Hamburger Concerto

by Focus

Hamburger Concerto cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: May 1974
  • Label: Polydor
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Length: 43:06
  • Community rating: 3.91/5 from 3 ratings

Artists on this release: Jan Akkerman, Thijs van Leer, Colin Allen, Bert Ruiter, wood block

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Anchored by its sprawling, 20-minute, classically-inspired title suite, Focus delivered what is widely considered the absolute creative zenith of their symphonic prog career. 'Hamburger Concerto' is an incredibly technical, fiercely melodic masterpiece, weaving wonderfully playful, highly complex classical-rock fusion with deeply uplifting, wildly energetic guitar and flute improvisations.

Genres

Descriptors: progressive, improvisation, melodic, complex, technical

Tracklist

  1. Delitae Musicae (1:13)
  2. Harem Scarem (5:52)
  3. La Cathedrale De Strasbourg (5:00)
  4. Birth (7:46)
  5. Hamburger Concerto (20:20)
  6. Early Birth (2:53)

Credits

  • Focus - primary artist
  • Ian Murray - art direction
  • Wade Wood Associates - artwork, design [retouching]
  • Bert Ruiter - bass guitar, autoharp, triangle, finger cymbals [chinese finger cymbals], handclaps, bells [swiss]
  • Colin Allen - drums, congas [conga drum], tambourine, castanets, cabasa, wood block [woodblock], gong [chinese], timpani, handclaps, percussion [flexatone], cuica
  • Bob Hall - engineer
  • David Hamilton-Smith - engineer [assistant]
  • Rod Thear - engineer [assistant]
  • Jan Akkerman - lute, timpani, handclaps, guitar [all guitars including akkerman (himself)], arranged by, written-by
  • Harry Fisher - mastered by
  • Thijs van Leer - organ, piano, harpsichord, electric piano, flute, alto flute, synthesizer [arp], recorder, mellotron, vibraphone [vibes], accordion, organ [the organ of st. mary the virgin, barnes], handclaps, voice [all voices], whistling, written-by
  • Graham Hughes - photography by
  • Mike Vernon - producer

More from Focus: full discography