Focus - Mother Focus - 1975 (24/96 Vinyl Rip)

"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 funky influenced direction.
Let's hear another side of Focus; less "proggy" and "excitement", but this is for sure a beautiful album with tasteful and enjoyable music!

Note > No silence was deleted; please burn this album gapless..

Review:

I can't remember the last time I heard such a diverse selection of instrumental tracks (with the exception of "I Need a Bathroom" which includes vocals strikingly similar to late 70's Blue Oyster Cult). The guitar playing is melodically bluesy in a Rory Gallagher kind of way, and it's flat out *cool*.

"Mother Focus" has a boogie rock style kickin' for a few moments before these light operatic vocals can quietly (and cleverly) be heard in the background chugging along to the rhythm. It works brilliantly because the entire track is melodic.

"Bennie Helder" has a fast, new wave-sounding pace… with flutes included! It's one of my favorite songs on the album. "Soft Vanilla" is well, soft rock at its best (definitely reminiscent of the time period in which it was released- the mid 70's).

"Focus IV" is just a beautiful and melodic instrumental similar to the progressive rock band Camel and something from their Mirage album. Benji, come home! Sorry, it just reminds me of that adventurous little dog so darn much (and his girlfriend Tiffany!) Yes that's right- we can't forget about her either!

The reason I love the 70's so much is perfectly displayed in "Someone's Crying… What?" Listen to that incredibly effective atmospheric melody that drifts softly into the flute section. It reminds me of my childhood and in fact, the rock band Genesis possesses the same kind of imagery (that being, enabling me to remember and appreciate my younger days when I was just a child- strange, but hauntingly true!)

"All Together Now… Oh, that!" Yes, *that* lolol. Possibly either my favorite or second favorite selection here- this is a mighty fine instrumental written in an Allman Brothers Band kind of way. AMAZING guitar work. "No Hang Ups" features guitar playing that brings back more of those famous Benji memories. What a cute little puppy. Remember the scene between those two crooked guys in that one Benji film where they were downstairs in the living room and discussing the pudding cups? You probably remember it. Classic stuff.

"My Sweetheart" wouldn't be out of place on a Gary Wright or mid 70's Peter Frampton album except… neither of those two artists would be able to write an instrumental *this* melodic and creative. I love this song.

Who cares if this album sounds severely dated. In fact from beginning to end, it's impossible to deny this is a mid 70's album just by the way it sounds. But it's also impossible to deny how much creativity and talent it must have taken to create such a diverse selection of songs. I highly recommend this album to anyone who appreciates solid instrumental skills.

B.E. Jackson@Amazon.com


Track List:

01 Mother Focus
02 I Need a Bathroom
03 Bennie Helder
04 Soft Vanilla
05 Hard Vanilla
06 Tropical Bird

07 Focus IV
08 Someone's Crying . . . What?
09 All Together . . . Oh, That!
10 No Hang Ups
11 My Sweetheart
12 Father Bach