
Focus 1969 to 1985 On Track Short
Every Album, Every Song
Stephen Lambe(Author)
Sonicbond Publishing
Will be published approx. on 26. March 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
104 pages
978-1-78952-463-5 (ISBN)
Description
For a few short
years in the 1970s, the unique music of Focus entertained the world. Built
around the prodigious instrumental talents of Dutch masters Jan Akkerman
(guitar) and Thijs van Leer (keyboards and flute), the band produced three
classic hit albums in quick succession between 1971 and 1974, at the same time
scoring two worldwide hits with 'Sylvia' and 'Hocus Pocus'. The latter piece is
as ubiquitous as tunes from the 70s get, distinctive for Akkerman's famous riff
and van Leer's bizarre yodelling. Musical and personal tensions between the two
led to a split in early 1976, but the band limped on without Akkerman until
1978. An unlikely revival in 1985 was a false dawn, and except for a few public
appearances, the duo have not played together since.
Stephen Lambe's book guides the reader
through the band's early history, dealing with all seven Focus albums from the
era song by song, plus the eponymous 1985 comeback. It is an important potted
history of the band and an insight into the tensions which led to such a
creative - if short-lived - peak. But the book also acts as an essential guide
to the astonishing music the two men made together - and sometimes apart -
while at the apex of their powers.
years in the 1970s, the unique music of Focus entertained the world. Built
around the prodigious instrumental talents of Dutch masters Jan Akkerman
(guitar) and Thijs van Leer (keyboards and flute), the band produced three
classic hit albums in quick succession between 1971 and 1974, at the same time
scoring two worldwide hits with 'Sylvia' and 'Hocus Pocus'. The latter piece is
as ubiquitous as tunes from the 70s get, distinctive for Akkerman's famous riff
and van Leer's bizarre yodelling. Musical and personal tensions between the two
led to a split in early 1976, but the band limped on without Akkerman until
1978. An unlikely revival in 1985 was a false dawn, and except for a few public
appearances, the duo have not played together since.
Stephen Lambe's book guides the reader
through the band's early history, dealing with all seven Focus albums from the
era song by song, plus the eponymous 1985 comeback. It is an important potted
history of the band and an insight into the tensions which led to such a
creative - if short-lived - peak. But the book also acts as an essential guide
to the astonishing music the two men made together - and sometimes apart -
while at the apex of their powers.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Tewkesbury
United Kingdom
Illustrations
8 colour pages
Dimensions
Height: 173 mm
Width: 484 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
162 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78952-463-5 (9781789524635)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
03/2026
1st Edition
Sonicbond Publishing
from
€8.99
Available for download
Person
Stephen Lambe is an author, publisher, and journalist. He
currently writes features and reviews for Prog magazine and is an acknowledged
expert on progressive rock, especially the work of Yes and Focus. His books
include Yes On Track (Sonicbond, 2018) and the best-selling Citizens Of Hope
and Glory: The Story Of Progressive Rock (Amberley, 2011). He lives in
Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK.
currently writes features and reviews for Prog magazine and is an acknowledged
expert on progressive rock, especially the work of Yes and Focus. His books
include Yes On Track (Sonicbond, 2018) and the best-selling Citizens Of Hope
and Glory: The Story Of Progressive Rock (Amberley, 2011). He lives in
Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK.