Also think Moving Waves is about as good as it gets. Maybe I missed hearing the review calling attention to Van der Linden's drumming. Guessing you also think the way the toms punch and resonate throughout is gorgeous. Imo very few drum solos in rock are as well put together as the one on Eruption starting at about the 4:30 mark. The build and release on this is exceptional. Same goes for the footwork that introduces the conclusion. His rolls are geometrically near perfect and really stick in the head...dang near hummable (ok...maybe that's not a word). Anyway, GREAT drummer! If you haven't already, check out the first Trace album to hear more fantastic stuff from Pierre Van der Linden. Also got to give it to Orion, Sneezing Bull and Night Flight from Con Proby, they are classics that Steve Smith and Philip Catherine played in other bands for good reason. Too bad the rest of the tunes on the album aren't in the same zip code.
My Fav band of all time. The 5’ 50” Jan Akkerman Guitar Solo (Focus 3) on the track ‘’Anonymous 2’ after the bass solo, is the greatest guitar solo of all time! I was into this when I was 14
1) In and Out Of Focus (cool rockin debut with some good vocals interesting accent) 2) Moving Waves (the album with Hocus Pocus... need I say more) 3) Focus 3 4) Hamburger Concerto 5) Live At The Rainbow (amazing band live) 6) Mother Focus I didnt own the rest of their catalog so I dont know where to rank them.
They came over to Malta two years ago... audience of thirty, it was a sort of Festival with a death metal band playing simultaneously across the field uuugh! Focus were great! Saw Akkerman at North Sea Jazz long time ago. Keep it up Pete.
Fantastic band, first 4 albums are classic 1. Hamburger Concerto 2. 3 3. Focus II 4. In And Out Of Focus 5. 11 6. X 7. 8 8. Focus Con Proby 9. Focus 9 / New Skin 10. Mother Focus
Regarding PJ Proby I know more about him than I know about Focus. The only music I have heard from Focus is the single Hocus Pocus. PJ Proby goes back to the very early 1960s and had a few very big hits in 1964-5 and rubbed shoulders with the Beatles during Beatlemania. In his first comeback in 1968 his backing band on the album was none other than Led Zeppelin a few months before they recorded their debut album. ps, Back to Focus, I would like to hear some more of their music and will check out the top three albums you mentioned.
Just discovered your reviews at the weekend. Love, Love, love them. You are a kindred spirit. Your Focus top three are on the nose in my humble opinion. Now off to catch up on your back catalogue of reviews
Hamburger Concerto has to be the bands best album doesn`t it?Folks,listen to Ackerman`s last album---another double----"Close Beauty".Came out in 2019.
1. Mother Focus 2. Moving Waves 3. Focus 3 4. Hamburger Concerto. 5. Ship of Memories. I was fortunate to see Focus when they toured Australia in 1975. Jan Ackerman left the group not long after.
Have some of van Leer's solo releases too, his classical inspired Introspection albums are quite good. Focus 2/Moving Waves Hamburger Concerto Ship of Memories Mother Focus In and Out of Focus Focus 3
I love this already. I loved FOCUS back in the day .I had Akkerman Profile and Tabernacle albums too. First concert I ever went to was Focus opening for Joe Cocker, I was in 10 th grade. We were all there for Focus. I fell of after the 70s
Love your reaction. Since you are here talking about a Dutch band. Can you also talk about another great great band (Ayreon). From teh composer Arjen Lucassen. Sure you have some CD's, if not, well they have some artwork and the music is fantastic.
Checked my stash...only owned Moving Waves & Live At The Rainbow. Took Pete's advice about his Top-3; found a 13-disc Complete Set at Amazon for $40. Sold!
Van Leer played with a prominent Spanish rocker called Miguel Ríos in the 80s, most remarkably on a double live record called Rock & Ríos in '82 which has a legendary status here in Spain. I recommend a pretty epic performance of a song called "Al-Andalus", he shreds on his flute on that one.
Focus 3 is one of my favourite prog rock albums of all time. Moving Waves aka Focus 2 is also amazing. Their first four albums are simply fantastic, but I don't think there's a real dud in their whole discography to be honest.
PJ Proby was famous in the UK from the 60s. He had this gimmick of "accidentally" splitting his trousers onstage. He later became something of a figure of fun when he appeared anonymously on the UK TV talent show "Opportunity Knocks" in the mid 70s in disguise as "The Masked Singer" or something similar, in an attempt to restart his fading career. And yes his surname was pronounced with a hard O (rhymed with Moby). Cannot imagine for the life of me how he came to be involved with Focus.
If you like the Focus albums with Akkerman, I recommend getting Jan Akkerman- 10,000 Clowns On A Rainy Day. A live album with many of the best Focus songs. What's great about is the much more dynamic sound than the early studio albums.
My favourite of theirs is Motherfocus. No long solos, just very pleasant tunes and well performed shortish pieces. A slight disco flavour, but unusually tuneful and nicely restrained.
I shared a bottle of sake and some sushi with Thijs on board Cruise to the Edge 2018. He is one of the most personable and approachable rock stars on the planet!
