Mother Focus
Encyclopedia
Mother Focus is the fifth studio album by the band Focus
, released in 1975. The album marks a departure from the progressive rock
style that dominated the band's prior work, to a poppier, often disco
influenced direction.
Focus (band)
Focus is a Dutch rock band which was founded by classically trained organist/flautist Thijs van Leer in 1969, and is most famous for the instrumental pieces "Hocus Pocus" and "Sylvia"...
, released in 1975. The album marks a departure from the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
style that dominated the band's prior work, to a poppier, often disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
influenced direction.
Side one
- "Mother Focus" (Jan AkkermanJan AkkermanJan Akkerman is a Dutch guitarist. Akkerman is a distinctive guitarist, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive guitar sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques...
, Bert RuiterBert RuiterBert Ruiter is a Dutch bass guitarist, record producer, and composer.Ruiter was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Hilversum. When he was twelve he started playing guitar by ear; later he switched to bass guitar...
, Thijs van LeerThijs van LeerThijs Van Leer is a Dutch musician, singer and composer, best known for heading the Dutch progressive rock band, Focus, as primary vocalist, Hammond organ player, and flautist. He also yodels and whistles...
) – 3:03 - "I Need a Bathroom" (Ruiter) – 3:02
- "Bennie Helder" (van Leer) – 3:31
- "Soft Vanilla" (Ruiter) – 3:00
- "Hard Vanilla" (Ruiter) – 2:35
- "Tropical Bird" (Ruiter) – 2:42
Side two
- "Focus IV" (van Leer) – 3:55
- "Someone's Crying . . . What?" (Akkerman) – 3:18
- "All Together . . . Oh, That!" (Akkerman) – 3:40
- "No Hang Ups" (Paul Stoppelman) – 2:54
- "My Sweetheart" (Akkerman, van Leer) – 3:35
- "Father Bach" (van Leer) – 1:30
CD listing
Track listing of Japanese release from 16 December 2006.- "Mother Focus" (Jan AkkermanJan AkkermanJan Akkerman is a Dutch guitarist. Akkerman is a distinctive guitarist, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive guitar sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques...
, Bert RuiterBert RuiterBert Ruiter is a Dutch bass guitarist, record producer, and composer.Ruiter was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Hilversum. When he was twelve he started playing guitar by ear; later he switched to bass guitar...
, Thijs van LeerThijs van LeerThijs Van Leer is a Dutch musician, singer and composer, best known for heading the Dutch progressive rock band, Focus, as primary vocalist, Hammond organ player, and flautist. He also yodels and whistles...
) – 3:04 - "I Need a Bathroom" (Ruiter) – 3:03
- "Bennie Helder" (van Leer) – 3:31
- "Soft Vanilla" (Ruiter) – 3:03
- "Hard Vanilla" (Ruiter) – 2:34
- "Tropical Bird" (Ruiter) – 2:42
- "Focus IV" (van Leer) – 3:56
- "Someone's Crying . . . What?" (Akkerman) – 3:18
- "All Together . . . Oh, That!" (Akkerman) – 3:41
- "No Hang Ups" (Paul Stoppelman) – 2:55
- "My Sweetheart" (Akkerman, van Leer) – 3:36
- "Father Bach" (van Leer) – 1:34
Personnel
- Thijs van LeerThijs van LeerThijs Van Leer is a Dutch musician, singer and composer, best known for heading the Dutch progressive rock band, Focus, as primary vocalist, Hammond organ player, and flautist. He also yodels and whistles...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, fluteWestern concert fluteThe Western concert flute is a transverse woodwind instrument made of metal or wood. It is the most common variant of the flute. A musician who plays the flute is called a flautist, flutist, or flute player....
, vocals - Jan AkkermanJan AkkermanJan Akkerman is a Dutch guitarist. Akkerman is a distinctive guitarist, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive guitar sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Bert RuiterBert RuiterBert Ruiter is a Dutch bass guitarist, record producer, and composer.Ruiter was born in Amsterdam and grew up in Hilversum. When he was twelve he started playing guitar by ear; later he switched to bass guitar...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - David KemperDavid KemperDavid Kemper is a drummer. He was a long-time member of both the Jerry Garcia Band and Bob Dylan's band . He was with the Jerry Garcia Band for the last eleven years of Garcia's life...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Colin AllenColin AllenColin Allen is an English blues drummer and songwriter.-Career:Allen took up drums at the age of 18, playing initially with local jazz musician in Dorset...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
on "I Need A Bathroom"