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Focus — Focus III
Album: Focus III
Avg rating:
6.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 674









Released: 1973
Length: 6:02
Plays (last 30 days): 0
(Instrumental)
Comments (105)add comment
EXCELLENT!  This is the 1st time that I have heard this tune. That is why we come here.  Thanx RP!   
I haven't played any of my Focus LPs for awhile and this gives me a little push to get them out. Great stuff! Takes me back to my university days...
 radiojunkie wrote:
Shesdifferent wrote: I do remember Tonto's Expanding Headband. I may even have the LP, though it's not one of mine (merged record collection kind of thing) and I don't think I've ever listened to it. I do own the Focus III lp, however -- along with Moving Waves. Guess that makes me as much of a Focus wonk as Bill!z
Wanna hear some Tonto? Check out the players on some Stevie
Wonder tunes...
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.


If it ain't Dutch, it ain't much.
Hocus Pocus by Focus.

Lyrics, Lyrics, Lyrics!
From memory, this is similar to Focus II on the Moving Waves album.
 wolverine wrote:
Thought  that was an early Genesis piece, oops.
 
I thought it was mid to late 70's Jeff Beck. When Jeff never started jamming I had to walk to the computer to see who this was. Is this this Hocus Pocus by Focus one-hit wonder band?
AWESOME!! Another Focus track I enjoy but, don't hardly hear enuff of!!! Thnx again, B & R!!
 fraserji wrote:
Anyone else hear Don't Sleep In The Subway in this? 
 
When I sleep on the subway, yeah, all the time 
 goodenough wrote:
Most excellent. They were good back in the seventies and are still very relevant today. And unlike a lot of rubbish on here there is actually a melody under there trying [and succeeding] to get out.
 
"Rubbish on here"?  Why are you here?
Helemaal top, maar oer saai vergeleken met Hocus Pocus. Dit was de "wij nemen onszelf te serieus" periode van alle rock bands in de vroege jaren '70.

1976 hete zomer kookte over - Boem Punk  - long live people who don't get too self contemplative and make music for fun.
Similar chords and chord progressions to their other pieces. A nice listen, though.
 ortega1 wrote:
Most annoying. They recorded this on drugs?
 
You don't say, whodathunkit?
Most annoying. They recorded this on drugs?
Never heard this one before.  Very pretty!  Thanks, RP
 fraserji wrote:
Anyone else hear Don't Sleep In The Subway in this? 
 
I keep hearing "Could It Be Magic", but the feeling passes and I really enjoy it.
 unclehud wrote:
Recognized the group via guitar effects.  That delayed (or non-existent) attack is pleasant in small doses.
 
Certain harmonics sound pretty modern and I hear the Eagles and PF
Anyone else hear Don't Sleep In The Subway in this? 
 Shesdifferent wrote:
Wo! total flashback, I thought these guys has seeped into the ethers like "Tonto's Expanding Head Band". Anyone remember them?
 
Yes, and on vinyl...BTW, wasn't "Tonto" the analog synth on a few of  Stevie Wonder's
songs?

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
Most excellent. They were good back in the seventies and are still very relevant today. And unlike a lot of rubbish on here there is actually a melody under there trying [and succeeding] to get out.
never have i ever wanted a piece of music to finish. but that really was dire.
uaaaa boring 
Recognized the group via guitar effects.  That delayed (or non-existent) attack is pleasant in small doses.
These guys sure appreciated being focused 
Our Dutch pride in the 70's with Jan Akkerman on his Gibson Les Paul
Jan Akkerman elected best guitarplayer in the world in 70's. Still going strong. Maybe not the best recording but overall Focus one of my favourites those days.
Thought  that was an early Genesis piece, oops.
Great to hear this brilliant band on RP, still one of my regular go to vinyls!
Thought I could hear Jan Ackerman’s guitar and Thies Van Leers organ
 kcar wrote:

That got played all the time when I was growing up but wow I'm not sure what the point of this track is. 

Blessed relief: Cream's "Deserted Cities of the Heart" but that was a very ugly (truncated) segue, Bill. 

 
I don't know this piece and may never have heard it before. I checked this site to see who and what I was hearing, which seemed rather pedestrian, even if performed by decent musicians. And I see this question about "what the point of this track is". An absurd observation, and yet this was my thought also. Unfair, but real.
 molson wrote:
Whoa, first thought for SURE it was Camel...and I was thinking cool, Bill playing Camel. Never actually heard this song or band before, which is weird since that is my era...hmmm. Its all good.
 
This track does sound like Camel to me too, I saw them both live back in the day. Check out Focus's back catalogue, they were a great Dutch band.
 idiot_wind wrote:
These guys had some pretty good guitar players. Check out: "Hocus Pocus".  

 
That got played all the time when I was growing up but wow I'm not sure what the point of this track is. 

