SANJAO SAM NOćAS DA TE NEMAM - VELIKE ROCK BALADE

In April 1984 Zeljko Bebek, the lead vocalist, decided to finally part the ways with the band pursuing a not so successful solo career. In the meantime, while looking for a new singer, the bandleader Bregović also established a private label Kamarad, since their contract with Jugoton had expired. Therefore, Jugoton released a new compilation of BIJELO DUGME covering their previous career with Bebek.

Unlike the previous compilations of singles this one, aptly titled "Sanjao sam noćas da te nemam - Velike rock balade" (En. "I Have Dreamed Last Night That I Lost You - Grand Rock Ballads"), focused primarily on the studio albums and especially to the longer, slow-tempo ballads. Arguably these tracks present the better portion of DUGME's catalogue and they were also enormously popular. In addition, most of these songs are the closest they came to progressive rock, employing lush production, nice and memorable melodies, "symphonic" orchestration, strings sections, loads of keyboards, guitar solos and impressionist or romantic lyrical content.

Add here two excellent singles-only tracks, acoustic chamber ballad "Ima neka tajna veza" (En. "There Are Secret Ties That Bind") from 1975 and early electrified heavy blues "Ove ću noći naći Blues" (En. "I'll Sing The Blues Tonight") from the first single in 1974, and you get an excellent collection that can satisfy most of the demanding prog fans! The only serious mistake is the inclusion of the weaker version of "Pristao sam biću sve sto hoće" from "Dozivjeti stotu" album (at the expense of the better single version from 1979).

In case you are not interested to hear "shepherds rock", hard rock, standard rock'n'roll or new wave tracks, and would prefer instead the most proggy moments, this compilation may be the only BIJELO DUGME title you would enjoy.

PERSONAL RATING: 3/5

P.A. RATING: 4/5