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Focus — Focus III
Album: Focus III
Avg rating:
6.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 675









Released: 1973
Length: 6:04
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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(Instrumental)
Comments (105)add comment
EXCELLENT!  This is the 1st time that I have heard this tune. That is why we come here.  Thanx RP!   
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
I haven't played any of my Focus LPs for awhile and this gives me a little push to get them out. Great stuff! Takes me back to my university days...
Posted 3 years ago by Fiddlefye    [ Reply ]
 radiojunkie wrote:
Shesdifferent wrote: I do remember Tonto's Expanding Headband. I may even have the LP, though it's not one of mine (merged record collection kind of thing) and I don't think I've ever listened to it. I do own the Focus III lp, however -- along with Moving Waves. Guess that makes me as much of a Focus wonk as Bill!z
Wanna hear some Tonto? Check out the players on some Stevie
Wonder tunes...
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.


Posted 3 years ago by tonyinnj    [ Reply ]
If it ain't Dutch, it ain't much.
Posted 3 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
Hocus Pocus by Focus.

Lyrics, Lyrics, Lyrics!
Posted 3 years ago by BillE    [ Reply ]
From memory, this is similar to Focus II on the Moving Waves album.
Posted 3 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
 wolverine wrote:
Thought  that was an early Genesis piece, oops.
 
I thought it was mid to late 70's Jeff Beck. When Jeff never started jamming I had to walk to the computer to see who this was. Is this this Hocus Pocus by Focus one-hit wonder band?
Posted 3 years ago by Ok_Sobriquet    [ Reply ]
AWESOME!! Another Focus track I enjoy but, don't hardly hear enuff of!!! Thnx again, B & R!!
Posted 3 years ago by Signwrtr61    [ Reply ]
 fraserji wrote:
Anyone else hear Don't Sleep In The Subway in this? 
 
When I sleep on the subway, yeah, all the time 
Posted 3 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
 goodenough wrote:
Most excellent. They were good back in the seventies and are still very relevant today. And unlike a lot of rubbish on here there is actually a melody under there trying [and succeeding] to get out.
 
"Rubbish on here"?  Why are you here?
Posted 3 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
Helemaal top, maar oer saai vergeleken met Hocus Pocus. Dit was de "wij nemen onszelf te serieus" periode van alle rock bands in de vroege jaren '70.

1976 hete zomer kookte over - Boem Punk  - long live people who don't get too self contemplative and make music for fun.
Posted 4 years ago by sandymcp    [ Reply ]
Similar chords and chord progressions to their other pieces. A nice listen, though.
Posted 4 years ago by talexb    [ Reply ]
 ortega1 wrote:
Most annoying. They recorded this on drugs?
 
You don't say, whodathunkit?
Posted 4 years ago by mustaphatoke    [ Reply ]
Most annoying. They recorded this on drugs?
Posted 4 years ago by ortega1    [ Reply ]
Never heard this one before.  Very pretty!  Thanks, RP
Posted 4 years ago by sdn    [ Reply ]
 fraserji wrote:
Anyone else hear Don't Sleep In The Subway in this? 
 
I keep hearing "Could It Be Magic", but the feeling passes and I really enjoy it.
Posted 4 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
 unclehud wrote:
Recognized the group via guitar effects.  That delayed (or non-existent) attack is pleasant in small doses.
 
Certain harmonics sound pretty modern and I hear the Eagles and PF
Posted 4 years ago by Pilsenaaa    [ Reply ]
Anyone else hear Don't Sleep In The Subway in this? 
Posted 4 years ago by fraserji    [ Reply ]
 Shesdifferent wrote:
Wo! total flashback, I thought these guys has seeped into the ethers like "Tonto's Expanding Head Band". Anyone remember them?
 
Yes, and on vinyl...BTW, wasn't "Tonto" the analog synth on a few of  Stevie Wonder's
songs?

