Smak was formed back 1970.They were the best Rock 'n' Roll,Hard Rock,Progresive band in Yugoslavia.Because of there succsessful albums like LP Smak 1975.,MLP Satelit 1976.,Crna Dama 1977.,Black Lady 1978,Stranice naseg vremena 1978.,The pages of our time 1978.,Rock Cirkus 1980. they earned there title of best band in Yugoslavia.

Any way here's the full biography:

SMAK was formed 1971. in Kragujevac, the present Serbia and Montenegro, by a guitar virtuoso Radomir Mihailovic nicknamed ''Tocak''(the Wheel). The first stable line-up was assembled in late 1974. including Slobodan Stojanovic Kepa (drums),Zoran Milovanovic (bass),Boris Arandjelovic (vocals) and Laza Ristovski (keyboards).They realesed 3 SP during '74-'75 on which appeared there hit single Ulazak u Harem(Enter to Harem) and they were pregroup for Deep Purple concert in Belgrade '75 ,after successful hit single and exellent concert with Deep Purple they realesed there first LP called Smak 1975. and it was one of the most selling albums in Yugoslavia of all times(the present Serbia and Montenegro),at the beginig of the next year 1976. they realesed MLP(mini long play) Satelit which featured there hit song 'Satelit'(Satelite) and one of there best instrumental 'Biska 2' ,blues song 'Sumadijski Blues',and the song called 'Put od Balona-Biska 20' which was used as a instrumental solos song,in that period they made a short movie Smak in New York,which showed there little tour in USA on which they presented MLPSatelit ,and in that period Tocak realesed his first solo album called by him R.M.Tocak which was the best selling album in Yugoslavia for year 1976. and they have made again single at the end of '76 Ljudi nije fer/El Dumo. During 1977.-78. Ristovski was replaced by first Miki Petkovski,which played on LP Crna Dama 1977. one of the best selling albums in Yugoslavia ,and then by Tibor Levay on keyboards,with him they made LPs Stranice naseg vremena 1978. and English versions of these two albums Black Lady and The Pages of our time 1978. ,while in the period 1979.-81. Dado Topic (ex-Time,ex-Korni Grupa) collaborated with SMAK as producer and occasional guest vocalist on single Na Balkanu before the band broke-up in late 1981. ,before they had splited up they made LP Rock Cirkus 1980. which was destened to be one of there most selling albums but because of yugoslavian president's death it had not gotten much popularity ,after that they made 3 farewell concerts in capital of Serbia and Montenegro ,Blegrade on which came 10.000 fans and those fans which didn't get the ticket for the concerts.The original line-up gathered again in 1984. and with Dado Topic made LP Zasto ne volim sneg ,which was dedicated to Tocak’s dead brother ,after that they had splited again. In 1986. with a new keyboardist Milan Djurdjevic they came back and made LP Smak 86 ,but after the release of Smak 86 they had splited again. The forth comeback of SMAK happened in 1992. with Ristovski again as a member, when they mostly played concerts in Serbia and issued a live album odLIVEno1992. on which appeared the best serbian harmonic player Pera Joe.This concerts in '92 and '93 were for promoting Tocak's second solo album which was soundtrack for the movie Byzantine Blue1993. ,for which Tocak was given a prise for the best soundtrack on Christal Prisma awards.Finally, in 1994 SMAK re-appeared again, this time along with Tocak and Stojanovic they added younger musicians: Dejan Stojanovic Kepa Jr.(second drum kit),Dejan Najdanovic Najda(vocals), Vladimir Samardzic (bass) and Milan Milosavljevic Mikica (guitar).In that time Smak relesed album Bioskop Fox(Cinema Fox).After 4 year period Vlada Samardzic left SMAK and went to Bearkley music collage,on his place as bassist came Sale Markovic .With Sale they made albums Live wihtout audience1998,Egregor1999,Live 3.mart.2000. Kragujevac klub 'La Cinema' 2000.

SMAK was celebrated for Tocak's virtuosity in guitar playing, modelled on Jimi Hendrix's and Jimmy Page's style, and for interesting and powerful, if not always successful, fusion of hard rock and jazz, prog rock, jazz rock with strong blues backing, with Arandjelovic's falsetto vocal often used as an instrument rather than singing. "Ulazak u harem", a folk-inspired instrumental issued as hit-single in 1975, showcased Tocak as one of the guitar-heroes and legend of ex-Yugoslavian music scene of the 1970s, while albums "Crna dama" ("Black Lady")1977. and "Stranice naseg vremena" ("The Pages of Our Time")1978. were highly celebrated among prog fans and were even released in English versions for the Western market. Their reunion, from the second half of 1980’s onward, turned the musical direction of the band into less-inspired mainstream hard rock, abandoning any prog elements,but after re-appearing in 1994. SMAK turned back the musical direction back to hard rock,fussion jazz with prog elements.As a comparison, one can mention similarities in style with artists such as Led Zeppelin,Deep Purple,Taste,Doobie Brothers,Santana,Leb i Sol.

