Tribute to Darko Kraljić (1977)

Darko Kraljić was very influential and successful composer of pop music in post WW2 period - we are talking about person inspired with Glenn Miller and american Jazz music but reality was communism around him and "comrades" who didn't approve of western influences. Even with this problems Kraljić managed to built brilliant career as a composer of sophisticated,urban music with romantic lyrics and often his own,unmistakable light,swinging sound. His music truly defined a time of rebuilding of country completely ravaged by war and there is a certain optimism shining even in mournful ballads,not to mention infectious rhythms that simply invited on a dance floors.

This LP compilation (released in late 1970s) serves as a tribute to this gifted composer at the time when music business changed completely and composers were pushed in the background. Decades earlier composers were the ones collecting awards and success,but with time the phenomenon of singers-songwriters eventually pushed "composers only" in the background and our very own Cole Porter or Gershwin or Irving Berlin got little attention - he was never completely forgotten (how could he be,after all this is guy who wrote tons of evergreens) but rock groups would be everywhere,while someone like him was considered old-fashioned.

Music collected here is definitely not "The Best of" because for this Darko Kraljić deserves at least double LP album (today it would be a CD box set with well researched liner notes). It is collection of songs from radio-archives,often new modern talents replacing original versions of evergreens (for example,included here is not original "Ko nekad u osam" but newly recorded version with vocal by Boba Stefanović who is fine singer - perhaps much better than original vocal - but still,this is not the same song anymore when taken away from original orchestration and interpretation).

Only "Mala tema iz Srema" recorded by sensational Jazz vocal quartet "Vokalni Kvartet Predraga Ivanovića" sounds like original recording,the rest are all newly recorded versions by current pop singers. They are fine and mostly cope well with composers light swing orchestrations,but I would rather hear original vocals - and it would make more sense to collect composers best known work as audience remembers it.