20th August, 1972. My sixteenth birthday and my first ever live gig - Focus. They had a break through performance on the UK TV Show The Old Grey Whistle Test and I was desperate to see them. The set was mostly from Moving Waves but also from their upcoming album Focus 3. I was completely hooked. I saw them again a few years later with Philip Catherine , a fantastic guitarist but to me never quite the right fit. Then in 2004 I saw them again, just prior to Van Der Linden rejoining and they were back to their best. One small problem was Thijs Van Leer had a tooth infection and couldn't play the flute but he covered everything on his keyboards. The bass player at the time was Bobby Jacobs, Van Leer's Stepson. This is important because my favourite Focus fact is Van Leer was actually asked by Bobby to join his band who were playing Focus 1970's tracks and they became a Focus tribute band before taking on the Focus name again. We've had members of tribute bands joining the actual band (Priest, Yes) but is this the first time a member of the actual band joined a tribute band!! I am very much with you Pete on the list except Focus Con Proby would be a little lower. I've always liked the first album, which gets a bad press from a lot of fans but Moving Waves, Focus 3 and Hamburger Concerto are all exceptional albums (along with the Live At The Rainbow album). The albums do not age and still get played regularly by me. And how many bands could have a bass player called Cyril replaced by a bass player called Bert! Tel
Great post Terry. One addition though: Brian Wilson joined a Beach Boys tribute band when he started touring and recording again. I saw them live and they were fantastic. Brian got a standing ovation just for walking onto the stage. A spine tingling moment for me.
@@PhilBaird1 Yes - slightly different circumstances, but perhaps the Wondermints were a Beach Boys style band, not necessarily a tribute band? I saw Brian with the Wondermints do the Smile album and it was of the greatest musical experiences of my life. It was also the last live gig I went to for numerous reasons, so if it is to be the last one then it was a pretty good one to go out on.
Thank you for this, it means a lot to me as Focus has been one of my dad's favourite bands for most of his life and Jan Akkerman is one of his all time favourite guitar players. For me and I know my dad would agree with me, Moving Waves is the band's greatest album they have ever made but in my opinion, their music from the 70s was their best work even though I do enjoy their recent modern stuff but they did their legendary material with Jan Akkerman. I would love to see you do a studio ranking of the Chick Corea Elektric Band albums. Thanks again for this and keep up the good work.
Saw Focus a couple of years ago. Really impressive. The musicianship of the whole band is top notch. Pierre van der Linden is an absolute freak of nature on drums, with solos lasting 10-15 minutes. Recommended.
I had no idea this group was around longer than the '70s. I have Moving Waves and Focus 3 and I concur that the musicianship is solid throughout those albums. I haven't even heard anything else. Maybe I'll check it out sometime.
Great review. Although I only have their first 3 or 4 albums so I don't feel I could rank their output. Moving Waves is classic.. But as stoned stupid college kids in the mid eighties. Me and some friends, did call all the radio stations in rural north east Colorado and request Hocus Pocus, as a joke we thought.To our surprise a few stations played it.
Enjoyed your summary of Focus. From the beginning their musical tradition was different to what I had been listening too. Fantastic band. From a German perspective what are your thoughts on Can. I still listen to them regularly, especially Tago Mago and in the right mood, Soon Over Babaluma.
Thanks pete for the review . I thought I had all the albums but I a missing a couple have to put that right. There are lots of technically excellent guitar players around however jan akerman is an innovator they don't come around that often
I bought Moving Waves after getting a compilation years prior and I thought that was the crowning achievement until I got Focus 3. Akkerman's guitar tone on Focus 3 is one of my favorite.
My favorite Focus studio album is Moving Waves (Yeah I know, it’s everyone’s lol. My favorite album by them is the live album recorded at the Rainbow Theatre. Jawdroppingly great. Jan and Pierre Van der Linden are all over the place on that album. Great show and I thoroughly enjoyed the Rare Earth show yesterday. One thing I will say about Mother Focus though: I like putting it on in the morning when I make breakfast lol. I know: I’m weird. Lol
Philip Catherine from the Con Proby album is one of my favourite guitarist of all time. His Guitars album from 1976 from which Sneezing Bull came from has guitar work that will blow anyone's mind! An easy equal to Jan Akkerman who I love also. Philip could possibly be better...? A massive catalogue of work.
How about a ranking of Shocking Blue albums ( also from the Netherlands ) . You might hate them I don't know . Loved the Eloy , UFO ( Obsession was underated in the past ) , and Dokken album rankings . Would also be interested in Hawkwind . Great show ? Stream ? as always . Focus were definitely an interesting band . I'd also be interested in a ranking of the Deeds of Flesh ( one of the best Death Metal bands , and so far no one professional has had anything to say about the band ) . Enthusiastic fans praising albums gets old . I enjoy your series because it's always on a professional level , and have top tier guests like Martin Popoff ? ( Not sure if I spelled his name correctly , but I own some of his work , great writer )
Great run through. For me Focus 3 tops the ranking with Moving Waves a close second and Hamburger Concerto three. I know only studio albums but the live at the Rainbow is fine album .
1) Focus II (aka Moving Waves) 2) Focus 3 3) Focus Plays Focus (aka In and Out of Focus) 4) Hamburger Concerto 5) Focus con Proby 6) Ship of Memories 7) Focus 9 / New Skin 8) Focus 11 9) Focus X 10) Focus 8 11) Focus 8.5 / Beyond the Horizon (Focus and Friends LP) 12) Mother Focus 13) The Focus Family Album 14) Focus (Jan Akkerman & Thijs Van Leer LP)
Hi Pete we're the same age. I find your posts incredibly soothing in these difficult times. If you have kids, be mindful to remind them how lucky they are, in a Pete Pardo kind of way.
Saw them in 73 at Philharmonic Hall. I've wanted to see them again since. I just finished playing bass along with Hamburger Concerto live and studio Eruption. I love this band. I like Mother Focus, except I Need A Bathroom. What? Maybe their worst album, but still good. Never heard of the Focus album from 85. Fine job on the ranking, Pete. Just a great band. Still.
@Pete. How about Brainbox, Jan and Pierre. Great band only 1 album with them.. Summertime and the very stretched Sea of Delight, 2 very long versions plus other tracks. right before Focus..
