Focus 5

Track by track 111 Hello

Archive number: 111 [u]

Title: Hello

Main Album: Unreleased

Track number: 5

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Fieldwork Studios, Schoten, Belgium

Length: 06' 30”

Composer: Jan Dumee

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, Voice; Jan Dumee – Electric Guitar; Bobby Jacobs – Bass, Voice; Pierre van der Linden – Drums.

Producer: Bobby Jacobs and Thijs van Leer

Engineer: Han Nuijten

Label: None

Date of recording/release: This track was recorded in 2006 at the start of preparations for the album Focus 9 – after the departure of Bert Smaak but before the departure of Jan Dumee. It is in the Old Skin collection and has been made available on Jan Dumee's website.

Alternative version: A vocal version by John Lawton with Dumee

Note: The track announces its presence with the sound of a cymbal and two lots of four notes on electric guitar with organ, bass and drums backing (00:01-00:18). We then move into a plaintive guitar led section (00:19-01:09) that becomes perhaps a little more brilliant (01:10) then more quiet (01:33). Dumee seems to be groping for a melody that does not really develop much. At 2:12 a sudden spark of life appears as van Leer adds an onomatapoeic voice. This continues to 2:30 where the plaintive guitar returns. The voice returns for a longer run, 03:52-06:16. In this section the guitar and band get a little wilder. The piece then tails off with a drawn out voice and organ ending.

Track by track 110 Face to face

Archive number: 110 [u]

Title: Face to face

Main Album: Unreleased

Track number: 3

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Fieldwork Studios, Schoten, Belgium

Length: 06' 00”

Composer: Jan Dumee

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Flute, Hammond organ; Jan Dumee – Acoustic Guitar (slide), Electric Guitar; Bobby Jacobs – Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums.

Producer: Bobby Jacobs and Thijs van Leer

Engineer: Han Nuijten

Label: None

Date of recording/release: This track was recorded in 2006 at the start of preparations for the album Focus 9 – after the departure of Bert Smaak but before the departure of Jan Dumee. It has been made available on Jan Dumee's website.

Alternative version: A vocal version by John Lawton with Dumee

Note: This track is very much a Focus track though it sounds slightly strange at the beginning due to a singular use of acoustic slide guitar. We start with a signal from the high hat before the slide guitar and electric guitar set up a riff (00:00-00:05) that is later supplemented by the Hammond organ (00:06) and the band. The bass (with drums) sets up a new riff from 00:13, supplemented first by electric guitar (00:23) then organ with a drum fill (00:30). This leads into a full band performance, with the flute coming in at 00:44 with three clear blasts then more. The main band backed ten note flute riff begins at 01:04 and is repeated four times before reverting briefly to the starting riff (01:25-01:34). This pattern is then repeated (01:35-01:55/01:56-02:08). At 02:09 we return to the beginning but this time we enter a good old fashioned bass and drums section at 02:20. This goes on until 03:33 when the organ begins to come in again. At 03:51-04:03 we have the earlier electric guitar riff. From 04:04 Dumee solos on band backed electric guitar. The ten note flute riff, again repeated four times, comes in again at 04:23-04:42 and 04:54-05:14. Meanwhile, the electric guitar-led band plays out until 05:39 where a punctuated ritartando conclusion begins, closing with the band all on one unified note.

Track by track 102 De Ti O De Mi

Archive number: 102

Title: De Ti O De Mi

Main Album: Focus 8

Track number: 5

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Peptide Studio, Vuren Length: 06' 22”

Composer: Bobby Jacobs

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

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: None Notes: We begin with a dark bass riff backed by drums then organ (from about 00:26). At 00:46 an electric guitar takes up the lead with a yearning jazz melody that when eventually about to build at 01:21 reverts to the sparse bass riff. At 01:39 drums re-introduce the organ and a cleaner electric guitar sound and (from 02:01) the jazz guitar melody. It builds a little more this time until panning out with an organ backed development leading to a caesura at 02:59 and 03:00. For the remainder of the track the guitar-led melody is allowed to develop further, this time eventually taking off to some extent, though still meandering a little and later getting quite earnest. The section eventually begins to fade at 05:55 and ends around 06' 22”.

Track by track 101 Hurkey Turkey

Archive number: 101

Title: Hurkey Turkey

Main Album: Focus 8

Track number: 4

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Peptide Studio, Vuren

Length: 4' 07”

Composer: T van der Kaaij, Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, Voices; Jan Dumee – Guitars; Bobby Jacobs - Bass; Bert Smaak - Drums; Geert Scheigrond - Additional guitars.

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: None

Notes: The studio version of Hurkey Turkey starts very distinctively with 8 slightly odd notes on electric guitars followed by a longer ninth one that also features a crash cymbal (00:00-00:08). We then get another two and one then one and one twice and the drums crash in before one of two main themes starts at 00:15 - a bassy riff thing. This is played several times with van Leer's voice in the background and Dumee going up and down the fretboard. At 01:00 there is a slight change of pace announced by the guitar which then takes up more of a lead with the other contrasting theme. This ends at 01:32 when the first theme returns led this time by the Hammond organ (01:33-02:03). We then go back to the guitar-led second theme (02:04-02:34) before the original theme returns with van Leer's voice more prominent at first. This section slows down around 02:44 and from 02:51-03:12 we have a 'scat' section where van Leer's voice is multi-tracked over just drums, one voice providing a jazzy “danga danga danga dang dumdiddy” style and the other a rather crazy turkey voice! The band then come back, with the guitar getting pretty wild and ending with a fade around 04:07.

Track by track 100 Fretless Love

Archive number: 100

Title: Fretless Love

Main Album: Focus 8

Track number: 3

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Peptide Studio, Vuren

Length: 6'05”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, Flute, Voice; 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: None

Notes: The track begins in quiet and relaxed style with acoustic guitar (possibly synthesised) and a beautiful and melodic flute, backed by the Hammond (from 00:24). At 00:46 we move to a new yearning electric guitar-led section with Hammond and rhythm section. This itself is succeeded (at 01:30) by a funky guitar and organ part (with van Leer's voice giving oompahs at first - again possibly synthesised) and led by a hard blown flute. This is in turn is repeated and developed (from 02:19). Another break in tempo comes at 03:08 and we go into a section led by melodic flute but backed by the band with a riffing style and a distinct underlying guitar motif. Another break comes at 04:09 with a timpani marked halt (almost a caesura). We then return to the yearning electric guitar of the second section but slightly more staccato, until 04:50 where it all gets pretty funky again, this time with a heavier bass and more earnest guitar work from Dumee. This then heads relentlessly for the fade, volume disappearing around 06:05”

Track by track 99 Tamara's Move

Archive number: 99
Title: Tamara's move (Allegro-adagio-allegro)

Main Album: Focus 8
Track number: 2
Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental
Studio: Peptide Studio, Vuren
Length: 5' 14”
Composer: Jan Dumee
Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, Flute, synthesisers, hanclaps; Jan Dumee –Guitars including Spanish guitar, Vocal; Guitar; Bobby Jacobs - Bass; Bert Smaak - Drums
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: None
Notes: The piece is in three sections – allegro, adagio, allegro. The first allegro section is from 00:00-02:12. It begins with double tracked acoustic guitars (00:00-00:07) soon accompanied by the rhythm section, which includes a distinctive synthesised mouth tom tom sound at certain points (00:08-00:00:18). The flute (multi-tracked at certain points) then takes up the lead in joyful style as far as 02:12, with a note held around 01:08 and handclaps from both speakers from 01:36.
The adagio section (02:13-03:34) has two parts. First, a mournful organ and synthesiser backed vocal section that ends at 02:49 with a timpani sound. The words are indistinct but appear to be

Don't let a thing respond,
No breath for you too.
Just signs of trying to forget you,
To exorcise you.
Leave me in your thoughts
But don't you miss the sight.

A drum roll immediately follows (02:50-02:57) and we are into a rather grand instrumental version of the same tune led by guitar with organ that ends at 03:34.
The third section is the flute-led allegro again. The handclaps begin at 04:03, the mouth tom toms are there and the Spanish guitar has a much more prominent role from 04:24.

Track by track 98 Rock and Rio

Archive number: 98

Title: Rock and Rio

Main Album: Focus 8

Track number: 1

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Peptide Studio, Vuren

Length: 3' 24”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, pizzicato synthesiser, voice; Jan Dumee – Guitar; Bobby Jacobs - Bass; Bert Smaak - Drums