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
Posted 4 years ago by tonyinnj    [ Reply ]
Most excellent. They were good back in the seventies and are still very relevant today. And unlike a lot of rubbish on here there is actually a melody under there trying [and succeeding] to get out.
Posted 4 years ago by goodenough    [ Reply ]
never have i ever wanted a piece of music to finish. but that really was dire.
Posted 4 years ago by Stetsonman    [ Reply ]
uaaaa boring 
Posted 4 years ago by joko63808    [ Reply ]
Recognized the group via guitar effects.  That delayed (or non-existent) attack is pleasant in small doses.
Posted 5 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
These guys sure appreciated being focused 
Posted 5 years ago by ExploitingChaos    [ Reply ]
Our Dutch pride in the 70's with Jan Akkerman on his Gibson Les Paul
Posted 5 years ago by strous    [ Reply ]
Jan Akkerman elected best guitarplayer in the world in 70's. Still going strong. Maybe not the best recording but overall Focus one of my favourites those days.
Posted 5 years ago by bobbieoo    [ Reply ]
Thought  that was an early Genesis piece, oops.
Posted 5 years ago by wolverine    [ Reply ]
Great to hear this brilliant band on RP, still one of my regular go to vinyls!
Posted 5 years ago by morganmike    [ Reply ]
Thought I could hear Jan Ackerman’s guitar and Thies Van Leers organ
Posted 5 years ago by Vakse    [ Reply ]
 kcar wrote:

That got played all the time when I was growing up but wow I'm not sure what the point of this track is. 

Blessed relief: Cream's "Deserted Cities of the Heart" but that was a very ugly (truncated) segue, Bill. 

 
I don't know this piece and may never have heard it before. I checked this site to see who and what I was hearing, which seemed rather pedestrian, even if performed by decent musicians. And I see this question about "what the point of this track is". An absurd observation, and yet this was my thought also. Unfair, but real.
Posted 5 years ago by bam23    [ Reply ]
 molson wrote:
Whoa, first thought for SURE it was Camel...and I was thinking cool, Bill playing Camel. Never actually heard this song or band before, which is weird since that is my era...hmmm. Its all good.
 
This track does sound like Camel to me too, I saw them both live back in the day. Check out Focus's back catalogue, they were a great Dutch band.
Posted 5 years ago by Sam_Chucklestone    [ Reply ]
 idiot_wind wrote:
These guys had some pretty good guitar players. Check out: "Hocus Pocus".  

 
That got played all the time when I was growing up but wow I'm not sure what the point of this track is. 

Blessed relief: Cream's "Deserted Cities of the Heart" but that was a very ugly (truncated) segue, Bill. 
Posted 8 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Whoa, first thought for SURE it was Camel...and I was thinking cool, Bill playing Camel. Never actually heard this song or band before, which is weird since that is my era...hmmm. Its all good.
Posted 8 years ago by molson    [ Reply ]
Coming after Pink Floyd, I thought, "Twofer Tuesday"
Posted 8 years ago by LaurieinTucson    [ Reply ]
Is this some kind of musical torture?
Sorry but no.
Insipid and uninspired.
Make it stop!
Posted 8 years ago by Redpoint    [ Reply ]
Think this is the epitome of what inspired punk.  Needed a refreshing response after this kitschy prog indulgence (and I am a big prog fan!)
Posted 8 years ago by midigitguy    [ Reply ]
Yeah well it's from '73 so of course I like it....

I don't remember the group, but I do remember the song.

I gave it a 7, that's not a bad score as I'm a picky listener.

This is a great example of Jazz Rock Fusion from that time.
Posted 8 years ago by Blasserman    [ Reply ]
Bought this one when it first came out ... got to see them play at Winterland in '73.  Arrrgh, those were the days!
Posted 8 years ago by hanssachs    [ Reply ]
Yep, loved it too, more please.. really love diversity of this station, and that it caters for such a wide range of listeners
Posted 8 years ago by MJ_STRONG    [ Reply ]
These guys had some pretty good guitar players. Check out: "Hocus Pocus".  
Posted 8 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]

Thanks for the nice flashback to my college radio station days in the early 70s. While this may not be a "10" I always like the way you mix in many things for all us listeners Bill!