Apparently Akkerman and Van Leer really couldn't get on after a while, which hastened the demise of the classic line up. I'm often fascinated by bands {one can see it in the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Mott the Hoople and Styx, for example} whose principal writers think that _their_ direction is the one the band should go in, to the exclusion of the others. They never seem to recognize that one of the things some of their likers really dig about them is their diversity. That's what made some of those bands the bands they were. Anyway, I have to say, some of Focus' 70s stuff is among the best European progressive rock out there. I didn't know it at the time but when I was 10 or 11 I was actually familiar with Focus. In the early to mid 70s we had a TV show in England called "Don't ask me" and I always loved the theme tune. Turns out it was "House of the King" although I didn't discover this until 1996. Around the same sort of time, I really liked "Sylvia" ~ I recall it as a chart song in the early 70s. Again, it wasn't until '96 that I found out it was by Focus. So then I went out and bought this Dutch compilation from 1976 called "House of the king on the Emidisc (2) label. The version of "Sylvia" was a live version and it didn't have the excitement I remembered from 20+ years earlier so I scouted around for a copy of the actual single, which I found. "House of the king," "Sylvia" and "Round goes the gossip" are my favourite pieces of theirs. And though a somewhat later album, I have to say that "Mother Focus" is one of the cleverest and funniest album titles, ever. And the censors couldn't do a thing about it !
He did some pretty mean playing with the Jean Luc Ponty Experience back in around 1971 when Ponty was doing free jazz. Unfortunately, their album "Open Strings" isn't very listenable although the song "Flipping, pt 1" is a European jazz fusion classic. Catherine doesn't really do anything outstanding on the song though. An album where he really turns up the heat is Joachim Kuhn's "Spring Fever," especially on the track "Equal Evil."
hey Pete, i am a lifelong fan of Focus who are in my top 10 all time favourite bands. You absolutely got the top 3 albums spot on. i cannot choose between them, depends on the mood but i would say that Focus reached their peek with Hamburger Concerto. albums thereafter were still good but not brilliant like your top 3. i saw them live last year and they were amazing. real musicians. Pierre van der Linden has been very underrated, you never hear anyone putting him in the mix among the great drummers but i tell you what, he absolutely belongs up there with the best! he is abt 77 and still kicks arse! i had a nice chat with Tys (Thijs) after the gig and he is a very nice chap, had a few of his solo albums autographed. they wil be back in UK in April and can't wait to see them again.
Good one, Pete! Knew a few of their albums but you've given me more to delve into! Hoping to see future Ranking The Albums of: Strawbs, Peter Gabriel, Roxy Music. And let me second another listener's suggestion for Jade Warrior! Great band!
Great show! I only had Moving Waves back in the 1970s. Great album! I recently got the Red Bullet 13 CD Box Set. It does not include the Focus and Friends CD you mentioned, but does include an album called Focus released by Jan Akkerman & Thijs Van Leer. Looking even more forward to exploring their catalog after viewing this episode.
Eurydice was bitten by a serpent . Orpheus followed her to the underworld and charmed Cerebus Cerberus with his lyre . Similar to the Sodom and Gomorrah tale , Orpheus was told not to look back at Eurydice as she followed him back to the realm of the living . He didn't obey thus she was taken back to Hades , and as most Greek fables a tragic fate of depression fell upon the lonely musician . Never heard that particular Focus song , but any song entitled Eurydice must at least be as good as my feeble attempt at retelling a story I read in third grade ( many years ago )
I wouldn't have ranked Con Proby or In & Out Of Focus as highly, but that's just my take. One of my all-time favorite bands. Thijs is a musical genius in my book. Thanks for this, Pete!
I always remember the overnight impact that Focus had in the U.K. after an appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test, a BBC rock show that ran through the '70s and early '80s. Everybody was talking about them and for a year or so they were one of 'the' bands to follow. I loved those early albums for the blend of rock, folk, jazz and classical. Akkerman is still one of my favourite guitarists too. Their best albums genuinely expanded what rock music could be without it getting pretentious or ridiculous. I've never heard that album with Proby but he was a hell of a singer. Could be a bit melodramatic at times.
No doubt about the Quo. Very popular here in Australia and kind of unknown in America.i lived in New York state in Saratoga Springs for almost 20 years and where I worked no one knew of them except maybe 1 or 2 out of a hundred ! have some good albums and always great rockin' shows.Saw them 4 times all in the 70's. Lookin' forward to your review Pete.
My first Focus album was Live at the Rainbow. It has great live versions of their earlier songs from the first three albums, including Hocus Pocus. I still really like that album, and had replaced the original vinyl with a cd.
Great, Pete (as always!). Moving Waves was the 4th album I ever bought, back in 1973. Saw Focus at the Finsbury Park Rainbow in 1973 (recorded and released as Live at the Rainbow) and again in 1975 just as Akkerman and van Leer had their bust up. Philip Catherine (another fabulous guitarist) replaced Akkerman at very short notice, but the gig was still great. My top 4 would be as yours, but I’d probably push Ship of Memories up a couple of notches. “Glider” on this album was reworked as the title track on Mother Focus and yep, that one would be last on my list too!
Vastly underrated. Saw them in 1975 probably just past their peak. I would reverse that top 3 but an excellent round-up. The live version of Hocus Pocus from Midnight Special 1973 is a riot
Absolutely love this bands early 70’s work. IMO Jan Akkerman along with maybe Blackmore basically invented the neo classical shred style of guitar playing. Jan was an absolute monster player vastly underrated. Totally agree with your top three ironically I was listening to Moving Waves today such a masterwork. Thanks for giving them some recognition.
