THE STORY OF FOCUS

When you are not familiar with the music of Focus, compilation albums (like this one) can be a good introduction to the music. So what can you expect? Mainly instrumental (with the occasional yodel), brilliant guitar play, excellent keyboard and flute solos, great drumming and decent bass playing. At times it is hard and heavy, usually melodic, always fantastic.

On this collection there are tracks from the debut album, the classic second (in The Netherlands released as II, in the rest of the world Moving Waves), Focus III and from Hamburger Concerto. With the exception of the first album, these are all classic albums, which should be found every progressive collection. I am personally not very fond of compilation albums, I prefer the original albums. But on this compilation you can't find a worse track.

It features the whole of "Moving Waves" (except the title track which was the weakest one), their two great epics are here as well : "Eruption" (from "Moving..." and their best one : the famous "Hambuger Concierto".

Some songs probably do not belong to the best of their repertoire like : "Focus Vocal", "Le Clochard" or "Carnival Fugue" and could have been replaced by "Love Remembered" and "Focus III" but these are really the only negative points that I can find in this great compilation.

Because their greatest songs / hits are featured : "Hocus" of course (but this one sits on every "Focus" compilation album I guess), their first hit which was my first "Focus" 45 RPM "House Of The King". This one will always hold a special place in my heart.

It is really a shame that this fantastic does not exist in the digital format. No other "Focus" compilation work gets closer to the perfection. This was really haeven for the one who liked to get the best of the band in those remote days.

All the best of "Focus" is a great double vinyl format.

Five stars for this jewel.