Saw him live in 1972 and he immediately became my second favorite guitarist behind Blackmore...and it has held to this day. Most everyone else is tied for third. RIP Gary Moore.... The three solos on the studio long version of Hocus Pocus are simply sublime. thanks Phil
Thanks for doing this video. It’s a brilliant box which I’m proud to own. I think there is one other album which ought to have been included, the incomparable limited edition album ‘Live at the Priory’, a solo acoustic tour de force. I know Passion covers much of the same material but Priory has an extra something from that special evening in Birkenhead Priory in Jan’s Akkernet days. For anyone who doesn’t know it, you may be able to find a digital download entitled ‘unplugged’. However the actual CD is very hard to find.
Great box with reissues of many difficult to find or expensive first editions. Maybe two or three albums not for my taste. All the others filled with good to great music. An unique guitar player with classical training, blues roots, jazz, rock, progressive elements. Very sensitive playing. Medium speed jam guitar in various places. Tecnique with good taste. Slowburn music in general with some fast paced pieces. One of the greatest boxes out there for open minded ears. This is music education also. However don't expect Focus continuation/styled albums. Mostly great instrumental music. Saludos desde México.
Hi Ricardo, thank you for watching. Jan Akkerman is an artist that does not do what you might expect him to. There is much to enjoy and discover here. Some albums which I thought I would not like have grown on me and there were so many I was not even aware of. Phil
@@NowSpinningMagazine the Netherlands have very good groups. Mainstream and underground. Legends. The Golden years of dutch pop music series show many of those treasures: Supersister, Bintangs, Livin Blues, Golden Earring(s), Kayak, Cuby Blizzards, etcétera. And of course Brainbox with Akkerman. Another group with similar aproach to Focus was Finch, sadly I only have one of theirs. Great musicians. More videos please!
Hi Sonia, thank you for watching and taking the time to comment! - You will so love this box set. There is so much to discover and explore. The albums are so varied but at the same time you know it is Jan Akkerman. Phil :)
I stopped buying his albums after "3" and when I realised my error decades later it was indeed difficult (sometimes impossible) to catch up. I more or less managed to fill the gaps by "unofficial" means, so when this box set emerged I was delighted to get proper copies. Of course it isn't really the Complete Jan Akkerman. There are other live releases not included (At the Priory, Hague, Alexanders, CU2, North Sea Jazz, Fromage a Trois, Jazzah are some), some available on CD and/or MP3 downloads. I think there's one I couldn't get. I actually mentioned these recordings when Wouter Bessels messaged me a few days ago. (He was enquiring about a cassette I possess of a May 73 Focus concert in Preston, albeit not great sound quality.) Complete or otherwise, it's a great set.
Hi Steve, thank you for watching and your very informative comment. I noticed on Spotify some live albums, not in the set but as you say this is a great set. Please keep me in the loop if any of these become available. Thanks Phil
Hi Al, it is well worth it. It may appear expensive but trying to buy all these albums individually would be a huge expense. I have discovered so much here and now realise what a superb guitarist and artists he is. Phil
Jan is amazing but I am not such a dedicated fan like you. Still, I have his second studio album which I like a lot. Also, you probably are aware of this: how do you find the way Focus introduced their members on the album Focus At The Rainbow. It was astounding that Thijs van Leer (please correct me if I am wrong) sang it all out and it is mind blowing!
Hi George, I took a leap of faith with this box set and like you I only had a couple of solo albums by Jan Akkerman. I knew all the Focus albums but this was a voyage of discovery. Every style of music you can imagine is represented in this box set. He reminds me of Ronnie Montrose and Tommy Bolin in places. Two other guitarists that did not like to repeat themselves. Phil:)
can someone list out the tracks which are on the bonus cds 'akkerarchive' and 'Focus'? Historically i bought some cd direct from the JA site...which are not not included in the box set.; i have a JA live in 2007 . Thanks for the feedback.
