Focus III
Encyclopedia
Focus 3 is a double
-album
by progressive rock
band Focus
, which was released in 1972, peaking #6 on the UK charts. It includes "Sylvia", a worldwide hit that reached #4 on the UK charts and #89 on the US charts. It also contains "House of the King", a single originally from 1970, which was later included on the CD version of Focus' first album, Focus Plays Focus (In and Out of Focus). "House of the King" was not, as is often believed, re-recorded for Focus III.
The proper track order on the I.R.S. CD:
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
-album
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
by progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Focus
Focus (band)
Focus is a Dutch rock band which was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, and is most famous for the instrumental pieces "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia"...
, which was released in 1972, peaking #6 on the UK charts. It includes "Sylvia", a worldwide hit that reached #4 on the UK charts and #89 on the US charts. It also contains "House of the King", a single originally from 1970, which was later included on the CD version of Focus' first album, Focus Plays Focus (In and Out of Focus). "House of the King" was not, as is often believed, re-recorded for Focus III.
Side A
- "Round Goes the Gossip..." (Thijs van LeerThijs van LeerThijs Van Leer is a Dutch musician, singer and composer, best known for heading the Dutch progressive rock band, Focus, as primary vocalist, Hammond organ player, and flautist. He also yodels and whistles...
) – 5:16 (contains verses from Virgil AENEIDOS LIBER IV "extemplo Libyae magnas it Fama per urbes,...") - "Love Remembered" (Jan AkkermanJan AkkermanJan Akkerman is a Dutch guitarist. Akkerman is a distinctive guitarist, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive guitar sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques...
) – 2:49 - "Sylvia" (van Leer) – 3:32
- "Carnival Fugue" (van Leer) – 6:02
Side B
- "Focus III" (van Leer) – 6:07
- "Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!" (Akkerman, Bert RuiterBert RuiterBert Ruiter is a Dutch bass guitarist, record producer, and composer.Ruiter was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Hilversum. When he was twelve he started playing guitar by ear; later he switched to bass guitar...
) – 14:03
Side C
- "Anonymus II (Part 1)" (van Leer, Akkerman, Ruiter, Pierre van der LindenPierre van der LindenPierre van der Linden, born 19 February 1946 in the Netherlands, is a jazz drummer whose style was influenced by his childhood hero Buddy Rich....
) – 19:28
Side D
- "Anonymus II (Conclusion)" (van Leer, Akkerman, Ruiter, van der Linden) – 7:30
- "Elspeth of Nottingham" (Akkerman) – 3:15
- "House of the King" (Akkerman) – 2:23
CD listing
- "Round Goes the Gossip" – 5:12
- "Love Remembered" – 2:49
- "Sylvia" – 3:31
- "Carnival Fugue" – 6:08
- "Focus III" – 6:04
- "Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!" – 13:55
- "Elspeth of Nottingham" – 3:06
- "Anonymus Two" – 26:19
The proper track order on the I.R.S. CD:
- "Round Goes the Gossip" – 5:13
- "Love Remembered" – 2:49
- "Sylvia" – 3:32
- "Carnival Fugue Intro" – 1:35
- "Carnival Fugue (Continued)" – 4:34
- "Focus III / Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!" – 19:54
- "Elspeth of Nottingham" – 3:11
- "Anonymus Two" – 26:21
Personnel
- Thijs van LeerThijs van LeerThijs Van Leer is a Dutch musician, singer and composer, best known for heading the Dutch progressive rock band, Focus, as primary vocalist, Hammond organ player, and flautist. He also yodels and whistles...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, fluteWestern concert fluteThe Western concert flute is a transverse woodwind instrument made of metal or wood. It is the most common variant of the flute. A musician who plays the flute is called a flautist, flutist, or flute player....
, piccoloPiccoloThe piccolo is a half-size flute, and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger sibling, the standard transverse flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written...
, recorderRecorderThe recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
, vocals - Jan AkkermanJan AkkermanJan Akkerman is a Dutch guitarist. Akkerman is a distinctive guitarist, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive guitar sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques...
– electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, luteLuteLute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes.... - Bert RuiterBert RuiterBert Ruiter is a Dutch bass guitarist, record producer, and composer.Ruiter was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Hilversum. When he was twelve he started playing guitar by ear; later he switched to bass guitar...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Pierre van der LindenPierre van der LindenPierre van der Linden, born 19 February 1946 in the Netherlands, is a jazz drummer whose style was influenced by his childhood hero Buddy Rich....
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Mike VernonMike Vernon (producer)Mike Vernon is an English record producer. He produced albums for British blues artists and groups during the late 1960s, working with the Bluesbreakers, David Bowie, Duster Bennett, Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Green, Danny Kirwan, John Mayall, Christine McVie and...
their producer - backing vocals on "Round Goes The Gossip" but is uncredited - Martin Dresden - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
on "House Of The King", but is uncredited - Hans Cleuver - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
on "House Of The King", but is uncredited
Cultural references
- British guitarist Hank MarvinHank MarvinHank Brian Marvin is an English guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows. The group, which primarily performed instrumentals, was formed as a backing band for vocalist Cliff Richard...
covered the track "Sylvia" on his 1992 album Into The Light.