Focus are the Dutch masters of instrumental progressive rock. Formed in Amsterdam in 1969, they turned the yodelling rock of “Hocus Pocus” and the melodic beauty of “Sylvia” into international hits, powered by guitarist Jan Akkerman and flautist and keyboardist Thijs van Leer. Here is our fellow fan’s ranking of their finest songs.

The short version

If you only hear a few, make them “Hocus Pocus”, “Sylvia”, “Eruption” and “Hamburger Concerto” — the yodelling rock classic that broke them worldwide, the melodic instrumental that followed it up the charts, a twenty-two-minute side-long epic and their twenty-minute classical-prog masterwork. The full ranking is below.

The Dutch masters who made instrumental prog a hit

Focus are the great outlier of 1970s prog: a band whose biggest hits had almost no words at all. Formed in Amsterdam in 1969 by classically trained flautist and keyboardist Thijs van Leer, and defined by the blazing, singing guitar of Jan Akkerman, they fused rock, jazz and classical music into something joyful, virtuosic and unmistakably their own. From the demented yodelling of “Hocus Pocus” to the delicate acoustics of “House of the King” and the twenty-minute grandeur of “Hamburger Concerto,” they became the biggest prog act in continental Europe — and proved instrumental music could top the singles charts. These fifteen songs are the best.

How we ranked them

This is one fan’s order, weighing those melodies, the sheer virtuosity, the humour and the lasting impact. The facts are accurate; the order is a starting point for the debate.

The essential six

At the very top sits “Hocus Pocus” (1971), the yodelling instrumental rock classic and their biggest hit. With it: “Sylvia” (1972), the gorgeous melodic instrumental that reached number four in the UK; “Eruption” (1971), the sprawling twenty-two-minute side-long epic; “Hamburger Concerto” (1974), their twenty-minute classical-prog title suite; “House of the King” (1970), the folky acoustic gem of flute and guitar that first won them a following; and “Focus III” (1972), a driving, endlessly hummable instrumental.

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Reliably great

The next tier is essential too. “Answers? Questions! Questions? Answers!” (1972) is a thrilling instrumental workout; “Birth” (1974) is Akkerman’s lengthy, riff-driven showcase; “Anonymous II” (1972) is a twenty-six-minute epic many call Focus at their absolute best; “Harem Scarem” (1974) is the “Hocus Pocus”-style rocker they released as a single; and “Le Clochard (Bread)” (1971) is a brief, beautiful acoustic interlude.

Deeper cuts

For the dedicated, these reward repeat listens. “Focus II” (1971) is the melodic instrumental that gave the album its original title; “Anonymus” (1970) is the loose, improvised early jam; and from their acclaimed 2012 comeback Focus X come “Father Bacchus” (2012), an energetic, flute-driven opener worthy of the legacy, and “Crossroads” (2012), a punchy jazz-rock closer.

Every song at a glance

All fifteen songs, in chronological order — each linked to the album it comes from, so you can hear it in context.

Where to start

Begin with the classic 1970–74 run: Moving Waves, home to “Hocus Pocus” and “Eruption”; Focus 3, with “Sylvia”; and the consistent, symphonic Hamburger Concerto. The debut In and Out of Focus, with “House of the King”, and the acclaimed 2012 return Focus X reward deeper exploration, while later albums such as Mother Focus, Focus con Proby and the recent Focus 8 and Focus 11 are for the dedicated.

The players

Focus were built around two virtuosos. Flautist, keyboardist, yodeller and singer Thijs van Leer founded the band in 1969 and still leads it today; guitarist Jan Akkerman, whose blazing, singing lines stood comparison with fusion titans like Mahavishnu Orchestra, defined the classic era before leaving in the mid-1970s. Drummer Pierre van der Linden, who powered “Hocus Pocus” back in 1971, remains in the band today alongside guitarist Menno Gootjes and bassist Udo Pannekeet — the rhythm section changed hands often over the decades, but the standard never dropped.

Why they still matter

Focus proved that progressive rock could be joyful, virtuosic and a genuine chart force all at once. Kindred spirits of Camel and Jethro Tull — van Leer long rivalled Ian Anderson for the title of prog’s finest flautist — they founded the Dutch prog sound that inspired Trace and countless others. Decades on, “Hocus Pocus” and “Sylvia” remain instrumental-rock landmarks, and the band plays on.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: rank their records with our guide to the best Focus albums, find an entry point with where to start with Focus, or dig into the underrated Focus albums. You can also place them in the bigger picture with the best progressive rock songs of all time.

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