Focus III [Original recording remastered] [Import]

1. Round Goes the Gossip

2. Love Remembered

3. Sylvia

4. Carnival Fugue

5. Focus III

6. Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!

7. Elspeth of Nottingham

8. Anonymus Two

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Reissue of 1972 album for Dutch progressive rock act best known for their 1973 hit single 'Hocus Pocus'. 2001 release. Standard jewel case.

Focus III,Focus,Import [Generic],Netherlands,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock,Rock/Pop

Focus III [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Average customer rating:

Questions? What is the best Focus album, Answers! FOCUS III
THE Best Focus album, IMO
Their Most Focused Album
Great prog from the Netherlands
The best Focus album

Focus III
Focus
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Moving Waves
Hamburger Concerto
In and Out of Focus
Mother Focus
Live at the Rainbow

ASIN: B00005B362
Release Date: 2001-02-19

Tracks:

Round Goes the Gossip
Love Remembered
Sylvia
Carnival Fugue
Focus III
Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!
Elspeth of Nottingham
Anonymus Two

Album Description

Reissue of 1972 album for Dutch progressive rock act best known for their 1973 hit single 'Hocus Pocus'. 2001 release. Standard jewel case.

Album Details

Digitally remastered version!

Customer Reviews:

Questions? What is the best Focus album, Answers! FOCUS III.......2007-03-20

I like the "warm" sound production of this record and it is very appealing and will always be my favorite Focus record, I don't miss "house of the King" because I never had the original record, I first heard this on CD in 1990 and have been hooked on Focus ever since.

1. Round Goes the Gossip - rare vocal from Thiis and good start to the ultimate Focus and progressive album
2. Love Remembered - Thiis flute and synthesizer are featured in the ballad
3. Sylvia - Swirling organs and Jan's chimey rhythm guitar an dcreamy lead are the highlight of favorite Focus track
4. Carnival Fugue - a fugue, very interesting and shows their classical chops
5. Focus III / Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!
- Jan is featured on the next 2 tracks, I always forget and thing it's 1 long track so I'll combine my comment here
7. Elspeth of Nottingham - no tmy favorite, noodlings on a lute, but pretty anyway
8. Anonymus Two - a little too long 26 minutes but some of the best ensemble playing by a progressive band ever.

THE Best Focus album, IMO.......2007-01-29

I'll go one better than fellow reviewer Herb Atlas, and say that this is unequivocally the best Focus had to offer, and that's saying a bunch. In other words, I agree with Kireviewer, (well, other than his unflattering comments on Yes' Tales From Topographic Oceans :-), which I LOVE as well). I can vividly recall the day I strolled into the local record store that carried the coolest music on a cold January day in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1973. Over the speakers came this most extraordinary music. I stood there listening, mesmerized. In food analogy, it's like the first time I ever ate Caesar's salad (WITH the anchovies, please, thank you) - it was like nothing I'd ever savoured before. Needless to say, I bought the record. To give you a sense of how precious this was to me, back in the days of vinyl, one worried about wearing a record out. There are only 2 vinyls in my collection where I purchased doubles - Aja was one, and Focus 3 is the other. I'm not saying that these are necessarily the best all time records, since our tastes and preferences evolve, but after all these years, they are still right up there for me. My favourite on Focus 3 is absolutely "Questions Answers...", and budget be damned - if there's a version that's 6 minutes longer out there, I just might buckle in one of these days and buy my THIRD Focus 3 ('3' is, after all, the number of perfection). There are a couple of things I like especially about this track: 1) the extemporaneous feel of the playing (cf Hamburger concerto, almost the OPPOSITE!) 2) The way the band played together as a unit, how the rhythm section complimented the soloists, how Thijs supported Jan when he took the solo and how Jan returned the favour when it was Thijs' turn on the organ or on the flute (perhaps the best playing on this instrument that Thijs has mustered - so beautiful in a restrained manner). This is musical heaven! 3) Last but not least gravity-defying musciality of Jan Akerman's guitar work! Listen to the way he bent that E note when the slow section first came in. At the end, when the sound of his guitar slowly fades, I could hear the smoldering of the transistors in his amp (think the end of Stevie Ray's Riveiera Paradise. Makes you sit there and go, "So Clapton is one of the best known guitarist on the planet, and how many people have heard of Jan Akerman?" Not dissing Eric as much as paying tribute to Jan. Yeah, I kind of hated how Anonymous is broken into 2 on my vinyl, and I thought including House of the King was a rip-off, but that's really nit-picky. So what I gotta ask myself is, am I willing to forego wine for a weekend dinner or two to purchase my third Focus 3? BTW, both my vinyls have the fantastic cut-out holographic cover - FAR better than the one displayed here!

