New Book on Focus

A new book has recently appeared on Focus in the Seventies. By Stephen Lambe, the book endeavours to guide the reader through the band's early history year by year, up to the end of the seventies. It deals with eight Focus albums song by song and gives the same treatment to Akkerman and van Leer's solo work 1970-1979. It claims to be a potted history of the band and an insight into the tensions which lead to such a creative - if short lived - peak and "an essential guide to the astonishing music the two men made while at the peak of their powers." Like so many books of this sort it labours under the difficulty of being so appallingly proof read (I'm not sure any attempt was actually made beyond using a computer spell check). The album by album analysis is not appealing to the casual reader either. The approach is to have Lambe voice his own opinion about the music, which is fine where you agree but more difficult where you do not. Apparently, Eruption is brilliant but Anonymus not so and the Introspection albums are too much of their time. It's nice to hear opinions I suppose. It's greatest achievement is to have persuaded me to buy the latest Focus Collection, the fifty year anthology. Anyway, if you are a Focus fanatic do buy it. PS Mr Lambe, please please let me proofread a second edition.

Track by track (128) 148 Victoria

Archive number: 148
Title: Victoria
Main Album: The Focus Family Album
Track number: 4
Genre: Prog Rock Instrumental
Studio: Fieldwork Studios, Schoten, Belgium (Mixed at B-Spot Studio; mastered at Tube Mastering)

Length: 5:28

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, piano, flute; Menno Gootjes – Guitars, Vocals; Bobby Jacobs – Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums

Producer: Bobby Jacobs, Geert Scheijgrond

Engineer: Bram Bol/Geert Scheigrond
Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings
Date of recording/release: 2012/2017

Alternative recording: This is an edit from the version on Focus X
Notes: See Track by track 128

Focus 5

How to write a Focus number - 10 steps

1. Ideally, you need to be Thijs van Leer or a current band member but in theory you could be anyone.

2. Look for an attractive but subtle melody or two. Ideally, sing it with words of some sort. You can be inspired by an event or a person. Don't be afraid to half plunder the classics or, at a push, more recent music. Collaborations can come later, if necessary.

3. Play around with the melodies a bit. Try them fast and slow and in different keys.

4. Get the band together and try to get things in some sort of order. Start and end with any instrument. Be happy to receive collaborations or contributions and don't be afraid to throw in a yodel or something else that is slightly bizarre.

5. Not vital but if it is appropriate, try it out on the road perhaps. Live in it a bit.

6. Find someone to put words to it. Alternatively, start with the words. Don't worry too much about these as they will rarely be heard, if ever.

7. Attempt a recording with the whole band. Aim for around six minutes worth of music but it can be more or possibly less.

8. Possibly, abandon this recording unreleased and start again or cannibalise it for future pieces. Record it in another form on a solo project, if possible.

9. Add a van Leer introduction perhaps and think of a title, usually in English. Puns and rhymes preferred.

10. Record it again in a different arrangement with no vocals and release it on an album to critical praise (or otherwise).

Track by track 120 Focus 9

Archive number: 120

Title: Focus 9

Main Album: Focus 9 (New Skin)

Track number: 8

Genre: Jazz Rock Instrumental

Studio: Fieldwork Studios, Schoten, Belgium

Length: 07:53

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, piano, flute; Niels van der Steenhoven – Guitars; Bobby Jacobs – Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums

Producer: Bobby Jacobs and Thijs van Leer

Engineer: Han Nuijten

Label: Red Bullet

Date of recording/release: Summer 2006

Alternative version: None

Notes: The track begins with a rather simple, fairly halting and jazz style solo piano introduction (00:00-00:29). The organ, bass and brushed drums then join in with a staccato 4 or 5 note theme reminiscent of Focus 3 (00:30-00:55). The acoustic guitar and piano take up the halting jazz theme (00:56-01:24) before the organ, bass and drums return (01:25-01:49). The bulk of the track, all the way from 01:50 to 05:49, is taken up by the guitar and piano, with the theme growing slightly more melodic at times but remaining very much a jazz piece. At 03:15-03:49 and 04:19-04:50 the flute is dubbed in with the other two instruments. At around 05:53 the organ, bass and drums return with the Focus 3-style element. At 06:20 the acoustic jazz guitar starts to take the lead. From 07:14 it is the Hammond organ's turn. The track is almost done by 07:36 except for two piano trills and a final resounding bass note from the piano (7:37-07:53).