Posted 9 years ago by dougmbrown    [ Reply ]
Just tuned in and the instrumental part reminded me of Santana...
Posted 9 years ago by Dinges,_the_Dude    [ Reply ]
 UncleRemus wrote:
I just thought of another song this one reminds me of - DOA by Bloodrock.

 
Yes!  

My we do date ourselves, eh?   
Posted 9 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
This pales in comparison with Hocus Pocus (by Focus) imho. That is an exercise in manic behaviour and tweeks my  stereocilia a treat.
Posted 9 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Focus became known for the popular yodel song but had lots of great material.
Posted 9 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
RP, center of musical archeology. Fascinating artifact of the era, perhaps the missing link for a few species of rock. Never heard it before. 
Posted 9 years ago by robertomiller    [ Reply ]
This sounds like some kind of jazzed up theme music for The Rockford Files.
Posted 9 years ago by leafmold    [ Reply ]
mojoman wrote:
This is the same Dutch band Focus that gave us that wonderfully wacky early '70s song "Hocus Pocus" in which the lead singer/guitarist (forget his name) did some truly wild yodeling.
Mm, guitarist Jan Akkerman isn't too fond of singer/flute player Thijs van Leer since Focus broke up, so he probably won't be called Focus' singer Thijs van Leer has reformed a Focus reunion band with all different, young musicians. Its guitarist has been a lifetime fan of Akkerman and is specialized in his sort of guitar playing.
Posted 19 years ago by Johray63    [ Reply ]
Shesdifferent wrote:
Wo! total flashback, I thought these guys has seeped into the ethers like "Tonto's Expanding Head Band". Anyone remember them?
I do remember Tonto's Expanding Headband. I may even have the LP, though it's not one of mine (merged record collection kind of thing) and I don't think I've ever listened to it. I do own the Focus III lp, however -- along with Moving Waves. Guess that makes me as much of a Focus wonk as Bill!
Posted 19 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
Not bad. It does make me want to hear 'Nursery Cryme' again.
Posted 19 years ago by Old_Pool_Skunk    [ Reply ]
Wo! total flashback, I thought these guys has seeped into the ethers like "Tonto's Expanding Head Band". Anyone remember them?
Posted 19 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
Make it stop! This song blows in so many ways!!!!
Posted 19 years ago by mrmojorisin    [ Reply ]
Sounds a little like "Volare" in there... And I like the Yodeling Song (Hocus Pocus?) FWIW.
Posted 19 years ago by TheLoneIguana    [ Reply ]
:headshake:
Posted 19 years ago by Veritas    [ Reply ]
Cheers to the person that uploaded this track Nice to have it in the mix!
Posted 19 years ago by fractalv    [ Reply ]
trekhead wrote:
Well, they're FOCUSed on crafting their sound after PF...
I would say much more early Genesis, Procol Harum, or Camel than ever Pink Floyd. And, really, the guitar completely reminds me of Jeff Beck's "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat." Anyone? So much good progrock out there...these guys barely deserve a mention.
Posted 19 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
I'm pleased to say that my sucko-barfo rating lowered the average from a 5 to a 4.9...my vote counted in this case! yea!
Posted 19 years ago by oxford_john    [ Reply ]
Wow! I had no idea. This is much better than the yodeling song.
Posted 19 years ago by Freebish    [ Reply ]
Ookla wrote:
Almost got my hopes up as intro sounded similar to PF's PIGS
Me too -- just for the first few seconds though. Oh well, maybe RP will play Pigs sometime
Posted 19 years ago by emleamy    [ Reply ]
Well, they're FOCUSed on crafting their sound after PF... Not a bad thing. An 8.
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Haven't heard Focus for about 20+ years so this was a bit of a flashback for me. Thanks
Posted 19 years ago by rickf    [ Reply ]
mojoman wrote:
This is the same Dutch band Focus that gave us that wonderfully wacky early '70s song "Hocus Pocus" in which the lead singer/guitarist (forget his name) did some truly wild yodeling.