Their Most Focused Album.......2006-12-23

This Dutch band had the uncanny ability at times to resemble John McLaughlin of Mahavishnu Orchestra,Yes, in their early Steve Howe sounding days, the flute and classicism of Jethro Tull, the Soft Machine in their "rockier" segments and the great guitar notes of a soaring Santana all with a touch of vocal and keyboard eccentricity..Yet, to dispel all lies, Focus were a great band with a great guitarist in Jann Ackerman and this album proves their value as this 2 LP on 1 CD is their best..
Their 1st, In and Out Of Focus was a wonderful rocking and sensitive debut, their 2nd Moving Waves, a classic exploring various styles with the monster rocker single Hocus Pocus and then here Focus 3, that found full expression with top notch stellar musicianship expanding on what was layed down earlier..they belong in every Rock collection.
All 3 albums mentioned above are on Red Bullet and were remastered and should be had by any serious listener of this genre.

Great prog from the Netherlands.......2005-11-26

Released in 1972, this mostly instrumental recording by the Dutch proggers Focus continues the wonderful blend of staggering virtuosity, classical-structure (one obvious example is a fugue), jazz, hard rock, reflective and haunting moments, and silliness developed on Moving Waves (1971), although in a somewhat more even fashion. Specifically, although there are hard rock and soft, classically-influenced pieces one right after the other, the transition between songs is not terribly jarring. In addition, different sections are integrated better within individual pieces. The eight pieces presented on Focus III range from the quiet, 2'50" "Love Remembering" to the epic, 26'24" quasi-jam session "Anonymous Two", which was originally presented as "Anonymous" on the 1970 debut "In and Out of Focus". Other continuations of earlier pieces include Focus III. The highlight of the album for me is the 13'48" "Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!", which works very well from both a composition and arrangement perspective. Although there are lengthy solos in this piece, they are incorporated into the arrangement and do not seem gratuitous. Jan Akkerman is an incredible guitarist and creates an infinite number of moods and textures with both the acoustic guitar and clean, undistorted tones on his electric, while the Hammond organ and flute work of Thijs van Leer is something to behold. These two musicians perform on the medieval flavored piece Elspeth of Nottingham, which features just the lute and the flute. Drummer Pierre van der Linden does a great job on this album and continues the excellent work presented on Moving Waves, although this was his last performance with the group and left Focus in 1973 (he would turn up in the prog bands Group 1850 and Trace in 1974). The bassist slot opened up again on Focus III and was filled by Bert Ruiter, who lays down some solid parts. Although this album is quite good, the 26'24" Anonymous Two" is a bit too long and needlessly so. Specifically, the bass and drum solos seem to go on for just a bit too long, don't contribute much to the piece overall, and should have been omitted or severely edited. Apart from this minor complaint, Focus III is a great recording and one that is recommended to all fans of prog rock along with Moving Waves (1971), and the 1974 debut by the Dutch prog group Trace.

The best Focus album.......2004-12-18

This album has been released in many varieties. The LP in the US had two different covers. Both of those covers were completely different than what was released in Europe. There are at least 2 versions of the CD, with different tracks.

This version of the CD is missing House of The King, which was on the original LP. That would make it 67 minutes long. The original LP was 70 minutes long. I don't know why the song was left off the CD, because it would easily fit. The Japanese version of the CD does have the extra song.

I think this is the best Focus album. All the compositions are great, and interesting.

