Focus Plays Focus
Focus Plays Focus is the first studio album by Dutch rock band Focus, released in September 1970 on Imperial Records. It is the only album recorded by the group's original line-up consisting of organist and vocalist Thijs van Leer, bassist Martin Dresden, drummer Hans Cleuver, and guitarist Jan Akkerman. It was renamed In and Out of Focus for the international re-release of the album from 1971 onwards which included their debut single "House of the King".
| Focus Plays Focus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 1970 | |||
| Recorded | January 1970 | |||
| Studio | Sound Techniques (Chelsea, London) | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock[1] | |||
| Length | 33:30 | |||
| Label | Imperial (5C 054-24192)[2] | |||
| Producer | Hubert Terheggen | |||
| Focus chronology | ||||
| ||||
Musical style
AllMusic's Richie Unterberger called the album "a fair collection of progressive rock tunes without a clear focus" and noted prominent influences from folk rock, blues, and classical music, as well as "occasional jazzy shadings".[3]
Track listing
Original release
Source:[2]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Focus (Instrumental)" | Thijs van Leer | 9:45 |
| 2. | "Why Dream" | van Leer, Hans Cleuver | 3:57 |
| 3. | "Happy Nightmare" | van Leer, Martin Dresden, Mike Hayes | 3:56 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Anonymus" | van Leer, Jan Akkerman, Dresden | 7:00 |
| 2. | "Black Beauty" | van Leer, Cleuver | 3:05 |
| 3. | "Sugar Island" | van Leer, Dresden, Staal | 3:03 |
| 4. | "Focus (Vocal Version)" | van Leer, Cleuver | 2:44 |
1971 reissue
Source:[4]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Focus (Instrumental)" | van Leer | 9:45 |
| 2. | "Why Dream" | van Leer, Cleuver | 3:57 |
| 3. | "Happy Nightmare" | van Leer, Dresden, Hayes | 3:56 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Anonymus" | van Leer, Akkerman, Dresden | 7:00 |
| 2. | "Black Beauty" | van Leer, Cleuver | 3:05 |
| 3. | "Sugar Island" | van Leer, Dresden, Staal | 3:03 |
| 4. | "House of the King" | Akkerman | 2:15 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album's 1970 liner notes.[2]
Focus
- Thijs van Leer – vocals (tracks 2, 5, 6), flute, Hammond organ, piano, electric piano, mellotron, harpsichord, vibraphone
- Jan Akkerman – guitars, acoustic guitars
- Martin Dresden – bass guitar, trumpet (tracks 4, 5), vocals (tracks 2, 3, 6)
- Hans Cleuver – drums, bongos, vocals (tracks 2, 5, 6)
Production
- Hubert Terheggen – production
- Jerry Boys – engineering
References
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-and-out-of-focus-mw0000652900
- Focus Plays Focus (Media notes). Imperial Records. 1970. 5C 054-24192.
- Unterberger, Richie. "In and Out of Focus - AllMusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- In and Out of Focus (Media notes). Imperial Records. 1971. 5C 054-24192.
- "Discography". Focus. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
- "Focus (2) - In And Out Of Focus". Discogs. Retrieved 13 July 2010.