Track by track 114 Focus 7

Archive number: 114

Title: Focus 7

Main Album: Focus 9 (New Skin)

Track number: 2

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Fieldwork Studios, Schoten, Belgium

Length: 05:18

Composer: van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, piano; Niels van der Steenhoven – Guitars; Bobby Jacobs - Bass; Pierre van der Linden - Drums

Producer: Bobby Jacobs and Thijs van Leer

Engineer: Han Nuijten

Label: Red Bullet

Date of recording/release: Summer 2006

Alternative version: Later on Completely Focussed album

Notes: We begin with an introduction just on the Hammond organ until at 00:37 a bass note brings in the guitar led band with an exquisite statement of the main theme (00:38-01:10). The theme is restated slightly more stridently (01:11-01:47) before the typically more yearning and heavier version of it comes in (01:48-02:25). It then reverts to something more like the first statement, but helped in due time by the flute (02:26-03:11), which also features in the following stormy version of the more strident element (03:12-03:48). From 03:49 it is quiet again, rising a little before more or less repeating from about 04:27. The piano is quite prominent in these final sections alongside the organ. A live sounding end comes around 05:18, the Hammond going on for at least 10 seconds after the close.

Track by track 103 Focus 8

Archive number: 103
Title: Focus 8

Main Album: Focus 8
Track number: 6
Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental
Studio: Peptide Studio, Vuren
Length: 06' 13”
Composer: Thijs van Leer
Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, piano, synthesiser; Jan Dumee – Guitars; Bobby Jacobs - Bass; Bert Smaak - Drums, Timpani
Producer: Geert Scheijgrond & Focus
Engineer: Geert Scheijgrond & Dick Kemper
Label: Musea/Red Bullet
Date of recording/release: A limited run of 500 of the album appeared in August 2002 to be followed by a general release on CD later that year. Also later on Paras and JVC Victor.
Alternative version: See the fiftieth anniversary CD
Notes: The title track begins with drums, then a rhythmic piano with bass and drums (00:00-00:08). An electric guitar then picks out a descending tune over the band (00:09-00:38). The main heroic guitar led theme kicks in for the first time at 00:39. Backed by piano, timpani and band, it is played several times altogether. At 01:09 there is something of a change of pace and at 01:20 something of a ritartando or slowing down only to pick up again after almost pausing at 01:21, 22. The main theme comes in a second time (01:23-02:00), closing this time with a more staccato slowing down until a piano bridge at 02:12-14. A third assault on the main theme follows (02:15-02:42). This also breaks down at 02:43-48 before a fourth round and break down (02:49-02:42/43-47). The fifth attempt follows from 02:48. This goes on until an organ dominated dip ending at 03:46. The guitar then soars more and the piano is almost lost as we head for the home strait and a final timpani/piano driven assault from 04:31 followed by a descent echoing the earlier guitar led theme with strong Hammond chords at times. The band end in unison around 06:13.

Focus 2

Focus (Instrumental)

Focus (Vocal)

Track by track 95 Focus 7 (Live FLIA)

Archive number: 95

Title: Focus 7 (Live)

Main Album: Focus Live In America

Track number: 8

Genre: Live Progressive Rock Instrumental

Venue: Patriots Theater, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton, New Jersey, USA

Length: 09' 55”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ; Jan Dumee – Gibson Marauder Guitar; Bobby Jacobs - Bass; Bert Smaak - Drums

Producer: Gavin Bott/Bob Carruthers

Engineer: Mike Potter (Orion Sound) Mix (Total audio)

Label: Classical Rock Legends Limited

Date of recording/release: October 2002 (part of a two day Uriah Heep led classic rock legend festival that also featured Nektar, Mostly Autumn and Asia). Released on DVD and CD (edited) in 2003

Alternative version: This track eventually appeared on the Focus 9 album.