The best part is Focus III and Questions? Answers! Answers! Questions? which is combined into one long 20 minute suite. It is just a very beautiful peace.

Anonymous II is an extended version of the piece from the first Focus album (In and Out of Focus). It is basically a high energy jam that features solos by each of the group members. It could have easily been a live jam.

Progressive rock music gained a bad reputation due to the overblown excesses of the most popular groups and their very boring extended tracks (like Yes's Tales of Topographical Oceans). But that is not the case with Focus III. The next Focus album, Hamburger Concerto would feature a long suite that was not quite as successful but is still good.

After 2 more studio albums and a live album, Focus sort of broke up in 1975. They reformed in 1978 without Jan Akkerman, but added a vocalist and released Focus con Proby. The group disappeared again and van Leer formed another version in the late 90's. They recorded Focus 8 and a live album that has been released with several different titles.

Jan Akkerman went on a solo career and released some good albums. I bought one album that was factory sealed and when I opened it, the record was actually of ABBA. bummer

Average customer rating:

Focus III
Focus
Manufacturer: Jvc Victor
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Moving Waves
Fresh Cream

ASIN: B000K2VGD8
Release Date: 2007-01-01

Tracks:

Round Goes the Gossip
Love Remembered
Sylvia
Carnival Fugue
Focus III
Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!
Elspeth of Nottingham
Anonymus Two

Album Description

Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. Victor. 2007.

Album Details

K2 Digitally Remastered Japanese Limited Edition Special Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Guillaume Du Fay: Missa Ecce Ancille Domini

Average customer rating:

Guillaume Du Fay: Missa Ecce Ancille Domini

Manufacturer: Focus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000004A7I
Release Date: 1996-01-01

Tracks:

Introitus (Fauxburdon)
Kyrei I (Polyphony)
Christe
Kyrie II
Gloria (Polyphony)
Qui Tollis
Oratio (Celebrant)
Epistola (Subdeacon)
Graduale (Chant)
Tractus (Chant)
Sequentia (Chant)
Evangelium (Deacon)
Credo (Polyphony)
Et Incarnatus Est
Et In Spiritum Sanctum
Offertorium (Chant)
Sectetum (Celebrant)
Prefacio (Celebrant)
Sanctus (Polyphony)
Pleni Sunt Celi
Osanna I
Benedictus
Osanna II
Motet: Ave Maria Gratia Plena (Polyphony)
Pater Noster (Celebrant)
Pax Domini (Respond)
Agnus I (Polyphony)
Agnus II
Agnus III
Communio (Chant)
Postcommunio (Celebrant)
Motet: Gaude Virgo (Polyphony)
Ite Missa Est (Deacon)

Average customer rating:

Focus III
Focus
Manufacturer: Musicrama/Koch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000A2G9WG
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

Round Goes the Gossip
Love Remembered
Sylvia
Carnival Fugue
Focus III
Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!
Elspeth of Nottingham
Anonymus Two

Average customer rating:

Best of the best
Get it before it vanishes (again)
The best electric rock guitar you will ever hear
Tight Jams
Fresh and excellent unique blend of music

Focus III
Focus
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000QFZ
Release Date: 1991-07-01

Tracks:

Round Goes the Gossip
Love Remembered
Sylvia
Carnival Fugue
Focus III
Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!
Elspeth of Nottingham
Anonymus Two

Album Details

Digitally remastered version!

Customer Reviews:

Best of the best.......2002-12-09

Focus at their height. "Answers, Questions" is arguably their best ever. "Anonymus 2" would be just as good were it not for the de rigeur drum solo (the bane of 70s prog rock!). Van Leer's flute and Akkerman's guitar work beautifully together, especially on "Answers, Questions." This album explains why Akkerman was voted best guitarist by Melody Maker in 1973. Even Clapton admitted that Akkerman was better than he. Van Leer has no peer on flute.

Get it before it vanishes (again).......2001-08-11

Focus have been overlooked by several rock historians who should know better. For instance, the band fails to get its own entry in Donald Clarke's 'Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music.

