Focus
Focus 3

Polydor    23 35 071/72  (1972)

Rock/Pop
LP, 2   Discs, 10   Tracks, 70:25  Length
Record 1 37:49
01 Round Goes The Gossip Thijs Van Leer 05:16
02 Love Remembered Jan Akkerman 02:49
03 Sylvia Thijs Van Leer 03:32
04 Carnival Fugue Thijs Van Leer 06:02
05 Focus III Thijs Van Leer 06:07
06 Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! Jan Akkerman; Bert Ruiter 14:03

Record 2

32:36
01 Anonymous II (Part 1) Bert Ruiter; Jan Akkerman; Pierre Van der Linden; Thijs Van Leer 19:28
02 Anonymous II (Conculsion) Bert Ruiter; Jan Akkerman; Pierre Van der Linden; Thijs Van Leer 07:30
03 Elspeth Of Nottingham Jan Akkerman 03:15
04 House Of The King Jan Akkerman 02:23
Music Details
Product Details
Packaging Standard LP sleeve
Sound Stereo
Musicians  &  Credits
Guitar Jan Akkerman
Synthesizer Thijs Van Leer
Bass Bert Ruiter
Drums Pierre Van der Linden
Musician Focus
Producer Mike Vernon
Engineer George Chkiantz
Personal Details
Index # 1171
Owner Dave
Tags Prog Rock
User Defined
Purchased New
Notes
Riding on the success of their hit single "Hocus Pocus" from the revolutionary Moving Waves album, Focus got to work on this, their third LP in four years. While the debut album featured a style not too dissimilar to the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Focus' second LP, Moving Waves, was purely instrumental and wholly serious-minded. Focus III kept this same sound, but approached it with a jollier, more accessible tone. As with its predecessor, Focus III featured only one tune that would have a chance of being a hit single. The enjoyable rhythm of "Sylvia," partnered with Jan Akkerman's victorious guitar solo, some of Van Leer's finest organ work, Bert Ruiter's tight basslines, and Pierre Van Der Linden's mellow drumming, assured the track classic status. "Sylvia" found worldwide success and gained the band valuable radio and press exposure. The song remains one of the most loved and best remembered songs from Focus' catalog. The consistency in musical quality throughout Focus III is enough to merit any listeners' respect. To be frank, this LP has it all: diverse songs, astounding musicianship, one of the finest singles ever released -- Focus III should unquestionably be ranked alongside the likes of Revolver, Dark Side of the Moon, and any others of rock's greatest. -- Ben Davies (allmusic.com)