Tag Archives: Jan Akkerman

Focus: Focus Play Focus

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In September 1970, “Imperial” label released “Focus Plays Focus”, the debut Focus, studio album. It was recorded in January 1970, at “Bound Techniques” in London, and was produced by Hubert Terheggen.

Personnel:

  • Thijs van Leer – lead vocals, flute, Hammond organ, piano, electric piano, mellotron, harpsichord, vibraphone
  • Jan Akkerman – guitars
  • Martijn Dresden – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar, trumpet
  • Hans Cleuver – drums, bongos, backing vocals
  • Wouter Möller – cello
  • Jerry Boys – engineer

Track listing:

  1. Focus (instrumental) – Thijs van Leer
  2. Why Dream – Thijs van Leer, Erik Cleuver
  3. Happy Nightmare – Thijs van Leer, Martin Dresden, Mike Hayes
  4. Anonymus – Thijs van Leer, Jan Akerman, Martin Dresden, Hans Cleuver
  5. Black beauty – Thijs van Leer, Erik Cleuver
  6. Sugar Island – Thijs van Leer, Martin Dresden, Jan Staal
  7. Focus (vocal version) – Thijs van Leer, Hans Cleuver

Ant-Bee: Electronic Church Muzik

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On February 28, 2011, “Barking Moondog” label relased “Electronic Church Muzik”, the fourth Ant-Bee studio album. It was recorded over the course of several years, and was produced by Billy James.

Personnel:

  • Billy James (The Ant-Bee) – vocals, tape,  percussion,  Mellotron, vibraphone, guitar, keyboards, harp, cuica, washboard, violin,  choir
  • Jan Akkerman– guitar
  • Peter Banks– guitar
  • Daevid Allen– vocals
  • Artemiy Artemiev– keyboards
  • Mark Boston(as Rockette Morton) – bass guitar
  • Michael Bruce– guitar, bass guitar, sitar, vocala, keyboards
  • Bruce Cameron– guitar, bass guitar, sitar
  • Jack Dougherty – pedal steel guitar
  • Bill Harkleroad(Zoot Horn Rollo) – guitar
  • Moogy Klingman– keyboards
  • Alessandro Pizzin – keyboards
  • Don Preston– Moog synthesizer, keyboards, electronics
  • Peter Frohmader– keyboards, electronics
  • Mike Logiovino – bass guitar
  • Bunk Gardner– saxophone, flute
  • Buzz Gardner– trumpet
  • Cor Gout – vocals
  • Napoleon Murphy Brock– vocals
  • Jimmy Carl Black– spoken word
  • Gilli Smyth– vocals, spoken word
  • Zad McGough – backing vocals
  • Rod Martin – trumpet
  • Groucho Marx– vocals
  • George Scala – recorder
  • Jim Sherwood(as Motorhead) – snorks

Track listing:

  1. Birth – Billy James, Gilli Smyth
  2. Living – Michael Bruce, Glen Buxton, Alice Cooper, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith
  3. The Language of the Body – Billy James, Daevid Allen
  4. Eye of Agamoto – Don Preston
  5. The Guff (Hall of Souls) – Peter Banks, Billy James, Gilli Smyth
  6. Mallard Flies Towards Heaven – Bill Harkleroad
  7. Ant-Bee’s Sunday Supper
  8. Flutter-Bye, Butter-Flye – Michael Bruce, Billy James
  9. Endless Journey – Peter Banks
  10. The Light – Billy James, Alessandro Pizzin
  11. Mannah – Jan Akkerman
  12. Psalm 23
  13. Hallelujah – Peter Frohmader, Billy James
  14. The Wrath – Part One (The Flood) – Billy James
  15. Secrets of the Dead – Bruce Cameron, Billy James
  16. Pennies From Heaven – Johnny Burke, Arthur Johnston
  17. The Wrath – Part Two (Baptism Through Fire) – Billy James
  18. The Lords Prayer
  19. Angels
  20. Don’t You Ever Learn? – Todd Rundgren
  21. Re-Birth – Billy James, Gilli Smyth
  22. Final Benediction – Lord We Thank You

Focus: Mother Focus

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In October 1975, “Atco” label released “Mother Focus”, the fifth Focus studio album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Thijs van Leer, Jan Akkerman, Bert Ruiter and David Kemper.