Notes: The introductory words from the previous track on the CD are “We go to a number which we actually wanted to record on our latest album, Focus 8, which is hopefully still available here - I don't know - but we didn't. Finally, we didn't make a mix of it and so it's still in the air. It's called Focus number 7.” The track, which ends in electric guitar meltdown pretty much anticipates what was eventually to appear on the Focus 9 album with a different guitarist. We give more analysis there.

Track by track 94 [DVD] Harem Scarem (Live FLIA)

Archive number: 94 [DVD only]

Title: Harem Scarem (Live)

Main Album: Focus Live In America

Track number: 10 (DVD). Not on CD.

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Venue: Patriots Theater, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton, New Jersey, USA

Length: 12' 02”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, Voice, Whistling; Jan Dumee – Guitars (Gibson Marauder and Fender Stratocaster), Voice; Bobby Jacobs - Bass; Bert Smaak - Drums

Producer: Gavin Bott/Bob Carruthers

Engineer: Mike Potter (Orion Sound) Mix (Total audio)

Label: Classical Rock Legends Limited

Date of recording/release: October 2002 (part of a two day Uriah Heep led classic rock legend festival that also featured Nektar, Mostly Autumn and Asia). Released on DVD and CD (edited) in 2003.

Alternative version: This track originally appeared on the Hamburger Concerto album

Notes: The song is not included on the CD. It is introduced with the words “Here's a song I wrote in the pub in Belgium. It's called Harem Scarem.” Bert Smaak counts the band in with his sticks. Both Dumee and van Leer are involved in the “yeah, yeahs”. Van Leer again does his French whistling. Bobby Jacobs uses some sort of foot pedal with his bass to produce a fine bass solo from 08:20 to around 10:40. For some reason Dumee takes opportunity to change guitar during this solo – changing from the marauder to a black Fender stratocaster. Van Leer then leads them into the end at 11:47. He announces Bobby Jacobs' name and says thanks before introducing the next track (see there).

Track by track 92 Focus 5 (Live FLIA)

Archive number: 92

Title: Focus 5 (Live)

Main Album: Focus Live In America 

Track number: 6

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Venue: Patriots Theater, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton, New Jersey, USA

Length: 04' 37”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ; Jan Dumee – Gibson Marauder Guitar; Bobby Jacobs - Bass; Bert Smaak - Drums

Producer: Gavin Bott/Bob Carruthers

Engineer: Mike Potter (Orion Sound) Mix (Total audio)

Label: Classical Rock Legends Limited

Date of recording/release: October 2002 (part of a two day Uriah Heep led classic rock legend festival that also featured Nektar, Mostly Autumn and Asia). Released on DVD and CD (edited) in 2003.

Alternative version: 

Alternative version: This track appears originally on the Ship of Memories album

Notes: On the previous track we have the introduction from van Leer “We'd like to continue with a piece that Focus actually never performed so it's one of the first times we do this now. It's called Focus 5.” The performance is similar to that found on Ship of Memories (from the abortive Chipping Norton sessions) but live. Being much less familiar than other tracks, it gives Dumee opportunity to shine almost in his own right. The rest of the band do well too. At 03:43 it slows it right down to halt at 03:58. We then have a thank you and the data for the next track – for which, see the next track.

Track by track 89 Focus 3 (Live FLIA)

Notes: Archive number: 89
Title: Focus 3 (Live)
Main Album: Focus Live In America
Track number: 10 of 10 (CD) 5 (DVD)
Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental
Venue: Patriots Theater, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton, New Jersey, USA
Length: 04' 43”
Composer: Thijs van Leer
Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ; Jan Dumee – Gibson Marauder Guitar; Bobby Jacobs - Bass; Bert Smaak - Drums
Producer: Gavin Bott/Bob Carruthers
Engineer: Mike Potter (Orion Sound) Mix (Total audio)
Label: Classical Rock Legends Limited
Date of recording/release: October 2002 (part of a two day Uriah Heep led classic rock legend festival that also featured Nektar, Mostly Autumn and Asia). Released on DVD and CD (edited) in 2003.
Alternative version: The original is on the Focus 3 album
Notes: Performed after Eruption on the night, the CD moves it to the end. This is a fairly competent rendition of the number but, despite Dumee's best efforts, loses some of the subtlety of the best Akkerman versions. The music ends at 4:22 and is followed by applause and cheers.

