Artist: Focus
Album: Focus
III
Year: 1972
Line-Up: Thijs
van Leer - Keyboards, flute, piccolo, recorder, vocals
Jan
Akkerman - Guitars, lute
Bert
Ruiter – Bass guitar
Pierre
van der Linden - Drums
Label: Sire
Records
Focus,
probably one of my favorite groups of all time. Yes, this artist may
not be an aural obscurity for the basic prog-rocker, but I have
learnt that most people, who know Focus, know it only by name and/or
their most famous track, Hocus Pocus. So, this time I will tell you
something about this wonderfully weird and humorous band’s third
studio album.
The
main drive behind Focus comes from Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman.
After their debut-album, which included lyrical singing by Thijs ,
they have released mostly instrumental progressive rock with good
attitude: beautiful melodies, kick-ass organs, incredible flutes,
ingenious arrangements, and weird yodeling-like singing. Between the
two successes of Moving Waves (or Focus II) and Hamburger Concerto,
Focus III is a vital addition to any prog-rock collection. It
provides all what Focus is about, charming “Sylvia” and “Love
Remembered” at the beginning and solid all the way through to the
legendary “Anonymus II”, running almost half an hour. It’s
probably one of the best rock’n’roll jams I know, brilliant solo
after another including an incredible bass solo by Bert Ruiter. The
medieval influence of Jan Akkerman and his lute is displayed on
“Elspeth of Nottingham”. Honey for your ears.
Sire
Records is an American record label founded in 1966, now owned by
Warner Music Group. It was an independent record label when Focus III
was released, but in 1978 Warner acquired the company, and it became
mainstream in the 80’s as it has released music from acts like
Depeche Mode, Ice-T, The Cure, and even Madonna.
Focus
is still releasing and performing, but without Jan Akkerman. After a
few non-successful releases in the late 70’s and the 80’s, Thijs
and Jan Akkerman parted ways and Thijs made a comeback in 2002 with
Focus 8. Focus X was released last fall, followed by a small tour
around Europe. One of my favorites, here is Focus and “Anonymus II”
Part
2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxU44vMfhUw
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