You Pete could be the FIRST to talk about the new Alex Jones Documentary and New Classic Book. We all get why most will shy away from being the first because of persecution, but who cares at this point when this is about the future of our children. Great Documentary. This documentary needs to be longer in my opinion. Roseanne Barr could be a great guest of Pete in my humble opinion. Who does not love Roseanne Barr. She is willing and out there to do interviews. Jim Brewer would be another great interview. What is happening in 2022 moving forward is "Politics" of the old standard are going bye bye. We have had two Presidents since January 20th, 2021. One died 3 years ago and the other sadly passed away in December of 2021. If you have children and want to leave them with a path then can we all just come together here and regroup? This all had to happen this way to AVOID a new Civil War and new Dark Ages for the next thousand years or so. I think that has passed now. The emotional Artificial Intelligence State that was going on a year or two ago has passed and can we all get back to REALITY once again FOLKS? We are never going back to Grandma and Apple Pie Again.. The new world will be amazing but we have to clean up the mess of the fake Vaccines
What is really upsetting is that knowing things then you can really get ahead and make some serious dough and money. This is not about making money! How can anybody with a soul left inside watch or care about NFL, MLB, or NBA making 10, 20, 30, 40 + million dollar a year contracts while the INFLATION has gone to places never seen before on this planet? We have middle class folks with children now living on the streets begging? Something has gone haywire and the "Showtime" is about to happen in my humble opinion Pete. 30/40 year olds thinking about having or making children the past decade or so are not doing that because the obvious here is happening. All of the folks who were screaming and telling folks about what Covid 19 was really about were CUT off and censored from all of the mainstream and Big Tech Internet platforms. We were all just trying to tell the truth and now this is all coming out to be true like we said. We do not want to be vindicated in the ways that most people think. We just all want our brothers and sisters to make it through and survive this hot mess coming.
Hi, Pete. You'd better do like me: don't try to sing Hocus Pocus ahahahahha My list: 13 Focus 1985 12 Focus 8.5 / Beyond the Horizon 11 In And Out Of Focus 10 Mother Focus 9 Ship of Memories 8 Focus con Proby 7 Focus 11 6 Focus 9 / New Skin 5 Focus 8 4 Hamburger Concerto 3 Moving Waves 2 Focus 3 1 Focus X
I'm surprised these guys weren't bigger in the USA. I figured I'd include the live "At The Rainbow", since I kind of quit listening after 1978. 7) Focus con Proby (Barely the same band.) 6) Hamburger Concerto (I was never a fan of the side-long title track.) 5) At The Rainbow (Live - Would have made a better double album.) 4) Mother Focus (Totally different, but I like it in a yacht-rock way.) 3) Focus Plays Focus / In and Out of Focus 2) Focus 3 1) Focus II / Moving Waves Thanks, Pete!
Mother Focus is their best. Shocked that Pete ranked it last...and that he actually digs the bore-fest that is Focus Con Proby. One man's Pete is another's poison, I guess.
@@marcelob4132 I understand how he can not like the songs as much, but it's not the worst for me, that's for sure. The production is so good though, doesn't mean the songs are great but still good.
The great Jan Ackerman was still playing on Mother Focus. The band's 2nd guitar player, Philip Catherine, while still pretty good can't hold a candle to Jan in terms of dexterity and solo construction
The bass player taught my oldest son at Audio Technical Institute in Orlando from 2009-2012. Great school and great guy.
Bert Ruiter?
Bert or Cyril? Anyhow, both are. badass
1 Moving Waves
2 Hamburger Concerto
3 Focus 3
4 Mother Focus
5 In An Out Of Focus
6 Focus Con Proby
That's my list too, I didn't care much past Con Proby album onwards except Jan Akkermans solo albums.
Also think Moving Waves is about as good as it gets. Maybe I missed hearing the review calling attention to Van der Linden's drumming. Guessing you also think the way the toms punch and resonate throughout is gorgeous. Imo very few drum solos in rock are as well put together as the one on Eruption starting at about the 4:30 mark. The build and release on this is exceptional. Same goes for the footwork that introduces the conclusion. His rolls are geometrically near perfect and really stick in the head...dang near hummable (ok...maybe that's not a word). Anyway, GREAT drummer! If you haven't already, check out the first Trace album to hear more fantastic stuff from Pierre Van der Linden. Also got to give it to Orion, Sneezing Bull and Night Flight from Con Proby, they are classics that Steve Smith and Philip Catherine played in other bands for good reason. Too bad the rest of the tunes on the album aren't in the same zip code.
Yes the sound of those drums back then were amazing and he is an amazing drummer
'Focus - Live at the Rainbow' - one of the best live albums of all time...
My Fav band of all time. The 5’ 50” Jan Akkerman Guitar Solo (Focus 3) on the track ‘’Anonymous 2’ after the bass solo, is the greatest guitar solo of all time!
I was into this when I was 14
Another fine show Pete. Any chance of ranking the albums of Robert Plant, Tygers of Pan Tang, Y& T, Roxy Music 👍
Would love to see a ranking of Robert Plant.
1) In and Out Of Focus (cool rockin debut with some good vocals interesting accent)
2) Moving Waves (the album with Hocus Pocus... need I say more)
3) Focus 3
4) Hamburger Concerto
5) Live At The Rainbow (amazing band live)
6) Mother Focus
I didnt own the rest of their catalog so I dont know where to rank them.
They came over to Malta two years ago... audience of thirty, it was a sort of Festival with a death metal band playing simultaneously across the field uuugh! Focus were great!
Saw Akkerman at North Sea Jazz long time ago. Keep it up Pete.
Nice focus box set I got a few months back Pete...all the studio albums except the last I believe...plus one live cd...great stuff..got off amazon..
Fantastic band, first 4 albums are classic
1. Hamburger Concerto
2. 3
3. Focus II
4. In And Out Of Focus
5. 11
6. X
7. 8
8. Focus Con Proby
9. Focus 9 / New Skin
10. Mother Focus
Regarding PJ Proby I know more about him than I know about Focus.
The only music I have heard from Focus is the single Hocus Pocus.
PJ Proby goes back to the very early 1960s and had a few very big hits in 1964-5 and rubbed shoulders with the Beatles during Beatlemania.
