Album of The Week - Focus At The Rainbow - Appreciating What We Have with Phil Aston
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- Album of The Week - Focus At The Rainbow 1973
Appreciating What We Have
A new video series where i pick one album per week which I am immersing myself in.
The idea behind this is to appreciate what we already have which I hope will balance out all the new release videos I do.
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Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
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What a fantastic and unique band Focus were . No one else were doing what they did .
Awesome Album thank you for introducing the album to me going to buy the album.❤
Thanks for bring us back to Focus. One thing from this album that always stands out for me is when Thijs van Leer introduced the rest of the band, he did it in a most distinctive way by singing everyone's name out. That alone is worth the admission.
I remember I read an interview with Blackmore in the seventies and he named Ackerman as a guitarist he liked. I think you can hear the inspiration in the solo in Gates of Babylon for example.
My copy bought in 1975 as an import cutout had a silver colored single sleeve cover.
Focus were the band that got me into music back in 1973, and the Rainbow album was the very first live album that I ever bought. Always wondered what we are missing given it's only a single disc. Surprised it's never been expanded on a reissue.
Had a friend who was there that night and there's a film too
Thank Phil, I am just getting into Focus. We have a record store that just just opened here in town a few months ago and every Saturday morning we hang out there and play records from various genres/artists. I just purchased moving waves so looks like i should give this live album a spin. Thank you.
Thanks Phil , I actually just picked this up on vinyl two weeks ago . Awesome 😎🎸
Great idea for further reviews Phil ... Album of the week will be a winner!
BTW ... Focus At The Rainbow is one of Jan Akkermans favourite Albums.
You're right about taking time to listen to what we've already got. Equally, we buy box sets and perhaps don't aways focus on how long it would take to play them. An LP was roughly 20minutes a side if we were lucky. So, 40 minutes and the deed was done. The Focus 50 Years box I recently purchased is as yet unplayed. I need to set aside the time to play one CD at a time, although that is likely to be 80 minutes - a double LP's worth of time. Rewarding yes, but I like to listen rather than have it on in the background, so planning a spare 80 minutes is essential.
One of the first live albums in my collection - have the original tri-fold cover LP. It was an eye-and-ear opener because the band was from Holland of all places, and boy were they sharp. The yodeling bit took a bit of getting used to though...
Smart idea for a series. Focusing on releases already out there. A revisit and introduction to those that aren't aware of them.
That CD version looks rather quaint.
Very first album I ever bought, not just Focus but first ever album!, on cassette a few months after release. A very worthy album of the week.
Earlier last year I got another Focus 13 CD box set which is called Hocus Pocus Box. It basically contains all the albums (including Live At The Rainbow) minus the last studio album, because this box set came out before, around 2016-17. It doesn’t contain that DVD of the whole Rainbow show, though... ah well, you can’t win ‘em all. 🤷♂️
I got this one last year as well. Great collection.
Hi Phil - Focus great band. Of interest, I have just picked up a Jan Akkerman CD "Aranjuez" (1985) at my local charity shop - looks interesting. What an amazing body of work he has put out over the years though. It might be part of that 26CD box set you have? Cya Doug
Focus were/are one of my favourite bands of the 70s and even my father,a jazzer liked them.I collected anything on them from previous bands to solo lps,etc.At the Rainbow is unfortunately not a complete favourite of mine.Yes it has a very live sound but as you mentioned a somewhat distant sound like it was recorded at the back of the hall.But it is very clear on the quieter songs.Thijs flute solo on Answers is majestic.His yodelling brilliant but funny on Hocus Pocus.Bert Ruiter on bass is solid as ever.It lists him on vocals as well but where?Backing harmony on Tommy I think.Pierre’s jazzy drumming was always a highlight although I believe there were complaints from sound men about the clear Perspex drum kit he had bought.Jan was my problem.At times his playing was fluid and fast.Other times he was messy and somewhat struggling to find the right notes.Focus 2 and Sylvia have embarrassing mistakes.But the end of Answers is a complete mess.And I was disappointed with Hocus Pocus because Jan was struggling to get a decent solo out.Having said all that I do like the album and played it to death.Bought all different pressings,the different cover on the US version,the cheapened non gatefold EMI press,etc.Even cassettes and 8 track.As well as Anomymous not being included House of the King was played where Jan breaks a string mid song (you will see it on the dvd) and Jan’s lute solo,Brittania I think.I believe the album was rushed released as a stop gap warts n all because there were problems with the new material being recorded for a new album ,Jan had the sulks and Pierre gave up and left.Some of this ended up on Ship of Memories.Enough of my waffling thanks for the review.
Hi Phil, if you're still looking for a series name, I suggest ie. "Pearls from the past" or "Pearls from the vault"
I’m sure this will be a successful series of videos, Phil. This one has got me thinking I need to play the couple of Jan Akkerman solo albums I have and the Thijs Van Leer one too. Sunday listening sorted.
Thanks Phil. Love you to continue focusing on the One album. I really enjoyed your review on FREE Live - the where were you/ how old you were/ what the music did for you/ what your parents thought…also, your reviews on the Sabbath albums. Maybe you can do one on YESSONGS (if you’re into Yes?) 🤞🙏. Anyway, Moving Pictures was the album that grabbed me! I too have bought the beautiful Focus 50 Years box set (thanks to your review comparing it with the other one). Now I too will play the Video of Live at The Rainbow this week. Hi from South Australia 🎸🎶👍😎
One of my musicteachers played Ekseption for us I was around 12 years old and it opend a new kind of music for me
Phil excellent review of an excellent band. You hit the nail on the head once again 👍cheers from Houston 🇺🇸
Thank you 🙏
Never saw that cover! I own the original Dutch vinyl but it doesn't have that same fold out cover interestingly enough!
Hi phil i enjoyed this video very much and what a live album this is love it and focus is a great band and i also have that great box set great collection 👍
Thank you for this latest video. I saw Focus at Reading Festival in 1974, they were fantastic ! To watch Jan Akkerman’s guitar work close up was a real privilege. Hamburger Concerto had not long been released which to be honest didn’t grab me at the time but thanks to your latest spotlight on earlier albums i.e. Focus, I am going to dig out and enjoy Moving Waves, Focus 3 etc so, once again, thank you Phil !
I love Focus and Live at the Rainbow is a fantastic LP. I must give it another spin!
Likewise got Live at the Rainbow when it came out, loved it still do. First got US copy on Sire which had a different cover. Wish they could have eventually brought out the entire concert on audio. It would be a must have purchase
☺️ "Promo SM"