1. This is not a room
2. This is the wrong section for this post, you need "suggest bands"
3. Welcome to PA

Jeez guys, can't we be a little nicer to Livnica?

"This is not a room"? Come on, Ian, give the new member a break.

I believe I have heard a few songs by this band when I was submitting mp3s from them to the website. If I recall correctly, it was pretty nice music. That's all I know about Smak though...

Anyway... welcome, Livnica!

Snow Dog wrote: This is not a room This is the wrong section for this post, you need "suggest bands" Welcome to PA

Not a friendly post, Snow Dog.

Why "suggest bands" if the band is already included in PA? I think we'd better say "thank you" to Livnica, because it's not so easy to find in the web information on Yugoslavian prog bands in English.

Joren wrote: Jeez guys, can't we be a little nicer to Livnica? "This is not a room"? Come on, Ian, give the new member a break. I believe I have heard a few songs by this band when I was submitting mp3s from them to the website. If I recall correctly, it was pretty nice music. That's all I know about Smak though... Anyway... welcome, Livnica!

Hey I welcomed him to PA!!! Thats friendly.

Jeez.

Welcome i dobrodosao Livnica!

I can see you are a SMAK fan and enjoy browsing the prog archives!!

However, there is no need to post again their biography here, because on their band page there is a full bio, prepared by yours truly myself

You can of course start a discussion here and others will perhaps reply.

So, I saw you already posted several SMAK reviews. Bravo!  Although I do not agree with all of them, I can see you are a fan of the band, so any review is welcome, especially because not many ex Yugo bands are known internationally. I assume you are much younger than me, so I can recommend you the best works of SMAK: "Smak" (1st album), "Crna dama", "Stranice naseg vremena" and "Zasto ne volim sneg". I personally don't like their later work and you can see that from my reviews.

SMAK is definitely one of the best ex Yugoslav rock bands, which offered a mix of hard rock, jazz fusion, prog rock and blues, with notable virtuosity by guitarist Tocak.

Trouserpress wrote: Snow Dog wrote: NotAProghead wrote: Snow Dog wrote: This is not a room This is the wrong section for this post, you need "suggest bands" Welcome to PA Not a friendly post, Snow Dog. Not unfriendly either. Yes it was. Yes it was not unfriendly? Why "suggest bands" if the band is already included in PA? I think we'd better say "thank you" to Livnica, because it's not so easy to find in the web information on Yugoslavian prog bands in English. I didn't know......I didn't check. Why give a huge Biog if they're already here? To draw attention and maybe add some detail? Christ, snowie, what a welcome you gave the poor chap!

Maybe I should crack a joke and crawl at his (metaphotical) feet next time (next life). So sorry for not being a perfect Gentleman(I'm Wesh). No I'm not sorry really, that was a terrible lie.

Livnica
Newbie



Joined: April 03 2006
Location: Yugoslavia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1

Very Bad Dog wrote: This is not a room This is the wrong section for this post, you need "suggest bands" Welcome to PA

No Problem-

PS- I didnt think it was a jerky responce

Drew wrote: No Problem- PS- I didnt think it was a jerky responce

I do.

Snow Dog wrote: Drew wrote: No Problem- PS- I didnt think it was a jerky responce I do.

No, that was a joke.

It was not intended as a jerky response.

Hmmmmmm, I'm getting all serious again now!

I have only SMAK's compilation, "Istorija" and I can say the band deserves attention. I think sooner or later I'll find other albums of this band. 

P.S. I'm so grateful to the guy in a small record store in Rovin (Croatia), who introduced to me some good prog bands from ex-Yugoslavia: TIME (their first album became one of my all favs), LEB I SOL, SMAK, KORNI GRUPA, INDEXI.

NotAProghead wrote: I have only SMAK's compilation, "Istorija" and I can say the band deserves attention. I think sooner or later I'll find other albums of this band.  P.S. I'm so grateful to the guy in a small record store in Rovin (Croatia), who introduced to me some good prog bands from ex-Yugoslavia: TIME (their first album became one of my all favs), LEB I SOL, SMAK, KORNI GRUPA, INDEXI.

