Focus Con Proby

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Focus and P. J. Proby

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Focus Con Proby, released in 1977, features a new guitar lineup for Focus. Jan Akkerman, a true virtuoso, was no longer in the band. However, this recording features further displays of guitar virtuosity from Eef Albers and Philip Catherine. Eef, a Dutch guitar genius who is still actively performing today, is featured on the first 3 cuts and is absolutely dazzling. In particular, his playing on "Wingless" is both beautiful and a technical tour de force. Philip Catherine, a brilliant French guitarist, is featured on several cuts and is particularly dazzling on "Maximum."

The nice thing about this recording is that while the playing is very technically advanced, it's also very tasteful and enjoyable to listen to.

Highly recommended.

Focus was a progressive rock band best remembered for Hocus Pocus, though there was much more to them than heavy metal fused with yodeling. Vocalist P.J. Proby is best remembered by middle aged Brits for a couple of hit singles during the Mersey beat era of the early to mid 60's, though they probably remember him better for his tight pants splitting open on the BBC during a live performance. Jan Akkerman's wonderful guitar playing is not here, but the two guitarists featured here (Eef Albers and Philip Catherine) do a fine job. The only vocal cut here that I like is "Wingless". The other vocals come off as mediocre filler. I would have much prefered Thjis Van Leer's voice as instrument approach, minus the yodeling. He could also whistle like nobody's business. Overall, a well produced and well played album, but it lacks the playfulness of the earlier line up. Still worth the purchase, if you can get it.