Focus: What do I listen to next?
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=123748
Printed Date: July 19 2025 at 15:49
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Focus: What do I listen to next?
Posted By: anoopanunya
Subject: Focus: What do I listen to next?
Date Posted: August 09 2020 at 18:16
| So long story short I’m a millenial who just got into prog rock a year or so ago. I absolutely loved Moving Waves (especially Eruption, I’m a drummer lol) and I’m not sure where to go next in terms of their discography. What would you suggest? |
Replies:
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: August 09 2020 at 18:41
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Most would say Hamburger Concerto for the next Focus lp ...but if you are a drummer you need to listen to ELP...the first one to hear Carl Palmer. And then this ....Close To The Edge to hear Bill Bruford.... And I'm sure the other PA members will recommend other things...
------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: August 09 2020 at 19:24
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Hi, HC is probably right ... but for a drummer? I think that listening to the early Guru Guru is probably the best idea ... to see how a drummer who likes to say that he doesn't drum with anyone except the music, and I like to think that often this is not something that most players are used to ... since in Guru Guru, for the first 6 albums (through Tango Fango), it is not exactly about the rhythm ... specially in the early days of the experiments and stuff that Ax Gernrich did with them. How do you drum to the LSD march? You kinda don't ... you just add touches to it! Not "drumming". Nowadays, you would get a strict time keeper that could not let off his snare drum, and ruin the freedom of the music by sticking it to plastic! I would recommend Bill Bruford, btw, but not in the early days ... what he does in YES is nowhere near as good as some of his work in KC ... and then later when he was able to do complete improvisations with a guitar player and they never discussed anything they would do or did ... move along to something else ... and knowing, feeling, and wanting to "color" those moments is what the music is about ... not time keeping ... Berklee music can not get its head around that yet! And then ... there is one drummer, that does not use his snare a lot ... he uses a circle of toms instead ... but this is probably too advanced to suggest to a "drummer" maybe? I would rather suggest you hear someone like Steve Gadd, and what he does for Rickie Lee Jones (early albums), and many years later to Kate Bush (Snow) ... and in this last one, there is no "format" or time keeping, because she is already on to the next phase or section of a song, that is continuous and not "time" tied! At that point ... it is all ... what do you do when you should NOT be keeping time ... something that most drummers have no idea how to do and refuse to learn! In one example, this group had a marvelous piece of music, and one of the saddest drummers I have ever heard ... it's like he was hitting the snare hard to ask the band to return to the beat ... and he did not know how to color anything, except hit the snare ... it was by far, one of the saddest exercises in drumming I have ever seen ... and his drumming was the same the whole thing through. Carl Palmer is something special, and it's hard to not look at his impact in ELP ... his work is about helping the ACCENTS in the lyrics and how Greg Lake sings them, and then help Keith maintain the solo ... but strict time keeping as most drummers do today, would ruin the flavor of the music ... think about this ... "don't tell me lies" ... boom boom boom ... quick silence ... not snare drum ... you have to think outside your beat keeping to add to the music ... and this is a good learning thing from CP ... and in a lot of ELP's work. All depends on how you look at things ... develop into something special or just go back to high school tempo and time! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: August 09 2020 at 19:57
Those are good suggestions by Dr. Wu. However, if he has been into prog for a year my guess would be has already heard close to the edge and ELP by now. ;) At least I hope so.  I would think most would discover those before Focus.