Yes indead, Time was first and probably the best prog band from former Yougoslavia.

Another interesting ones are JOSIPA LISAC - Dnevnik prve ljubavi, INDEXI, LEB I SOL, ELEKTRIÈNI ORGAZAM, ŠARLO AKROBATA, SEPTEMBAR

I see that you were on holidays in Rovinj. I was every summer in nearby coast town Poreè

Friends(prijatelji) don't argue about Snow Dog.First my mistake i haven't seen the Smak topic that was forged before my Smak.I will continue in that room to write my posts.But i haven't seen that topic soo i will continue here to spread Smak.Second Snow Dog can you bring back this topic to original place becoase this is about Smak not about what i suggest to listen.

Third: I created this topic soo i can show the World that Smak is really exellent band which can be compared to Zeppelin,Queen and otheer bands which have been made as a legends of music.I also wanted to see if any of you English,German,American... have heared of Smak the yugoslavian rock band.

I want to say pozzz-hay to people that have come here before me and spread Smak,Leb i Sol,Time,Yu Grupa,Korni Grupa,Buldozer,Partibrejkers  music!

Hey Livnica!(nice to see another member from the ex-YU btw.)

I have Crna Dama on vinyl but my record player is broken so I haven't had a chance to listen to it. And since you seem to be an expert (or a big fan)  on Smak I want to know if the record is (or any other) worth buying? My dad mentoined they are great many times, but he likes allmost everything so he's opinion does't count..  

pero wrote: Yes indead, Time was first and probably the best prog band from former Yougoslavia. Another interesting ones are JOSIPA LISAC - Dnevnik prve ljubavi, INDEXI, LEB I SOL, ELEKTRIÈNI ORGAZAM, ŠARLO AKROBATA, SEPTEMBAR I see that you were on holidays in Rovinj. I was every summer in nearby coast town Poreè

Thanks for good advice, pero. If I'll visit Croatia again I'll try to find albums of JOSIPA LISAC, ELEKTRIÈNI ORGAZAM, ŠARLO AKROBATA, SEPTEMBAR.

By the way, my wife and I were in Porech too - wonderful town.

Kazimire, brate, are you nuts??? Bregovic can't do a squat compared to R.M. Tocak & Smak, not to mention Leb i Sol, Yu-grupa, Time, Korni grupa, ...

Bijelo dugme's music is called shepherd's rock- because the inspiration for it came from listening to the sheep doing "beeeee".

And true, "Bijelo dugme" is the most commercial bend of ex-yu, and people listen to them. Because the people are the sheep.

Most of their fans listen to Turbo-folk, a unique amalgam of Radio Teheran's top-of-the-pops, coyote hawling and a rudimentary skill of pressing two keys on a synthesizer. I believe that proves my previous point.

terramystic wrote: Bijelo dugme is more commercial but some of their songs could be called prog related

Terramystic, could you clarify how on Earth can "Bijelo dugme" be related to progressive rock???

Livnica wrote: And true, "Bijelo dugme" is the most commercial bend of ex-yu, and people listen to them. Because the people are the sheep.

I can't believe all people listening to "Bijelo dugme" are so desperately stupid.

Welcome everyone! Nice to see some folks discussing the "good ole" exYU prog from the 1970s

Maybe we can create a separate thread for exYU prog?

I expect many of you can write some reviews too, I can't do it all by myself !!!

Go here  http://www.progarchives.com/Band-list.asp?country=203 - http://www.progarchives.com/Band-list.asp?country=203  and check there are still many albums without reviews. Just please, read the guidelines and instructions how to write a review. It is available elesewhere on the forum.

Regarding BIJELO DUGME, here is my opinion. I have been contemplating their addition here for quite some time. Their first 4-5 albums can arguably be included into "prog related" category. Their style of that time was similar to URIAH HEEP, DEEP PURPLE, ARGENT, BIRTH CONTROL... of course with notorius addition of "shepherd's rock" folk-influenced lyrics. Later stuff during 1980s was horrible very commercialized (although their first phase was also very popular, anyone rememeber "Dugmemania" phenomenon?) "arena" style mainstream pop/rock with Balkan folk, not interesting for prog people. I was personally never a fan of BIJELO DUGME (except when I was 13-14 old), but their overall career probably deserves mentioning them in "prog-related" section... ?

