What category

[Dorsetmike]

In what category/ies would you place Focus, Renaissance and Sky?

[Krummhorn]

Renaissance ... are you referring to the time period of 1400-1600 AD? If so, fits best here under Classical.

I guess I've been living under a rock for the last 15 years, because I have never heard of "focus" nor "sky" genre's in music.

Hopefully member Art Rock, will give is some insight.

[Dorsetmike]

Hi KH, referring to groups from 70's-80s, I always considered them as progressive rock, but having seen the subdivisions thereof I just wondered.

[Krummhorn]

Ahah ... thanks for the clarification proving that an ol' dog (me) can learn new things <sigh>. I grew up in the age when there was basically Classical and Swing (jazz).

[marval]

I am not sure what category I would put them in. The only one I really know is Sky, I have quite a few tapes of them and really like their music.


Margaret

[Dorsetmike]

Rernaissance, Annie Haslam on Vocals
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XtSQFewjDD0

Focus, Thijs Van Leer on Hammond organ, you will either love or hate his vocal talents, fantastic range though, Jan Akkerman lead guitar.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-v7LzOeTkfM

Sky, Westway
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-XrNi...eature=related

Sky, a bit different than their usual, Harpsichord Gavotte and variations
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rjXnrO...eature=related

Sky again, maybe not for the organ purists among us though
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_XUbYW...eature=related

[Andrew Roussak]

Hi Dorsetmike,

all of the bands you have mentioned have their official MySpace profiles, where they define themselves as progressive rock bands anyway ( I guess art rock means actually pretty the same, the term was just more in use in 70es ). Concerning Sky, I think they were rather "pop" than "rock" - prog pop maybe?

Regards
Andrew

[sunwaiter]

yes focus was (do i really have to say "IS"?...) more an instrumental band, so they can more easily be labeled "progressive". but actually all these words makes me yawn. it's all music

i love this youtube joint:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vewWf8HDKF0

[Art Rock]

Renaissance and Focus (two of the best groups of the seventies IMO) are clear progressive rock, subdivision symphonic prog.

Sky (not exactly my favourites) are generally considered progressive rock as well, latest subclassification is eclectic prog. I would prefer the prog pop term that Andrew threw in.

Oh, and whether or not a band uses vocals is neither here nor there in classification as prog.

See http://www.progarchives.com.

[elpless]

well Focus are a classic prog rock group and what a fantastic guitarist, Jan Akkerman was it.?

[Art Rock]

Jan Akkerman, yes. Voted the best guitar player in the world in a UK poll in the seventies. I saw him in concert 10 years later, in a church, less than 100 attendants. Times change.

[Dorsetmike]

I was lucky enough to see Renaissance twice in the mid to late 1970s, wish I could have caught Focus too, but they were never in this area as far as I know. I still listen to both.