Jan Akkerman Discography (incl. Focus) - “Ranking” the Albums
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- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
- "Ranking" of 36 Jan Akkerman/Focus/Brainbox/other albums. A musical genius so influential to me for nearly 50 years. Thank you, Jan Akkerman.
(Note: I forgot to include a 37th album, the "Two Sides of Peter Banks" album which heavily features Jan's playing and compositional contribution, so I made a separate short video about that one - check it out at • Video )
Thanks for the lovely video. Jan is a very good friend of mine, I'm sure he'll love this - I will point it out to him :-)
Thanks for your kind words. I don't think many weeks have passed by over the last 50 years when I didn't listen to a Jan Akkerman album. He's one of a kind. Thanks again. Cheers! Jeff
Hi Jeff, thanks for your video. I like your passion for Jan Akkerman. You're proud of him I hear you say. That's kind of funny. I recognise it. Some of his music has touched me deep and have become a friend so to say. Angel watch is a good example. Another is the album Pleasure Point. And very cool are Answers? Question!.. , Can't fake a good time, Can't keep a bad man up, to name a few. And Wildflower, Valdez and a live performance at Zundert have a lot of love and delicateness to it. All thanks to Jan!
Thank you for your kind comment, Theo! Yes, Jan has been a one-of-a-kind influence on me. I love his music. Thanks again. Jeff
Great video Jeff. I have 3 Focus albums in my collection, and although I've listened to them and enjoyed them, I probably haven't paid them enough attention overall, certainly not to Akkerman's contribution. I'll be able to go back to them now with a more informed outlook. Btw, I've really been enjoying the Terje Rypdal/`Miroslav Vitous/Jack DeJonette CD I got on the back of your Rypdal video. Cheers, James
Thanks, James. Your comments are always so appreciated. Glad you're enjoying the Rypdal CD. He, and Akkerman, are marvelously unique in their expressive capabilities and approaches. Great stuff! Thanks again. Jeff
Well that was a half hour well spent.Congratulations with your taste in music CalicioSilver.
Thanks! Jan Akkerman is the best! Meant the world to my musical life. Cheers! Jeff
@@CalicoSilver Great presentation and information too.One of these days I will pull my Akkerman boxset out again.Kind greetings from the Netherlands Jeff!
@@CalicoSilver 😀👍🙏
Thanks for posting this. Jan is a pioneer and astounding musician. Where do we find these collections? I must have them!
Hello Stirk. I bought both of those box sets (the complete Jan Akkerman solo set and the Focus set) on Amazon. I think they are both still available, at least in the USA Amazon, but probably in other countries as well.
Yes, I agree that he is stunning as a musician and guitarist. I worry that I'll never get the chance to see him perform live in person, but at least we have all these RUclips videos and the DVDs, etc..
Jan Akkerman is one of my favorites. He has just a very different sound, maybe its the modes or scales he uses. Very melodic. Focus would not be Focus without him.
Indeed. When Jan left Focus, Focus was over. I don't care how many albums they release and continue to release, without Jan it just isn't Focus.
good review. Imagine that JA was still in Focus.... They would probably have released their 50 album or even more!!
2 further observations:
1. i have the Brainbox 'Mythology' 3cd box set which is fantastic. Has a lot of bonus & demos inc an almost 30 min version of ''sea of delight'. my opinion this box is an essential part of JA.( I know you didn't include that boxset)
2. I also have the album Jan Akkerman & Curtis Knight ' Blues Root' . Released on universe Production.. This is also a great blues record.
I don't have the JA box set because i have all the original released albums. I do have the focus 50th anniv box set mainly because of the original long live versions of 'Eruptions'.
Thanks for the kind words and for the recommendations! Cheers, Jeff
Jeff, the only thing I've ever heard by Jan or Focus was their lovable radio song,''Hocus Pocus''. Until very recently, I thought they were a one hit wonder.I also mixed up Jan Akkerman with the guitarist Will Ackerman. Thanks for setting me straight.
Akkerman is most definitely not the same guitarist as Ackerman, haha! I'm sure you are not the only one who has confused those two names.
Jan's albums after the '70s were basically nonexistent in USA record stores (at least the stores I went to)....except for an occasionally promoted one like Noise Of Art. Once the internet happened, I had to do a good bit of catch up to get those albums I missed. But yeah, he has always been quite prolific.
Hi. I have a similar connection with JA. First heard Hocus Pocus when it was on the charts in 71/72, and then proceeded to acquire around 20 albums and 6 CDs. To my mind, he is the "master of all trades" when it comes to guitar as he excels in many of its disciplines.
BTW, another great Dutch player, virtually unknown around the world, is Eef Albers.
