KORNI GRUPA - NE TAKO OBIčAN ZIVOT (I POSLE TRIDESET GODINA)

A 3-disc box set of KORNI GRUPA under the title "Ne tako običan zivot - i posle trideset godina" ("Not an Ordinary Life - Even After Thirty Years") appeared in 2005. Although long awaited, the final product did seem to disappoint both the critics and the fans alike.

The content is divided between the first disc called "Progressive" and two other discs of "Hit Singles". If you know the opus of this group, you are already familiar with their "Jackyll-Hyde" approach towards the audience: on one side issuing hit singles with catchy pop and sometimes even downright bubble-gum tunes and on the other making long, elaborate musical pieces in the style of progressive and jazz rock that was presented on their two LP records and concerts. The intent of this box set is obvious: to present a whole spectrum of diverse musical styles and releases issued by the group in the course of their 6-year long career (1968-74).

And here we have a problem of selection of the best and most representative songs. The least objections I have about two discs of "hit singles" although it must be said that not all of them are poppy singalongs; there are many excellent and even progressive rock songs issued in the 7" format too. The track-list follows generally a chronological order starting from their debut single "Cigu ligu" of 1969 up to the English version of their Brighton Eurosong tune "Generation 1942" of 1974, thus presenting their five vocalists: Dusan Prelević, Dalibor Brun, Dado Topić, Zdravko Čolić and Zlatko Pejaković. Apart from the previously unissued title "Kosovka devojka" ("Kosovo Girl") all of these should be familiar to the owners of their previous compilations or the vinyl originals. Still, it is nice to have all these songs packed here together.

Bigger problem have I with the first disc, ambitiously titled "Progressive". Debut LP "Korni grupa" is represented with only one title, albeit perhaps the strongest one, "Put za istok" ("The Way to the East"); three tracks are taken from the second, so-called "Italian album" (because it was recorded in English language in Milan for the ltalian label Ricordi) "Not an Ordinary Life" - the title track, "Fall Off the Land of Women" and "The Man with a White Flag"; while two lengthier non-LP tracks, both with Dado Topić as vocalist - 17-minute "Prvo svetlo u kući br. 4" ("The First Light in the House No. 4") and a live rendition of phenomenal "Jedna zena" ("One Woman"). But, all of these were already available in the compilation CD "Prvo svetlo neobičnog zivota" from 1995, so we see no surprises here. For instance, a long lost song from Topić era called "Zena je luka a čovek brod" ("A Woman Is a Harbor, a Man Is a Boat") remains in the unreleased obscurity to this day. Also, the neglected is the entire "1941" musical poem featuring vocals by Josipa Lisac and Dado Topić, only the short "Oj sokole" ("The Falcon") is included in the hit singles list.

The booklet is also rather poor. Apart from several nice old photos of the band and thumbnails of the entire official vinyl discography covers, not enough details were included. No biography, no special events, no studio details, no recording dates... only a somewhat pathetic liner notes by the band leader Kornelije Kovač.

But maybe I am personally too demanding - this box set may be very useful for younger generations who do not recall the vinyl era but are eager to listen and discover old "classic" rock music with an attitude! I mean not to prevent them in any way.

PERSONAL RATING: 2/5

P.A. RATING: 3/5