Only full audience standing ovation in the 9 years of The Midnight Special.

They were asked to cut the song to 4 minutes because of the commercials. Instead they decided to play the whole song at 1,5 times the speed. It actually shows what a great musicians they are, they never really had it played this this way, yet they still pulled it off. 🤘🏽

@Kgio-2112

6 ай бұрын

They always play it faster live. Most bands do when playing live... adrenaline

@willem-janageling3907

28 күн бұрын

This is a myth

@module79l28

12 күн бұрын

@@willem-janageling3907 - Exactly, this is an edited version of the full version, which is only slightly shorter than the original.

Thijs van Leer, the keyboard player and yodler, is a very well known and accomplished flutist. So yeah, he can handle that thing.

Oh David, you are so young. Imagine being 15 years old in 1970 and the music that was emerging at that time. I saw Focus Live in 1972. Jan Akkerman had just been voted "World's Best Living Guitarist"by Melody Maker Magazine. The three guitar runs in the studio six minute version of this song are some of the cleanest, imaginative solos in extant. There was an edited shorter version for radio airplay, but there was also another version (not edited) but a shorter remake that was done faster like this live version on a B side. So this live version may not have felt as rushed for them as you might think, just more variation. I appreciate your passion for music and still to this day admit your Ghost Love Score reaction was the best of all time.

There is actually another version if this same performance that has an additional part included that was edited out by someone before they poted THIS version. It is worth finding that longer version of this performance.

@cyberpotato63

6 ай бұрын

Yes, About 30 seconds toward the end was edited out of this to make it fit into the TV schedule. They edited out the section with the stuck-yodel joke. The full length version is on the official Midnight Special channel.

They were asked to play a shorter song for Tv purposes. But they said its fine we'll just play our biggest hit faster. 😂

@pieterpopster5549

6 ай бұрын

That's a nice story but simply not true. The 6.04 minute version (with 2 missing verses) is now also online on the Midnight Special KZread channel. It doesn't show Gladys Knight but that song version is better. (and complete)

@davidsimpson5569

6 ай бұрын

@pieterpopster5549 Yep I've just seen it 😳 Still amazing and at that tempo. That version has been hidden for ages then.

The full live version is 6 minutes long and was recently posted by the MIdnight Special channel. Whoever edited this video to 4 minutes did a great job, tricking all of us for years.

@NinoMit87

5 ай бұрын

The 4min version is what was shown on tv because of time limit. The full 6min performance was part of an around 20min uncut set they played before they cut it down for commercial breaks.

The smokin guitar & drums…unreal ..🤘🤘

Love this version, also Jan Akkerman mite just be the greatest guitarist of all time, was Jeff becks fav

Thanks for the reaction. This live video is very popular on KZread, and I love it. Talented musicians able to adapt to television show requirements, and able to provide a brilliant performance. Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull vocalizes using the flute, highly recommend. Excellent group and music.

@Ashtoni001

6 ай бұрын

I saw Jethro Tull on a 45th anniversary tour of the Aqualung album. Ian Anderson is a hugely entertaining front man.

@bmepdoc9675

4 ай бұрын

@@Ashtoni001 Was at 'Bursting Out' 8/15/1976 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. One word: 'Epic'

For me, this is another example of the quality of the musicians back in the 1960's and 1970's. There was not the affordable range of effects pedals, backing tapes, quality of microphones/amplifiers etc. As you mention pitch correction, the list goes on. Nor did they have digital mixing desks to help with sound balance etc. Taking this even further, today we have wonderfully produced live BluRay discs that sound perfect. These old recordings obviously don't have the modern day audio clarity and it makes me wonder how many of todays successful rock and metal bands would sound using the equipment available from this earlier era? For me, this is why, so many budding musicians had to practice for hour after hour using analogue equipment and tape backing tracks. To get a full sound back then you had to be an excellent musician. Very different today. I agree that this is better than the studio version.

NEVER get tired of watching people react to this little known masterpiece!🥰👍

Jan Akkerman !!! 🎸🔥🤘

@mitchbuchannon6637

6 ай бұрын

The goat

If you wanna see vocal pitching whilst on the flute, may I suggest any live performance by Jethro Tull? You won’t regret it.

In 1973 Akkerman was voted Best Guitarist in the World by readers of the UK magazine

Vocalizing into the flute. Originally by jazz player Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The best Then Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull. He gave much Credit to Roland Kirk. Even played his songs. Play Serenade to a CooCoo.... Fantastic.

Very fun song. The only standing O ever for the Midnight Special!!! Jethro Tull does vocalizing during playing the flute. I have seen/heard him do it many times.

@tonycook1624

2 ай бұрын

Jethro Tull is not a person. It is Ian Anderson playing flute in the band named Jethro Tull

@Kotic1959

2 ай бұрын

@@tonycook1624 i know

Always fun to see people react to that old reprobate. ''Condensed in 4 minutes, WTF?!'', well sometimes good things come in small packages.

@module79l28

12 күн бұрын

It's not condensed, this is a 4 min cut version of the 6 min full version that they played on the show.

Should have heard it smoking a doobie in my 69 pontiac Catalina on my quad 8 track back in the day. Phenomenal

Agreed, the tempo is great, even if it feels rushed.

Hahahaha. I love you were asked to review this

If you want to hear the album version faster you just flick your turntable to 45rpm speed :P

If you want more vocals with the flute playing you should catch Ian Anderson of Jethro tull.

They sure had some pretty special substances available in the early 1970s!

It's a little known fact that the keyboard player Thijs Van Leer invented the window sill, what a ledge

I’m so disappointed this is the short version of this performance. It’s still the same pace of course, but several bit were cut from this.

Jan Akkerman is briljant.

Like i always said "Best postnatal alpes wave everrrrrr".😆😉

If you want to see someone vocalising through a flute you need to watch Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Love your reviews. I do miss the 1-10 scale. I like how you seemingly suffered to come up with a number.

I have heard that the Bass player was a stand-in. The regular Bass player couldn't make the trip. If true, good work playing the song 1.5 times faster.

@petervandervlies6427

6 ай бұрын

I think you're right. He (Bert Ruiter),was the bassist for EARTH AND FIRE, another world famous (in the Netherlands) dutch band. 😅

I also liked the faster version better.

I enjoyed it

Imagine you had to follow this performance

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Focus wasn’t allowed to play the song in normal tempo, because in a US TV-show you’re only allowed a maximum of 4 minutes, so they just speeded up the song! 🤘

@module79l28

12 күн бұрын

That's a myth, this is a cut version. The full song they played on the show was 6+ mins.

Kinda feel the next review vids should be sneezing panda and Star wars kid!

Check out 1975 version from Denmark.

TV said you got 5 min so they did double time .

@cyberpotato63

6 ай бұрын

They had 4 min and didn't make it. This version is edited.

@norair1010

6 ай бұрын

@@cyberpotato63 thanks for the info.

Akkerman and the drummer did play before in the Brainbox. Should hear Down-man of them.