Sylvia (Focus song) on the "Old Grey Whistle Test", along with a number of UK gigs in late 1972, has been crediting with exposing the band and helping the single reach number 4 in the UK Singles Chart. 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. Dave Thompson, writing for AllMusic, said that aside from the studio recording, the band's best version of the song was the
Do the Strand centre, the quintessence, the energy." "Do the Strand" was released as a single in 1973 in some countries but not in the UK. That same year, however, the band performed the song on the UK television music show "The Old Grey Whistle Test". It was released as a single in the UK in 1978 to promote Roxy Music's "Greatest Hits" album, but it failed to chart. Despite this, the song remains one of the most popular amongst the band's fans, especially at live concerts. The German synthpop band, Alphaville, recorded a cover version of "Do the Strand" for their 2003