Track by track 210 Gaia

Main Album: Focus 12

Title: Gaia

Track number: 10

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands

Length: 4:16

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Piano, Hammond organ, Flute; Menno Gootjes – Guitars; Udo Pannekeet - Bass; Pierre van der Linden - Drums

Producer: Udo Pannekeet and Menno Gootjes

Label: Spirit of the Unicorn

Date of recording/release: July 2024

Alternative recording: None

Notes: After a stately piano-led band introduction in the first part, just under two minutes long, a quicker section breaks in with flute and organ and then guitar then flute again, eventually echoing the earlier theme and then fading out. Name of another grand child it seems.

Track by track 208 Bowie

Main Album: Focus 12

Title: Bowie

Track number: 8

Genre: Piano piece

Studio: Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands

Length: 3:24

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Piano

Producer: Udo Pannekeet and Menno Gootjes

Label: Spirit of the Unicorn

Date of recording/release: July 2024

Alternative recording: None

Notes: This pleasant piece is all on piano with no accompaniment. One would think it is undoubtedly a reference to the late David Bowie but it turns out that Bowie is the name of a van Leer grand daughter and so matches Wim not Janis..

(Wikipedia) David Bowie

David Robert Jones (1947-2016) known professionally as David Bowie - English singer, songwriter, musician, actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, he was acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his innovative work during the 1970s. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, and his music and stagecraft had a significant impact on popular music. He developed an interest in music from an early age. He studied art, music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963. He released a string of unsuccessful singles with local bands and a self-titled solo album (1967) before achieving his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart with "Space Oddity" (1969). After a period of experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with the flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The character was spearheaded by the success of "Starman" and the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (both 1972), which won him widespread popularity. In 1975, Bowie's style shifted towards a sound he characterised as "plastic soul", initially alienating many of his UK fans but garnering his first major US crossover success with the number-one single "Fame" and the album Young Americans (both 1975). In 1976, Bowie starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released Station to Station. In 1977, he again changed direction with the electronic-inflected album Low, the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that came to be known as the Berlin Trilogy. Heroes (1977) and Lodger (1979) followed; each album reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise. After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s, Bowie had three number-one hits: the 1980 single "Ashes to Ashes", its album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) and "Under Pressure" (a 1981 collaboration with Queen). He achieved his greatest commercial success in the 1980s with "Let's Dance" (1983). Between 1988 and 1992, he fronted the hard rock band Tin Machine before resuming his solo career in 1993. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, he continued to experiment with musical styles, including industrial and jungle. He also continued acting; his roles included Major Jack Celliers in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth (1986), Phillip Jeffries in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), Andy Warhol in the biopic Basquiat (1996), and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige (2006), among other film and TV appearances and cameos. He stopped touring after 2004 and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006. He returned from a decade-long recording hiatus in 2013 with The Next Day and remained musically active until his death from liver cancer in 2016. He died two days after both his 69th birthday and the release of his final album, Blackstar. During his lifetime, record sales, estimated at over 100 million records worldwide, made him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. Often dubbed the "chameleon of rock" due to his constant musical reinventions, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Rolling Stone ranked him among the greatest artists in history.

Track by Track 202 Focus 13

Main Album: Focus 12

Title: Focus 13

Track number: 2

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands

Length: 5:09

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ; Menno Gootjes – Guitars; Udo Panekeet – Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums

Producer: Udo Pannekeet and Menno Gootjes

Label: Spirit of the Unicorn

Date of recording/release: July 2024

Alternative recording: None

Notes: A few seconds of drums introduce the whole guitar-led band playing the main slow theme. Around 02:30 there is a ritardando and at 03:37 the briefest of caesurae, then a brisk new theme comes in until 03:21 when a further development breaks in as guitar and hammond organ swap the lead. At 04:04 a frenetic guitar riff lead comes in and takes things on to the end with several reverbed siren-like elements.