Track by track 87 Focus 2 Live (FLIA)

Archive number: 87

Title: Focus 2 (Live)

Main Album: Focus Live In America

Track number: 3

Genre: Jazz Rock Instrumental

Venue: Patriots Theater, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton, New Jersey, USA

Length: 05' 18”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ; Jan Dumee – Gibson Marauder Guitar; Bobby Jacobs - Bass; Bert Smaak - Drums

Producer: Gavin Bott/Bob Carruthers Engineer: Mike Potter (Orion Sound) Mix (Total audio)

Label: Classical Rock Legends Limited

Date of recording/release: October 2002 (part of a two day Uriah Heep led classic rock legend festival that also featured Nektar, Mostly Autumn and Asia). Released on DVD and CD (edited) in 2003.

Alternative version: This is again a well covered early Focus track

Notes: We begin with the well known organ intro as featured on the Rainbow album. Dumee and the band then join in to execute the piece in fine but unremarkable style, ending at 4' 45” with applause and a thank you from van Leer and his next announcement - for which see the next track.

Track by track 85 Focus 1 (Live FLIA)

Archive number: 85

Title: Focus 1 (Live)

Main Album: Focus Live In America

Track number: 1

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Venue: Patriots Theater, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton, New Jersey, USA

Length: 12' 57”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, Flute; Jan Dumee – Gibson Marauder Guitar; Bobby Jacobs - Bass; Bert Smaak - Drums

Producer: Gavin Bott/Bob Carruthers

Engineer: Mike Potter (Orion Sound) Mix (Total audio)

Label: Classical Rock Legends Limited

Date of recording/release: October 2002 (part of a two day Uriah Heep led classic rock legend festival that also featured Nektar, Mostly Autumn and Asia). Released on DVD and CD (edited) in 2003. 

Alternative version: The original version was on the first album.

Notes: This is a competent version of the very first Focus number with plenty of reverb from Dumee (who, the DVD shows, is not using a tremelo arm). The music lasts for slightly over 12 minutes (00:20-12:34) topped and tailed with applause and van Leer's Thank you and announcement (“That was Focus 1. Now we do a thing called House of the King”). (On the DVD we have the opening announcement at the start "Welcome please Focus"). We begin quietly with just the distinctive Hammond. It also ends quietly with guitar and drums. In between we have a fairly raucous section (around 05:00-08:40) that people cheer, on conclusion. Then there is a slightly reggae-styled (08:41-08:59) section that leads into a beautiful flute section (09:00-11:24) which on conclusion is whistled appreciatively by the audience. As they are about to build up to another crescendo, this is abruptly cut short (11:48) and we return to the earlier earnest strains to close (12:34).

Longest Focus Tracks

The 10 longest Focus tracks are

1 Anonymus 2 (26:19)

2 Eruption (22:57)

3 Hamburger Concerto (20:15)

4 Beethoven's Revenge extended (18:42, short version 10:49)

5 Who's calling (16:14, short version 07:33)

6 Maximum Live (13:58, studio version 08:40)

7 Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! (13:50, live version 11:28)

8 Virtuous Woman (10:57)

9 Beethoven's Revenge (10:49 - the extended version is 18:42)

10 European (Rap)sody (10:25)

Track by track 55 Focus IV

Archive number: 55

Title: Focus IV

Main Album: Mother Focus

Track number: 7

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Decca Studios, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California (later Studio 55)

Length: 3' 54”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Jan Akkerman - Electric guitars; Thijs van Leer – Piano, Mellotron, Synthesiser; Bert Ruiter – Bass; David Kemper - Drums

Producer: Hubert Terheggen/Focus

Engineer: Eric Prestidge

Label: LP – Polydor, Atco, Philips, EMI Date of recording/release: Recorded 1975, released October 1975. LP – 1975, 1977, CD - 1988

Alternative version: A variation on the track was later recorded by Akkerman as Soft Focus (on Blues Hearts).

