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Ivan_Melgar_M
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Joined: April 27 2004
Location: Peru
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Topic: Focus The Shorts Posted: September 11 2011 at 14:52
Would be unfair to mix short tracks with epics, so here you have the shorts by the great Dutch band Focus..
Now I have to think between House of the King, Sylvia, Harem Scarem and La Cathdral De Strasbourg.
Iván
PS: Went with The House of the King, masterpiece of flute and bass often attributed to Jethro Tull.
Edited by Ivan_Melgar_M - September 12 2011 at 13:25
dwill123
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 19 2006
Status: Offline
Points: 4455
Posted: September 11 2011 at 15:24
Sylvia
Morningrise
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 18 2009
Location: Buenos Aires
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Posted: September 11 2011 at 15:31
I have a soft spot for Elspeth Of Nottingham.
Logan
Forum & Site Admin Group
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Joined: April 05 2006
Location: @ wicker man
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Posted: September 11 2011 at 15:39
Guess I'll go with "Round Goes the Gossip" -- so catchy. I used to be a big Focus fan, but haven't listened to the band much in years. You did omit one of my favourites -- "Bennie Helder".VIDEO
Edited by Logan - September 11 2011 at 15:41
Just a fanboy passin' through.
Fox On The Rocks
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 10 2011
Location: Toronto, Canada
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Points: 5012
Posted: September 11 2011 at 15:42
Sylvia because it has one of the most beautiful melodies of all time.
jean-marie
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Joined: July 27 2010
Location: FRANCE
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Points: 2585
Posted: September 11 2011 at 15:53
Difficult choice but can't keep from giving my vote to Hocus Pocus
akaBona
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 15 2010
Location: Finland
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Points: 2082
Posted: September 11 2011 at 16:02
jean-marie wrote: Difficult choice but can't keep from giving my vote to Hocus Pocus
same here
Hercules
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 14 2007
Location: Near York UK
Status: Offline
Points: 7024
Posted: September 11 2011 at 16:34
So much good stuff; such a hard choice!
In the end, went with House of the King (since my surname is King, I might be a bit biased)
A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life.
Tapfret
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Joined: August 12 2007
Location: Bryant, Wa
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Points: 8571
Posted: September 11 2011 at 17:50
I'll just be Mr. Trendy and say Hocus Pocus of course...the hyperspeed TV version at that...VIDEO
emkogceo
Forum Groupie
Joined: October 12 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 70
Posted: September 11 2011 at 18:42
"Focus II" for me. The bland title and position on their second album make it easy to forget, but it's my favorite Focus track of all.
www.emkog.com
Ivan_Melgar_M
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Joined: April 27 2004
Location: Peru
Status: Offline
Points: 19535
Posted: September 11 2011 at 18:50
Didn't expected so much love for Hocus Pocus, yes it's a good funny track, but I'm more in the melodic tracks with more presence of Jan Akkerman.
But everybody has a unique taste. Iván
Slartibartfast
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Joined: April 29 2006
Location: Atlantais
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Points: 29625
Posted: September 11 2011 at 19:18
I went with the one I heard at the grocery store recently.
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
Moogtron III
Prog Reviewer
Joined: April 26 2005
Location: Belgium
Status: Offline
Points: 10616
Posted: September 12 2011 at 01:43
As a kid I was crazy about Sylvia. Especially because there are so many wonderful, powerful complex chords in the track, and Akkerman's guitar is magic, and Van Leer backs him up quite well with the organ and the vocals. These days I'd choose Le Cathedral de Strasbourg, which has so many great moments within just a few minutes. I voted for that one.
someone_else
Forum Senior Member
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Joined: May 02 2008
Location: Going Bananas
Status: Offline
Points: 23998
Posted: September 12 2011 at 03:05
1. Hocus Pocus
2. Birth
3. Le Clochard [not on this list]
4. La Cathédrale de Strasbourg
Robk
Forum Newbie
Joined: July 06 2011
Status: Offline
Points: 3
Posted: September 12 2011 at 03:07
Janis - a sadly overlooked Focus classic
friso
Prog Reviewer
Joined: October 24 2007
Location: Netherlands
Status: Offline
Points: 2505
Posted: September 12 2011 at 03:21
Round goes the Gossip, though I might have voted for Happy Nighmare
Cactus Choir
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Joined: July 26 2008
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 1035
Posted: September 12 2011 at 04:31
La Cathedrale de Strasbourg, one of the most atmospheric and beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard.
"And now...on the drums...Mick Underwooooooooood!!!" "He's up the pub"
Guldbamsen
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Location: Magic Theatre
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Points: 23098
Posted: September 12 2011 at 07:35
Early Birth is my fave off this list - short, sweet and very beautiful guitar work from Akkerman.
“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams
irrelevant
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Joined: March 07 2010
Location: Australia
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Posted: September 12 2011 at 11:00
Focus II. But it was a difficult choice with Sylvia and La Cathedrale De Strasbourg being in the list.
Steven in Atlanta
Forum Groupie
Joined: January 08 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 57
Posted: September 12 2011 at 12:44
Focus V (from the fabulous Ship of Memories collection) is just a stunning melody from a band that had plenty of 'em! Perhaps their finest.
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