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Focus: Golden Oldies

Melodic Progressive Rock

3.5/5.0

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In and Out of Focus Records
Words by Craig Hartranft,  12.06.2014

If the creative juices aren't flowing, and there's nothing new in the pipeline, nada, what do you do? Some bands may drop a greatest hits album, maybe with a few live cuts. Apparently, Focus has nothing either. Their solution? Re-record nine of their most popular early tunes, including the famous Hocus Pocus, for Golden Oldies.

Focus' Thijs van Leer: explains yodeling.

Now before you cringe or merely ask why, it's not all that bad. While I had several of their early albums as a teen, excepting Hocus Pocus, I remember little of them or any of the songs on this compilation. Suffice to say, listening to Hocus Pocus, which everybody knows, at least if you're over 40, I suspect most songs stay intact. As for Hocus Pocus, it may sound a little faster and heavier, but that observation will be in the ears of the listener. The least skeptical fans might find that these recordings by the current line up offer a renewed freshness to the Focus sound. While diehard fans may suggest otherwise, prefering the original recordings.

What Golden Oldies does reveal is Focus's distinctive approach to classic progressive rock when it was flourishing and lively from Europe to UK to America. In the sense it's a good introduction to the band and the genre for those unfamiliar with either. Otherwise, Golden Oldies is merely a greatest hits album, only with the songs re-recorded by the current band.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Focus' Golden Oldies is merely a greatest hits album, only with the songs re-recorded by the current band, and yet a good introduction to the band and the classic prog rock genre for those unfamiliar with either.

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The Powell Payne project, created in 2022 is the collaboration of Mark "Penfold Powell (ex-drummer of Psycho Kiss) and Adam Payne (former vocalist of Airrace). With guitarist Adam Davies and keyboard player ... [ Read More ]