Novi Fosili "Hitovi sa singl ploča" (1981)

Cutest compilation of biggest hits up to that point by beloved croatian pop band in its most successful incarnation.

"Novi Fosili" started in the early 1970s but there was nothing earth-shaking with their current line-up until group got Rajko Dujmić and Đurđica Barlović as new members. Young but already experienced Dujmić was capable singer but more important, he was excellent composer who clearly got inspiration of multi-vocal harmonies like "Abba" and his songs changed band's destiny almost overnight, little 4 minutes pop perfections that resonated trough the whole country. Of course it didn't hurt to have wonderful Đurđica Barlović as a main singer since she had instantly recognizable sound, mellow voice that always had melancholic undertone even under seemingly happy melody.

Songs collected here were mostly released as singles and with occasional exception ("Sanjaj me") were not to be found on official studio albums. Most of them were huge hits performed on pop festivals and at the time it looks like every home had at least one of these singles. What specially makes me happy with this forgotten compilation is that it has two early singles ("Čuješ li me, je l' ti drago" and "Pomorska večer") that I got as a birthday present for my 10th birthday, so this was joy of my childhood. Sure,it's easy to dismiss this music as a sunny bubble gum,but just try to make something so likable,memorable and seemingly simple and you will understand that Rajko Dujmić was genius. Later croatian pop groups like "Magazin" tried similar approach but only vulgarized his ideas.

Unfortunately "Novi Fosili" later lost Đurđica Barlović and got new start with new singer (Sanja Doležal) who appealed to younger generation - by than they lost me and music started to sound formulaic. Many listeners of my generation accept only this line-up as golden years of "Novi Fosili", the only one worth remembering and most of us know these sunny little masterpieces by heart. Later compilations somehow got this one pushed aside and focused on bigger hits, after all these were just first steps of the very long and successful career but if you want to hear group in its first wave of inspiration and freshness,this is the place.