FOCUS – MOVING WAVES LP – Nr MINT A1/B1 UK 1971 ORIG  PROG

Focus – Moving Waves
(Blue Horizon Records  1971  2931002)
Matrix No’s: A1/B1 – UK Pressing

Sleeve in Nr MINT condition

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition
(there are some light surface marks visible on the vinyl when held up to the light but they don’t affect the sound quality)

Focus are a Dutch rock band formed in Amsterdam in 1969 by keyboardist, vocalist, and flautist Thijs van Leer. The band have undergone numerous formations in its history; since December 2016 it has comprised van Leer, drummer Pierre van der Linden, guitarist Menno Gootjes, and bassist Udo Pannekeet. Past members include guitarist Jan Akkerman and bassists Bert Ruiter and Bobby Jacobs. They have sold one million RIAA-certified albums in the United States.

After the addition of Akkerman to van Leer’s rock trio in late 1969, the band’s named themselves Focus and performed in the pit band for the Dutch production of the rock musical Hair. Their debut album In and Out of Focus (1970) gained little attention, but their follow-up album Moving Waves (1971), and its lead single “Hocus Pocus”, earned the band international recognition. Their success continued with Focus 3 (1972) and Hamburger Concerto (1974), the former containing their second hit single, “Sylvia”. After two additional albums recorded with various musicians, Focus dissolved in 1978. They reunited in 1985, 1990, 1998 and 2002.

In 2002, van Leer reformed Focus with a new line-up. The albums Focus 8 (2002), Focus 9 / New Skin (2006), Focus X (2012) and The Focus Family Album (2017) were well received, and Focus continue to perform worldwide and record; their most recent album is Focus 8.5 / Beyond the Horizon (2016). They received a renewed interest after Nike used “Hocus Pocus” in its 2010 World Cup commercial Write The Future. Focus remain one of the most successful and influential rock bands from the Netherlands.

Focus II (better known as Moving Waves) is the second studio album from the Dutch rock band Focus. The album includes the hit “Hocus Pocus” and “Eruption”, a 23-minute adaptation of Jacopo Peri’s opera Euridice which tells the story of Orpheus and Euridice. Focus II was released in October 1971 to positive critical reception. It went on to reach the top ten in the UK, US and the Netherlands.

Track listing

1. “Hocus Pocus” (Thijs van Leer, Jan Akkerman) – 6:42
2. “Le Clochard” (Akkerman) – 2:01
3. “Janis” (Akkerman) – 3:09
4. “Moving Waves” (van Leer, Inayat Khan) – 2:42
5. “Focus II” (van Leer) – 4:03
6. “Eruption:” – 23:04
   1. “Orfeus” (van Leer) – 1:22
   2. “Answer” (van Leer) – 1:35
   3. “Orfeus” (van Leer) – 1:20
   4. “Answer” (van Leer) – 0:52
   5. “Pupilla” (van Leer) – 1:03
   6. “Tommy” (Tom Barlage) – 1:45
   7. “Pupilla” (van Leer) – 0:34
   8. “Answer” (van Leer) – 0:21
   9. “The Bridge” (Akkerman) – 5:20
   10. “Break” – 0:24
   11. “Euridice” (van Leer, Eelke Nobel) – 1:40
   12. “Dayglow” (van Leer) – 2:09
   13. “Endless Road” (Pierre van der Linden) – 1:36
   14. “Answer” (van Leer) – 0:34
   15. “Orfeus” (van Leer) – 0:51
   16. “Euridice” (van Leer, Nobel) – 1:37

Personnel

• Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, piano, mellotron, harmonium, flutes, vocals
• Jan Akkerman – guitars, bass guitar
• Cyril Havermans – bass guitar, vocals on “Pupilla”
• Pierre van der Linden – drums, percussion