In his first comeback in 1968 his backing band on the album was none other than Led Zeppelin a few months before they recorded their debut album.
ps, Back to Focus, I would like to hear some more of their music and will check out the top three albums you mentioned.
Just discovered your reviews at the weekend. Love, Love, love them. You are a kindred spirit. Your Focus top three are on the nose in my humble opinion. Now off to catch up on your back catalogue of reviews
Hamburger Concerto has to be the bands best album doesn`t it?Folks,listen to Ackerman`s last album---another double----"Close Beauty".Came out in 2019.
1. Mother Focus
2. Moving Waves
3. Focus 3
4. Hamburger Concerto.
5. Ship of Memories.
I was fortunate to see Focus when they toured Australia in 1975.
Jan Ackerman left the group not long after.
I agree with you that Mother Focus is the best.
Focus is a very underrated band. Hope more people learn about them!
Enjoyed yer Focus album ranking. How 'bout doin' the same for another great Dutch band-KAYAK?
Have some of van Leer's solo releases too, his classical inspired Introspection albums are quite good.
Focus 2/Moving Waves
Hamburger Concerto
Ship of Memories
Mother Focus
In and Out of Focus
Focus 3
I love Focus. Too bad the didn't get more notice back in the day. Even now!
1. Mother Focus
2. Focus 3
3. Moving Waves
4. Focus 1985
5. In and out of Focus
6. Hamburger Concerto
7. Ship of memories
8. Focus 8
9. Focus 10
10. Focus 9
11. Focus 11
12. Focus Con Proby
I love this already. I loved FOCUS back in the day .I had Akkerman Profile and Tabernacle albums too. First concert I ever went to was Focus opening for Joe Cocker, I was in 10 th grade. We were all there for Focus. I fell of after the 70s
Thank you for Ranking the Studio Albums of: Focus 🎤🎸🎵🥁
They still perform Eruption at every concert. A true representation of their talent!
Love your reaction. Since you are here talking about a Dutch band. Can you also talk about another great great band (Ayreon). From teh composer Arjen Lucassen. Sure you have some CD's, if not, well they have some artwork and the music is fantastic.
Hamburger my 3rd album ever in’74 aged 14! Nearly 60 this year, and its still my fav focus album, just above Moving waves and Focus 3
Thanks Pete
Checked my stash...only owned Moving Waves & Live At The Rainbow. Took Pete's advice about his Top-3; found a 13-disc Complete Set at Amazon for $40. Sold!
Van Leer played with a prominent Spanish rocker called Miguel Ríos in the 80s, most remarkably on a double live record called Rock & Ríos in '82 which has a legendary status here in Spain. I recommend a pretty epic performance of a song called "Al-Andalus", he shreds on his flute on that one.
Such a great band. As far as the top three for me: 1. Hamburger Concerto, 2. Focus III, 3 Moving Waves. Excellent review of their albums, man.
Focus 3 is one of my favourite prog rock albums of all time. Moving Waves aka Focus 2 is also amazing. Their first four albums are simply fantastic, but I don't think there's a real dud in their whole discography to be honest.
PJ Proby was famous in the UK from the 60s. He had this gimmick of "accidentally" splitting his trousers onstage. He later became something of a figure of fun when he appeared anonymously on the UK TV talent show "Opportunity Knocks" in the mid 70s in disguise as "The Masked Singer" or something similar, in an attempt to restart his fading career. And yes his surname was pronounced with a hard O (rhymed with Moby).
Cannot imagine for the life of me how he came to be involved with Focus.
If you like the Focus albums with Akkerman, I recommend getting Jan Akkerman- 10,000 Clowns On A Rainy Day.
A live album with many of the best Focus songs. What's great about is the much more dynamic sound than the
early studio albums.
Great live album!!!
My favourite of theirs is Motherfocus. No long solos, just very pleasant tunes and well performed shortish pieces.
A slight disco flavour, but unusually tuneful and nicely restrained.
I shared a bottle of sake and some sushi with Thijs on board Cruise to the Edge 2018. He is one of the most personable and approachable rock stars on the planet!
20th August, 1972. My sixteenth birthday and my first ever live gig - Focus. They had a break through performance on the UK TV Show The Old Grey Whistle Test and I was desperate to see them. The set was mostly from Moving Waves but also from their upcoming album Focus 3. I was completely hooked.
I saw them again a few years later with Philip Catherine , a fantastic guitarist but to me never quite the right fit. Then in 2004 I saw them again, just prior to Van Der Linden rejoining and they were back to their best. One small problem was Thijs Van Leer had a tooth infection and couldn't play the flute but he covered everything on his keyboards. The bass player at the time was Bobby Jacobs, Van Leer's Stepson. This is important because my favourite Focus fact is Van Leer was actually asked by Bobby to join his band who were playing Focus 1970's tracks and they became a Focus tribute band before taking on the Focus name again. We've had members of tribute bands joining the actual band (Priest, Yes) but is this the first time a member of the actual band joined a tribute band!!
I am very much with you Pete on the list except Focus Con Proby would be a little lower. I've always liked the first album, which gets a bad press from a lot of fans but Moving Waves, Focus 3 and Hamburger Concerto are all exceptional albums (along with the Live At The Rainbow album). The albums do not age and still get played regularly by me.
And how many bands could have a bass player called Cyril replaced by a bass player called Bert!
Tel
Great post Terry. One addition though: Brian Wilson joined a Beach Boys tribute band when he started touring and recording again. I saw them live and they were fantastic. Brian got a standing ovation just for walking onto the stage. A spine tingling moment for me.
@@PhilBaird1
Yes - slightly different circumstances, but perhaps the Wondermints were a Beach Boys style band, not necessarily a tribute band?
I saw Brian with the Wondermints do the Smile album and it was of the greatest musical experiences of my life. It was also the last live gig I went to for numerous reasons, so if it is to be the last one then it was a pretty good one to go out on.
