As everyone knows, Focus has a tradition of making self-titled tracks. This first started on their debut album, and continued with Focus II on their second album, and Focus III on their third. Focus IV came on Mother Focus, and Focus V on Ship of Memories. When the band reunited much later they released the album Focus 8 which also included a track called Focus 8. Focus 7 and 9 where released on the next album New Skin. But what about Focus 6, where is it originally from?

The newly released Completely Focussed bonus CD holds newly recorded versions of all the self-titled tracks; #1 through #11, plus a new 12th one. I don't seem to recognize Focus 6. Anybody knows?

I only have them up to and including Ship Of Memories.

I wasn't aware there was ever a Focus 6 track recorded.

Maybe there wasn't. But now there is.

Then, the next question is why did they skip over number six?

Is there any text in the collection  that explains it?

Maybe it was done just for the box set or was named something else before?

I don't own this new set, so I don't know if there is any information about this in the booklet. It sounds like it could have been from the era around Ship of Memories.

Dellinger wrote: All their focused titles re-recorded... it would sound like an interesting idea... if only Jan Akkerman was part of the band playing them... I'm asuming he's not.

Akkerman is not involved, this was done by the current line-up of the band and released as a bonus CD of the Focus50 set.

Here it is now, Focus 6 from the new Completely Focussed:

Focus VI was originally issued on Thijs van Leer's album Reflections, from 1981 (and as B-side on the single Arioso).

The Discogs album page of https://www.discogs.com/Thijs-Van-Leer-Reflections/master/956296" rel="nofollow - Reflections has it mistakenly mentioned as Focus IV... (See https://www.discogs.com/fr/Thijs-van-Leer-Arioso-Pagliaci-Focus-VI/release/10902908" rel="nofollow - here the discogs page concerning the single).

And of course, you can find it on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-BbzDO5vTA" rel="nofollow - youtube .

Finally an answer to the question, thank you!

I never thought of looking for it on a Thijs van Leer solo album. Hearing the original version now for the very first time...

Yes, definitely. I gave Golden Oldies a 5-star rating. It's the best Focus album since Hamburger Concerto (in my opinion), even though there's no Jan Akkerman.

I perfer the new Completely Focussed album over Golden Oldes, I can definitely recommend it. Focus 1, 2, and 3 have been done a lot, and thus are less interesting. But from Focus 4 onwards it is fantastic! The guitar work is splendid and I do not miss Akkerman at all.