Focus Con Proby [Import]

Focus | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Import
• ASIN: B000007W4K
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,300 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #43 in Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Netherlands

Track Listings

1. Wingless

2. Orion

3. Night Flight

4. Eddy

5. Sneezing Bull

6. Brother

7. Tokyo Rose

8. Maximum

9. How Long

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Focus Con Proby displays musical virtuosity, December 22, 1999

By 

"jfelderman" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Focus Con Proby (Audio CD)

Focus Con Proby, released in 1977, features a new guitar lineup for Focus. Jan Akkerman, a true virtuoso, was no longer in the band. However, this recording features further displays of guitar virtuosity from Eef Albers and Philip Catherine. Eef, a Dutch guitar genius who is still actively performing today, is featured on the first 3 cuts and is absolutely dazzling. In particular, his playing on "Wingless" is both beautiful and a technical tour de force. Philip Catherine, a brilliant French guitarist, is featured on several cuts and is particularly dazzling on "Maximum."

The nice thing about this recording is that while the playing is very technically advanced, it's also very tasteful and enjoyable to listen to.

Highly recommended.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Trashed at the time but really surprising & underrated, April 15, 2004

By 

Dave van der Spank (Utrecht Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Focus Con Proby (Audio CD)

At the time of release this one was killed by bad critics. Over time, it is still a hit & miss record, but the hits are right on the mark. Indeed a weird, but interesting combination of a jazzrock outfit around Thijs van Leer plus PJ Proby.
Although not always sounding sober his voice is impressing & in place in the Focus classic "Brother".
The song "Maximum" is a true Focus gem, though completely unnoticed it seems. This is how jazzrock should sound like!
Also Orion, Wingless, Eddy and Sneezing Bull add in their own jazzy flavor, making for a varied album full of surprises.
And the story about Tokyo Rose? Well, also PJ Proby deserved a drink after all the "hard" work, didn't he?

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 STARS... GREAT INSTRUMENTALS.... SO SO VOCALS, October 29, 2001

By 

Scott T Mc Nally (ORLANDO, Fl USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Focus Con Proby (Audio CD)

Focus was a progressive rock band best remembered for Hocus Pocus, though there was much more to them than heavy metal fused with yodeling. Vocalist P.J. Proby is best remembered by middle aged Brits for a couple of hit singles during the Mersey beat era of the early to mid 60's, though they probably remember him better for his tight pants splitting open on the BBC during a live performance. Jan Akkerman's wonderful guitar playing is not here, but the two guitarists featured here (Eef Albers and Philip Catherine) do a fine job. The only vocal cut here that I like is "Wingless". The other vocals come off as mediocre filler. I would have much prefered Thjis Van Leer's voice as instrument approach, minus the yodeling. He could also whistle like nobody's business. Overall, a well produced and well played album, but it lacks the playfulness of the earlier line up. Still worth the purchase, if you can get it.