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: None

Notes: The track begins with a clicking voice from van Leer soon joined by drums then a distinctive bassy groove with Hammond organ (00:00-00:14). This bassy groove hook alternates with van Leer leading in a yodelling voice (backed by a pizzicato synthesiser early on) and the band (00:15-00:24; 00:25-00:34; 00:35-00:45). At 00:46 Dumee takes up the lead, this part punctuated by staccato beats from the band at 00:56-58 and 01:01-02. Then it's back to the bass groove (01:04-01:13) followed by the yodelling again (01:14-01:23). Dumee leads once more (01:24-00:33) with the staccato punchline (01:34-01:36) and a little improvisation until 01:45 and a new guitar led rising section (to 01:54) followed by a fresh allegro part that includes a Russian like halt at 02:08. At 02:10 we return to the guitar-led style with the punctuation more to the background this time (02:21,22 and 02:26, 02:27). At 02:31 we go back to alternating the distinctive bassy groove and yodelling sections (02:31-02:40; 02:41-51; 02:52-03:06; 03:07-03:11; 03:12-03:24)

Track by track 97 Neurotika

Archive number: 97

Title: Neurotika

Main Album: Focus 8

Track number: 8

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Peptide Studio, Vuren

Length: 3' 42”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, flute, voice; Jan Dumee – Guitar; Bobby Jacobs - Bass; Ruben Van Roon - Drums Producer: Geert Scheijgrond & Focus

Engineer: Geert Scheijgrond & Dick Kemper Label: Musea/Red Bullet

Date of recording/release: This track was recorded early in 2002. The presence of van Roon on drums makes it a unique release. As for the eventual album - a limited run of 500 appeared in August to be followed by a general release on CD later that year. Also later on Paras and JVC Victor

Alternative version: None

Notes: This is the earliest recorded track by the Focus reincarnation that came about when the CONXI line up that had come together as a Focus tribute band was joined by van Leer himself. Called a rehearsal track on the album listing, it is counted in by van Roon (00:00-00:02) and is a mostly fast paced piece driven mainly by bass, drums, organ and guitar but being bolstered by van Leer's voice mainly yodelling (00:18-00:28; 00:44-00:51; 01:07-01:12; 02:29-02:35, etc) and the flute (00:52-01:06; 01:36-01:45, 02:45-02:55) then with a guitar-led middle section (01:46-02:28). The guitar also leads twice with a slower, typically Focus, section at 01:13-01:35, and repeated at 02:56-03:19. We end with a ritartando or slowing down from 03:24 and a live finish.

Track by track 96 Hocus Pocus (Live FLIA)

Archive number: 96

Title: Hocus Pocus (Live)

Main Album: Focus Live In America

Track number: 9

Genre: Live 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, Voice, Whistling; Jan Dumee – 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: One of the most famous and oft repeated Focus tracks, it appeared first on the Moving Waves album.

Notes: On the DVD the flute improvisation that precedes it is separately credited. Beginning with organ too, the flute is mostly solo. This takes us to 02:35 when the organ comes in and van Leer begins on a sort of priestly singing in tongues. This then transmutes (to a loud cheer from the audience) into the famous yodel. Unable to get the high notes these days van Leer switches to a harsh whistling sound, supplemented by Dumee's voice. We are then into the main riff, complete with high volume (sometimes squealing) guitar. This is broken up twice by the yodel and scream, then the strange voice and scream. Third time round we have the low (Van Leer) and high (Dumee) voices. Next time it's the flute then the extended yodel (not quite as long as it used to be). The guitar is frenetic by this point but things cool down for the intros – Bobby Jacobs, Bertie Smaak, Jan Dumee and the man himself on organ and flute. We come out of that with a great driving bass and one more blast from the band ending in unison at 09:13. The crowd then cheer (one man's "Oh yeah" is very distinct), van Leer says thank you very much for the final time and that is the end – though on the CD we have edited in the intro for what is there the final track (Focus 3).

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 91 Sylvia (Live FLIA)

Archive number: 91

Title: Sylvia (Live)

Main Album: Focus Live In America

Track number: 5

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

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

Length: 04' 33”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, Voice; 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: Written way back for Sylvia Alberts, the track was first on the album Focus 3.

Notes: On the DVD van Leer says before this track, “We'd like to play for you a short version of number Focus 3 and then specially for you it's a song called Brother.” Not a bad stab, this effort reprises what is essentially the Rainbow version. Dumee provides the high voice parts alongside van Leer's lower ones. The piece actually closes at 03:38 and band introductions from van Leer follow. These reveal this to be an afternoon performance. He calls himself "your organ player" with no reference to his flute here. He then introduces the next track for which see that 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 88 Eruption (Live FLIA)

Archive number: 88

Title: Eruption (Live)

Main Album: Focus Live In America

Track number: 4

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

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

Length: 16' 27”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, Flute, Whistling, Voice; 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 full original is found on the album Moving Waves

