A 1973 Aside (I) – “Focus 3″ Album

Focus – Focus 3
As the title cleverly suggests, this was Dutch band Focus’ third album.
Where the best-selling predecessor “Moving Waves” was a mostly tight and somewhat aggressive album, “Focus 3″ is, by comparison, a much looser and free-form work.
Over the length of two vinyl albums, Thijs van Leer, Jan Akkerman and the rest of the [...]

May 9th 1973

“Caught F.Oak coach home illegally. Borrd Billion Dollar Babies off of Jackie S. Went up Gra’s in the evng. saw his new addition – Garrard SP25 III (G800).  Borrowd Gemini Suite & Book of Tailisyn, lent him Focus 3,”
Good lord, there’s so much going on – and to write about – in today’s diary entry…
Let’s [...]

January 26th 1973

“Got Melody Maker” / “Rob gave me back Fragile + another cassette to record Waves” / “Record player went up the wank – Dad fixed it for me”
“Up the wank”
Now, THERE’s a phrase I haven’t heard/used in a loooooooooooong time.
I can’t understand why.
Oh, wait… yes I can.

January 25th 1973

“In the evening I taped Moving Waves and emerson lake and palmer for Johnny – good recording” / “Melody Maker not in yet” / “Got records off of Nobby in xchange for him losing my pen”
No truth in the rumour that I wore an eye-patch, had a wooden leg and carried around a parrot on one [...]

January 24th 1973

“Allen lent me a useless recording of the Goon Show + Parkinson” / “Listened to Moving Waves again – FUKIN  FANTASTIC” / “2nd (Day) Aniv of finding ‘istry book”
Poor old Allen. Does his best in lending me a recorded cassette of the show I spoke of a few weeks ago, and I pooh-pooh it.
Not, I [...]

January 23rd 1973

“Bort MOVING WAVES – FOCUS – ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT” / “Got opticians appointment” / “Today is the 1st (day) Anniversary of finding my history book”
Why did I write that stupid line about my history book? (Monty Python had WAY too much influence on my teenage brain I reckon!)
I suspect making an appointment with an optician scared [...]

January 20th 1973

“Leicester 1 City 1″ / “Bloody couldn’t get Moving Waves – no bloodyshops had it” / “Bort Record Rack” / “Dun lot of copying up and homework”
Hahahahahaha!
Could it be that this one day provided some kind of deep-rooted emotional basis for running my own store later in life? That need, maybe, to try and make sure customers [...]

January 19th 1973

“Lent Tarkus – E.L.P. to Johnny M and borrowed Machine Head and Deep Purple in Live Concert off Gra” / “T-1 day to get Moving Waves (If I have got enough money mite get Focus 3 instead)”
OK, I have officially confused my 50-year-old self here
Most of this is straightforward stuff, but I am having a [...]

January 17th 1973

“No maths results yet” / “Only free days to go until I buy Moving Waves – Focus” / “More copying up” / “Asked Rob if I could borrow two Deep Purple cassettes of his”
I was obviously ’sweating’ on my maths results….. *gulp!*
I love that I am anticipating my purchase of the Focus album. I often [...]

January 10th 1973

“1st Maths Mock O’level – multiple guess choice – VERY HARD!” / “Decided to buy Moving Waves by Focus by selling ticket” / “I think I have got the flu – have got very bad frote”
Ah, that was why I was doing all that swotting!
I think I have already said that I had been chosen as [...]

December 12th 1972 (II)

“Watched Focus on Old Grey Whistle Test”
Here’s one for trivia fans…..
Focus appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test (a TV show which I shall doubtless write a LOT more about at a later date) this evening, doing a wild reckless version of “Hocus Pocus“
The performance was so engaging and the public response so positive that Focus’ record label, [...]