NotAProghead wrote: pero wrote: Yes indead, Time was first and probably the best prog band from former Yougoslavia. Another interesting ones are JOSIPA LISAC - Dnevnik prve ljubavi, INDEXI, LEB I SOL, ELEKTRIÈNI ORGAZAM, ŠARLO AKROBATA, SEPTEMBAR I see that you were on holidays in Rovinj. I was every summer in nearby coast town Poreè Thanks for good advice, pero. If I'll visit Croatia again I'll try to find albums of JOSIPA LISAC, ELEKTRIÈNI ORGAZAM, ŠARLO AKROBATA, SEPTEMBAR. By the way, my wife and I were in Porech too - wonderful town.

All mentioned are excellent artists! INDEXI, LEB I SOL and SEPTEMBER are already here. JOSIPA is arguably close to "progressive rock" with different influences from blues, jazz and soul.

ELEKTRICNI ORGAZAM and SARLO AKROBATA are also excellent, but they belong to another story (post punk, new wave). TIME debut album is a milestone of ex-YU prog (and not only prog) rock, but check my review of DRAGO MLINAREC first album, released in 1971, before TIME!!

Ok i see that you got my post so i will say only this,here we or i don't want any Bjelo dugme in this topic.To me they have turned back to Yu-Rock long time ago.

Seyo i agree with you about Yu-prog topic but you should call it like we Yugoslavians have always said 'YU-Rock'.But if you all want here to write about Yu-Rock bands it's fine with me,we need to spread this music around the world by one room-topic.

Anyway from which part of the world are you, Smakovci(Smak fans)?

Hay Blazno!

Frank Zappa and the mothers were at the place playing around

Someone stupid with a flame gun burn the place to the ground

Smoke on the Water!

A Fire in the Sky!

:)

Seyo wrote: All mentioned are excellent artists! INDEXI, LEB I SOL and SEPTEMBER are already here. JOSIPA is arguably close to "progressive rock" with different influences from blues, jazz and soul. ELEKTRICNI ORGAZAM and SARLO AKROBATA are also excellent, but they belong to another story (post punk, new wave). TIME debut album is a milestone of ex-YU prog (and not only prog) rock, but check my review of DRAGO MLINAREC first album, released in 1971, before TIME!!

Thanks for the information, Seyo. I think for me it's worth to try first SEPTEMBER, JOSIPA and DRAGO MLINAREC. As I understand, albums of MLINAREC were not released on CD, I hope it's only a question of time.

I also have some live albums of PARNI VALJAK, the band playing good melodic rock with nice vocals and guitar playing. Did they ever play something close to prog?

No, PARNI VALJAK has nothing to do with prog, although they were formed from the remnants of the Drago Mlinarec's backing band GRUPA 220.

Their 1970s albums are sort of classic rock/boogie/hard rock/glam style. Their later stuff is a mainstream AOR pop/rock. They are extremely good instrumentalist but not my cup of tea.

terramystic wrote: Livnica wrote: terramystic wrote: Bijelo dugme is more commercial but some of their songs could be called prog related Terramystic, could you clarify how on Earth can "Bijelo dugme" be related to progressive rock??? Yes, they are commercial and less skilful than Smak but some songs are unmistakably prog (in the style of proto-prog, hard prog) or at least attempt at it: "Sve ce to mila moja...", "Sta bi dao da si na mom mjestu", "Kad bi bio bijelo dugme", "Pozurite konji moji"...

You got that right, Terramystic!

Livnica wrote: Ok i see that you got my post so i will say only this,here we or i don't want any Bjelo dugme in this topic.To me they have turned back to Yu-Rock long time ago. Seyo i agree with you about Yu-prog topic but you should call it like we Yugoslavians have always said 'YU-Rock'.But if you all want here to write about Yu-Rock bands it's fine with me,we need to spread this music around the world by one room-topic. Anyway from which part of the world are you, Smakovci(Smak fans)?

Look to the left, below the avatar of the member, there is "Location".

There is already a Yugo prog topic started here http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7440&PN=1 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7440&a mp;PN=1

So you can join there for a general discussion about prog rock from former Yugoslavia.

Enjoy!

There is a joke about Smak and their guitarist Toèak:

They went to USA to buy instruments for the band.

In some small town somwere in mid USA they went to a shop.

They asked the man who worked theree to play on some instruments so they could decide which one to buy.

It came out that the seller played better every instrument (maybe exept guitar) then the members of the band.

Seyo wrote: Livnica wrote: Ok i see that you got my post so i will say only this,here we or i don't want any Bjelo dugme in this topic.To me they have turned back to Yu-Rock long time ago. Seyo i agree with you about Yu-prog topic but you should call it like we Yugoslavians have always said 'YU-Rock'.But if you all want here to write about Yu-Rock bands it's fine with me,we need to spread this music around the world by one room-topic. Anyway from which part of the world are you, Smakovci(Smak fans)? Look to the left, below the avatar of the member, there is "Location".