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Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: August 09 2020 at 20:19
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I just love this oddly titled closing track from Sebastian Hardie's "Four Moments" album. Recommended for Focus fans |
Posted By: HackettFan
Date Posted: August 09 2020 at 22:40
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Focus 3. Hamburger Concerto is great quality material, but I always found it too brief, especially after Focus 3, which was a double album. I'd recommend Focus 3, but that's me. In and Out of Focus is their first album and a must listen. It alternates Prog pieces with more accessible pieces. Both of those albums also have the same drummer, Pierre Van Der Linden, who you heard on Moving Waves. Hamburger Concerto does not. ------------- A curse upon the heads of those who seek their fortunes in a lie. The truth is always waiting when there's nothing left to try. - Colin Henson, Jade Warrior (Now) |
Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 01:11
| If we're talking drummers, I second Steve Gadd. The group he's in with Michael Brecker is great (Steps Ahead). One of the greatest drummers of all time in my opinion is Vinnie Colaiuta. He can be heard on plenty of albums. He played with Zappa from 1978-1980 (so he HAS to be good, it's a requirement), and he played on one of my favorite Allan Holdsworth albums, Secrets. In general, I think any drummer needs to hear the playing on Zappa's records, particularly from his 70s and 80s output (including posthumously released live albums, his groups were better live). Aynsley Dunbar, Ralph Humphrey, Chester Thompson, Terry Bozzio, Vinnie, Chad Wackerman, all essential. |
Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 01:13
The ideal solution would be to give the Dutch band Solution a listen. I think you'll like them. 
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Posted By: Cactus Choir
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 01:16
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Hamburger Concerto is maybe the best Focus album in terms of material, but if you're a drummer you might want to try Focus 3 first as that's a double album with longer arrangements and features some great work by Pierre van der Linden, especially on Anonymous II. ------------- "And now...on the drums...Mick Underwooooooooood!!!" "He's up the pub" |
Posted By: Cactus Choir
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 01:18
------------- "And now...on the drums...Mick Underwooooooooood!!!" "He's up the pub" |
Cactus Choir wrote:Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 01:19
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Hamburger Concerto is excellent. And the live album Live in England is fantastic. |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 02:49
Welcome! Please enjoy this recent recording by Jan Akerman, a reprise of a song on Moving Waves: ------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!! |
Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 03:00
Absolutely. Stunning music (vocals less so, but most of their stuff is instrumental) and the musicianship is stellar. I'd also give Moonmadness a listen: Andy Ward is a stelllar drummer. ------------- A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 03:01
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Focus 3 and Hamburger Concerto. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: JD
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 06:15
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Any of the first 4 Triumvirat releases. ------------- Thank you for supporting independently produced music |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 06:50
A good suggestion actually; there is a connection with Moving Waves: The 6th part of Eruption, Tommy, is a guitar adaptation of Solution's Divergence, written by Tom Barlage. ------------- 
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Posted By: friso
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 07:25
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I wouldn't skip on 'Ship of Memories' as well, perhaps my favorite Focus record. A bit more jazz/fusion-like, but the compositions are quite diverse and intense. ------------- I'm guitarist and songwriter for the prog-related band Mother Bass. Find us at http://www.motherbass.com. I also enter stages throughout the Netherlands performing my poetry. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 07:48
Love that one..recommended it on another thread recently. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 12:58
yeah it captures such a wonderful almost pastoral mood. And, well, the mellotron solo is to die for
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Posted By: dougmcauliffe
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 14:23
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Focus 3, their best album ------------- The sun has left the sky... ...Now you can close your eyes |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 15:47
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I recommend the dutch prog band from the 70's called Finch. Please tell me I'm not the only one on here who knows them.
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Posted By: irrelevant
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 19:59
Yep! Might be my favourite Focus album too. Glad to see someone else put it at #1.  ------------- https://gabebuller.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - New album! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385 |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 23:02
| I also think their best is Hamburger Concerto, though indeed by then they had changed the drummer they had on Moving Waves, and it's just not the same on that department. However, the music is just fantastic. As for other drummers, my favourites are Bill Brufford and Carl Palmer. |
Posted By: Progosopher
Date Posted: August 10 2020 at 23:29
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Jan Akkerman's first two solo albums. ------------- The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty" |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: August 11 2020 at 08:20
I second this. In terms of other drummers worth exploring, I second the recommendations of Steve Gadd and Vinnie Colaiuta--I love Steve's play on Chick Corea's 1977 release The Mad Hatter. I am always blown away by Vinnie's drumming on Antoine Fafard's 2014 album Ad Perpetuum. And then there is Bill Bruford. For his purest stylings I always go back to 1977-80--the Bruford band albums or the self-titled UK debut release from 1978. ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: August 11 2020 at 08:36
You're not the only one, but it's a hell of a time that I didn't listen to Glory of the Inner Force. But to me it's no competition with Focus. Regarding Focus I think that Focus 3 is indeed the album to go, followed by Hamburger Concerto. Pierre van der Linden returned to the drums on Focus 9, X and 11 - nice listens too, but they don't have the power and originality of the aforementioned albums. ------------- The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: August 11 2020 at 09:01
It's not a competition. I wasn't trying to make it one or at least not more than anyone else on here(although I seriously doubt they were either). You mentioned the word competition so to me that makes me think you see it as one but it isn't. It's just about recommending stuff that others would like that is similar to Focus. Others were mentioning Triumvirat, Solution, Sebastian Hardie and other artists so I thought I would mention one too.
