Monday Long Song

I'm overwhelmed and humbled by the amount of positive vibes I received in the wake of my previous post a couple of weeks ago. I can't thank everyone who sent a message of support enough, whether in the comments, via email, social media or even in the form of a kindly thought - it means the world, it really does. I'm conscious of the danger of descending into lethargy, so, if I may ask your indulgence, I'm going to try to dip my toe back into the blogging world as part of an attempt to create some form of new normal for myself. I'm finding it hard enough to even get out of bed at the moment let alone string a few sentences together, so it might not be plain sailing, but hopefully there'll always be a half-decent tune attached to my meanderings. Thanks again - really.

Anyway, back to it. Here's one I prepared earlier.

The entire second side of the 1971 Focus LP 'Moving Waves' is taken up by the 23-minute instrumental 'Eruption', a (whisper it) prog reappraisal of the ancient legend of Orpheus and Eurydice, made up of of 15 short movements. The band are of course best known to the world at large for their pair of hit singles, 1972's 'Hocus Pocus' and the 1973 classic 'Sylvia'.

Focus - Eruption.

Focus

I believe I actually had the concert ticket in my hand, before I was made aware that guitarist Jan Akkerman had taken leave of Focus on the eve of the tour in support of new LP 'Mother Focus'. The gig in 1976, featuring Philip Catherine in Akkerman's stead and, future member of Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour Band, David Kemper on drums, was a subdued affair and, judging by the size of the audience, I'd say that more than a few tickets had been returned when word of the personnel change got around.

In spite of it's perception as one of Focus's minor works, I retain great affection for 'Mother Focus', however the band's fortunes subsequently fell away sharply and within a year they would, bizarrely, be working on an LP in cahoots with 1960's trouser-splitter P.J. Proby.