Notes: The announcment for this track is on the previous track. Van Leer says there “Now we'd like to take you to the second side, B side, of our album - actually the first album to break here in the States - that was Moving Waves. And it was a title called Eruption.” Here we start with 'violined' guitar the fare is quite standard until around 04:45 when van Leer comes in first with the flute then some lovely whistling. This leads into a creditable Tommy (from 05:50). Then, after a little more whistling, we have more of the familiar live stuff, allowing Dumee to shine. There is some brief scat from van Leer, mainly at 12:40-13:17, but recurring over the next minute or so after that and including something of a variation on the theme. There is also a jazzy flute-led break at 13:55-14:31 and an organ-led one at 14:32-15:34 which again features van Leer's scat voice at certain points. There is then an abrupt return to the slow original theme (15:35-15:55) to round off. Applause and speech follow from 15:56-16:27. Van Leer says “Thank you so much ... Thanks ... We'd like to do a song that was once dedicated to a girl named Sylvia.” This is an edit, however, as it is clear from the DVD that before Sylvia another two tracks intervened (Focus 3 – at the end of the CD) and Brother (omitted from the CD).

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 86 House of the King Live (FLIA)

Archive number: 86

Title: House of the King (Live)

Main Album: Focus Live In America

Track number: 2

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

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

Length: 02' 53”

Composer: Jan Akkerman

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 oldest and most performed Focus song, this has many versions

Notes: Another competent live version. We go straight into the track (the announcement being on the previous track). It is played in the usual live style, although the Hammond is more prominent than the guitar in the middle eight. We end at 02:35 and amid applause van Leer says thank you and announces “Next piece is called Focus number two”.

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).

Track by track 84 Who's calling?

Archive number: 84

Title: Who's calling?

Main Album: Focus (1985). Also a single b/w Beethoven's Revenge.

Track number: 7

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Studio Spitsbergen, Zuidbroek, Groningen, The Netherlands (mixed at Dureco Studios, Weesp, The Netherlands)

Length: 16' 14” (7:30)

Composer: Jan Akkerman, Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Jan Akkerman - Synthesiser Guitar, drum machine; Thijs van Leer – Keyboards inc synthesisers, Flute, Vocals; Tato Gomez - Bass

Producer: Ruud Jacobs with Jan Akkerman, Thijs van Leer and Theo Balijon

Engineer: Emile Elsen, Jan Akkerman and Theo Balijon

Label: Mercury (Phonogram)/Vertigo

Date of recording/release: Recorded 1985 Released LP/CD -1985 CD – 1989.

Alternative version: There is a later version on Focus 11

Notes: There are longer and shorter versions of this piece. The edited version (more than 8 minutes shorter) appeared on the original vinyl version.

In typically prog rock fashion the closer is a slow march. This is briefly introduced by a dreamy flute and guitar with a synthesised background (00:00-00:29). The march is led first (00:30-01:44) by a synthesised guitar. The flute then takes up the lead (1:45-03:01) backed by guitar and the synthesised beat. At 03:02 there is a break down to a slower, pleasant guitar-led section (until 04:10 on the longer version). The longer version has a transitional section (04:11-04:16) before coming back to the main guitar led theme (04:17-05:31). This too breaks down again at 05:32 and goes on to 06:30 with guitar and a little flute. In 06:31-06:49 the guitar becomes more raucous and the flute more eastern in style. It's then back to the main flute theme again (06:50-08:03) followed by the main guitar theme (08:04-08:46). At 08:47 the flute joins in again and takes things up to another climax at 09:19. At 09:20-10:33 the longer version has a unique section exploring the theme further on more acoustic then more rock like guitars before eventually coming back to the main theme. In 10:33-11:17 the flute leads (in the longer version) in a different key. There is also a section (11:18-11:36) led by the high guitar sound. From 11:37-11:50 the flute takes up the lead again. From 11:51-13:06 (on the longer version; 05:34-06:50 on the shorter one) a choir like chant comes in (van Leer's synthesised and choired voice). The flute brings this section to its climax. The shorter version ends with the keyboards playing out until the fade. The longer version allows the keyboard section to become rather tedious (13:07-14:23) until it is finally rescued by the pleasant addition (14:24-16:08) of the flute (Akkerman has presumably left early). The piece then fades.

Track by track 83 Ole Judy

Archive number: 83

Title: Ole Judy

Main Album: Focus (1985)

Track number: 6

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Studio Spitsbergen, Zuidbroek, Groningen, The Netherlands (mixed at Dureco Studios, Weesp, The Netherlands)

Length: 03' 44”

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Jan Akkerman - Synthesiser Guitar, drum machine; Thijs van Leer – Keyboards inc synthesisers, Flute; Tato Gomez - Bass; Fairlight programmed by Ed Staring.

