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Editorial Reviews
Reissue of 1994 compilation for the Dutch progressive rock act best known for their 1973 hit single 'Hocus Pocus', featured here alongside 15 other tracks (16 in all) including the U.S. single version of 'Hocus Pocus'. 2001 release. Standard jewel case.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Has it really been over 30 years since this terrific group of musicians from Holland scored a huge success with their "Moving Waves" album, and the highly original signature tune, "Hocus Pocus" ? Time flies--but, in the case of Focus, time has been kind--their music still sounds fresh, melodic and exciting.
The band went through some personnel changes, but the key members were Thijs Van Leer ( keyboards, flute, vocals ), and guitar whiz, Jan Akkerman. I have fond memories of seeing them live in Montreal--an awesome concert.
This CD is an excellent retrospecive of their most memorable numbers. Their music was primarily instrumental,and "progressive" in the most positive sense. The "focus" here--if you'll pardon the pun--was on musicianship--these guys could really play. I suspect Akkerman and Van Leer might have had some classical training in their youth. All their well-known numbers are included--"Harem Scarem", "Sylvia", "Janis" and two different versions of "Hocus Pocus".
The 70s was an era where bands flourished who had only the most talented musicians. Later, progressive rock groups were often labelled pretentious--usually by critics who could only appreciate three-chord boogies ! Well--this "pretentious" music gave us some of the most incredible musicians rock has ever had--Steve Howe, Tony Banks, Keith Emerson, Dave Gilmour, Phil Manzanera, Robert Fripp, Daryl Way and--yes--Jan Akkerman. When I hear some of the junk that is selling today, I don't know whether to laugh or cry !
OK--I'm off my soapbox ! Bottom line--Focus were easily one of the best 70s bands, and this CD is a worthy compilation. Recommended.
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Imagine this: Barrow, Alaska, the farthest north city in the US at 71 degrees north.
About 20 degrees one windy and dark November morning and the public radio station (the only radio station) ---KBRW---emits the full-length version of "Hocus Pocus" from this album during the annual membership drive.The CD had just arrived by mail, not by dog sled anymore, but rather a daily 737 jet plane. (no road connections)
Almost instantly, classic and progressive rock fans from the 60s and 70s, respond, stretch, wake up a bit and call the dj (my job) and say "Hey, is that 'Focus'?"
"Yes indeed," I respond, and they wake up more, start their feet moving and hands clapping and put on the coffee, grab some pilot bread, maybe a bit of last night's caribou soup, and charge into a new day.
Thats what a classy and classic album like this can do--even in the Arctic. Imagine what vibrations it could emit in communities to the south.
In additon to the long and short version of the title song,there are instrumental songs of varying length and intensity --the keyboards really smoke and the guitar work is almost as powerful as an adult polar bear.
Get this album and cue it up for early morning fun! (and various tempos of instrumentals to get you through the day with a smile.)
About 20 degrees one windy and dark November morning and the public radio station (the only radio station) ---KBRW---emits the full-length version of "Hocus Pocus" from this album during the annual membership drive.The CD had just arrived by mail, not by dog sled anymore, but rather a daily 737 jet plane. (no road connections)
Almost instantly, classic and progressive rock fans from the 60s and 70s, respond, stretch, wake up a bit and call the dj (my job) and say "Hey, is that 'Focus'?"
"Yes indeed," I respond, and they wake up more, start their feet moving and hands clapping and put on the coffee, grab some pilot bread, maybe a bit of last night's caribou soup, and charge into a new day.
Thats what a classy and classic album like this can do--even in the Arctic. Imagine what vibrations it could emit in communities to the south.
In additon to the long and short version of the title song,there are instrumental songs of varying length and intensity --the keyboards really smoke and the guitar work is almost as powerful as an adult polar bear.
Get this album and cue it up for early morning fun! (and various tempos of instrumentals to get you through the day with a smile.)
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Focus was a Dutch progressive-rock band of the '70s, centered around Jan Akkerman's guitar and Thijs van Leer's flute and keyboards. This best-of album won't make you forget Yes or Genesis, but provides a good summary of a band that is largely forgotten today. There are few vocals and no lyrics. The earliest tracks are reminiscent of early Jethro Tull, with Akkerman playing a blues-rock style and van Leer's breathy flute playing a near-exact duplicate of Ian Anderson's. "House of the King" sounds like a long-lost Tull track, while "Anonymus" provides a jam session. The best and most original tracks are the cuts from the "Moving Waves" album ("Hocus Pocus", "Janis", "Focus II", and "Tommy", which is a guitar-solo excerpt from the long piece "Eruption") and "Sylvia", a catchy single from the following "Focus 3" album. "Hocus Pocus" is probably the best novelty single prog-rock ever produced, with a blazing metallic guitar chorus combined with yodeled verses, a Popeye-on-uppers scat-singing break, and flute solo. It's the only Focus song that every got significant radio play in the US ("Sylvia" went to No. 4 in the UK). "Janis" is a lovely ballad with van Leer playing three flute parts. The later pieces on this album are enjoyable, but I probably wouldn't buy an LP on which they were the best cuts. Akkerman has a metal style on "Anonymus" and "Hocus Pocus"; on later cuts, his sound reminds me of Camel's Andy Latimer. In fact, tracks like "Bennie Helder" and "Red Sky at Night" would fit right in on a Camel album.
(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good compilation...
This is a good and complete collection from Focus. I was looking to replace the album "Dutch Masters", the best of Focus collection from 1969-1973. Read more
Published 2 months ago by steven arrandale
One of a kind
Hocus Pocus by Focus is one of the oddest and more compelling recordings ever. Where else do you hear great artists combine manic yodeling with kick-ass rock guitar riffs backed by... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Getjohn
Delivery Issue
The product was fine, but I was disappointed in the amount of time it took for delivery. I received the item only after being contacted by Amazon informing me that the item had... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Beth
Altullnative
Underrated classic-prog-rock group and this cannily consistent compilation gets the job done in that rare way for the genre by tarnishing neither complex arranging or easy-going... Read more
Published 22 months ago by IRate
Where's the Focus box set???
Ok, there is a box set for every group on the planet except for Focus. I grew up listening to Jan Akkerman play burning, completely original guitar. Read more
Published on December 29, 2009 by paul kelpner
Good collection, good CD transfer
This is one of the better-sounding rock CDs in my collection. Musical details are present that I remember hearing on the LPs I owned of this music 'back in the day'. Read more
Published on April 10, 2008 by allemande
Focus - A Nice Overview Of The Band's Career
I came a bit late to the Focus bandwagon. Of course I had heard their one big US it "Hocus Pocus" which still gets classic rock airplay to this day, but I had never explored any... Read more
Published on March 18, 2007 by Steven Sly
Don't need anything else.
If you know of Focus, and are just a casual fan, then this is all you need. They definitely have more depth than just "Hocus Pocus" but in reality this is a good overview... Read more
Published on June 24, 2004 by Scott Fendley
ROCK'S MOST JAMMIN' SONG.....................PERIOD!!!!!!!!
If there exsists a more "jammin" "kick **s" "put the pedal to the metal" song out there.......I've never heard it!! Read more
Published on June 23, 2004 by Robert Boulanger
Not THE Best of A Great Band - But Still Wonderful
I will never forget the first time I ever heard Focus played in a record store in Winnipeg in the early 70's (it was Focus III) - it was as unforgettable as the first time I ate... Read more
Published on May 11, 2004 by SonzTwin
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