Great Dutch musicians indeed: Jan Akkerman (Guitar) and Thijs van Leer (Flute) https://www.literatura.hu/rock/progressive/focus.htm
Posted 19 years ago by Tux    [ Reply ]
May sound odd, but, the charts on this make me think that this is what Heavy Weather-era Weather Report would sound like if they had tried rock.
Posted 19 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
This is the same Dutch band Focus that gave us that wonderfully wacky early '70s song "Hocus Pocus" in which the lead singer/guitarist (forget his name) did some truly wild yodeling.
Posted 19 years ago by mojoman    [ Reply ]
It is so funny that when people hear a different sound instantly try to label to something familiar from Jeff Beck to Pink Floyd, to Santana on acid.
Posted 19 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
lotus_65 wrote:
more like jeff beck to me.
Had me fooled. I thought it was some mid '70s Jeff Beck. They must be doing something right.
Posted 19 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
Any reason this sounds like "Chamber of 32 Doors" by Genesis? In a disturbingly similar way?
Posted 19 years ago by Trustocity    [ Reply ]
nauseous.
Posted 19 years ago by rah    [ Reply ]
Ookla wrote:
Almost got my hopes up as intro sounded similar to PF's PIGS
Thank you!
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
trekhead wrote:
Is NO one else getting Floyd outta this?
Again. This began JUST like something off ANIMALS. With the grunting pigs... unreal.
Posted 19 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
Almost got my hopes up as intro sounded similar to PF's PIGS
Posted 19 years ago by Ookla    [ Reply ]
Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, and Styx- Madame Blue... aroo?
Posted 19 years ago by neuraljazz    [ Reply ]
trekhead wrote:
Is NO one else getting Floyd outta this?
more like jeff beck to me.
Posted 19 years ago by lotus_65    [ Reply ]
Man what an excellent tone on the guitar leads.
Posted 20 years ago by Zygomatic    [ Reply ]
Hannio wrote:
Ha! I remember that one. What was the guy's name? Nitzinger, I think. You must have grown up in the DFW area. I can't imagine them being heard of by anyone anywhere else.
Heard them here on the East Coast too. I remember, We were flying along, And hit something in the air... Creepy. specially the part about pain is flowing out with my blood... But I digress. It's not often you get the name of a group in the song too. (Focus - Focus III)
Posted 20 years ago by Skeletor    [ Reply ]
UncleRemus wrote:
I just thought of another song this one reminds me of - DOA by Bloodrock.
Ha! I remember that one. What was the guy's name? Nitzinger, I think. You must have grown up in the DFW area. I can't imagine them being heard of by anyone anywhere else.
Posted 20 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
this is just straight-up strange....i dont get it!
Posted 20 years ago by Tritter    [ Reply ]
trekhead wrote:
Is NO one else getting Floyd outta this?
I'd like to get my ears out of this. This sounds like Santana on an overdoes of Valium. Wake me when it's over.
Posted 20 years ago by ndanger666    [ Reply ]
trekhead wrote:
Is NO one else getting Floyd outta this?
I was just going to say the same thing. Sadly...it's not.
Posted 20 years ago by eyelykearrpee    [ Reply ]
Is NO one else getting Floyd outta this?
Posted 20 years ago by trekhead    [ Reply ]
stubbsz wrote:
If Tux were a Rock Band, this is what I would expect...
Even though I know you mean this negative, I'm still honoured :)
Posted 20 years ago by Tux    [ Reply ]
tblock wrote:
Not really, IMO. Some of those whining female drone singers are much worse.
Yeah really at least this tries to rock (something sorely missing around here) And don't say upload it, because rock songs don't get accepted!
Posted 20 years ago by JokesandJokesandJokes    [ Reply ]
If Tux were a Rock Band, this is what I would expect...
Posted 20 years ago by stubbsz    [ Reply ]
SuperWeh wrote:
The synth reminds me a bit of some Laurie Anderson song.
I just thought of another song this one reminds me of - DOA by Bloodrock.
Posted 20 years ago by UncleRemus    [ Reply ]
ColdBear wrote:
Boooooooooooooooooooooring
