Rani Mraz

Infobox musical artist
Name = Rani Mraz
Img_capt =
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia
Genre = Rock Acoustic rock
Years_active = 1978 – 1981
Label = Jugoton, PGP RTB
URL =
Associated_acts = Žetva Suncokret Đorđe Balašević Bilja & Bistrik
Past_members = Đorđe Balašević Bora Đorđević Biljana Krstić Verica Todorović

Rani Mraz (Serbian Cyrillic: Рани Мраз; trans. "Early Frost") were a former Yugoslav rock band.

Band history

Rani Mraz was formed in 1978 by former Žetva member Đorđe Balašević and Verica Todorović. During 1978 the band recorded a number of hit singles and sold a great number of records. Balašević's emotional lyrics and simple melodies with pop music elements saw major succes. Former Suncokret members Bora Đorđević and Biljana Krstić soon joined the band, becoming the members of the most famous, but short lasting Rani Mraz lineup.

The band soon recorded "Računajte na nas", which praised People's Liberation War from a slightly different perspective than habitual socialist realism, and soon became an anthem of Yugoslav youth. During the summer of 1978, Rani Mraz held numerous concerts in Dom omladine in Belgrade. Balašević entertained the audience with his humouristic stories and Đorđević performed his songs "Lutka sa naslovne strane", "Mirno spavaj", "Zvezda potkrovlja i suterena" and others. After recording a single with songs "Oprosti mi Katrin" and "Život je more" Bora Đorđević left the band. He soon formed hard rock band Riblja Čorba, which eventually became one of the top acts of the former Yugoslav rock scene. Soon Verica Todorović left the band.

In 1979 Rani Mraz relased their debut album "Mojoj mami umesto maturske slike u izlogu" ("To my Mother instead of Prom Photo in the Shop-Window"). Album was produced by Josip Boček who also played the guitar. Songs were played by studio musicians: Bojan Hreljac (bass guitar), Vladimir Furduj (drums), Sloba Marković (keyboard) and Mića Marković (saxophone). Album featured hits "Sve je dobro kad se dobro svrši", "Mnogo mi znači to", "Neki novi klinci" and "Drago mi je zbog mog starog". During the summer Đorđe Balašević and Biljana Krstić, with band Neoplanti, held numerous concerts across Yugoslavia. This was the time when Balašević started performing his well-known humorous monologues. Poets Mika Antić and Pero Zubac made guest appearances on some of Rani Mraz concerts. On the Split music festival Balašević won first place with a song "Panonski mornar". In September Rani Mraz held eight sold out concerts in Dom sindikata.

In 1980 Balašević relased "Odlazi cirkus" ("The circus is leaving"), the second and the last album under the name Rani Mraz. Album featured hits "Priča o Vasi Ladačkom", "Mirka", "Menuet". In 1982 Balašević released "Pub" ("Jack"), album with which he started his official solo career.

Discography

tudio albums

*"Mojoj mami umesto maturske slike u izlogu" (PGP RTB 1979)
*"Odlazi cirkus" (PGP RTB 1980)

Vinyl singles

*"Moja prva ljubav" / "Kristifore, crni sine" (Jugoton 1978)
*"Računajte na nas" / "Strašan žulj" (PGP RTB 1978)
*"Oprosti mi Katrin" / "Život je more" (PGP RTB 1978)
*"Panonski mornar" / "Moja draga sad je u Japanu" (PGP RTB 1979)
*"Lagana stvar" / "Prvi januar (popodne)" (PGP RTB 1979)
*"Tri puta sam video Tita" / Tri puta sam video Tita - instrumental" (PGP RTB 1981)

References

*EX YU ROCK enciklopedija 1960-2006, Janjatović Petar; ISBN 978-86-905317-1-4

ee also

*SFR Yugoslav Pop and Rock scene
*Serbian rock