Saw him live in 1972 and he immediately became my second favorite guitarist behind Blackmore...and it has held to this day. Most everyone else is tied for third. RIP Gary Moore.... The three solos on the studio long version of Hocus Pocus are simply sublime. thanks Phil
Thanks for doing this video. It’s a brilliant box which I’m proud to own. I think there is one other album which ought to have been included, the incomparable limited edition album ‘Live at the Priory’, a solo acoustic tour de force. I know Passion covers much of the same material but Priory has an extra something from that special evening in Birkenhead Priory in Jan’s Akkernet days. For anyone who doesn’t know it, you may be able to find a digital download entitled ‘unplugged’. However the actual CD is very hard to find.
Got that box. A brilliant box it is. Great review. Best Bjorn
Great box with reissues of many difficult to find or expensive first editions. Maybe two or three albums not for my taste. All the others filled with good to great music. An unique guitar player with classical training, blues roots, jazz, rock, progressive elements. Very sensitive playing. Medium speed jam guitar in various places. Tecnique with good taste. Slowburn music in general with some fast paced pieces. One of the greatest boxes out there for open minded ears. This is music education also. However don't expect Focus continuation/styled albums. Mostly great instrumental music. Saludos desde México.
Hi Ricardo, thank you for watching. Jan Akkerman is an artist that does not do what you might expect him to. There is much to enjoy and discover here. Some albums which I thought I would not like have grown on me and there were so many I was not even aware of. Phil
@@NowSpinningMagazine the Netherlands have very good groups. Mainstream and underground. Legends. The Golden years of dutch pop music series show many of those treasures: Supersister, Bintangs, Livin Blues, Golden Earring(s), Kayak, Cuby Blizzards, etcétera. And of course Brainbox with Akkerman. Another group with similar aproach to Focus was Finch, sadly I only have one of theirs. Great musicians. More videos please!
Thank you very much!!! I'm waiting for mine box!!!
Hi Sonia, thank you for watching and taking the time to comment! - You will so love this box set. There is so much to discover and explore. The albums are so varied but at the same time you know it is Jan Akkerman. Phil :)
I stopped buying his albums after "3" and when I realised my error decades later it was indeed difficult (sometimes impossible) to catch up. I more or less managed to fill the gaps by "unofficial" means, so when this box set emerged I was delighted to get proper copies.
Of course it isn't really the Complete Jan Akkerman. There are other live releases not included (At the Priory, Hague, Alexanders, CU2, North Sea Jazz, Fromage a Trois, Jazzah are some), some available on CD and/or MP3 downloads. I think there's one I couldn't get.
I actually mentioned these recordings when Wouter Bessels messaged me a few days ago. (He was enquiring about a cassette I possess of a May 73 Focus concert in Preston, albeit not great sound quality.)
Complete or otherwise, it's a great set.
Hi Steve, thank you for watching and your very informative comment. I noticed on Spotify some live albums, not in the set but as you say this is a great set. Please keep me in the loop if any of these become available. Thanks Phil
Excellent review. I need to get this.
I have "Talent for Sale" and I play it a lot.
Hi Al, it is well worth it. It may appear expensive but trying to buy all these albums individually would be a huge expense. I have discovered so much here and now realise what a superb guitarist and artists he is. Phil
Jan is amazing but I am not such a dedicated fan like you. Still, I have his second studio album which I like a lot. Also, you probably are aware of this: how do you find the way Focus introduced their members on the album Focus At The Rainbow. It was astounding that Thijs van Leer (please correct me if I am wrong) sang it all out and it is mind blowing!
Hi George, I took a leap of faith with this box set and like you I only had a couple of solo albums by Jan Akkerman. I knew all the Focus albums but this was a voyage of discovery. Every style of music you can imagine is represented in this box set. He reminds me of Ronnie Montrose and Tommy Bolin in places. Two other guitarists that did not like to repeat themselves. Phil:)
can someone list out the tracks which are on the bonus cds 'akkerarchive' and 'Focus'? Historically i bought some cd direct from the JA site...which are not not included in the box set.; i have a JA live in 2007 . Thanks for the feedback.
I will update this comment tomorrow with the details- thank you Phil
hi, i managed to read the content of the 2 additional cd by freezing the relevant screens in your video. thanks