Yes i realesed that :)

pero wrote: There is a joke about Smak and their guitarist Toèak: They went to USA to buy instruments for the band. In some small town somwere in mid USA they went to a shop. They asked the man who worked theree to play on some instruments so they could decide which one to buy. It came out that the seller played better every instrument (maybe exept guitar) then the members of the band.

I've heared that Tocak came to buy a guitar and he picked one and started playing it.

The people from neighborhood came to see who was playing the guitar.

That was i think in USA when they were touring

If somebody didn't heared Smak or solo albums from members of Smak i would sugest some songs which present there key ups in Rock,Jazz,Blues,Funk,Fussion,Prog music:

1)Satelit

2)Crna Dama(Black Lady)

3)Daire(Tambourine)

4)Alo

5)Shumadijski Blues

6)Domaci Zadatak(Domestic lesson)

7)Sto Ptica

8)Zajdi,Zajdi

9)Aria Diamond

10)Profesor

11)Juzni Voz

12)Nebo je samo drum bez dna(Early to Bed Early to Rise)

13)Biska 2

14)Ljudi nije fer

15)Na Balkanu

16)H - Rizl

17)Strasilo instrumental

18)Ukor(Blame)

and when you heare these songs i think you would be interested in other works of Smak and there members.

Not bad, but I would add:

- Tegoba from "Crna dama"

- title track from "Zesto ne volim sneg"

Only 40 and 4?And you ask me why do i think all who listen to Bjelo Dugme are blinded and idiots.

Well what can i say except that if discography house Yugoton wasn't so corupted ,our music would be much better,when i say better i mean there would be more of Yu-Jazz,Yu-Blues,Yu-Rock,YU-Metal,Yu-disco,Yu-Ethno.

From '60 to this day we fight against our Folk singers who sound like radio Teheran.And 70 to 80 % of people are now listenning to that blody folk.

We have leterly divided Folk and Ethno.So don't think when i say Folk that i mean Ethno,i don't.

I never saw Smak in concert.

Livnica, I understand your rage against "folk" but sometimes it is not sure what we mean by "folk music". Almost all rock bands used "folk" in one way or another, including Smak

Oh and I did not know you are listening to Radio Teheran?!

Seyo wrote: I never saw Smak in concert. Livnica, I understand your rage against "folk" but sometimes it is not sure what we mean by "folk music". Almost all rock bands used "folk" in one way or another, including Smak Oh and I did not know you are listening to Radio Teheran?!

No i just pointed that we have diference between words folk and ethno.Folk is simillar to radio Teheran,and ethno is as we say 'izvorna' it's the music that we have made long time ago and sang for many 100 years ,like epic and lyric poetry which has transformed to music by years.

Ethno i listen and that is what Smak and many other ex-Yu groups uses or had used.

Have you heared that Tocak is going to make his new solo album?

I've heared that he has send it too PGP RTS music house.Maybe it will soon be in CD-shops,so watch closely for new news about it

Pozdrav svima!(Hello to everyone)

I never listened so much Smak than some other Yugo prog bands but i'll pick Crna Dama as one of the best Ex-Yu rock albums,a masterpiece of Yugo rock!

PS.About Bijelo Dugme,i like they early stuff because it has some prog elements such as 'Sanjao sam nocas da te nemam'.I'm born in Sarajevo,and i was intruduced in early age to Sarajevo commercial pop-rock bands,but later i discovered a more underground talented scene.

If you want to download some of Yu-Rock here's the site http://www.pljuga.com - www.pljuga.com and go to Mjuza part you'll see

DarioIndjic wrote: Pozdrav svima!(Hello to everyone) I never listened so much Smak than some other Yugo prog bands but i'll pick Crna Dama as one of the best Ex-Yu rock albums,a masterpiece of Yugo rock! PS.About Bijelo Dugme,i like they early stuff because it has some prog elements such as 'Sanjao sam nocas da te nemam'.I'm born in Sarajevo,and i was intruduced in early age to Sarajevo commercial pop-rock bands,but later i discovered a more underground talented scene.

Welcome!  I know some of your reviews, bravo

I actually live in Sarajevo and experienced all that "dugmemanija" thing during my teens from the first hand, but I was too young to go to concerts then.

Have you heared G-Point Blues song?It has mighty rif,it was preformed by TEK (the R.M.Tocak band)

well let's just say that i call that ignorance which leeds to stupidity.

For everything that you say i agree.