U INAT GODINAMA

Yes, and one wonders is there an end to this practice, but wait! There are more (in) famous examples of this kind of market saturation by lustful discographic industry... And guess what - even Jimi Hendrix and THE YARDBIRDS are among the top-compiled artists ever, to name a few most influential names. But all is not so bad.

"U inat godinama" (Despite The Years) was released as a part of the memorial event of the same name that included a concert, a biography book presentation and a CD. It all took place on 12. September 2006 in Sarajevo, INDEXI's native town in Bosnia/Herzegovina, former Yugoslavia. INDEXI ceased to exist in 2001 after passing away of Davorin Popovic, lead singer. Afterwards, few more prominent former members, including a master guitarist Bodo Kovacevic, died also. The event, especially the concert, gathered some 40 or so participants - former band members, lyricists, producers, arrangers, fellow musicians, journalists and writers - who in the long career of INDEXI contributed to their work one way or another. Josip Dujmovic, the organizer of the event, was also the author of fictional biography of the same name, which combined fictional love story with the actual or anecdotal events from the band's lively career. Special value of this book lies also in an attempt to write the first serious discographic chronology and it is the most interesting aspect of the book.

CD was given away as a promo along with a purchased copy of Bosnian "Max Plus Magazine", and was not meant to be sold. Out of 11 tracks taken from the period 1964- 68, even five were previously unissued: "Djevojka iz III g", instrumental in the classic SHADOWS way; "Djecak iz obicne ulice", the first recorded Popovic's vocal track; "Ucini jednom bar", translated cover of THE BEATLES' "A Hard Day's Night"; "Vrijeme je na mojoj strani", translated cover of THE ROLLING STONES' "Time Is On My Side"; and "Necu biti sam", a original psyche/beat from 1967. Very interesting early material, showcasing the influence of British Invasion and psychedelic beat.

Given the sad situation that still many excellent songs of INDEXI have never been released, the mark "No. 1" on the CD label gives hope that the publisher will continue to present some rare gems unearthed from the hidden history of this seminal group.