"Hamburger Concerto"

I don't often post on this site, but I occasionally snoop around to keep my finger on the pulse on the progsphere, and to get a sense of people's general opinion on bands/albums/etc. This one, I just need to know peoples input. I figured I'd check out "Focus," since I never have listened to them before but heard their name so often. Let me just say, that yodeling-esque vocal over that 70's metal-ish backdrop was hysterical. I sincerely hope they're intent was to be humorous, because they succeeded. But as I was glancing over the reviews, I came over one that said something like "Hamburger Concerto was better and slightly more mature." My jaw has dropped. There is a twenty minute prog epic called "Hamburger Concerto!" That is the best thing I have ever heard. I just want to know what people think about that.

Having witnessed the turbulent glory days of the late 70s , when music  rags MNE, MM and Creem got on the punk bandwagon and dissed intensely anything progressive as being 'bloated, pompous, pretentious and overblown', I can certainly comment on a first hand basis.  Lester Bangs (Not RIP) was the lead cheerleader and his dedication to two chord riffs, dirty clothes, no talent  and puerile attitude is well recorded. 

Edited by tszirmay - April 28 2014 at 11:04

HolyMoly wrote: twosteves wrote: I think lot's of rock music and "rock stars" are full of themselves and pretentious in their own way. Quite so.  Seems that kind of pretentiousness is "ok" and the prog kind is not.  Pretending you're smart is frowned upon; pretending you're dumb is hailed as a sign of genius.

Got it when it was released some 40 years ago......god I'm old!

Hi,

Listened to both Moving Waves and Hamburger Concerto albums last night. Eruption is the track that most impressed me. Seems to be almost a Santana meets ELP/The Nice approach on that. Hamburger Concerto seems a bit unremarkable to me but I need further listens.

FWIW I heartily recommend Hamburger Concerto. Great example of symphonic of classically based progressive rock.

Essential Focus recordings are all from the first to the Concerto.

As for Hocus Pocus the yodelling is hysterical but it's Akkerman's killer guitar work that makes it for me. Plus it's an awesome and original idea.

All IMHO just in case anyone thought it's not.

;)


Edited by uduwudu - April 30 2014 at 05:29

richardh wrote: Listened to both Moving Waves and Hamburger Concerto albums last night. Eruption is the track that most impressed me. Seems to be almost a Santana meets ELP/The Nice approach on that. Hamburger Concerto seems a bit unremarkable to me but I need further listens.

tszirmay wrote: richardh wrote: tszirmay wrote: Having witnessed the turbulent glory days of the late 70s , when music  rags MNE, MM and Creem got on the punk bandwagon and dissed intensely anything progressive as being 'bloated, pompous, pretentious and overblown', I can certainly comment on a first hand basis.  Lester Bangs (Not RIP) was the lead cheerleader and his dedication to two chord riffs, dirty clothes, no talent  and puerile attitude is well recorded.  The irony of course is that the punk movement also gentrified itself, as more talented 'musicians' got to explore the style and they created "New Wave" which, by extension, provided Marillion with the opportunity to reboot progressive rock from the nadir. I distinctly remember my punkier friends showing up with Thomas Dolby, Ultravox and Magazine albums and then pulling out Script from a Jester's Tear, claiming this to be the next Big thing! . Hamburger Concerto was a kitschy title but if ever one has seen Focus live as I have, the first thing they will remember is that Van Leer was a crazy dude, grimacing, making all kinds of humorous anecdotes and having FUN! Akkerman was the serious one! The suite is tongue and cheek (okay, a little saliva) attempt to make it sound like a J.S. Bach epic.  The only outrageously pretentious prog moments was the Montreal Olympic stadium shows by ELP and Pink Floyd (both notoriously famous for poor attitudes by Lake and Waters respectively), completely overblown events that ultimately was the bell of doom for prog, as the press (both musical and otherwise) leaped on the negatives.   Finally, talented 70-80s rock musicians are viewed today with the same reverence as classical composers. What is the problem?  The ELP concert was amazing and I really wish I could have been there. Unfortunately there were technical issues that dogged that gig and absolutely nothing to do with the supposed 'bad attitude' of Greg Lake. That just seems the usual thing put out there and following a trait on this site of blaming ELP for the downfall of prog.  Back to discussing Focus , must admit that this band largely passed me by. I only have Focus 3 from their early days and I might have a live DVD knocking around somewhere with Hamburger Concerto. I'm sure I'll end up getting the album it at some point. There is just too much prog music out there I still can't keep up with it! I was at that show and I assure you it was overblown, too big and too cavernous to fully enjoy.The orchestra was an added touch that was just too much. I do not blame ELP at all, I clearly identify the prog murderers in my opening statement. Even local music writers got on the easy bandwagon and started the anti-prog campaign. Focus was also in their crosshairs!

Edited by richardh - April 30 2014 at 13:59

Love Akkerman on Hamburger Concerto---interesting fact---in the very prestigious  Melody Maker Readers Poll in the 70's---the only year Best Guitarist was not won by either Howe, Page or Clapton--was the year Akkerman won Best Guitarist the year Concerto came out---