01	Focus III						03:54
	02	Answers ? Questions ! Questions ? Answers !						11:28
	03	Focus II						04:36
	04	Eruption						08:28
	05	Hocus Pocus						08:30
	06	Sylvia						02:47
	07	Hocus Pocus ( Reprise )						02:50

Live at the Rainbow
Date of Release Dec 1973

The instrumental rockers of the early '70s never were any good at dulling down their musical expertise; and, indeed, it's only a matter of seconds into their first and only live release - Live at the Rainbow - until one realizes just how talented Focus were. Jan Akkerman, named "World's Best Guitarist" by Melody Maker in 1973 ahead of Eric Clapton and others, was amazingly on form in this performance. Thijs Van Leer, chief songwriter and performer in the band, showcased his talents on flute, vocals, and organ with unparalleled finesse. Bert Ruiter knocked out his bass lines tight to Pierre Van Der Linden's drums, undoubtedly two of the finest players on their respective instruments. It would be so easy to go off on a tangent explaining the mastery that Focus had musically; suffice to say, however, the bands technical proficiency is rarely matched in the world of rock. Live at the Rainbow featured some of the band's best and most well known tracks: "Sylvia," "Hocus Pocus," "Focus II," and so on. Although much of the content sticks closely to its original studio form (12-minute tracks were regular on studio albums), with maybe an extra solo or two thrown in for good measure, a few songs host drastic changes. "Hocus Pocus," for example, is almost unrecognizable. This live version is multiple times faster than its studio counterpart - those familiar with only the studio version are certainly in for a shock! Throughout the album the performance is simply astonishing. Live at the Rainbow is a fine purchase for any Focus fan, or, indeed, anyone looking for a band with a good degree of originality and musical ability. - Ben Davies

1. Focus III (Van Leer) - 3:52
2. Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers! (Akkerman/Ruiter) - 11:29
3. Focus II (Van Leer) - 4:36
4. Eruption/Orfeus/Answer/Orfeus/Answer... (Barlage/Van Leer/Van Leer) - 8:28
5. Hocus Pocus (Akkerman/Van Leer) - 8:30
6. Sylvia (Van Leer) - 2:47
7. Hocus Pocus (Reprise) (Akkerman/Van Leer) - 2:46

Jan Akkerman - Guitar, Percussion
Mike Vernon - Producer, Supervisor
Thijs Van Leer - Synthesizer, Flute, Keyboards, Vocals
Phil Dunne - Engineer
Gary Edwards - Engineer
John Punter - Engineer
Bert Ruiter - Bass, Percussion
Gareth Edwards - Engineer
Ian Gillespie - Pre-Mastering

1973 LP Sire 7408
Sire SAS 7408
1999 CD EMI 48969
2001 CD Red Bullet 66190






Focus - Live At The Rainbow

Track Listing
1) Focus III
2) Answers? Questions!Questions?Answers!
3) Focus II
4) Eruption
a) Orfeus
b) Answer
c) Orfeus
d) Answer
e) Pupilla
f) Tommy
g) Pupilla
5) Hocus Pocus
6) Sylvia
7) Hocus Pocus-Reprise

Member: Prog Owl

Jan Akkerman: Guitar
Thijs Van Leer: Hammond Organ, Flute, Yodeling, Announcements
Burt Rueter: Bass
Pierre Van Der Linden: Drums

The year is 1973 and the technology is nowhere like what it is now. Prog-Rock was really starting to hit it's peak and the industry as a whole was far more receptive to musical creativity of the type shown on this incendiary live recording by Focus.

Rather than my usual blow-by-blow description, I'll try to hit the highlights (and they are numerous).

With nothing more than the most basic technology (Gibson Les Paul guitar & Marshall amp, Hammond Organ & Flute, Fender Bass and an average size drum kit), no synths or overdubs, these four Dutch maestros wowed a capacity audience at London's Rainbow Theatre with their impressive creativity and good humor! Out of their musical hat, they pulled a ton of wonderful melodies, brooding and introspective passages, jazz-inflected soloing, turn on a dime time changes, manic energy and even yodeling!!

The real standouts here are Jan Akkerman's by turns brittle and soaring plaintive guitar and Van Leer's smoky and regal organ. Akkerman's solo passages on "Answers? Questions!Questions?Answers!" are particularly arresting and beautiful. The ensemble passages and dynamic shifts on "Eruption" are a marvel to behold as well. Throughout, Pierre Van Der Linden and Burt Rueter provide tireless and driving harmonic and rhythmic force. Of course, there is the obligatory thrashing of their unintentional signature tune "Hocus Pocus", manic yodeling and all! This would definitely be the throwaway track, as it goes on a bit longer than it should (repetitive ditty this one). But that notwithstanding, this is one beautiful example of how creativity knows no limits, especially technological ones.

Fans of smoking instrumental prog would do well to add this to their collection.

Bon Appetit'