Blessed relief: Cream's "Deserted Cities of the Heart" but that was a very ugly (truncated) segue, Bill. 
Whoa, first thought for SURE it was Camel...and I was thinking cool, Bill playing Camel. Never actually heard this song or band before, which is weird since that is my era...hmmm. Its all good.
Coming after Pink Floyd, I thought, "Twofer Tuesday"
Is this some kind of musical torture?
Sorry but no.
Insipid and uninspired.
Make it stop!
Think this is the epitome of what inspired punk.  Needed a refreshing response after this kitschy prog indulgence (and I am a big prog fan!)
Yeah well it's from '73 so of course I like it....

I don't remember the group, but I do remember the song.

I gave it a 7, that's not a bad score as I'm a picky listener.

This is a great example of Jazz Rock Fusion from that time.
Bought this one when it first came out ... got to see them play at Winterland in '73.  Arrrgh, those were the days!
Yep, loved it too, more please.. really love diversity of this station, and that it caters for such a wide range of listeners
These guys had some pretty good guitar players. Check out: "Hocus Pocus".  

Thanks for the nice flashback to my college radio station days in the early 70s. While this may not be a "10" I always like the way you mix in many things for all us listeners Bill!


Just tuned in and the instrumental part reminded me of Santana...
 UncleRemus wrote:
I just thought of another song this one reminds me of - DOA by Bloodrock.

 
Yes!  

