Looking at the music of Dutch rock band Focus, started in the late sixties by Thijs van Leer (b /31/03/48) with Jan Akkerman (b 24/12/46). Van Leer still performs and records under the name today (official site here). Akkerman's site here.

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20080529

Track by track 45 No Hang Ups

Archive number: 46
Title: No hang ups
Main Album: Mother Focus
Track number: 10
Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental
Studio: Morgan Studios, Brussels, Belgium
Length: 2' 54”
Composer: Paul Stoppelman
Musicians: Jan Akkerman - Electric guitars; Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ; Bert Ruiter – Bass; Colin Allen - Drums 
Producer: Focus
Engineer: Mike Butcher
Label: LP – Polydor, Atco CD - EMI, Red Bullet, JVC Japan, JVC Victor
Date of recording/release: Recorded 1975, released October 1975. LP – 1975, 1977, CD – 1988, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2006
Notes: This is a more traditional Focus track with a very live feel but a distinctive double beat drum sound. Organ and rhythm section begin (00:00-00:07) then the lead guitar comes in – quietly at first (00:08-00:00:39) before getting louder (00:40-01:09) and continuing to explore the theme, as the organ wows in the background. The earnestness grows to a climax (01:44-02:13) before returning to the quieter style of the beginning (02:14-02:54) and then fading – perhaps rather too early. The track was written by Paul Stoppelman, a friend of the band (he later became a journalist in Israel), and featured in the live act at the time Hamburger Concerto was being showcased.

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