Focus: Focus 3 (1972)

Focus followed their wonderful Moving Waves with Focus 3, this time being a double album. The band at this point featured guitarist Jan Akkerman, organist/flutist Thijs van Leer, and drummer Pierre van der Linden with new bassist Bert Ruiter (later a member of Earth & Fire). Although this album still has some fine material, it also suffers with the double album trap. While the album features some great material like the minor hit “Sylvia” (which gave radio listeners a taste of the real Focus, for those who might have been turned off by “Hocus Pocus” – which I happen to really like) as well as the largely acoustic “Love Remembered”, the medieval-sounding “Elsbeth of Nottingham” and the Tull-like “House of the King” (only on the LP), the problem occurs when they do those lengthy, extended jams. “Anonymous II” is that example. This song is basically one big wankfest, particularly Akkerman’s guitar. The song is so long that it had to conclude on the other side of the LP. It doesn’t help when the song is interrupted by a six minute long drum solo. But luckily the rest of the album is better, such as “Answers? Questions! Questions! Answers?” which reminds me a bit of Pink Floyd, and “Focus III” which is Focus at their classic best. I also get a kick off “Carnival Suite”. If you own the CD and wonder why “House of the King” is missing, here’s the reason why: this song originally appeared only on the European version of their debut, In & Out of Focus (1970), but did not appear on the American LP version. So the LP of Focus 3 included that song so everyone, including Americans get to hear this song. Anyway, this album is prime example of double-album syndrome: a lot of this music degenerates in to a wankfest, but it’s still worth having if you don’t mind endless solos, but of course, start with Moving Waves first.
– Jan Akkerman: electric, acoustic, and classical guitars
– Thijs van Leer: organ, flute, piano, voices
– Bert Ruiter: bass
– Pierre van der Linden: drums