PS: "Oil in the Family" was recorded as a bet by Jan and a Dutch DJ, where he had only 24 hours to record the whole album
Hello Graham. Many thanks for your comment - I really appreciate it. Yes, when people ask me who my favorite overall guitarist is, I usually respond with "Jan Akkerman" because he was so multi-dimensional in his playing of almost any genre and style of guitar. It just flows from him. And not only that - he is a superbly expressive composer of music as well. Haha, yeah I remember reading about that bet he made regarding the quick recording of Oil In The Family. Funny story. He seems to have a very good sense of humor. Hey, thanks for the recommendation of Eef Albers - I will check out his playing ASAP. Again, I appreciate your comments. Cheers! Jeff
@@CalicoSilver Hi. I first heard Eef in1978 - he replaced Jan in Focus and was on the "Focus Con Proby" album (tracks Wingless and Night Flight are worth a listen). He has recorded only 4 solo albums (Blue Capricorn, Sky Rider, Pyramids and Birds of the Night) but has also recorded with many other musicians. There's not a lot of his work on the web, he never really ended up being well known as he never really found an audience. The link below is probably his most viewed video. Cheers
ruclips.net/video/E1lqyHXERUs/видео.html
One of the very BEST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Indeed!
Hi, Jeff, I have always been puzzled about a certain aspect of Jan's guitar playing, but since I have had minimal formal musical education (as a child played flute for a year in the local youth club, one public performance!), but decades of just intense listening to a very wide array of music (classical being the 'bedrock') I have this question for you to elaborate on. Am I right to believe that Jan is often (especially when playing live) deliberatly lagging just a fraction of a second behind the rhythm? It is as if he looking for the risk that goes along such a 'lag' but I've never heard him being 'caught out', it's something I otherwise would only hear great black jazz legends do, but for me it is all just a hunch, can you shed some light? Cheers, Sietse
Hi Sietse. If I am understanding you correctly, and if the "lag" to which you are referring in Jan's playing is the same "lag" that I am thinking of.....then I can say that this is one of the MAJOR components of his playing that I have always been attracted to. When a player plays consistently on the beat (whether a down beat or upbeat), even when the player is playing with considerable virtuosity, it becomes mechanical and boring to me. But when a player plays slightly behind, ahead, or even a changing mix of the two, then the playing becomes natural, rhythmically dynamic, voice-like, and "soulful". I've always loved that in Jan's playing. I also love how his phrases can seem to rise out of nowhere and/or disappear into nowhere. I also love that Jan does not merely try to mimic the approach of a jazz sax player, like most guitarists do (in fact, most "educated" jazz musicians actually study the solos of players like Coltrane and others). Jan is a GUITARIST who plays like a guitarist should play, with a strong feeling for not only single-note but harmonic playing. Also, his sense of chromatic harmonies and solos is instantly recognized as his own - a very unique player. I could go on and on and on and on...... But to answer your question, YES I think I know what you are referring to and YES I have also noticed it ever since the early '70s, and YES it is one of the main reasons I think Jan is in a class all his own. Cheers! Jeff
He's still playing!
I know!! And I really hope to get a chance to see him perform live one day. But I live in USA. There is a chance I might be able to catch one of his shows in the UK this summer....unless no one is allowed to travel or play concerts, etc., which very well may be the case.....Anyway, yeah, the guys is as great as ever. I'm thankful for RUclips and DVDs. thanks for commenting, Marco.
Is that a Yes box set on top of your Doors box set? Just curious just to know:)
Hi Dominic! Yes, that is Yes (haha pun intended). It is a great box set of their albums from the debut up to Big Generator. I just purchased it a few weeks ago and have been enjoying hearing those albums again (and some I've never heard before like the ones from the 80s).
@@CalicoSilverHey! That's awsome👍
Did I miss Focus 3?
No it was there. Now you gotta watch the video again. Haha. 👍😉
I never liked the Kaz Lux album thought I tried to like it. I hated cant stand the noise and I stopped buying his albums after that. Loved Profile and Tabernacle and the early Focus stuff up to Hamburger. I saw Focus in Dublin in 72 when I was 14. Big influence on me.
I understand - I went through a lot period of not buying his albums too because of the dance/funk/disco stuff and drum machines, etc.. It was not until years later that I decided to stop focusing on all that stuff and focus on the extraordinary musicianship of this amazing guitarist. Now I enjoy pretty much everything he recorded. But yeah, I know exactly what you mean, Paul. Cheers, Jeff
Compared to Jan Akkerman Jimi Hendrix is a joke
Compared to Jan Akkerman, pretty much everyone is a joke, haha! He is THAT good.
Uh, I disagree. Jimi was in a class by himself & consistently ranks at the top of most guitarist polls some 50 yrs after his passing. If fate had allowed him to live into his 70s, as Jan has done, who knows what he would've accomplished. Jan/Jimi..both fabulous guitarists in their own styles/strengths.
@@drumdad54sdl47 polls, buzz, hype, just showbiz media maintaining the myth alive to keep milking the cow. page hendrix clapton and a lot of other "heroes" are just hollow shells. and by the way, akkerman didn't need to wear circus clothing, a hat with feathers, rings on all fingers or burn his guitar on stage to be the best ever.