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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20191003

Track by Track 130 All Hens On Deck

Archive number: 130 
Title: All Hens On Deck 
Main Album: Focus X 
Track number: 5 
Genre: Progressive Rock Instrumental 
Studio: Fieldwork Studios, Schoten, Belgium 
Length: 5:44 
Composer: Thijs van Leer 
Musicians: Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, piano, flute, vocals; Menno Gootjes – Guitars; Bobby Jacobs – Bass; Pierre van der Linden – Drums 
Producer: Bobby Jacobs, Geert Scheijgrond
Label: Eastworld Recordings 
Date of recording/release: November 2012
Notes: The track begins full pelt with drums then the band led by percussive guitar, the flute coming in from 00:06. This goes on until at 00:23 we have the breakdown with a series of three strokes, lasting until 00:44 when the Hammond led band takes up the theme. The flute then leads until 01:01 and the second break down. At 01:16 it is van Leer's scat vocal that comes in echoing the guitar with the band until 01:43. Menno's bluesy guitar then goes on until 02:28 when the scat section is repeated until 02:56. Next comes a radical slow down and a majestic, classical section led by the vocal and guitar. At 04:13 the earliest section is repeated, leading into the scat section (from 04:40). A final six strokes brings us almost to the end (05:25) before a long drawn out cat moan vocal contribution by a finally breathless van Leer.

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