The band has also been very poorly served on CD: there have been no re-masters until recently (only 'Moving Waves' has undergone the treatment, and I haven't yet heard it); some track listings have been re-sequenced; worse still, some tracks have been entirely omitted; across the EMI edition which I own, producer Mike Vernon's sleevenotes are identical on each CD.

Availability of these Focus CDs is extremely erratic, so when they appear on Amazon's catalogue, you should snap up the good ones as quickly as you can.

To my ear, 'Focus III' and (sometimes) 'Hamburger Concerto' are the band's really outstanding albums, though 'Moving Waves' also some real highs. 'Focus III' was a double LP, which meant it needed four manual interventions to play in its entirety. It's better suited to CD -- you can play it from start to finish with one loading, and there's the additional benefit that the classic 'Anonymous II' no longer spans two discs. For some bizarre reason which only Mike Vernon will know, 'Elspeth of Nottingham' now appears before 'Anonymous II'. And even more bizarre, the beautiful 'House of the King' (2:23 minutes) has been left off this 68-minute CD. Don't some CDs stretch to 79+ minutes these days?

I still have the LP, which I played alongside the CD yesterday. The good news is that the CD sounds better, but the album is still crying out for a proper remastering treatment with a new focussed set of sleevenotes -- pardon the pun. Sometimes the drums sound boxy; at other times, they are pumping the air from the speakers so much that I feel my ear drums will burst. Similarly Bert Ruiter's wonderful bass is always there, thick in the background, each note delivered without a percussive attack. The bass solo and subsequent climax on 'Anonymous II' remains one of the outstanding moments of 70s rock.

Focus as a group was launched onto the British market fully formed early in 1973. They had already recorded at least three decent albums, and had two cracking singles in 'Hocus Pocus' and Focus 3's 'Sylvia' to win over the Brits. Indeed, given the simultaneous onslaught by another band from the Polydor stable, Golden Earring, with their excellent 'Moontan' LP, we felt the Dutch might overrun the country. But whereas Golden Earring could be classified as a straight-ahead Stones-like band with a bit of moog and flute thrown in, Focus were harder to place: part-jazz, part-rock, part-classical. Perhaps they sit closest to some of the other jazz-rock bands of the time, but they had their own highly distinctive niche and sound.

'Focus III' is undoubtedly the band at their best. Jan Akkerman had been living in England in 1972 and become enamoured of renaissance lute music, as exmplified on the gorgeous 'Elspeth of Nottingham' here. There is not a single duff track here. There is no yodelling. But Van Leer squeezes in some singing ... in Latin. Any prog-rock album that quotes liberally from Virgil's 'Aeneid' gets my vote!

The MOJO guide calls this a 'luxuriant double set brimming with energy, improvisational brilliance, catchy tunes and exquisite taste'. In the absence of a proper CD remaster -- and there is no sign of one on the horizon -- this is the best CD by one of the 70s' finest rock-jazz bands....

The best electric rock guitar you will ever hear.......2000-05-30

Recorded effectivley "live" in the studio, this is one of Focus' defining moments. It was not originally intended to be a "double lp" but the recording sessions produced such a wealth of quality music and musicianship that plans were hastily changed. Highlights are Focus III, Answers? Questions! Questions! Answers!, Anonymous II and the worldwide hit single Sylvia. Earlier vinyl verions also contained House of the King now sadly deleted from the CD version. The guitar solos in Answers? Questions! and Anonymous are the best I have ever heard and even now, 26 years later, few guitarists (if any) can match Akkerman for improvisation, feeling and melody. Pure joy !

Tight Jams.......2000-04-20

Focus is incredible on their third album. Their craftsmanship and style is so tight, and the jams are incredible. An extremely technical band whose acoustic perfection can only rival that of Steely Dan's. A great album to have.

Fresh and excellent unique blend of music.......1999-06-25

All the way around for lovers of accoustics, this album is a classic. Each track on this album is uniquely different. Base guitar solo on Anonymus two is superb. Take the time to listen to this album and you will not regret it. Even though this recording is reaching the 25 years it has few equals.

Average customer rating:

Focus III
Focus
Manufacturer: Red Bullet
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000DEOVL
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks: