gibberish. I've never heard a cover of it, but will check em out, but I can't see it being done any better than Focus.

and another thing. if you watch or listen to shortened versions, you'll miss out on the flute and whistling solos which totally rock so here's another video of them performing this song with flute & whistling   8)             http://www.heavy.com/video/27633


Now THAT was fun for the whole family!!!

Now THAT was fun for the whole family!!!
so much fun I had to watch it again. the lead singer is wild & zany, perhaps on drugs  ??? . the performance got a standing ovation  http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/06/luxhello.gif http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/06/luxhello.gif http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/06/luxhello.gif

thanks for the invite Tia but Henk is the guy that should post here as Focus are his fellow countrymen. A coincidence that yesterday I grabbed an old cassette to listen to in my car on the way to work "Classic Songs From The 70's" & I'd forgot that Hocus Pocus is on that tape & I listened to it at least 3 times, along with Sweet "Ballroom Blitz" another kickass tune that has a bit of humor in the intro. Hocus Pocus is quite unique. If anyone can find lyrics please post them. I don't think there are any. The looney sounding cartoon/gibberish vocals are unlike anything in any song. what the f*ck were these guys smoking? I know the yodeling is what it is, but I really love that rapid fire gibberish. I tried to imitate it yesterday as I listened and it's possible, people, you should all try it, it's actually quite fun  ;D  and then I thought, Tia could do this! I've seen and heard his music & I think he could do the gibberish part. so there ya go Tia, my challenge to you is to record this song with yodeling, the ultra high falsetto, and the frantic gibberish. I've never heard a cover of it, but will check em out, but I can't see it being done any better than Focus.

and another thing. if you watch or listen to shortened versions, you'll miss out on the flute and whistling solos which totally rock so here's another video of them performing this song with flute & whistling   8)             http://www.heavy.com/video/27633


Surprise, surprise...there are no actual lyrics to the "song".

I know neither of the band members were/are proper vocalists - that's probably why they decided to keep it instrumental. The yodeling part and other gibberish were initially just ad-libs, as far as I know. I believe Thijs van Leer (the "lead singer") made them up while recording, and the band decided to keep them in just for the heck of it.
Thijs van Leer is better known for his flute recordings over here (he's made several "Introspection" albums), and lead guitarist Jan Akkerman is, well... a well respected guitarist. He once was voted World's Best Guitarist by Melody Maker (UK magazine).

Wow! Possibly the one and only time in the history of mankind that Gladys Knight and Focus were in the same studio!

Shame she didn't join in and have a crack at the 'vocals' either!

Focus were virtually the resident band on the BBC's 'Old Grey Whistle Test' years ago (which was kind of like the antidote to 'Top Of The Pops' as it showcased prog and rock acts)...so much so, that 'Hocus Pocus' and 'Sylvia' charted simultaneously due to the exposure they got!

Surprise, surprise...there are no actual lyrics to the "song".

I know neither of the band members were/are proper vocalists - that's probably why they decided to keep it instrumental. The yodeling part and other gibberish were initially just ad-libs, as far as I know. I believe Thijs van Leer (the "lead singer") made them up while recording, and the band decided to keep them in just for the heck of it.
Thijs van Leer is better known for his flute recordings over here (he's made several "Introspection" albums), and lead guitarist Jan Akkerman is, well... a well respected guitarist. He once was voted World's Best Guitarist by Melody Maker (UK magazine).
the flute playing was very much akin to Ian Anderson of Jetho Tull and the lead guitarist was very good and from watching him play in the videos, i can see how he would be a good choice for best. world's best  ???  ahh why not. bottom line is the boy can play.  8)



Wow! Possibly the one and only time in the history of mankind that Gladys Knight and Focus were in the same studio!

Shame she didn't join in and have a crack at the 'vocals' either!

Focus were virtually the resident band on the BBC's 'Old Grey Whistle Test' years ago (which was kind of like the antidote to 'Top Of The Pops' as it showcased prog and rock acts)...so much so, that 'Hocus Pocus' and 'Sylvia' charted simultaneously due to the exposure they got!
was Gladys solo or was she accompanied by the Pips

I'm going to search Youtube one of these nights for BBC's 'Old Grey Whistle Test and se what else is available for viewing.

Great song and great clip , albeit a shorter version than on the LP.
The flute solo was left out. Focus were a badass band back in the day, and to think that Hocus Pocus made it to AM radio. Wow!

Great song and great clip , albeit a shorter version than on the LP.
The flute solo was left out. Focus were a badass band back in the day, and to think that Hocus Pocus made it to AM radio. Wow!



Heres the full version in 192brt!!!
http://www.zshare.net/audio/139224028c3f3ec0/

Great Track!!!!! :) :)