Focus
Best remembered for their bizarre chart smash "Hocus Pocus," Dutch progressive rock band Focus was formed in Amsterdam in 1969 by vocalist/keyboardist/flutist Thijs van Leer, bassist Martin Dresden, and drummer Hans Cleuver. With the subsequent addition of guitarist Jan Akkerman, the group issued its debut LP, In and Out of Focus, in 1970, earning a European cult following thanks to the single "House of the King." Dresden and Cleuver were replaced by bassist Cyril Havermanns and drummer Pierre Van der Linden for the English-language follow-up, Moving Waves; the record generated the hit "Hocus Pocus," a hallucinatory epic distinguished by Akkerman's guitar pyrotechnics and van Leer's demented yodeling. Easily one of the flat-out strangest songs ever to crack the American pop charts, the single peaked at number nine in the spring of 1973, by which time Focus had already exchanged Havermanns for bassist Bert Ruiter and issued their third album, Focus III, which yielded the minor hit "Sylvia." In the wake of 1974's Hamburger Concert, the band streamlined the classical aspirations of earlier efforts to pursue a more pop-oriented approach on records like Ship of Memories and Mother Focus; though roster changes regularly plagued Focus throughout the period, none was more pivotal than the 1976 exit of Akkerman, who was replaced by guitarist Philip Catherine for 1978's Focus con Proby, cut with British pop singer P.J. Proby. Focus then disbanded, with the original lineup reuniting in 1990 for a Dutch television special. After splitting again, they reunited for one-offs in 1995 and in 1999. In 2002, Van Leer reformed Focus with a new line-up releasing the albums Focus 8 (2002), Focus 9 / New Skin (2006), and Focus X (2012). In 2010, Nike used "Hocus Pocus" in its Word Cup commerical, Write The Future, renewing global interest in the band. In 2016, Van Leer shifted personnel again to include drummer Pierre van der Linden, guitarist Menno Gootjes, and bassist Udo Pannekeet and released the studio album Focus 8.5 / Beyond the Horizon and Live In England. A year later, Cherry Red issued The Focus Family Album compilation.
© Jason Ankeny /TiVo
Artistes similaires
-
STUDY: Inspiring Creativity with BINAURAL Beats Vol. 1
Focus, Relaxation Study Music, Concentration
Relaxation - Paru chez Naturalism Sounds le 20 mars 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I No Dey Fear (Sped Up)
Gospel - Paru chez Focus Nation le 20 oct. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tranquil Stream Focus: Binaural Concentration by the Waterside
Focus, Binaural Beast, Stereo Creek
Relaxation - Paru chez The Nature Project le 30 nov. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lofi Time: In the Mood for Focus
Focus, Total Relax Lo Fi Music, Lofi Tokyo
Relaxation - Paru chez so.lo.fi le 27 avr. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
BINAURAL Beats: Floating in Serene SLEEP Vol. 1
Focus, Cleaning Music, Gardening Music
Relaxation - Paru chez Experiences In Music le 15 févr. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
STUDY: Gentle Ambient Music for Good Mood Vol. 1
Focus, Classic Jazz, Yoga Music
Relaxation - Paru chez Ambient Ambience le 13 févr. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ocean Focus: Binaural Study Tides
Focus, Focus Frequency, Classical Music For Studying
New Age - Paru chez NatureWave Music le 3 mai 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Clarity Thunder: Focus Mind Chorus
Harper Rems, Thunder Sounds, Focus
New Age - Paru chez NatureWave Music le 19 févr. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shorty Roc (Remix)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Paru chez Digital Realms Interactive le 22 mars 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ocean Focus: Concentration Enhancing Sea Sounds
Focus, Shorenights, The Unexplainable Store
New Age - Paru chez Naturalism Sounds le 15 mai 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Concentration by the Fire: Focused Warmth
Outdoor Field Recorders, Fireplace Music, Focus
Relaxation - Paru chez NatureWave Music le 12 févr. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ocean Focus: Deep Concentration Waves
New Age - Paru chez Naturalism Sounds le 20 mars 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Soothing Rainfall for Concentration and Balance
Factorial FX, Pouring Rain, Focus
New Age - Paru chez NatureWave Music le 24 févr. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Productive Rhythms: Music for Work Focus
Focus, Hyperion Towers, Jaumey
New Age - Paru chez Ambient Ambience le 8 avr. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Centre (feat. Sëmo)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Paru chez 3180330 Records DK le 26 sept. 2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo