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1-"In and out of Focus"-1969
Musicians :
Thijs van Leer : organ, flutes, vocals
Jan Akkerman : guitars and acoustic guitars
Martin Dresden : bass
Hans Cleuver : drums
FOCUS IS A NEW ROCK GROUP FROM HOLLAND!
We are now living in the progressive rock era of music. Every week, hundreds of albums by new rock groups from England and America flood the market. The percentage of those that are successful is very small, indeed. It seems, therefore, that the last thing that we need is another rock group, especially one with the apparent handicap of being from Holland, which is known primarily for windmills, wooden shoes, and tulips, rather than rock groups.
Focus, however, is a very unique group, and rock music, as we all know, is an international language of its own.
JAN AKKERMAN, the lead guitarist of Focus, is one of the best rock guitarists in the world, and is perhaps the best in Europe at the present time. Jan, who was the leader of the Dutch pop group Brainbox, left that group to help form Focus.
THIJS VAN LEER, the group's organist, HANS CLEUVER, who plays percussion, and bass guitarist MARTIJN DRESDEN, comprise the rest of Focus, and like Jan, all had been succesful with other Dutch bands prior to joining forces, in fact, the four were considered among the best musicians in Holland.
All of the material in the album was written and composed by Focus members. The songs are all in English, the only language in which the group writes and performs.
In Europe, fans and critics have already begun to sing the praises of Focus. Many are hailing them as the first continental "super-group", but we will not venture to voice our opinion until the group meets the test of the severe American audiences. This will happen soon, as an American tour for Focus is being mapped as this album goes to print. Who knows, maybe someday Holland will be famous for Focus too.
Original album back cover notes, 1969
Cover kindly sent by Tim. Text kindly sent by Jan van Beek.
This page was made by Rodrigo Mantovani.