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. It was 12th December 1972, The atmosphere was great, very light-hearted and enjoyable as the band rehearsed its set. They decided to play 'Sylvia', 'Anonymous II' and 'Hocus Pocus', with a seasonal slant. Instead of following the usual pattern of the vocal breaks, This 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 Jan’s million miles an hour guitar playing. The performance was an absolute sensation. People had never seen anything quite like them before.

Episode 1560 min1972-12-19

Series 2, Episode 15

No episode overview available.

Episode 1660 min1972-12-26

Boxing Day Compilation

Alice Cooper: Under My Wheels Dion / Runaround Sue David Bowie: Queen Bitch Ten Wheel Drive: The Night I Got Out of Jail The Beach Boys: You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone Steve Miller Band: Living in the USA Vinegar Joe: Rusty Red Armour Carole King and Merry Clayton: Oh No Not My Baby Curtis Mayfield: Keep On Keeping On Mick Jagger: Interview The Rolling Stones: Tumbling Dice Poco: Just For Me and You The Beatles: Some Other Guy Roxy Music: Ladytron Stevie Wonder: Interview Janis Ian: He’s A Rainbow Jerry Lee Lewis: Think About It Darlin’ Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge: Help Me Make it Through the Night

Episode 1760 min1973-01-02

Genesis

Hammersmith, England, Old Grey Whistle Test, "Willow Farm"

Episode 1860 min1973-01-09

J Geils Band / Joan Armatrading / David Geffen / Captain Beefheart / Barclay James Harvest / Exuma

J. Geils Band: Looking for a Love / Floyds Hotel Joan Armatrading: Child Star / Give it a Try David Geffen interview Captain Beefheart : Some Yo Yo Stuff (filmfinders) Barclay James Harvest: Thank You (Marquee film) Exuma: Baby Let Me In (filmfinders)

Episode 1960 min1973-03-16

Series 2, Episode 19

No episode overview available.

Episode 2060 min1973-01-23

Roberta Flack / Mike Absalom / The Rolling Stones / Frank Zappa

Roberta Flack: Sonny and Sister Joy / I Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer Mike Absalom: Hector the Dope Sniffing Hound / Saga of WPC Sadie Stick The Rolling Stones: Happy, All Down The Line (concert clips) Frank Zappa: Cleetus Awreetus Awrightus (filmfinders clip)

Episode 2160 min1973-01-30

The Who / Claire Hammill / Shawn Phillips / Status Quo

The Who: The Relay / Long Live Rock Claire Hammill: The Artist / Please Stay Tonight Shawn Phillips Status Quo: Don’t Waste My Time (Marquee film)

Episode 2260 min1973-02-06

Sharks

No episode overview available.

Episode 2360 min1973-02-13

Rory Gallagher / Duncan Browne / Bette Midler / Loggins & Messina

Rory Gallagher: Hands Off / Walk on Hot Coals Duncan Browne: Ragged Rain Life / My Old Friends Bette Midler interview Loggins & Messina: Your Mama Don't Dance (promo)

Episode 2460 min1973-02-20

Strawbs / Judee Sill

No episode overview available.

Episode 2560 min1973-02-27

Tony McPhee / Tassavallan / Donovan / Mickie Most / Country Joe MacDonald

Tony S McPhee: Write Me a Few Short Lines / Me and the Devil Tassavallan: Presidenti Lounge Donovan: Cosmic Wheels (film) / interview Mickie Most interview Country Joe MacDonald

Episode 2660 min1973-03-06

Argent / Shawn Phillips / Sha Na Na / Roy Buchanan

Argent: God Gave Rock ’n’ Roll to You / It’s Only Money Shawn Phillips: I Took A Walk / Lady Of The Blue Rose Sha Na Na: Rock N Roll is Here To Stay (Crystal Palace, London clip) Roy Buchanan: Them Changes / After Hours (Madison Square Garden, New York, 1972 clip)