My we do date ourselves, eh?   
This pales in comparison with Hocus Pocus (by Focus) imho. That is an exercise in manic behaviour and tweeks my  stereocilia a treat.
Focus became known for the popular yodel song but had lots of great material.
RP, center of musical archeology. Fascinating artifact of the era, perhaps the missing link for a few species of rock. Never heard it before. 
This sounds like some kind of jazzed up theme music for The Rockford Files.
mojoman wrote:
This is the same Dutch band Focus that gave us that wonderfully wacky early '70s song "Hocus Pocus" in which the lead singer/guitarist (forget his name) did some truly wild yodeling.
Mm, guitarist Jan Akkerman isn't too fond of singer/flute player Thijs van Leer since Focus broke up, so he probably won't be called Focus' singer Thijs van Leer has reformed a Focus reunion band with all different, young musicians. Its guitarist has been a lifetime fan of Akkerman and is specialized in his sort of guitar playing.
Shesdifferent wrote:
Wo! total flashback, I thought these guys has seeped into the ethers like "Tonto's Expanding Head Band". Anyone remember them?
I do remember Tonto's Expanding Headband. I may even have the LP, though it's not one of mine (merged record collection kind of thing) and I don't think I've ever listened to it. I do own the Focus III lp, however -- along with Moving Waves. Guess that makes me as much of a Focus wonk as Bill!
Not bad. It does make me want to hear 'Nursery Cryme' again.
Wo! total flashback, I thought these guys has seeped into the ethers like "Tonto's Expanding Head Band". Anyone remember them?
Make it stop! This song blows in so many ways!!!!
Sounds a little like "Volare" in there... And I like the Yodeling Song (Hocus Pocus?) FWIW.
:headshake:
Cheers to the person that uploaded this track Nice to have it in the mix!
trekhead wrote:
Well, they're FOCUSed on crafting their sound after PF...
I would say much more early Genesis, Procol Harum, or Camel than ever Pink Floyd. And, really, the guitar completely reminds me of Jeff Beck's "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat." Anyone? So much good progrock out there...these guys barely deserve a mention.
I'm pleased to say that my sucko-barfo rating lowered the average from a 5 to a 4.9...my vote counted in this case! yea!
Wow! I had no idea. This is much better than the yodeling song.
Ookla wrote:
Almost got my hopes up as intro sounded similar to PF's PIGS
Me too -- just for the first few seconds though. Oh well, maybe RP will play Pigs sometime
Well, they're FOCUSed on crafting their sound after PF... Not a bad thing. An 8.
Haven't heard Focus for about 20+ years so this was a bit of a flashback for me. Thanks
mojoman wrote:
This is the same Dutch band Focus that gave us that wonderfully wacky early '70s song "Hocus Pocus" in which the lead singer/guitarist (forget his name) did some truly wild yodeling.
Great Dutch musicians indeed: Jan Akkerman (Guitar) and Thijs van Leer (Flute) https://www.literatura.hu/rock/progressive/focus.htm
May sound odd, but, the charts on this make me think that this is what Heavy Weather-era Weather Report would sound like if they had tried rock.
This is the same Dutch band Focus that gave us that wonderfully wacky early '70s song "Hocus Pocus" in which the lead singer/guitarist (forget his name) did some truly wild yodeling.
It is so funny that when people hear a different sound instantly try to label to something familiar from Jeff Beck to Pink Floyd, to Santana on acid.
lotus_65 wrote:
more like jeff beck to me.
Had me fooled. I thought it was some mid '70s Jeff Beck. They must be doing something right.
Any reason this sounds like "Chamber of 32 Doors" by Genesis? In a disturbingly similar way?
nauseous.
Ookla wrote:
Almost got my hopes up as intro sounded similar to PF's PIGS
Thank you!
trekhead wrote:
Is NO one else getting Floyd outta this?
Again. This began JUST like something off ANIMALS. With the grunting pigs... unreal.
Almost got my hopes up as intro sounded similar to PF's PIGS
Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, and Styx- Madame Blue... aroo?
trekhead wrote:
Is NO one else getting Floyd outta this?
more like jeff beck to me.
Man what an excellent tone on the guitar leads.
Hannio wrote:
Ha! I remember that one. What was the guy's name? Nitzinger, I think. You must have grown up in the DFW area. I can't imagine them being heard of by anyone anywhere else.
Heard them here on the East Coast too. I remember, We were flying along, And hit something in the air... Creepy. specially the part about pain is flowing out with my blood... But I digress. It's not often you get the name of a group in the song too. (Focus - Focus III)
UncleRemus wrote:
I just thought of another song this one reminds me of - DOA by Bloodrock.
Ha! I remember that one. What was the guy's name? Nitzinger, I think. You must have grown up in the DFW area. I can't imagine them being heard of by anyone anywhere else.
this is just straight-up strange....i dont get it!
trekhead wrote:
Is NO one else getting Floyd outta this?
I'd like to get my ears out of this. This sounds like Santana on an overdoes of Valium. Wake me when it's over.
trekhead wrote:
Is NO one else getting Floyd outta this?
I was just going to say the same thing. Sadly...it's not.
Is NO one else getting Floyd outta this?
stubbsz wrote:
If Tux were a Rock Band, this is what I would expect...
Even though I know you mean this negative, I'm still honoured :)
tblock wrote:
Not really, IMO. Some of those whining female drone singers are much worse.
Yeah really at least this tries to rock (something sorely missing around here) And don't say upload it, because rock songs don't get accepted!
If Tux were a Rock Band, this is what I would expect...
SuperWeh wrote:
The synth reminds me a bit of some Laurie Anderson song.
I just thought of another song this one reminds me of - DOA by Bloodrock.
ColdBear wrote:
Boooooooooooooooooooooring
Not really, IMO. Some of those whining female drone singers are much worse.
The synth reminds me a bit of some Laurie Anderson song.
Boooooooooooooooooooooring
Pretty good. Nice to hear. Fine for calming down after yet another costomer on the phone, or after some crap music. Good for my nerves.
aharamanx wrote:
Don't sleep in the subway, darling. Don't stand in the pouring rain........ Ug & Blech. i thought the same thing! i must be a relic of 60's pop also.
PattonFever wrote:
sounds like an opening theme for an 80s sitcom. that's not necessarily bad, but it's not good, either.
agreed, yet i'm gonna say that this song doesn't deserve the "honor" of being the theme for an 80s sitcom
sounds like an opening theme for an 80s sitcom. that's not necessarily bad, but it's not good, either.
:D Really nice to hear Focus again - brings me right back to when I was little (wel...). And reminded me to dig into my unused collection of vinyls to revisit Focus. Bravo, RP!!
This is pretty bad. Maybe the kind of song you want to listen to after your third heart attack, to avoid any excitement. But not before that.
Sorry, this sounds like Bar Mitzvah muzak.
MA wrote:
I like Focus but they've got songs that are much stronger that this one. How about Hocus Pocus? Nevertheless, Radio Paradise shines once again with their unique choices and variety of songs that they are playing.
i've heard hocus pocus quite a few times on rp. that song is an anomaly, tho. this is much more representative of of focus' very continental dutch prog sound. once i was at a focus concert somewhere in orange county in the 1970's. i was next to the stage in this funky venue when jan akkerman STEPPED ON MY HEAD whilst going up the rickety stairway to go on stage. top THAT! just one of my myriad claims to fame. btw, jan akkerman is one of the best electric rock guitarists EVER. even if you don't go for focus' sound, they are a band worth listening to just to hear his insane guitar solos!
MA wrote:
I like Focus but they've got songs that are much stronger that this one.....
I might agree but it's still something and more progressive rock added to the RP playlist
Whoa... major flashback! And it holds up pretty well, I'd say. The guitar player, Jan Akkerman, released a very fine solo album in the late 70s. Probably impossible to find now though.
Say Cheeeesssseeeeee
I like Focus but they've got songs that are much stronger that this one. How about Hocus Pocus? Nevertheless, Radio Paradise shines once again with their unique choices and variety of songs that they are playing.
OK, these are the same guys who released "Hocus Pocus", you know, with the yodeling, and the flute riffing, and the killer guitars. This piece is so... hardcore prog. What else is on the album, I wonder? Ska? The roots of gangsta rap--in Amsterdam? ... I give it a 9. Bill gets an 11 for the near-imperceptible seque into Kent's "Dom Andra".
As much as I dig yodeling, it's nice to hear a Focus track other than "Hocus Pocus".
Still refreshing after all these years, big influence on me as a kid in Norway.
Focus! -- Haven't listened to this band for well over a decade. Still sounds great.
Did Outkast borrow some of this for Wheels of Steel? Sounds like it.