Thank you for this, it means a lot to me as Focus has been one of my dad's favourite bands for most of his life and Jan Akkerman is one of his all time favourite guitar players.
For me and I know my dad would agree with me, Moving Waves is the band's greatest album they have ever made but in my opinion, their music from the 70s was their best work even though I do enjoy their recent modern stuff but they did their legendary material with Jan Akkerman.
I would love to see you do a studio ranking of the Chick Corea Elektric Band albums.
Thanks again for this and keep up the good work.
Saw Focus a couple of years ago. Really impressive.
The musicianship of the whole band is top notch.
Pierre van der Linden is an absolute freak of nature on drums, with solos lasting 10-15 minutes.
Recommended.
The Focus "Hocus Pocus" 13-cd Box Set arrived today...very cool.
I had no idea this group was around longer than the '70s. I have Moving Waves and Focus 3 and I concur that the musicianship is solid throughout those albums. I haven't even heard anything else. Maybe I'll check it out sometime.
Great review. Although I only have their first 3 or 4 albums so I don't feel I could rank their output. Moving Waves is classic.. But as stoned stupid college kids in the mid eighties. Me and some friends, did call all the radio stations in rural north east Colorado and request Hocus Pocus, as a joke we thought.To our surprise a few stations played it.
I own Moving Waves, Focus III and Hamburger Concerto. They're ranked in that same order. Amazing band. Hocus Pocus has always cracked me up!
Enjoyed your summary of Focus. From the beginning their musical tradition was different to what I had been listening too. Fantastic band. From a German perspective what are your thoughts on Can. I still listen to them regularly, especially Tago Mago and in the right mood, Soon Over Babaluma.
I got the albums box set they put out. Definitely agree with the top 4 but I'd have Ship of Memories at no.5
House of the King and Sylvia still lifts the spirit!
Thanks pete for the review . I thought I had all the albums but I a missing a couple have to put that right. There are lots of technically excellent guitar players around however jan akerman is an innovator they don't come around that often
I bought Moving Waves after getting a compilation years prior and I thought that was the crowning achievement until I got Focus 3.
Akkerman's guitar tone on Focus 3 is one of my favorite.
My favorite Focus studio album is Moving Waves (Yeah I know, it’s everyone’s lol.
My favorite album by them is the live album recorded at the Rainbow Theatre. Jawdroppingly great. Jan and Pierre Van der Linden are all over the place on that album.
Great show and I thoroughly enjoyed the Rare Earth show yesterday.
One thing I will say about Mother Focus though: I like putting it on in the morning when I make breakfast lol. I know: I’m weird. Lol
I love 'Morher Focus' the best too. And if you haven't already heard it - check out 'Harlequin' by Dave Grusin & Lee Ritenour (featuring Ivan Lins).
Philip Catherine from the Con Proby album is one of my favourite guitarist of all time. His Guitars album from 1976 from which Sneezing Bull came from has guitar work that will blow anyone's mind! An easy equal to Jan Akkerman who I love also. Philip could possibly be better...? A massive catalogue of work.
Thijs Van Leer pronounces his first name "Tice"
NEVER knew how he pronounced that! LOL
Yes I met him a few years ago and I asked him that question.
@@seaoftranquilityprog Tice vaughn Lir, LOL
No,it's like taste without the t
He told me Tice.
How about a ranking of Shocking Blue albums ( also from the Netherlands ) . You might hate them I don't know . Loved the Eloy , UFO ( Obsession was underated in the past ) , and Dokken album rankings . Would also be interested in Hawkwind . Great show ? Stream ? as always . Focus were definitely an interesting band . I'd also be interested in a ranking of the Deeds of Flesh ( one of the best Death Metal bands , and so far no one professional has had anything to say about the band ) . Enthusiastic fans praising albums gets old . I enjoy your series because it's always on a professional level , and have top tier guests like Martin Popoff ? ( Not sure if I spelled his name correctly , but I own some of his work , great writer )
I love Shocking Blue. They only made three decent albums though. The rest was trash.
Great run through. For me Focus 3 tops the ranking with Moving Waves a close second and Hamburger Concerto three. I know only studio albums but the live at the Rainbow is fine album .
1) Focus II (aka Moving Waves)
2) Focus 3
3) Focus Plays Focus (aka In and Out of Focus)
4) Hamburger Concerto
5) Focus con Proby
6) Ship of Memories
7) Focus 9 / New Skin
8) Focus 11
9) Focus X
10) Focus 8
11) Focus 8.5 / Beyond the Horizon (Focus and Friends LP)
12) Mother Focus
13) The Focus Family Album
14) Focus (Jan Akkerman & Thijs Van Leer LP)
Totally agree with the top three analysis. Spot on. Just incredible music.
Hi Pete we're the same age. I find your posts incredibly soothing in these difficult times. If you have kids, be mindful to remind them how lucky they are, in a Pete Pardo kind of way.
Bedankt voor het bespreken Pete! Greetings from Holland! Focus still rocks👍
Saw them in 73 at Philharmonic Hall. I've wanted to see them again since. I just finished playing bass along with Hamburger Concerto live and studio Eruption. I love this band. I like Mother Focus, except I Need A Bathroom. What? Maybe their worst album, but still good. Never heard of the Focus album from 85. Fine job on the ranking, Pete. Just a great band. Still.
@Pete. How about Brainbox, Jan and Pierre. Great band only 1 album with them.. Summertime and the very stretched Sea of Delight, 2 very long versions plus other tracks. right before Focus..
Apparently Akkerman and Van Leer really couldn't get on after a while, which hastened the demise of the classic line up. I'm often fascinated by bands {one can see it in the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Mott the Hoople and Styx, for example} whose principal writers think that _their_ direction is the one the band should go in, to the exclusion of the others. They never seem to recognize that one of the things some of their likers really dig about them is their diversity. That's what made some of those bands the bands they were.