Episode 2760 min1973-03-13

Roger Daltrey / John Martyn / John Lennon & Yoko Ono / Edgar Winter Band

Roger Daltrey: Giving It All Away / One Man Band John Martyn: May You Never / I’d Rather Be The Devil John Lennon & Yoko Ono: Move On Fast (from ‘One to One’ concert) Edgar Winter Band: Heavy (concert clip)

Episode 2860 min1973-03-20

Humble Pie / Ry Cooder / Led Zeppelin / Deliverance

Humble Pie: Black Coffee / Twist and Shout Ry Cooder: Goin’ To Brownsville / Vigilante Man / interview Led Zeppelin: No Quarter (filmfinders) Deliverance : Dueling Banjos (film clip)

Episode 2960 min1973-03-27

Episode 29

No episode overview available.

Episode 3060 min1973-04-03

Roxy Music

No episode overview available.

Episode 3160 min1973-04-10

Episode 31

No episode overview available.

Episode 3260 min1973-04-17

Episode 32

No episode overview available.

Episode 3360 min1973-04-24

Birtha / John David Southern

Birtha: I Can't Stop The Madness John David Southern: How Long / Doolin’ Dalton vintage Motown clips of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

Episode 3460 min1973-05-01

The Wailers

No episode overview available.

Episode 3560 min1973-05-01

Yes: Live in Concert

Yes, live in Concert at the Rainbow Theatre, Dec 1972. And You and I / Clap / Roundabout / Yours is no Disgrace / Wurm

Episode 3660 min1973-05-08

Alaquin

No episode overview available.

Episode 3760 min1973-05-08

American Blues Legends Live in Concert

Homesick James: Louisiana Blues Snooky Pryor: Do the Boogie Woogie Boogie Woogie Red: Hello Little Girl Washboard Willie - Love You Baby 24 Hours a Day Whispering Smith - Never Leave me Baby Lightnin’ Slim - Too Much Monkey Business

Episode 3860 min1973-05-15

Roy Bucchanan

No episode overview available.

Episode 3960 min1973-05-15

Leon Russell / BB King

No episode overview available.

Episode 4060 min1973-05-22

Nazareth / Harvey Andrews / Camel / The Eagles / Del Shannon

Nazareth: Bad Boy / Vigilante Man Harvey Andrews: Friend Of Mine / For My Father Camel: Never Let Go (promo) The Eagles: Outlaw Man (filmfinders) Del Shannon interview

Episode 4160 min1973-05-29

Cream

No episode overview available.

Episode 4260 min1973-06-05

Episode 42

No episode overview available.

Episode 4360 min1973-06-05

Focus: Live in Concert

No episode overview available.

Episode 4460 min1973-06-12

John Entwistle - Kevin Ayers - Slick & Kanter - Seals & Crofts

John Entwistle - Peg Leg Peggy / My Wife Kevin Ayers: Shouting in a Bucket Blues / Oh Wot A Dream Slick & Kanter interview Seals & Crofts: Dust On My Saddle (film)

Episode 4560 min1973-06-19

Terry Reid - Del Shannon - Strider - Mike Oldfield - Pete Sinfield

Terry Reid: Without Expression / Live Life Del Shannon - Louise Kelly Strider: Higher & Higher (promo) Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells (promo) Pete Sinfield: Still (promo)

Episode 4660 min1973-07-10

Episode 46

No episode overview available.

Episode 4760 min1973-07-17

Edgar Winter Group / Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee / Alan Hull

Edgar Winter Group: Frankenstein / Rock N Roll Boogie Woogie Blues / Hanging Around Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee: Walking My Blues Away / Sonny's Thing / Walk On Alan Hull: Numbers (film)

Episode 4860 min1973-07-24

Johnny Rivers / Drifters / Pete Sinfield

No episode overview available.

Episode 4960 min1973-07-31

Freddie King / Dr John / Doobie Brothers / Blue

Freddie King: Boogie Funk Woman / Across The River Dr. John: Such A Night Doobie Brothers: Long Train Running (promo) Blue: Red Light Song (promo)

Season Cast

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Cast

Bob Harris

Cast

Annie Nightingale

Cast

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