Track by Track 201 Fjord Focus

Archive number: 201

Title: Fjord Focus

Main Album: Focus 12

Track number: 1

Genre: Progressive Jazz Instrumental

Studio: Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands

Length: 4:24

Composer: Thijs van Leer

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

Producer: Udo Pannekeet and Menno Gootjes

Label: Spirit of the Unicorn

Date of recording/release: July 2024

Alternative recording: None

Notes: Focus keep up the humour with a tongue in cheek reference to the Ford Focus motor car. We begin with the whole band pumping out a majestic and orchestral theme that breaks down at the 30 second mark with a jazzy guitar-lead and more mellow section, a flute section coming in 00:52-01:16 and a series of descending scales to 01:40 when the original theme breaks back in again. At 02:07 Menno takes up the lead jazz rock electric guitar (all in one take apparently). At 03:39 the flute drifts back into the mix with piano too as things once again settle down to the close. 

Track by track 200 Focus 12 (Introspective Duet Between Menno & Me - A Well-Deserved Pause For Pierre & Udo!)

Archive number: 200

Title: Focus 12

Main Album: Focus 50 Completely Focussed Disc

Track number: 12

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: WedgeView Studios, Netherlands

Length: 4:13

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Piano; Menno Gootjes – Guitars

Producer: Geert Scheigrond

Engineer: Geert Scheigrond

Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings

Date of recording/release: June 2021

Alternative recording: None

Notes: This new track is again performed in a minimalist style with only two instrumentalists

Track by track 199 Focus 11 (Another wordless song)

Archive number: 186

Title: Focus 11 (Another wordless song)

Main Album: Focus 50 Completely Focussed Disc

Track number: 11

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: WedgeView Studios, Netherlands

Length: 3:34

Composer: Thijs van Leer

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

Producer: Geert Scheigrond

Engineer: Geert Scheigrond

Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings

Date of recording/release: June 2021

Alternative recording: Focus 11

Notes: This is a pretty much live re-recording of the original Focus number with full band but with some changes of instrumentation.

Track by track 198 Focus 10 (Sophisticated)

Archive number: 185

Title: Focus 10 (Sophisticated)

Main Album: Focus 50 Completely Focussed Disc

Track number: 10

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: WedgeView Studios, Netherlands

Length: 3:15

Composer: Thijs van Leer

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

Producer: Geert Scheigrond

Engineer: Geert Scheigrond

Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings

Date of recording/release: June 2021

Alternative recording: Focus X

Notes: This swinging jazz number is shorter than the original but similar otherwise.

Track by track 197 Focus 9 (Classic Dream)

Archive number: 184

Title: Focus 9 (Classic Dream)

Main Album: Focus 50 Completely Focussed Disc

Track number: 9

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: WedgeView Studios, Netherlands

Length: 4:25

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Piano; Menno Gootjes – Guitars

Producer: Geert Scheigrond

Engineer: Geert Scheigrond

Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings

Date of recording/release: June 2021

Alternative recording: Focus 9/New Skin

Notes: This minimalisitc version of the track drops the bass and drums and the flute.

Track by track 196 Focus 8 (Rondo)

Archive number: 183

Title: Focus 8 (Rondo)

Main Album: Focus 50 Completely Focussed Disc

Track number: 8

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: WedgeView Studios, Netherlands

Length: 5:50

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, piano; Menno Gootjes – Guitars; Udo Panekeet – Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums

Producer: Geert Scheigrond

Engineer: Geert Scheigrond

Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings

Date of recording/release: June 2021

Alternative recording: Focus 8

Notes: A much improved version of the track, chiefly due to the drums of Pierre van der Linden, which start the track off and close it.

Rondo The rondo is a musical form that contains a principal theme (sometimes called the "refrain") which alternates with one or more contrasting themes, generally called "episodes", but also occasionally referred to as "digressions" or "couplets". Some possible patterns include: ABACA, ABACAB, ABACBA, or ABACABA.

The rondo form emerged in the Baroque period and became increasingly popular during the Classical period. The earliest examples of compositions employing rondo form are found within Italian opera arias and choruses of the first years of the 17th century. These examples use a multi-couplet rondo or chain rondo (ABACAD) known as the Italian rondo.

Track by track 194 Focus 6 (Thinking and Drinking)

Archive number: 194

Title: Focus 6 (Thinking and Drinking)

Main Album: Focus 50 Completely Focussed Disc

Track number: 6

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: WedgeView Studios, Netherlands

Length: 3:40

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, flute; Menno Gootjes – Guitars; Udo Panekeet – Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums

Producer: Geert Scheigrond

Engineer: Geert Scheigrond

Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings

Date of recording/release:  June 2021

Alternative recording: None

Notes: This rare track often threatens tot turn into one of the other tracks in the series but is ts own beast.