Anyway, I have to say, some of Focus' 70s stuff is among the best European progressive rock out there. I didn't know it at the time but when I was 10 or 11 I was actually familiar with Focus. In the early to mid 70s we had a TV show in England called "Don't ask me" and I always loved the theme tune. Turns out it was "House of the King" although I didn't discover this until 1996. Around the same sort of time, I really liked "Sylvia" ~ I recall it as a chart song in the early 70s. Again, it wasn't until '96 that I found out it was by Focus. So then I went out and bought this Dutch compilation from 1976 called "House of the king on the Emidisc (2) label. The version of "Sylvia" was a live version and it didn't have the excitement I remembered from 20+ years earlier so I scouted around for a copy of the actual single, which I found. "House of the king," "Sylvia" and "Round goes the gossip" are my favourite pieces of theirs.
And though a somewhat later album, I have to say that "Mother Focus" is one of the cleverest and funniest album titles, ever. And the censors couldn't do a thing about it !
#1 - All albums at #1 for me. I am a huge fan.
Good to see Philip Catherine get a mention. He is still playing and recording.
I heard him with Larry Coryell as a warm up for PFM back in the day.
He did some pretty mean playing with the Jean Luc Ponty Experience back in around 1971 when Ponty was doing free jazz. Unfortunately, their album "Open Strings" isn't very listenable although the song "Flipping, pt 1" is a European jazz fusion classic. Catherine doesn't really do anything outstanding on the song though.
An album where he really turns up the heat is Joachim Kuhn's "Spring Fever," especially on the track "Equal Evil."
hey Pete, i am a lifelong fan of Focus who are in my top 10 all time favourite bands. You absolutely got the top 3 albums spot on. i cannot choose between them, depends on the mood but i would say that Focus reached their peek with Hamburger Concerto. albums thereafter were still good but not brilliant like your top 3. i saw them live last year and they were amazing. real musicians. Pierre van der Linden has been very underrated, you never hear anyone putting him in the mix among the great drummers but i tell you what, he absolutely belongs up there with the best! he is abt 77 and still kicks arse!
i had a nice chat with Tys (Thijs) after the gig and he is a very nice chap, had a few of his solo albums autographed. they wil be back in UK in April and can't wait to see them again.
There is a very nice priced box-set containing all their output (and more). Search for Focus - Hocus Pocus Box. And enjoy it from there...
What about a ranking show on Greenslade. Small catalogue but some terrific keyboard playing.
The collaboration of Thijs and Uriah Heep performing'Tales' is amazing. Forcefield is a very overlooked project featuring Jan Akkerman
I just bought Moving Waves after watching this video. Thanks Pete.
This reminded me about jade warrior another great band that would be cool ranked!
Good one, Pete! Knew a few of their albums but you've given me more to delve into! Hoping to see future Ranking The Albums of: Strawbs, Peter Gabriel, Roxy Music. And let me second another listener's suggestion for Jade Warrior! Great band!
Great show! I only had Moving Waves back in the 1970s. Great album! I recently got the Red Bullet 13 CD Box Set. It does not include the Focus and Friends CD you mentioned, but does include an album called Focus released by Jan Akkerman & Thijs Van Leer. Looking even more forward to exploring their catalog after viewing this episode.
Eurydice was bitten by a serpent . Orpheus followed her to the underworld and charmed Cerebus Cerberus with his lyre . Similar to the Sodom and Gomorrah tale , Orpheus was told not to look back at Eurydice as she followed him back to the realm of the living . He didn't obey thus she was taken back to Hades , and as most Greek fables a tragic fate of depression fell upon the lonely musician . Never heard that particular Focus song , but any song entitled Eurydice must at least be as good as my feeble attempt at retelling a story I read in third grade ( many years ago )
I wouldn't have ranked Con Proby or In & Out Of Focus as highly, but that's just my take. One of my all-time favorite bands. Thijs is a musical genius in my book. Thanks for this, Pete!
Months ago you made me discover this awesome band. Thank you for your videos.
Check out Jan Akkerman's previous band: Brainbox.
I always remember the overnight impact that Focus had in the U.K. after an appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test, a BBC rock show that ran through the '70s and early '80s. Everybody was talking about them and for a year or so they were one of 'the' bands to follow. I loved those early albums for the blend of rock, folk, jazz and classical. Akkerman is still one of my favourite guitarists too. Their best albums genuinely expanded what rock music could be without it getting pretentious or ridiculous. I've never heard that album with Proby but he was a hell of a singer. Could be a bit melodramatic at times.
Love focus, van leer's oh my love album is great too with gorgeous Paul buckmaster arrangements.
Top 10 of Status Quo?? YESSSS!!! I love this band!!
No doubt about the Quo. Very popular here in Australia and kind of unknown in America.i lived in New York state in Saratoga Springs for almost 20 years and where I worked no one knew of them except maybe 1 or 2 out of a hundred ! have some good albums and always great rockin' shows.Saw them 4 times all in the 70's. Lookin' forward to your review Pete.
Just seen...there's a box set of all their 45s now. Looks fun!
Gert Hirschfeld , That would take all day to play the A/B sides , have fun!
Thank you for what you're doing, man. I discover so much stuff because of you and people in the comments too. Love your channel and your personality.
Mother Focus has got some good stuff on it, but a couple of duds like 'I need the bathroom'. I think it should be ranked higher though
The film taken of focus rehearsing at kasteel groneveld in 1971 is a must watch for focus fans.
another good band..their song (,,i need a bathroom) and others are nice. obviousl( hocus pocus) .but there other stuff ,.just as good.
My first Focus album was Live at the Rainbow. It has great live versions of their earlier songs from the first three albums, including Hocus Pocus. I still really like that album, and had replaced the original vinyl with a cd.
