Ship of Memories

Ship of Memories
Compilation album by Focus
Released 1976
Recorded 1973
Genre Progressive rock, instrumental rock, jazz fusion
Length 36:22
Label EMI
Focus chronology
Mother Focus
(1975)		 Ship of Memories
(1976)		 Focus con Proby
(1978)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Discogs[2]

Ship of Memories is a compilation album by the progressive rock band Focus. Issued in 1976, it compiles previously unreleased songs recorded in 1973 that had been left off other Focus albums. Because of this, it could perhaps be counted as a studio album, though the band themselves refer to it as a compilation.[3]

Production

The first four songs were recorded in May, 1973 at Chipping Norton, UK. "P.'s March", though seemingly a pun on "peace march", was meant to be "Pierre's March" in honour of the drummer. 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.

Track listing

Side one

  1. "P's March" (Thijs van Leer) – 4:43
  2. "Can't Believe My Eyes" (Jan Akkerman) – 5:17
  3. "Focus V" (van Leer) – 3:02
  4. "Out of Vesuvius" (Akkerman, Bert Ruiter, Pierre van der Linden, van Leer) – 5:50

Side two

  1. "Glider" (Akkerman) – 4:38
  2. "Red Sky at Night" (Akkerman, van Leer) – 5:50
  3. "Spoke the Lord Creator" (van Leer) – 2:32
  4. "Crackers" (Akkerman) – 2:42
  5. "Ship of Memories" (van der Linden) – 1:48

CD release bonus track

  1. "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

References

  1. ↑ "allmusic ((( Ship of Memories > Overview )))". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  2. ↑ "Focus (2) - Ship Of Memories (LP) at Discogs". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  3. ↑ http://www.focustheband.com/index2.htm

Cover album show the German World War II heavy cruiser "Admiral Hipper" raising a floatplane Arado 196 from water.

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