For a few short years in the 1970s, the unique music of Focus entertained the world. Built around the prodigious instrumental talents of Dutch masters Jan Akkerman (guitar) and Thijs van Leer (keyboards and flute), the band produced three classic hit albums in quick succession, at the same time scoring two worldwide hits with 'Sylvia' and 'Hocus Pocus'. The latter piece is as ubiquitous as tunes from the 70s get, distinctive for Akkerman's famous riff and van Leer's yodelling. Musical and personal tensions between the two lead to a split in early 1976 and the band limped on until 1978. However, the decade also saw other many projects, with Akkerman moving into jazzier territory while van Leer had huge success with his Introspection series of light classical, flute-orientated albums.
Stephen Lambe's book guides the reader through the band's early history year by year, dealing with all eight Focus albums song by song, while also giving the same treatment to Akkerman and van Leer's other work during the decade. It is an important potted history of the band and an insight into the tensions which lead to such a creative - if short lived – peak. But it also acts as an essential guide to the astonishing music the two men made while at the apex of their powers.
Stephen Lambe is an author, publisher, festival organiser and journalist. An acknowledged expert on progressive rock, his books include: Yes - on track (Sonicbond, 2018) and the best-selling Citizens Of Hope and Glory: The Story Of Progressive Rock (Amberley, 2011). He lives in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK.
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
About this book
Trusted by 375,005 students
Access to over 1.5 million titles for a fair monthly price.
Study more efficiently using our study tools.
Information
Subtopic
Music History & CriticismTable of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Full Page Image
- 1. Jan Akkerman and Thijs van Leer
- 2. The Stars Align
- Full Page Image
- 3. 1970 – Focus Play Focus
- 4. 1971 – The Bridge
- 5. 1972 – Questions and Answers
- Full Page Image
- Full Page Image
- Full Page Image
- Full Page Image
- 6. 1973 – Focus Mania
- Full Page Image
- Full Page Image
- Full Page Image
- Full Page Image
- 7. 1974 – Fast Food
- 8. 1975 – More Drummers Than Spinal Tap
- 9. 1976 – Catherine Wheel
- 10. 1977 – Solo Success
- Full Page Image
- Full Page Image
- Full Page Image
- Full Page Image
- 11. 1978 – Did Proby Con Focus?
- 12. 1979 – End Of An Era
- Full Page Image
- Full Page Image
- 13. What Happened Next?
- 14. Buying Focus and the van Leer / Akkerman solo albums
- 15. Selected Compilations
- 16. Focus Discography 1986 onwards
- 17. Bibliography And Other Resources
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription
No, books cannot be downloaded as external files, such as PDFs, for use outside of Perlego. However, you can download books within the Perlego app for offline reading on mobile or tablet. Learn how to download books offline
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.5M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1.5 million books across 990+ topics, we’ve got you covered! Learn about our mission
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more about Read Aloud
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS and Android devices to read anytime, anywhere — even offline. Perfect for commutes or when you’re on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Yes, you can access Focus In The 1970s by Stephen Lambe in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Media & Performing Arts & Music History & Criticism. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.