Focus
A former Amsterdam Conservatory student, Thijs van Leer (keyboards/flute/vocals) with Martin Dresden (bass) and philosophy graduate Hans Cleuver (drums) backed Robin Lent, Cyril Havermans and other Dutch singers before 1969's catalytic enlistment of guitarist Jan Akkerman (b. 24 December 1946, Amsterdam, Netherlands), veteran of the progressive unit Brainbox. The new quartet's first collective essay as recording artists was humble - accompaniment on a Dutch version of Hair - but, heartened by audience response to a set that included amplified arrangements of pieces by Bart¢k and Rodrigo, Focus released a bona fide album debut with a spin-off single, "House Of The King", that sold well in continental Europe. However, aiming always at the English-speaking forum, the band engaged Mike Vernon to produce Moving Waves which embraced vocal items (in English) and melodic if lengthy instrumentals. The album included the startling UK Top 20 hit "Hocus Pocus".
Listen to Focus
at Finetune.
Top Tracks
- Hocus Pocus
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