Track by track 193 Focus 5 (Impressionistic ...)

Archive number: 180
Title: Focus 5 (Impressionistic ...)
Main Album: Focus 50 Completely Focussed Disc
Track number: 5
Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental
Studio: WedgeView Studios, Netherlands
Length: 3:54
Composer: Thijs van Leer
Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ; Menno Gootjes – Guitars; Udo Panekeet – Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums
Producer: Geert Scheigrond
Engineer: Geert Scheigrond
Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings
Date of recording/release: June 2021
Alternative recording: Ship of Memories
Notes: This is a pretty much live re-recording of the original Focus number with full band. No flute this time.

Track by track 192 Focus 4 (Rock Ballad)

Archive number: 179

Title: Focus 4 (Rock Ballad)

Main Album: Focus 50 Completely Focussed Disc

Track number: 4

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: WedgeView Studios, Netherlands

Length: 4:30

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Piano, flute; Menno Gootjes – Guitars; Udo Panekeet – Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums

Producer: Geert Scheigrond

Engineer: Geert Scheigrond

Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings

Date of recording/release: June 2021

Alternative recording: Mother Focus

Notes: This is a pretty much live re-recording of the original Focus number with full band but no Hammond organ or synthesiser.

Track by track 190 Focus 2 (Mini-opera)

Archive number: 177

Title: Focus 2 (Mini-opera)

Main Album: Focus 50 Completely Focussed Disc?

Track number: 2

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: WedgeView Studios, Netherlands

Length: 4:39

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, flute; Menno Gootjes – Guitars; Udo Panekeet – Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums

Producer: Geert Scheigrond

Engineer: Geert Scheigrond

Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings

Date of recording/release: June 2021

Alternative recording: It was first on the second album. Van Leer and Akkerman have nice versions on solo albums.

Notes: This is a pretty much live re-recording of the original with full band. Some nice double tracked flute early on.

Track by track 189 Focus 1 (Statement)

Archive number: 176

Title: Focus 1 (Statement)

Main Album: Focus 50 Completely Focussed Disc

Track number: 1

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: WedgeView Studios, Netherlands

Length: 3:34

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ; Menno Gootjes – Guitars; Udo Panekeet – Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums

Producer: Geert Scheigrond

Engineer: Geert Scheigrond

Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings

Date of recording/release: June 2021

Alternative recording: In and Out of Focus, Golden Oldies, etc

Notes: This is a pretty much live re-recording of the original Focus number with full band. There is no vocal.

Track by track 175 Focus 11

Archive number: 175

Title: Focus 11

Main Album: Focus 11

Track number: 11

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: WedgeView Studios, Netherlands

Length: 6:11

Composer: Thijs van Leer

Key: C#

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

Producer: Geert Scheigrond

Engineer: Geert Scheigrond

Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings

Date of recording/release: November 2018

Alternative recording: Focus 50 Album Complelely Focussed

Notes: This stand out track is in several parts. We begin with with a beautiful guitar led slow melody that takes us to 1:15. Something more brisk then breaks in, introdiced by the piano but led by the guitar, flute and piano. This goes on until 1:47, ending on a long drawn out note that is succeeded by a further part based around a very catchy 10 note tune on guitar. At 3:07 there is a flute led bridge as far as 3:31 when the catchy melody comes back in. This meanders on until 4:38. From there to 5:41 we have a guitar led tune, again very catchy and ending on a long drawn out note. The final section is a repeat of the second brisk element from before, again featuring piano and flute. The track ends with a flourish on solo flute.

Track by track 158 Santa Teresa

Archive number: 158

Title: Santa Teresa

Main Album: The Focus Family Album

Track number: 14

Genre: Sung Ballad

Studio: Wedgeview Studios(Woerdense Verlaat, Netherlands) Fieldwork Studios (Schoten, Belgium)
Skystudio and Bassbob Studios

Length: 6:00

Composer: van Leer

Musicians: Ivan Lins vocals, Thijs van Leer organ flute, Menno Gootjes guitar, Udo Pannekeet bass, Pierre van der Linden drums

Producer: Geert Scheigrond

Engineer: Geert Scheigrond

Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings

Date of recording/release: 2017

Alternative version:

Notes: A crash of cymbal and a chord in unison from the band begin the track and after about 20 seconds of Hammond dominated introduction, the singer (Ivan Lins) begins with the hymn like words below in Spanish. At 1:50 a flute breaks in and there is a flute led instrumental break. At 2:26 the vocal returns. By the 4 minute mark Vins has risen to something of a tuneful shout an the band takes over again, this time with the electric guitar leading. Then on the five minute marker Vins sings for thfinal time and the song comes to an end.