Notes: Perhaps the most quintessentially Focus track on the Mother Focus album, this fifth use of the Focus title (the previous attempt was not issued until 1977 and so is called Focus V) showcases both Akkerman and van Leer. Van Leer begins with a somewhat lengthy introduction first on classically oriented piano and flute (00:00-00:21) then on piano accompanied by bass (00:22-00:46). Akkerman comes in next with a rich lead guitar backed by drums, bass and piano, which comes to something of a climax (00:47-01:37) before the guitar leads again (01:38-01:55). A bird-like piano and flute section breaks in next then flies with a mellotron backing but reverting to piano at the break down (01:56-02:28). Next it is the turn of Akkerman's guitar to lead again but with plenty of piano backing (02:29-02:52). A rather egregious and harsh synthesiser break twice cuts in then (02:53-02:57/03:06-03:21) separated by the aspiring piano-backed flute (02:58-03:05) – conflict and resolution is a big theme in van Leer's writing. The final guitar-led section brings us nearly to the end (03:22-00:3:31). The final notes feature an again classically styled piano, this time alone (03:32-03:54).

Track by track 37 Focus 5

Archive number: 37
Title: Focus 5

Main Album: Ship of Memories. Also a single in 1975 b/w P's March.
Track number: 3
Genre: Jazz Rock Instrumental
Studio: Chipping Norton Recording Studio, 26-32 New Street, Chipping Norton, Oxon, OX7 5LJ
Length: 2' 57”
Composer: Thijs van Leer
Musicians: Jan Akkerman - Electric guitars; Thijs van Leer – Mellotrons, Flute; Bert Ruiter – Bass; Pierre Van Der Linden – Drums
Producer: Mike Vernon
Engineer: Barry Hammond and Dave Grinsted
Label: LP – EMI, Harvest, Sire CD – EMI-Bovema, IRS, Red Bullet, JVC
Date of recording/release: Final weeks of May 1973. Not released until 1977 (LP). CD – 1988, 1993, 2001, 2006.
Notes: This fourth salvaged track is a slow, subtle, laid back 'Focus' number and is beautiful. It is chiefly led by a double tracked lounge jazz electric guitar, though there is an alto flute passage in the middle at 01:37-02:06. Classically composed it is really jazz rock. Apparently the basic track was laid down first and it was only days later that, late one night, Akkerman finally added the guitars. Although composed and recorded prior to Focus IV it gets the name Focus V as it was only published after Focus IV had been released. Van Leer has a classical version on Introspection 3. Comparisons have been drawn with Akkerman's Javeh (Tabernakel) and Beyond the Loneliest Sea performed with Peter Banks (Two Sides of Peter Banks).

Track by track 27 Focus 2 (Live)

Archive number: 27

Title: Focus 2 (Live)

Main Album: Focus at the Rainbow

Track number: 3

Genre: Live Progressive Jazz Rock Instrumental

Venue: Rainbow Theatre, Finsbury Park, 232 Seven Sisters Road, N4 3NX (recorded using Pye Studios Mobile Unit and edited from the two performances).

Length: 04' 36”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Jan Akkerman – Electric guitar (Gibson Les Paul Custom); Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ; Bert Ruiter - Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums

Producer: Mike Vernon

Engineer: Phil Dunne

Label: LP – Polydor, Sire CD – EMI-Bovema, IRS, Red Bullet, JVC Victor Date of recording/release: May 4, 5 1973/October 1973 (May 4 concert televised UK July 1973) CD 1988, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006

Alternative version: The original of this is on Moving Waves

Notes: The piece opens with an unfamiliar organ solo which eventually turns, to the crowd's delight, into the familiar strains of Focus 2 (00:00-00:41). The organ is joined by 'Violined' guitar (00:42) then drums (00:52) and bass. As in the original, the band then plays and the high soaring guitar of 00:52-01:15 is followed by the jazz break (01:16-01:39) with only drums heard at 01:24-01:28. In 01:29-02:40 the sequence is repeated (Jazz [01:29-01:38], high soaring part [01:39-02:03], Jazz [02:04-02:40 including just drums at 02:10-02:15]). As in the original, a second movement follows (02:16-04:15). This slowly builds, beginning with 'James Bond' guitar and some harmonics. The whole comes to a satisfying climax and then a diminuendo. Finally, we have the sound of the audience and van Leer saying “That we played for you was called Focus 3 and Answers Questions Questions Answers and Focus 2”.