Hamburger Concerto [Import, Original recording reissued]

Focus | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 19, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording reissued
• Label: MSI:RED BULLET
• ASIN: B00005B7E8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,668 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #77 in Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Netherlands

Editorial Reviews

Reissue of 1974 album for Dutch progressive rock act best known for their 1973 hit single 'Hocus Pocus'. 12 tracks including, 'Delitiae Musicae' and 'Harem Scarem'. Featuring versatile guitarist Jan Akkerman. 2001 release. Standard jewelcase.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Focus Achieves Best Work Here, June 7, 2002

By 

Mark D Burgh "Music, Writing, Art, Film, Hist... (Fort Smith, AR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hamburger Concerto (Audio CD)

After breaking big with the novelty song "Hocus Pocus" and several albums highlighting the musical dexerity of Van Leer and Akkerman, Focus settled down some for this album. HC is a collection of songs that range from Rockist agression in "Birth" to soaring beauty "La Cathedral de Strausberg." This gives the entire album a unity that the major piece "Hamberger Concerto" exploits to great effect.

I get the impression that this album was thought out more so than most Prog works of the same period; certainly I listened to it more than Yes's coeval attempts at extended dexerity. HC shows more understanding of music, more control of form than most other proggers could muster.

Tuneful, various, and not overblown despite it's lengeth, HC balances the line between rock and complexity.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best album from Focus, March 3, 2003

By 

Herb Atlas "herb_atlas" (Chicago IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hamburger Concerto (Audio CD)

If you've enjoyed this album on vinyl, you'll be thrilled to hear this CD release. I've had numerous vinyl version that all suffered from an incredibly poor pressing, especially during the finale on "Hamburger Concerto" (and Akkerman's leslie driven guitar!). The CD version (though quite a stretch to call it "remastered") was pre-mastered by Ian Gillespie and Mike Vernon in the very early 90s. It's far better than any vinyl versions, and includes the bonus track "Early Birth".

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Further listening for Focus fans., May 5, 2003

By 

Mons "Mons" (Norrpan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hamburger Concerto (Audio CD)

One of the best progressive rock bands ever. Easily up there, if not better than, Genesis, Yes, ELP et al. An effortless fusion of the classical, jazz and rock esthetics. Musical perfection in a nutshell. For my money, Focus second album Moving Waves is the perfect starting point for those interested in prime 70s melodic rock/retro-classic fusion, but Hamburger Concerto, although not quite as pristine as its predecessors has its far share of breathtakingly beautiful moments. Hamburger Concerto borrows heavily from the previous albums: Harem Scarem revives the Hocus Pocus potential hit formula by pitting Jan Akkermans fuzzbox-up-to-11 guitar against Thijs van Leers quirky wordless vocal acrobatics. Musicae Delitiae is a quiet guitar (or lute, I'm not sure) interlude reminiscent of Elspeth of Nottingham, while most of the title track revisits pastures already covered in earlier albums with Akkerman and Van Leer showing impressive musical diversity and instrumental prowess. The standout for me is La Cathedrale de Strasbourg. The bit where the drums come in the middle is sheer heaven.
To recap then, get Moving Waves or Live at the Rainbow first and then, if you like that, move on to Focus 3 or Hamburger Concerto. The great progressive rock revival is close at hand. Impress your friends by being one step ahead.