Garavi Sokak

Late 1980s and 1990s

In 1980 Bane Krstić (vocals, acoustic guitar), Petar Alvirović (bass guitar), Milan Trifunović (drums) and Šeri Toplica (rhythm guitar) formed the band Pa Šta! (So What!). Initially influenced by The Beatles and Bijelo Dugme, Pa Šta! performed at school dances across Vojvodina.

In 1986 they released the single with songs "Sećaš se" and "Bejbi" under the new name, Seks (Sex). The single was released through the Association of Rock Musicians of Vojvodina. In 1987, under the influence of Krstić's religious parents, they changed the name to Garavi Sokak after the book of poems by Miroslav Antić. They rereleased the songs from their first single under different titles, "Solunska" and "67. bejbi", and started working on their debut self-titled album. Garavi Sokak was produced by Saša Habić and released through Panonija koncert on audio cassette only. However, the band's first official album, also titled Garavi Sokak, was released the following year through Jugoton. The album was produced by Gabor Lenđel, and brought folk rock hits "Skeledžijo", "Teci, teci, Dunave" and "Mađarica". Their following album, Garavi Sokak II, released in 1990, featured similar sound and hits "Ti si mene caknula", "Neko, neko ko je daleko" and "Na temerinskom vašaru". In 1991 they appeared at MESAM festival with the song "Pozdrav iz Soko Banje", which was released on the 7" single, the B-side of which featured a cover of Crni Biseri song "Džudi, Džudi". In 1992 the band released the album Da se vrate srećni dani (May the Happy Days Return). The album was produced by Ivica Vlatković, and featured numerous guests. The album's main hits were "Kao ja", "Reci zašto", "Zima, leto..." and a new version of "Solunska". In 1994 the band released Slova tvoga imena (Letters of Your Name) in the new lineup: Bane Krstić (vocal, acoustic guitara), Zoran Brajović (drums), Nikola Oršoš (bass guitar), Miroslav Ilić (accordion, prim), Šeri Toplica (acoustic guitar) and Milan Trifunović (percussion). The album, produced by Rambo Amadeus, marked the bands shift towards acoustic sound, and brought hits "Biće bolje ako budeš tu", "U Perlezu stao voz" and "Plavi svitac". After the album was released the band started performing with acoustic instruments only.

The album Dobro je (It's All Right), released in 1996 (and being one of the last albums released on vinyl record by PGP-RTS), featured a cover of The Beatles song "Good Night", Garavi Sokak version entitled "Laku noć ti, ljubavi". the recording of their unplugged performance, held in Novi Sad Studio M in November 1996, was released on the album Najveći hitovi - Unplugged (Greatest Hits - Unplugged). In 1998 the band released the album Sagradićemo brod (We'll Build a Boat), which featured similar acoustic folk-oriented sound as their several previous releases.

2000s

The album Doviđenja tugo (Goodbye, Sadness), released in 2001, featured the song "Ruska", inspired by the music of Alla Pugacheva, and a country version of their old song "Za mene kasno je već" with a new title, "Tragovi tvojih točkova". At the time of the album release the band consisted of Krstić, Milan Trifunović, Miroslav Ilić, Boban Dževerdanović (guitar), Đorđe Urban (bass guitar), Suad Saračević (keyboards) and Miroslav Papić (drums). In 2003 Krstić formed the record label Vojvodina Music, through which the band released the album Svako ima nekog koga više nema (Everybody Has Someone Who He Doesn't Have anymore). The album was produced by Zoran Maletić, and was more pop-oriented than the band's previous releases. The album's main hit, "Ko te ima taj te nema" was recorded in three versions: beside the one featured on the album, the band recorded another one with Zvonko Bogdan, and the third one, sung by Zvonko Bogdan followed by a tamburica orchestra, was released on the compilation album Ko te ima taj te nema. In 2008 the band released their tenth studio album entitled Ja bih za tebe dao sve (I Would Give Everything for You).

2010s

In 2014. Garavi Sokak released their latest studio album, Zrnce ljubavi (Grain of Love).

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilations

Singles