"Tužna je noć" by Doris Dragović (1987)

Croatian singer Doris Dragović may have started in soft-rock band with impeccable pedigree ("More") but mainstream success directed change of approach, masterminded by capable composer Zrinko Tutić (himself a singer/songwriter in previous incarnation) who saw charming young girl as a perfect addition to his already impressive list of collaborators - the song he previously wrote for her (Željo Moja" for Eurovision Song Contest 1986.) turned out massive hit so they continued with exactly same team (Tutić music, Marina Tucaković lyrics, Mato Došen producer, same backing band) producing not one, but two best-selling albums in the same year, cementing singer's popularity and at the time she was riding the waves of success indeed.

It is distinctly different music than the one she used to sing previously with the band: where earlier she was member of the group and as such had to work inside of the frame in order to play her part, the focus is now only and solely on her, with all the musicians and cellophane carefully placed around the main star. Luckily for her, Dragović is enthusiastic singer who don't need any extra studio wizardry and place in spotlight apparently don't intimidate her at all - she joyously dives into everything that composer serves, be it Greek melody of title song, tropical singalong "Daleko, daleko" or 1950s retro-ballad "Da te nema" sung as duet with pop veteran and king of arena concerts Mišo Kovač whose presence suggest that young singer was finally officially accepted in upper pantheon on biggest stars. Clearly, this is producers album and everything was carefully calculated to appeal to widest possible audience - we might regret that Dragović left that soft-rock behind but this kind of music successfully brought her into homes nationwide and this was intention in the first place so critics be darned. Huge seller in its days, the album does not sound any different from other work by same team in the late 1987 (Jasna Zlokić, Neda Ukraden, Mišo Kovač and Marina Perazić all had hits by them), looking back it seems they ruled the radio waves with that patented multi-chorus refrains and drum machines.