Producer: Ruud Jacobs with Jan Akkerman, Thijs van Leer and Theo Balijon

Engineer: Emile Elsen, Jan Akkerman and Theo Balijon

Label: Mercury (Phonogram)/Vertigo

Date of recording/release: Recorded 1985 Released LP/CD -1985 CD – 1989

Alternative version: None

Notes: Perhaps the most accessible track on the album, this piece is has a slightly Latin feel but is reminiscent of Birth (Hamburger Concerto) in the juxtaposing of van Leer and Akkerman throughout the song. Van Leer kicks things off with his keyboards, sounding first more reedy (00:00-00:21) then more trumpet like (0:22-0:41) with a trace of flute at the end of the section. Akkerman then steps up to lead with a tough guitar riff (00:42-00:51). We then go back to the trumpet like keyboard briefly (00:52-01:02) before Akkerman has a second stab (01:03-01:23). At this point the flute comes in with gusto (01:24-01:44) before giving way to the trumpet-like keyboards (01:45-02:04) which are inevitably succeeded by the guitar (02:05-02:14). Van Leer's keyboard (02:15-02:35) then flute (02:36-02:45) lead once more before Akkerman closes with a final guitar solo in two parts (02:46-02:51 and 02:52-03:44) that finally fades away.

Track by track 82 Beethoven's Revenge

Archive number: 82

Title: Beethoven's Revenge (Bach-One-Turbo-Overdrive)

Main Album: Focus (1985). Also a single b/w Who's Calling?

Track number: 5

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Studio Spitsbergen, Zuidbroek, Groningen, The Netherlands (mixed at Dureco Studios, Weesp, The Netherlands)

Length: 18' 40" (10' 43")

Composer: Jan Akkerman

Musicians: Jan Akkerman - Synthesiser Guitar, drum machine, Acoustic Guitar; Thijs van Leer – Keyboards inc synthesisers, Flute; Ruud Jacobs – Acoustic Bass; Fairlight programmed by Ed Staring

Producer: Ruud Jacobs with Jan Akkerman, Thijs van Leer and Theo Balijon

Engineer: Emile Elsen, Jan Akkerman and Theo Balijon

Label: Mercury (Phonogram)/Vertigo

Date of recording/release: Recorded 1985 Released LP/CD -1985 CD – 1989.

Alternative version: My Pleasure on Akkerman's solo album Heartware provides the core of this piece

Notes: This track appears in its fullest form on the CD. The original vinyl had an edited version that lacked around 8 minutes of the original. The title references both the 19th Century Romantic composer Beethoven and the 1970s Canadian rock band Bachman Turner Overdrive. Focus had produced long tracks previously but they were mostly composite tracks. This track has several elements but is really more akin to a long jam session based around Akkerman's My Pleasure than anything symphonic.

The introduction (00:00-00:32) uses a strong beat and a scattered keyboard effect before a choppy guitar takes up the lead (00:33-01:02). A wistful, synthesised flute sound comes in next (01:03-01:37) before a new rhythm is introduced led by harp like sounds (probably from the keyboard but possibly the guitar) in 01:38-02:13. The flute like melody then recurs (02:14-02:45) before we break into the very catchy guitar riff that carries the piece (02:44-03:29). Another catchy section follows – probably on the keyboard this time (03:27-03:41). It is then the turn of the guitar again (03:42-04:10) before the original catchy guitar riff and succeeding section are repeated (04:10-04:25; 04:25-04:39). We then move in to a more minor key for the next section (4:40-05:09) before the flute-like, romantic style returns (05:10-05:39). A percussive guitar with bell-like sounds breaks across this for another fresh section (05:40-06:13). A section from 06:14-07:33 first harp-like then flute-like comes next on the extended version, edited out on the shorter one. In 07:34-08:10 the percussive guitar with bells returns and is followed by the catchy guitar, etc (08:11-08:23) then a quieter section with an organ sound (08:23-09:51) and the catchy guitar again (09:52-10:06). In 10:07-10:19 the catchy piece is repeated with a flute sound before another fresher section (10:20-11:26) with a struck harp sound (at 10:40, 41 and 10:49) plus a Spanish guitar. In 11:27-11:54 the synthesiser's pitch fluctuates rather. At 11:55 the double bass comes in as the main theme is attacked at length with an oddly pitched guitar. A large chunk of this final section is (helpfully) cut from the final guitar-led jam (from about 13:22). The band are still going as the music fades.