Personnel:

  • Thijs van Leer– vocals, keyboards, flute
  • Jan Akkerman– guitar
  • Bert Ruiter– vocals, bass guitar
  • David Kemper– drums
  • Colin Allen– drums

Track listing:

  1. Mother Focus – Jan Akkerman, Bert Ruiter, Thijs van Leer
  2. I Need a Bathroom – Bert Ruiter
  3. Bennie Helder – Thijs van Leer
  4. Soft Vanilla – Bert Ruiter
  5. Hard Vanilla – Bert Ruiter
  6. Tropical Bird – Bert Ruiter
  7. Focus IV – Thijs van Leer
  8. Someone’s Crying . . . What? – Jan Akkerman
  9. All Together . . . Oh, That! – Jan Akkerman
  10. No Hang Ups – Paul Stoppelman
  11. My Sweetheart – Jan Akkerman, Thijs van Leer
  12. Father Bach – Thijs van Leer

Focus: Focus II (Moving Waves)

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In October 1971, “Imperial” label released “Focus II” (Moving Waves), the second Focus album. It was recorded April – May 1971, at “Sound Techniques” and “Morgan Studios” in London, and was produced by Mike Vernon. The album was ranked at number 24 in “Q” and “Mojo’s” list of “40 Cosmic Rock Albums.”

Personnel:

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

Track listing:

  1. Hocus Pocus – Thijs van Leer, Jan Akkerman
  2. Le Clochard (Bread) – Jan Akkerman
  3. Janis – Thijs van Leer, Jan Akkerman
  4. Moving Waves – Thijs van Leer, Inayat Khan
  5. Focus II
  6. Eruption
  • Orfeus – Thijs van Leer
  • Answer – Thijs van Leer
  • Orfeus – Thijs van Leer
  • Answer – Thijs van Leer
  • Pupilla – Thijs van Leer
  • Tommy – Tom Barlage
  • Pupilla – Thijs van Leer
  • Answer – Thijs van Leer
  • The Bridge – Jan Akkerman
  • Euridice – Thijs van Leer, Eelko Nobel
  • Dayglow – Thijs van Leer
  • Endless Road – Pierre van der Linden
  • Answer – Thijs van Leer
  • Orfeus – Thijs van Leer
  • Euridice – Thijs van Leer, Eelko Nobel

Focus: Hamburger Concerto

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In April 1974, “Polydor” label released “Hamburger Concerto”, the fourth Focus studio album. It was recorded January-March 1974, at “Olympic Sound Studios” and was produced by Mike Vernon.The album title track is based on Variations on a Theme by Haydn by Johannes Brahms. “Delitae Musicae”,

Personnel:

  • Thijs van Leer– vocals, organ, flute, piano, harpsichord, Moog synthesizer
  • Jan Akkerman– guitar
  • Bert Ruiter– bass guitar
  • Colin Allen– drums

Track listing:

  1. Harem Scarem – Thijs van Leer
  2. La Cathedrale de Strasbourg – Thijs van Leer
  3. Birth – Jan Akkerman
  4. Hamburger Concerto
  • Starter – Thijs van Leer
  • Rare – Jan Akkerman
  • Medium I – Thijs van Leer
  • Medium II – Jan Akkerman
  • Well Done – Thijs van Leer
  • One for the Road – Jan Akkerman

 

Peter Banks

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On March 7, 2013, Peter William Brockbanks aka Peter Banks died aged 66. He was musician (guitar) and songwriter, member and  guitarist of “Yes” and had formed the bands “Flash” and “Empire”. In his career he has worked with “Blodwyn Pig”, Jan Akkerman, Roger Ruskin Spearm, John Wetton, Phil Collins, Steve Hackett and “Zox & the Radar Boys”.