Kalemegdan Disk - ROCK FROM EASTERN EUROPE

Croatia Records Release Information

“This record gives a chance to a new name in our popular music, a young singer who could become a star tomorrow. Let’s listen to Alen and see for ourselves!” wrote Željko Sabol about the album “Alen” already in 1981. It is an understatement to say that Alen Slavica took advantage of that opportunity. Moreover, in Allen’s honor, a record of his greatest hits was released to remind us of his impressive four-decade career.

Choosing only twelve songs for the LP “The Best of” was more than difficult with so many hits, but considering that it is a personal choice of Alen Slavica, the audience will certainly recognize in these songs all the emotions that the musician himself had during his first listening and performance. The LP opens with his biggest hit “Dao sam ti dušu” (I Gave You My Soul), about which in the notes to the release, the journalist of Večernji list and Alen’s friend, Samir Milla says: “It is one of those songs that happens to you once in your life and that will stay even when there will be neither Alen nor any of us. Even today, after more than 30 years, we can often hear it on the radio, and its cover was a stepping stone in the career of some young singers.”

Samir continued on the eternal charisma, but also the incredible modesty of Alen, despite all his successes: “When you have such references, you would expect someone who behaves like a star who cannot be reached. However, Alen always has remained modest, likable and witty in his Dalmatian way. The reason for this is that he never cared about money and fame, as much as he cared about the song.”

Among the other hits on vinyl were “S tobom našao sam sreću” (With You I Found Happiness), “Ispod tvog jastuka” (Under Your Pillow), “Oprosti mi za sve” (Forgive Me for Everything), as well as some more recent ones, even those that have never been released on a sound carrier, let alone on vinyl: “Još vjerujem u ljubav” (I still Believe in Love) featuring. Bishwa Nepali, “Godine prolaze” (Years Go by), “Stari moj” (My Old Man) and “Neće duša bez tebe” (There Will Be no Soul without You). There are also unavoidable hit collaborations: “Ko grad bez ljudi” (Like a City without People) with Žera from Crvena Jabuka, “Masline” (Olives) and “Nevere” (Infidelity) with Miroslav Tadić and “Isto nas more pere” (The Sea also Washes Us) with Oliver Dragojević. These are exceptional songs that, due to their size, demanded great authors such as Đorđe Novković, Željko Pavičić, Slobodan M. Kovačević, Ante Gelo, Senad Galijašević and others.

Mario Krištofić is responsible for the photo on the cover, while the photo on the back is signed by Andrej Smolić from Live Studio, and the artwork was done by Ivo T. Montina.

On the occasion of 40 years of his career, Alen Slavica received two awards this summer in his Karlovac, one from the Croatian Discography Association for the platinum edition of the album “Dao sam ti dušu” (I Gave You My Soul), which sold more than 100.000 copies, and the other award from Croatia Records for 40 years successful career.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Dao sam ti dušu 3:47
2. S tobom našao sam sreću 4:23
3. Ispod tvog jastuka 3:57
4. Ko grad bez ljudi 3:40
5. Još vjerujem u ljubav 3:35
6. Godine prolaze 4:00

Side B

1. Masline 3:49
2. Nevere 3:30
3. Isto nas more pere 4:24
4. Stari moj 4:28
5. Neće duša bez tebe 3:38
6. Oprosti mi za sve 2:50