Lyrics: Santa Teresa Enamorada.

Santa Teresa Enamorada.
Maravillosa
Vas tan de prisa,
Camino a tu amado
Tómanos de la mano, Tómanos de la mano

Virgen del Carmen
Estrella de Chile
Tu hija Teresa
Es nuestra alegría.
Virgen del Carmen
Abre tu manto de gracias, de luces
Tómanos de la mano, Tómanos de la mano

Santa Teresa Enamorada
Santa Teresa Enamorada
Maravillosa
Vas tan de prisa,
Camino a tu amado
Tómanos de la mano, Tómanos de la mano.

Virgen del Carmen.
Estrella de Chile.
Tu hija Teresa
Es nuestra esperanza.
Virgen del Carmen
Abre tu manto de gracias, de luces
Tómanos de la mano. Tómanos de la mano.

Santa Teresa Enamorada
Santa Teresa Enamorada
Maravillosa
Vas tan de prisa Camino a tu amado
Tómanos de la mano. Tómanos de la mano

Translation

St Theresa, beloved, St Theresa, beloved.

Wonderful.

You go so fast

On the way to your beloved.

Take us by the hand, take us by the hand.

Virgin of Carmen, Star of Chile

Your daughter Theresa

It is our joy.

Virgin of Carmen

Open your mantle of graces, of lights

Take us by the hand, take us by the hand.

Virgin of Carmen, Star of Chile

Your daughter Theresa

It is our joy.

Virgin of Carmen

Open your mantle of graces, of lights

Take us by the hand, take us by the hand.

St Theresa, beloved, St Theresa, beloved.

Wonderful.

You go so fast

On the way to your beloved.

Take us by the hand, take us by the hand.

Track by track 145 Nature is our friend

Archive number: 145

Title: Nature is our Friend 

Main Album: The Focus Family Album 

Track number: 1 

Genre: Solo instrumental 

Studio: Unknown 

Length: 3:14 

Composer: Thijs van Leer 

Musicians: Thijs van Leer – 1989 Muramatsu Flute 

Producer: Geert Scheigrond 

Engineer: Geert Scheigrond 

Label: In and Out of Focus Recordings 

Date of recording/release: 2017 

Notes: Thijs apparently wanders in the woods playing his flute with background nature sounds.

Track by track 127 Focus 10

Archive number: 127

Title: Focus 10

Main Album: Focus X

Track number: 2

Genre: Jazz 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

Mastered: Andy Jackson

Mixed: Bram Bol

Label: Eastworld Recordings 

Date of recording/release: November 2012

Alternative version: None

Notes: This is the title track and the tenth in the eponymous series. The drums again briefly introduce the guitar led band. The tune is a playful jazzy, even at times a quirky and teasing, one. The tune has something of a French feel to it. Beginning at 00:02 it goes on to 02:28 before the flute joins in. This flute section then goes on until around 03:40 before being chiefly superseded by the guitar although it does make some brief comebacks. At 05:02 the piece breaks down and first only piano and organ play and then for the final 33 seconds just solo jazz piano to close the track.

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 125 It takes 2 2 tango

Archive number: 125

Title: It takes 2 2 tango

Main Album: Focus 9 (New Skin)

Track number: 13

Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental

Studio: Fieldwork Studios, Schoten, Belgium

Length: 07:57

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: This further exploration of the tango form is quite slow for the most part. The band handle the first five minutes or so like a jazz quartet but with the familiar Focus rises and falls. There are some very attractive guitar phrases here as it somehow tells a story without words. Just when you have forgotten the tango title, tango rhythms break in first at 05:07-05:40 and then again at 06:08-06:42. In both cases the piano leads, followed by organ, then drums and then flute. The old theme soon reasserts itself (05:40-06:07 and 06:43-07:57), The whole closes on a suitably dramatic and extended note.