FOCUS ON FOCUS 1970 - 1978

'Focus On Focus 1970 - 1978' is a compilation album of Focus. It has tracks that were taken from all studio albums of the band in the 70's, with the exception of 'Ship Of Memories'. So, it covers almost the entire career of the band in that time, including their golden years. Thus, here we have tracks that belong to 'In And Out Of Focus' from 1970, 'Moving Waves', from 1971, 'Focus 3' from 1973, 'Hamburger Concerto' from 1974, 'Mother Focus' from 1975 and 'Focus Con Proby' from 1978. The last one is an album already without the participation of Jan Akkerman as a band's member.

'Focus On Focus 1970 - 1978' was released in 1979 and has fourteen tracks. 'Tommy' is from 'Moving Waves'. It's a small excerpt of their multi-part suite 'Eruption', which is divided into several parts. 'Eruption' is a real progressive masterpiece with great organ sounds, tons of drums, very melodic bass and straightforward hard rock electric guitars. There are some intensely floating Mellotron and backing vocal parts too. 'House Of The King' is from 'In And Out Of Focus'. This is a legendary track. It shows the compositional abilities of Jan Akkerman and the harmony between the flute of Thijs van Leer and the acoustic guitar of Jan Akkerman. Despite be short, it shows their compositional mastery, creative experimentalism and instrumental virtuosity. 'No Hang Ups' is from 'Mother Focus'. It's a pleasant song with good guitar and keyboard works, performed by Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman. This is one the songs where both better played together on that album. 'Sneezing Bull' is from 'Focus Con Proby'. It's an energetic excellent track with a great flute work that becomes its key attraction. As far as I'm concerned, this is easily just as good as anything Focus ever made. It reminds me the earlier Focus' albums. But, this time, it has intense flavours of jazz-rock fusion. 'Focus IV' is from 'Mother Focus'. It's less good as the other Focus' series but doesn't embarrass them. It has almost the same quality of the previous tracks of that series. Still, it's too short and less inspired. 'Anonymous' is from 'In And Out Of Focus'. It's the first great musical moment on their debut album that sounds like Focus that we all know and love. This is a typical Focus track that became as one of the classic songs of the band. The performance of all band's members is absolutely extraordinary and shows clearly the amazing musical talent of all them. 'Bennie Helder' is from 'Mother Focus'. This is a great song where the main characteristics of the group are present. It's well constructed, with nice performances, and a touch of medieval music. 'Sylvia' is from 'Focus 3'. It's a classic from Focus. It's a melodic song conducted by the electric guitar of Jan Akkerman and with great performances by all other band's members, in the supporting role. It's basically a flurry of sounds all meticulously connected. This is a memorable catchy song with an emotive melody. 'Focus II' is from 'Moving Waves'. It's an interesting and melodic piece dominated by the guitar of Jan Akkerman. This is a song that continues the Focus' series, with good song writing and great musical performance by all band's members, as is usual. It has a fantastic interplay between all band's members. 'Wingless' is from 'Focus Con Proby'. It's a nice dreamy and atmospheric track with a nice melody. The guitar work is really stunning and becomes the critical attraction of this track. The vocal work isn't bad despite it doesn't please to everybody. 'Hocus Pocus' is from 'Moving Waves'. This is a legendary track from the band with intensity and some beautiful insanity on it. It's a track that soon we heard it, soon we sing it, and that, in the end, we remain completely free from all tensions and stress after a day's work. This always was one of my favourite progressive tracks of them. 'Harem Scarem' is from 'Hamburger Concerto'. It's a rock oriented song, with some jazzy influences, frantic from the start to end. Here we can see, on the vocals, some the usual 'insanity' of Thijs van Leer. It's a great piece with some impressive guitar and piano works. 'Mother Focus' is from 'Mother Focus'. This is a good and interesting song. It has a groovy and jazzy moody very pleasant to hear and represents one of the highest moments on that album. 'Brother' is from 'Focus Con Proby'. It's a mellow track that provides a nice break on that album. This is a ballad with a vocal work. It's not bad but it isn't great too. The vocal work isn't bad too. Still, I think it isn't for everybody, being more a question of an acquired taste.

Conclusion: 'Focus On Focus 1970 - 1978' is a good compilation album from Focus. It almost covers the career of Focus in the 70's with tracks from 'In And Out Of Focus', 'Moving Waves', 'Focus 3', 'Hamburger Concerto', 'Mother Focus' and 'Focus Con Proby'. The only exception is 'Ship Of Memories'. But, as we know, 'Ship Of Memories' is a very special album of the band, a compilation of unreleased leftover tracks from Focus. So, we can say that 'Focus On Focus 1970 - 1978' is a very well representative compilation album from the band where many of their most classic and progressive tracks are present, I mean, the tracks from their first four studio albums. It's true that 'Mother Focus' and 'Focus Con Proby' are weaker and less progressive too. But, they don't spoil the good quality level of this compilation.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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