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Posted By: suitkees
Date Posted: August 11 2020 at 09:06
You're absolutely right to recommend them. "No competition" was my way to say that I prefer Focus by far, but Finch deserve to be explored (especially in regard of the list of bands mentioned).  ------------- The razamataz is a pain in the bum |
Posted By: kenethlevine
Date Posted: August 11 2020 at 09:32
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hmm I wonder if Anyone's Daughter might interest you. A group that kind of played neo prog before neo prog, and also were sometimes called the German Camel. Their live albums tend to have the best versions of their songs, though the one DVD I saw showed them to be overly stiff and serious on stage. Still, the music! |
Posted By: friso
Date Posted: August 11 2020 at 12:47
Yeah.. just those frantic solo's of Akkerman on the first track make it a must-have album. ------------- I'm guitarist and songwriter for the prog-related band Mother Bass. Find us at http://www.motherbass.com. I also enter stages throughout the Netherlands performing my poetry. |
Posted By: Cosmiclawnmower
Date Posted: August 11 2020 at 15:35
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Colin Allen was the drummer on 'Hamburger Concerto' and had previously played with Brit-blues outfit 'Stone the crows' and before that, John Mayell's blues breakers. Therefore Hamburger Concerto doesn't have as much of the jazzy-tinged work that PVDL put onto earlier Focus lps but has a steady, solidness that swings which gives HC a slightly different vibe but its a very good and thoroughly enjoyable album. Like many others here, i'd still say 'Focus 3' is the bees knees as focus albums go. I'm sure you've listened to them already (bit like Yes & ELP) but give Jethro Tull- particularly 'Thick as a Brick' a go.. ------------- |
Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: August 11 2020 at 23:12
I've said it before: CHICK COREA DESERVES TO BE ON THIS SITE. His Elektric Band is on here, but not him. If Miles and Herbie are on here based on some of their albums from the 70s, Chick should be too. In fact, his mid-70s output is probably "proggier" than either of the aforementioned geniuses, as well as Mahavishnu, AND Weather Report.
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Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: August 12 2020 at 08:45
Weird. I just assumed he's on here as RTF, Bill Connors, Al DiMeola, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, Herbie Hancock, and Miles Davis are all on here with their own pages. WHY IS Chick Corea NOT DESERVING OF HIS OWN PAGE? ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: August 12 2020 at 14:38
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Keep on going with suggestions already made. Personally I wouldn't overlook the lesser rated onesss. And Thijis has been putting out new ones that are quite good. Also don't overlook Akkerman's albums after he split off. There is some good stuff and some meh stuff. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: August 12 2020 at 16:05
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You could focus on the Dutch rock band Ekseption next. They're ekseptional!
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 12 2020 at 23:29
| Maybe check out some Greenslade. |
Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: August 13 2020 at 00:31
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Jan Akermann contributed to this amazing solo LP by the late, great Peter Banks....check it out! ------------- I am not a Robot, I'm a FREE MAN!! |
Posted By: Droxford
Date Posted: August 23 2020 at 13:33
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I have only just started to listen to Focus . I remember 'Hocus Pocus' , and 'Sylvia' as being chart hits when I was about 12, and 'In The House of The King' was the theme tune for a quiz show at the time. I have ordered 'Focus 3', 'Moving Waves' and 'Hamburger Concerto' but with such a body of work over the year been reading this discussion looking for other recommended Focus work. You might be interested in this recent interview with Thijs Van Leer on the Communication Breakdown Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7lKc-Fanrk&t=7s" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7lKc-Fanrk&t=7s |