Prodavnica tajni

Background and recording

In 2008, the band's frontman Momčilo Bajagić stated that he worked on the songs during his vacation in Thailand, during the band's Soviet Union tour, and in Belgrade. Prodavnica tajni was recorded in Radio Novi Sad studios, because, as Bajagić stated, the pressure of journalists was too big in Bajaga i Instruktori homecity Belgrade.

The album was named after Dino Buzzati book La boutique del mistero. Bajagić stated that he liked the book, but that the songs had no connection with it.

Prodavnica tajni marked a slight stylistic change in the band's sound: the songs were simpler, without brass instruments, frequent on the band's previous releases, based on acoustic guitars and keyboards, and the songs "Plavi safir", "Vesela pesma", "Život je nekad siv, nekad žut" and "Ruski voz" featured folk music elements.

Personnel

Additional personnel

Reception and legacy

The album was well received by the fans, with virtually every song on the album becoming a hit. It was sold in more than 700,000 copies.

The album was polled in 1998 as the 79th on the list of 100 greatest Yugoslav rock and pop albums in the book YU 100: najbolji albumi jugoslovenske rok i pop muzike (YU 100: The Best albums of Yugoslav pop and rock music).

Serbian critic Dimitrije Vojnov named Prodavnica tajni one of ten most important albums in the history of former Yugoslav rock, stating however, that with Prodavnica tajni "the most charming band in Yugoslavia went in a gloomy direction, and despite the fact that the band delivered some of their best songs, like 'Otkada tebe volim', on the album, it was obvious that they are going towards kafana [...] stopping by at ethnic music, again, not in their urban and charming way, but following the Oriental sound which is popular in kafanas. From this point, which initially was not seen as alarming, as Prodavnica tajni was a legitimate pop product, Bajaga's energy seemed to dry up. It was like 'Ruski voz' woke up something inside him and the audience, something after which nothing would be the same again".

In 2008, Bajagić himself stated that he considers Prodavnica tajni one of three best Bajaga i Instruktori albums, and that he would make no changes if he recorded the album today.

Cover versions