This induction into the "RCJ MUSIC/ ART'S HONOUR ROLL SOCIETY" will be to honour another unique presence in the early industry of rock music, of the 1960's/ 1970's that was quickly moving into the limelight/ mainstream. These pioneer's "Focus" had managed to not follow the herd (which was easier to do back then, before everything started getting too corporate maneuvered, orchestrated, homogenized, and neatly packaged, much more freedom back then in this industry), and just stay focused on what they produced locally in Holland, but soon, because of the truely free market of the era, started getting atencion on our side of the Atlantic as well ... thus a legend is born. And I also want to credit here Mr. Thijs van Leer for all he's done even during their later dropping review's to keep this project going ... a classically trained musician and multi talented/ contributing composer, and for his all around outstanding work.
I chose two of their most known piece's here in America to post for this ... their category of rock music ... I sometime's hear jazz, classical, and traditional contemporary rock ... but I never had a label for their sound beside's "Focus" ... Enjoy!
"HOCUS POCUS" ... FOCUS live performance on NBC's "Midnight Special" (1973) ... the young lady introducing them is RB/ SOUL icon Gladys Knight BTW ... Thanx to LOEREZ
"SYLVIA" ... THIJS VAN LEER/ FOCUS "live" 27 February 2010 @ "De Bosuil" Weert, The Netherlands ... Thanx to VINCENTLYONS ... I chose this "live" piece of several I reviewed, because it was shot by an amateur hanging off a balconey using maxed zoom, and still ended up quality and raw ....
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Being younger than you....well...by three whole years (you old fart)...;-).....I remember Focus well!!!
ReplyDeleteIt was Focus that guided me to God...aka....David Bowie...as Focus did THEIR thing and sod everyone else - as did Bowie back in the early 70's.
In fact I still have an old vinyl 7" single of "Hocus Pocus". A bit scratched but still playable.
I seem to recall finding Hawkwind as a result of being amazed by Focus....I've always been a bit electic..;-)
Still....The Pistols were still a few years away so something had to fill the hole in my head eh?
Hey 4D .... ahhh yes! ... the "Pistol's" had made it already in this journal honour roll, and believe me ... so will Bowie ... what a man he is! I really mean that ... Bowie is a legend, I have never got to see him "live" though. Well, were close in age, and you soon will be in that mid 50's old fart range ... heh, heh, heh, heh, heh :) Geeez ... the old 7" vinyl's, a friend of mine and musician composer Joe Christ (also in this music/ art's journal) actually still would put out single's in the 1990's and early 2000's on them, beside's his CD release ... and made them transparent in blood red color, I still have a couple of his ... unfortunately he passed away here in Atlanta, after he just got back from the Phillippines where he was going to host an alternative tele music show in Manila he was offered ... we were kind of close for year's here in Dallas.
ReplyDeleteThanx for your word's here Guy ...
I was priviliged and, afterwards, afraid, to have seen Bowie at his last 'Ziggy' concert...
ReplyDeleteThe world ended....er...oops...no it didn't..
Still...I got to see Ziggy....
Bowie is a GOD to me but not entirely...
Just like the rich and politicians he doesn't really know what it's like to be US.
At least that's through his talent and not the bullshit we put up with in our politicians though eh?
Right... past midnight in England...nite old bean
4D: I never really had any issue with one obtaining wealth to an extent, at least on how. I reckon the way I see it, is someone like Bowie actually worked and was rewarded for it. Many of those we look at as wealth and elite today, or even on the political end, have done nothing, created nothing, etc ... many are not even unique, have no personality, and just say whatever they think you want to hear, and manipulate other's, the market's, etc ...
ReplyDeleteLater 4D ....