Focus were the most internationally successful Dutch progressive rock band, and one of the great instrumental acts the genre produced. Built on the chemistry of Thijs van Leer — flute, organ, voice and that unmistakable yodelling — and the dazzling guitar of Jan Akkerman, they blended rock with classical and jazz, scored two unlikely hits and built ambitious instrumental suites. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of a selection of their albums.

The short version

For the heart of Focus, start with Focus 3, Moving Waves, Hamburger Concerto, In and Out of Focus and Focus 8. Between them they hold the band’s classic peaks and its finest comeback. The full ranking is below.

Dutch masters of instrumental prog

Focus’s music sprang from the contrast between two remarkable talents: van Leer, whose flute, organ and voice gave the band its warmth and wit, and Akkerman, a guitarist of breathtaking skill admired the world over. Together they scored two unlikely international hits — the yodelling rocker “Hocus Pocus” and the gorgeous instrumental “Sylvia” — and built sprawling suites around them, fusing rock with classical and jazz. They were the flagship of a rich Dutch scene that also gave us Earth and Fire and Kayak. A note on the catalogue: the nine albums here span 1970 to 2018, with a few more beyond.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing musicianship, songwriting and ambition across the classic years and the later reunions. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate — though on the early peaks, there is little argument.

The essential five

At the top sits Focus 3 (1972), the sprawling double that many hold as their finest, home to “Sylvia” and the side-long “Anonymus II”. Moving Waves (1971) is its great rival, carrying “Hocus Pocus” and the epic “Eruption”; Hamburger Concerto (1974) is a magnificent late-classic suite. The debut In and Out of Focus (1970) is a charming, assured beginning with “House of the King”, and Focus 8 (2002) is the acclaimed comeback that proved the magic remained.

Hooked on the yodel? The books go deeper →

Reliably great

The next tier is rewarding. Focus X (2012) is a strong, spirited album from the band’s modern era; Mother Focus (1975) is the lighter, more accessible record that closed the classic years — pleasant and tuneful, if less ambitious than its predecessors.

For completists

Two albums sit lower. Focus 11 (2018) is a likeable recent set that lacks the spark of their best, and Focus con Proby (1978), an ill-fated collaboration with singer P.J. Proby, is widely regarded as their oddest and weakest record. Both are for the dedicated, not the newcomer.

A selection, in order

A selection of the catalogue, 1970–2018, in chronological order — with a few more albums beyond it. Click through to the full write-up on any record.

Where to start

Begin with Moving Waves — home to “Hocus Pocus”, their most famous track, and the epic “Eruption”, it captures everything that made Focus special. From there, Focus 3 offers “Sylvia” and their richest classic-era playing.

Prefer to own them? Find these on Amazon: Moving Waves · Focus 3

The players

Focus were defined by two virtuosos. Thijs van Leer — the band’s constant, on keyboards, flute and voice — gave the music its character and its mischief, yodelling included. Jan Akkerman, the guitarist of the classic years, was one of the most admired players of his generation, and the foil whose fire balanced van Leer’s warmth. A succession of fine bassists and drummers completed the band, but it was the van Leer–Akkerman partnership that made the classic Focus sound — and van Leer who carried the name proudly into the modern era.

Why they still matter

Focus proved that instrumental progressive rock could be virtuosic, joyful and genuinely popular — carrying complex music into the charts without losing its ambition. As the flagship of the Dutch scene, alongside the likes of Earth and Fire and Kayak, and kindred melodic spirits like Camel, they showed how much character the genre could hold — and their best music still delights and astonishes.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: read about the best Focus songs, see every Focus album in order, find your way in with our where-to-start-with-Focus guide, or dig up the most underrated Focus albums. You can also place them in the bigger picture with our list of the best progressive rock albums of all time.

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