Great, Pete (as always!). Moving Waves was the 4th album I ever bought, back in 1973. Saw Focus at the Finsbury Park Rainbow in 1973 (recorded and released as Live at the Rainbow) and again in 1975 just as Akkerman and van Leer had their bust up. Philip Catherine (another fabulous guitarist) replaced Akkerman at very short notice, but the gig was still great. My top 4 would be as yours, but I’d probably push Ship of Memories up a couple of notches. “Glider” on this album was reworked as the title track on Mother Focus and yep, that one would be last on my list too!
Vastly underrated. Saw them in 1975 probably just past their peak. I would reverse that top 3 but an excellent round-up. The live version of Hocus Pocus from Midnight Special 1973 is a riot
Where do you get these ratings from?
Mother Focus /is/ a bit of an oddity; but No Hang Ups is a truly beautiful song.
Good yodelling, Pete. :-)
Seriously Pete, is there a band you *don't* like? Regardless of the answer, keep up the good work :)
Yes. Pete said two days ago he don' t like Pearl Jam.
Jan Akkerman solo albums in the near future?
Listen to album version of Hocus Pocus. The 10 second or so drum solo's used as bridges are incredible.
Yes at last. Love Focus. Thank you Pete 😎
Absolutely love this bands early 70’s work. IMO Jan Akkerman along with maybe Blackmore basically invented the neo classical shred style of guitar playing. Jan was an absolute monster player vastly underrated. Totally agree with your top three ironically I was listening to Moving Waves today such a masterwork. Thanks for giving them some recognition.
For a prog rock band they could get very hard rocky and bluesy.
Moving Waves and Masters Of Rock were the first 2 albums I ever bought in 1974. Hamburger Concerto is by far my favourite of their albums.
You Pete could be the FIRST to talk about the new Alex Jones Documentary and New Classic Book. We all get why most will shy away from being the first because of persecution, but who cares at this point when this is about the future of our children. Great Documentary. This documentary needs to be longer in my opinion. Roseanne Barr could be a great guest of Pete in my humble opinion. Who does not love Roseanne Barr. She is willing and out there to do interviews. Jim Brewer would be another great interview. What is happening in 2022 moving forward is "Politics" of the old standard are going bye bye. We have had two Presidents since January 20th, 2021. One died 3 years ago and the other sadly passed away in December of 2021. If you have children and want to leave them with a path then can we all just come together here and regroup? This all had to happen this way to AVOID a new Civil War and new Dark Ages for the next thousand years or so. I think that has passed now. The emotional Artificial Intelligence State that was going on a year or two ago has passed and can we all get back to REALITY once again FOLKS? We are never going back to Grandma and Apple Pie Again.. The new world will be amazing but we have to clean up the mess of the fake Vaccines
What is really upsetting is that knowing things then you can really get ahead and make some serious dough and money. This is not about making money! How can anybody with a soul left inside watch or care about NFL, MLB, or NBA making 10, 20, 30, 40 + million dollar a year contracts while the INFLATION has gone to places never seen before on this planet? We have middle class folks with children now living on the streets begging? Something has gone haywire and the "Showtime" is about to happen in my humble opinion Pete. 30/40 year olds thinking about having or making children the past decade or so are not doing that because the obvious here is happening. All of the folks who were screaming and telling folks about what Covid 19 was really about were CUT off and censored from all of the mainstream and Big Tech Internet platforms. We were all just trying to tell the truth and now this is all coming out to be true like we said. We do not want to be vindicated in the ways that most people think. We just all want our brothers and sisters to make it through and survive this hot mess coming.
How about some RAMMSTEIN?
Try Brainbox with Jan Akkerman.
I still have Hocus Pocus on a 45 rpm.
Have you reviewed Stanley Clark ?
Moving waves . End
Congrats from Brasil !!!!!
Brasil love FOCUS !!!!!
💞😍💞👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
My TOP albuns:
AT THE RAINBOW
MOVING WAVES
MOTHER FOCUS
FOCUS-3
CON PROBY
Thanks Pete so much. Been waiting patiently for this. Don't agree with Mother Focus being the bottom of the barrel. Jan Akkerman is my guitar idol!
Hi, Pete. You'd better do like me: don't try to sing Hocus Pocus ahahahahha
My list:
13 Focus 1985
12 Focus 8.5 / Beyond the Horizon
11 In And Out Of Focus
10 Mother Focus
9 Ship of Memories
8 Focus con Proby
7 Focus 11
6 Focus 9 / New Skin
5 Focus 8
4 Hamburger Concerto
3 Moving Waves
2 Focus 3
1 Focus X
I'm surprised these guys weren't bigger in the USA. I figured I'd include the live "At The Rainbow", since I kind of quit listening after 1978.
7) Focus con Proby (Barely the same band.)
6) Hamburger Concerto (I was never a fan of the side-long title track.)
5) At The Rainbow (Live - Would have made a better double album.)
4) Mother Focus (Totally different, but I like it in a yacht-rock way.)
3) Focus Plays Focus / In and Out of Focus
2) Focus 3
1) Focus II / Moving Waves
Thanks, Pete!
I do love the sound of the acoustic on Mother Focus
Amazing prod on that record.
Had to give Pete a thumb down for the first time in 3 years for trashing Mother Focus... LOL
Mother Focus is their best. Shocked that Pete ranked it last...and that he actually digs the bore-fest that is Focus Con Proby. One man's Pete is another's poison, I guess.
@@marcelob4132 I understand how he can not like the songs as much, but it's not the worst for me, that's for sure. The production is so good though, doesn't mean the songs are great but still good.
The great Jan Ackerman was still playing on Mother Focus. The band's 2nd guitar player, Philip Catherine, while still pretty good can't hold a candle to Jan in terms of dexterity and solo construction