Not really, IMO. Some of those whining female drone singers are much worse.
Posted 20 years ago by tblock    [ Reply ]
The synth reminds me a bit of some Laurie Anderson song.
Posted 20 years ago by SuperWeh    [ Reply ]
Boooooooooooooooooooooring
Posted 20 years ago by ColdBear    [ Reply ]
Pretty good. Nice to hear. Fine for calming down after yet another costomer on the phone, or after some crap music. Good for my nerves.
Posted 20 years ago by Tux    [ Reply ]
aharamanx wrote:
Don't sleep in the subway, darling. Don't stand in the pouring rain........ Ug & Blech. i thought the same thing! i must be a relic of 60's pop also.
Posted 20 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
PattonFever wrote:
sounds like an opening theme for an 80s sitcom. that's not necessarily bad, but it's not good, either.
agreed, yet i'm gonna say that this song doesn't deserve the "honor" of being the theme for an 80s sitcom
Posted 20 years ago by littleblueriver7    [ Reply ]
sounds like an opening theme for an 80s sitcom. that's not necessarily bad, but it's not good, either.
Posted 20 years ago by PattonFever    [ Reply ]
:D Really nice to hear Focus again - brings me right back to when I was little (wel...). And reminded me to dig into my unused collection of vinyls to revisit Focus. Bravo, RP!!
Posted 20 years ago by kbesseling    [ Reply ]
This is pretty bad. Maybe the kind of song you want to listen to after your third heart attack, to avoid any excitement. But not before that.
Posted 20 years ago by alcho    [ Reply ]
Sorry, this sounds like Bar Mitzvah muzak.
Posted 20 years ago by GordianKnot    [ Reply ]
MA wrote:
I like Focus but they've got songs that are much stronger that this one. How about Hocus Pocus? Nevertheless, Radio Paradise shines once again with their unique choices and variety of songs that they are playing.
i've heard hocus pocus quite a few times on rp. that song is an anomaly, tho. this is much more representative of of focus' very continental dutch prog sound. once i was at a focus concert somewhere in orange county in the 1970's. i was next to the stage in this funky venue when jan akkerman STEPPED ON MY HEAD whilst going up the rickety stairway to go on stage. top THAT! just one of my myriad claims to fame. btw, jan akkerman is one of the best electric rock guitarists EVER. even if you don't go for focus' sound, they are a band worth listening to just to hear his insane guitar solos!
Posted 20 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
MA wrote:
I like Focus but they've got songs that are much stronger that this one.....
I might agree but it's still something and more progressive rock added to the RP playlist
Posted 20 years ago by ladyj    [ Reply ]
Whoa... major flashback! And it holds up pretty well, I'd say. The guitar player, Jan Akkerman, released a very fine solo album in the late 70s. Probably impossible to find now though.
Posted 20 years ago by drH    [ Reply ]
Say Cheeeesssseeeeee
Posted 20 years ago by BigCalm    [ Reply ]
I like Focus but they've got songs that are much stronger that this one. How about Hocus Pocus? Nevertheless, Radio Paradise shines once again with their unique choices and variety of songs that they are playing.
Posted 20 years ago by MA    [ Reply ]
OK, these are the same guys who released "Hocus Pocus", you know, with the yodeling, and the flute riffing, and the killer guitars. This piece is so... hardcore prog. What else is on the album, I wonder? Ska? The roots of gangsta rap--in Amsterdam? ... I give it a 9. Bill gets an 11 for the near-imperceptible seque into Kent's "Dom Andra".
Posted 20 years ago by Brad_Eleven    [ Reply ]
As much as I dig yodeling, it's nice to hear a Focus track other than "Hocus Pocus".
Posted 20 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
Still refreshing after all these years, big influence on me as a kid in Norway.
Posted 20 years ago by Monkeysdad    [ Reply ]
Focus! -- Haven't listened to this band for well over a decade. Still sounds great.
Posted 21 years ago by saviddylvian    [ Reply ]
Did Outkast borrow some of this for Wheels of Steel? Sounds like it.
Posted 21 years ago by nealcs    [ Reply ]