Released 1976 Ship of Memories
(1976) Focus con Proby
(1978) Release date 1976 | Length 36:22 Artist Focus Genre Prog rock | |
 | ||
Recorded January 1970 – mid-1975 in various locations Label Victor Talking Machine Company Producers Hubert Terheggen, Mike Vernon Similar Focus albums, Progressive rock albums | ||
Focus ship of memories
Ship of Memories is a compilation album from the Dutch rock band Focus, released in 1976 on EMI-Bovema. During a period of group inactivity, longtime associate Hubert Terheggen asked their producer Mike Vernon to select previously unreleased material for official release. The recordings, chosen without any active involvement with either band member, date from January 1970 to mid-1975, largely during unproductive recording sessions in 1973 for a follow up studio album to Focus 3 (1972).
Contents
Production
The first four songs were recorded in May 1973 at Chipping Norton Recording Studios in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. "P.'s March", though seemingly a pun on "peace march", was meant to be "Pierre's March" in honour of the drummer, Pierre van der Linden. The second, or "B" motif first appeared as a "B" motif in the song, "Carmen Elysium", on Thijs van Leer's "Introspection 2" album. Written in the classical style by Thijs van Leer, but performed with rock arrangements, this song alternates between uptempo, major key choruses, with melody stated on flute and piccolo, and minor key Bachian verses, with melody stated on electric guitar. "Can't Believe My Eyes", originally entitled "Can't Believe My Ears" and subtitled "Dance Macabre", is a bleak, hard rock instrumental written by Jan Akkerman. In stark contrast is van Leer's gentle jazz ballad "Focus V." "Out of Vesuvius" is an excerpt from a jam session, which would eventually evolve into a section of Harem Scarem from the "Hamburger Concerto" album. "Glider" marked a move into disco-funk territory, and was recorded in Brussels, Belgium with drum machine and electric sitar amongst the instrumentation. The song was later rearranged and recorded as "Mother Focus". "Red Sky at Night" features synthesised bass parts, and was recorded with vocals as "O Avondrood" on a Dutch music compilation. Recorded in 1970, "Spoke the Lord Creator" was the band's first attempt at using "Brahms Variations on a Theme by Haydn" in a rock music context. It was later recorded as "Starter" on the 1974 Hamburger Concerto album. "Crackers" is another disco-funk instrumental with extended chords more common to jazz. Lastly, "Ship of Memories" is an excerpt of an instrumental on drums and harmonium written and performed by Pierre van der Linden.
Side one
- "P's March" (Thijs van Leer) – 4:43
- "Can't Believe My Eyes" (Jan Akkerman) – 5:17
- "Focus V" (van Leer) – 3:02
- "Out of Vesuvius" (Akkerman, Bert Ruiter, Pierre van der Linden, van Leer) – 5:50
Side two
- "Glider" (Akkerman) – 4:38
- "Red Sky at Night" (Akkerman, van Leer) – 5:50
- "Spoke the Lord Creator" (van Leer) – 2:32
- "Crackers" (Akkerman) – 2:42
- "Ship of Memories" (van der Linden) – 1:48
CD release bonus track
- "Hocus Pocus" (US Single Version) (Akkerman, van Leer) – 3:24
Art cover shows the German heavy cruiser "Admiral Hipper" recovering an Arado AR 196 plane.
Personnel
Songs
1P's March4:48
2Can't Believe My Eyes5:22
3Focus V3:02