Focus will always have a special place in my heart as they were my introduction to prog. This is a real patchwork quilt of a piece, but I love it unconditionally despite some of the sudden transitions between sections. I've always liked that flute outro as well. With the way the drums come in at the very end I always get a filmic image of the camera panning up on a night sky as it's being lit up by fireworks. Of course, if you want Focus' TRUE masterpiece epic, then you need to give Hamburger Concerto a whirl!
Fun fact: the violin-like parts were played on guitar, muting the attack part of the tone. They didn’t have a volume pedal for guitars in those days, so Jan did it with his little finger, moving the volume knob on the guitar while playing.
What is especially impressive that they could perform this song live in an immaculate manner. True musicianship!. Also I practically never read a review of Focus music without a positive mention of drummer Pierre van der Linden, who, by the way, still regularly is on stage with Thijs and Focus. His drumming is so distinctive and his style so personal..
Thank you so much Jim. What a classic. Made my day. Can't believe that I first listened to the album when I purchased it in 1971 and still listen to it 53 years later. And by the way, "Tew" rhymes with "pew". ❤
I remember one of the first hits Jan Akkerman played on, Russian Spy and I, by the Hunters, playing a balalaika kind of riff on the electrical guitar. Also his work in the band Brainbox (with Kaz Lux) is amazing (Dark Rose, Sea of Delight, Summertime), years later I bought an album he recorded with Kaz Lux, Eli (1976). I am still not sure if Eruption is about a volcano or a romantic encounter.
I don't know the whole Focus catalogue, but this sounds typical Focus ... and in the middle of the song I recognize it 😆 I've got to check my CDs but I'm sure I've got this somewhere ... great piece of music 🤘
Hi Jim, Marcus from down the road in a not-so-sunny Leighton Buzzard again. A great track from an equally great album. You should check out the remaining tracks too at some point. All the best to you.
Bought the Album when it first came still have it saw Focus at the Rainbow live recording album in fact you can hear me whistling as for Tommy track sublime by Akkerman
Seen them twice live this year(24) and still great although a little too much soloing if I'm honest(by soloing I mean everyone else leaving the stage), but the music is so good I can put up with that, and TVL is still a wonderful musician and on stage presence. As someone else said, Hamburger Concerto is their finest work and for me, by some distance
Always a mystery as to why Focus didn't continue their original success to the same degree. Later albums are almost as good as this one. Was it a) Nothing later as striking as Hocus Pocus? b) Akkerman left too early c) They were Dutch rather than British or American d) Something else? e) All of the above
Thijs and Jan didn't get on well, and Pierre had issues with the group also and left, came back, and left again. The group were not on good terms by mid-1973, lots of tension.
@@simonal1989very true, but at least all members still agree on the musical value of the Focus material and still play the epic songs live on stage to this vey day.
This is great, but I do prefer the Hamburger Concerto, which while having all of the show off spots for Van Leer and Ackerman, is more structured and has a better climax (and no drum solos 🙄)
Focus will always have a special place in my heart as they were my introduction to prog. This is a real patchwork quilt of a piece, but I love it unconditionally despite some of the sudden transitions between sections. I've always liked that flute outro as well. With the way the drums come in at the very end I always get a filmic image of the camera panning up on a night sky as it's being lit up by fireworks. Of course, if you want Focus' TRUE masterpiece epic, then you need to give Hamburger Concerto a whirl!
Fun fact: the violin-like parts were played on guitar, muting the attack part of the tone. They didn’t have a volume pedal for guitars in those days, so Jan did it with his little finger, moving the volume knob on the guitar while playing.
My other fave Dutch 70s Proggers, are *Solution* (Solution 1971) (Divergence 1972) (Cordon Bleu 1975) (Fully Interlocking 1977) 🃏
Steve Hackett did a cover of the "Tommy" section on his album Beyond the Shrouded Horizon
What is especially impressive that they could perform this song live in an immaculate manner. True musicianship!. Also I practically never read a review of Focus music without a positive mention of drummer Pierre van der Linden, who, by the way, still regularly is on stage with Thijs and Focus. His drumming is so distinctive and his style so personal..
Thank you so much Jim. What a classic. Made my day. Can't believe that I first listened to the album when I purchased it in 1971 and still listen to it 53 years later. And by the way, "Tew" rhymes with "pew". ❤
Focus are a classic band,moving waves,great album and eruption,brilliant piece of music .
Thank you for our dutch pride. I saw them in the summer in Roermond and now Jan Akkerman is on tour.
I remember one of the first hits Jan Akkerman played on, Russian Spy and I, by the Hunters, playing a balalaika kind of riff on the electrical guitar. Also his work in the band Brainbox (with Kaz Lux) is amazing (Dark Rose, Sea of Delight, Summertime), years later I bought an album he recorded with Kaz Lux, Eli (1976). I am still not sure if Eruption is about a volcano or a romantic encounter.
12:37 Bass groove part reminds me of Higher Ground.
I don't know the whole Focus catalogue, but this sounds typical Focus ... and in the middle of the song I recognize it 😆 I've got to check my CDs but I'm sure I've got this somewhere ... great piece of music 🤘
Hi Jim, Marcus from down the road in a not-so-sunny Leighton Buzzard again. A great track from an equally great album. You should check out the remaining tracks too at some point. All the best to you.
About time you got round to this, fantastic track!
Akkerman and van Leer for joint presidents! Good stuff. Cheers Jim.
Dive deeper into Dutch prog with for example Ekseption. Their 1973 release Trinity was my intro to prog in general, blending rock and classical music.
Lol. Haven't heard this in ages!! Thanks Jim
Great choice! Great song!
Bought the Album when it first came still have it saw Focus at the Rainbow live recording album in fact you can hear me whistling as for Tommy track sublime by Akkerman
The first LP I ever bought.
Seen them twice live this year(24) and still great although a little too much soloing if I'm honest(by soloing I mean everyone else leaving the stage), but the music is so good I can put up with that, and TVL is still a wonderful musician and on stage presence. As someone else said, Hamburger Concerto is their finest work and for me, by some distance
Always a mystery as to why Focus didn't continue their original success to the same degree. Later albums are almost as good as this one. Was it a) Nothing later as striking as Hocus Pocus? b) Akkerman left too early c) They were Dutch rather than British or American d) Something else? e) All of the above
Thijs and Jan didn't get on well, and Pierre had issues with the group also and left, came back, and left again. The group were not on good terms by mid-1973, lots of tension.
@@simonal1989very true, but at least all members still agree on the musical value of the Focus material and still play the epic songs live on stage to this vey day.
ELP vibes this track.
Next, try the title track from Hamburger Concerto!!!!!
You won’t be disappointed!!!!!
Still making new music
This is great, but I do prefer the Hamburger Concerto, which while having all of the show off spots for Van Leer and Ackerman, is more structured and has a better climax (and no drum solos 🙄)