Sylvia (Focus song)
| "Sylvia" | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Focus | ||||||||
| from the album Focus 3 | ||||||||
| B-side | Love Remembered | |||||||
| Released | January 1973 | |||||||
| Format | 7" single | |||||||
| Recorded | 1972 Olympic Studios |
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| Genre | Progressive rock, hard rock | |||||||
| Length | 3:32 | |||||||
| Writer(s) | Thijs van Leer | |||||||
| Producer(s) | Mike Vernon | |||||||
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"Sylvia" is a 1972 song by Dutch rock band Focus. It was released on their 1972 album Focus 3 and as a single on 27 January 1973.[1] The single became the band's biggest international hit.[2]
Contents
Background
The song was released on the album Focus 3 in July 1972. On 12 December, the band recorded a session for the BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test, including "Sylvia" segueing into "Hocus Pocus".[3]
Aside from Thijs van Leer's short section of yodeling, the song is instrumental.[4]
Reception
The Rough Guide to Rock describes Akkerman's guitar melody as "exuberant".[5] The band's Christmas 1972 appearance on the Old Grey Whistle Test, along with a number of UK gigs in late 1972,[3][6] has been crediting with exposing the band and helping the single reach number 4 in the UK Singles Chart.[7][1] The programme's presenter, Bob Harris, is quoted as saying that the band's appearance was so well-received by the audience that the pressing plant for the single was overwhelmed and only produced copies of "Sylvia" for the following week to cater for the demand.[4]
Dave Thompson, writing for AllMusic, said that aside from the studio recording, the band's best version of the song was the one included on the At the Rainbow live album.[4] He compared the relatively short length of the song to the band's longer progressive works, describing Akkerman's playing as an "exercise in economics".
In the US, the song peaked at #89.[4]
Personnel
- Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ
- Jan Akkerman – electric guitar
- Bert Ruiter – bass guitar
- Pierre van der Linden – drums
References
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