Crveni Koralji
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1962 in Zagreb, Yugoslavia |
| Headquarters | Zagreb , Yugoslavia (now Croatia) |
| Products | Rock music, studio albums, EPs, singles |
Crveni Koralji (translated as The Red Corals) were a Croatian and Yugoslav rock ensemble established in Zagreb in 1962, widely acknowledged as trailblazers of the Yugoslav rock scene.
Drawing initial influence from Cliff Richard and the Shadows, their musical scope soon expanded to include both covers and original material. By the mid-1960s, they had risen to become the most prominent rock group in Yugoslavia. However, as new musical styles gained prominence later in the decade, their popularity diminished. From the mid-1970s onwards, their appearances became sporadic, although they never formally disbanded. The band reactivated in the mid-1980s, producing three studio albums before the decade closed. Since the 1990s, they have reunited intermittently, with their latest studio album released in 2006.
1960s and 1970s: Origins, ascent, and decline
The group was formed in late 1962 by Jelenko Miran Perković (vocals), Miroslav Lukačić (guitar), Rudolf Šimunec (rhythm guitar), Davorin "Dino" Sarajlić (bass), and Josip "Medo" Badrić (drums). Initially intending to adopt the name Crveni Đavoli, they opted for Crveni Koralji to avoid political implications. Shortly after formation, Boris Babarović succeeded Perković as lead singer. Their inaugural show took place on 28 March 1963 at Zagreb's Varijete club. Early sets predominantly featured adaptations of Cliff Richard and the Shadows songs, which garnered media attention following a significant concert in Belgrade alongside leading Yugoslav bands.
In May 1964, they appeared at Vatromet ritma in Belgrade—recognized as Yugoslavia's first major rock festival—drawing an audience of approximately 5,000. That same year, they supported vocalist Karlo Metikoš on a nationwide tour spanning 50 concerts.
Their first EP, Najljepši san (1964), issued by PGP-RTB, combined Shadows-inspired instrumentals with cover songs; the track "Rekla si: volimo se" marked their initial hit single. The EP achieved sales exceeding 100,000 copies across Yugoslavia—a remarkable feat considering the limited gramophone availability at that time—and secured both widespread acclaim and popularity. They won first place at a Zagreb band competition and returned to perform at Vatromet ritma's Novi Sad edition.
In 1965, two EPs followed featuring renditions of Italian folk tunes and British rock hits. Their fourth EP (1966) incorporated original compositions alongside covers of The Beatles and The Spotnicks. That year also brought them accolades at the Zagreb Festival for songwriting and lyrical excellence.
Establishing themselves firmly as Yugoslavia's leading rock act, Crveni Koralji earned Best Yugoslav Band titles from Ritam magazine in both 1964 and 1965. They functioned as a studio backing band for notable artists such as Karlo Metikoš and Đorđe Marjanović and supported singers including Tereza Kesovija. In 1966, they won first prize at Zagreb's International Beat Festival and spent seven months performing in West German clubs before securing victory at the Zagreb Music Festival with "Ne pitajte za nju".
In 1967, adopting the name Red Corals for a split single release targeting the Benelux market, they began experiencing a decline in domestic popularity amid lineup changes. Sarajlić departed to establish 4 Suze; Željko "Mika" Hižak joined on bass. Drummer Badrić left due to mandatory military service and was replaced by Boris Turina.
Their 1968 EP Sam featured the popular track "Da sam drvosječa," a Tim Hardin cover, alongside original songs. Despite commercial success, some critics viewed their sound as outdated. They participated in the inaugural Festival of Yugoslav Pop Music in Zagreb that year, winning Best Performance Award with audience favorites "Moja gitara" and "Noćas sam sanjao," which appeared on their subsequent EP.
In 1969, Babarović left to pursue a solo career but returned after limited achievements; Šimunec also exited the group. To refresh their style, organist Boris Kajzer briefly joined before being replaced by composer Alfons Vučer. The band released singles including a cover of Left Side's "Welcome to My House." Following Hižak's emigration to Canada, Vlado Bastajić took over bass duties; Badrić returned from military service to replace Turina on drums.
By 1971, with progressive rock gaining prominence and overshadowing their style, Crveni Koralji’s popularity sharply declined. Babarović departed again to form ZiS; new vocalists Marijan Miše and Marjan Štupjanski joined consecutively. The band issued several singles until 1974 but failed to regain commercial traction. Although never officially dissolved, their performances became increasingly infrequent thereafter.
1980s: Revival on Stage
During the mid-1980s, Crveni Koralji reactivated their musical pursuits with a lineup consisting of Boris Babarović (vocals), Miroslav Lukačić (guitar), Krešo Pavlić (keyboards), Rudolf Šimunec (bass guitar), and Željko Marinac (drums). The band regularly played at Zagreb's Čarda venue and, in 1985, released their debut full-length album titled Rock 'n' roll zbirka (1963-1966), which featured newly recorded versions of many tracks from their early years. In 1986, they followed up with Najbolje izvedbe (Best Performances), an album blending original songs with covers of Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Bee Gees. That same year, Crveni Koralji performed "Rajka" at the MESAM festival, a track that was subsequently included on the official compilation MESAM 86. Celebrating their 25th anniversary, they issued Ja sam tvoj čovjek (I'm Your Man) under the name Boris Babarović & Crveni Koralji, which featured collaborations with Silvestar Dragoj as well as covers of Ritchie Valens' "Donna" and The Beatles' "And I Love Her".
1990s and 2000s: Sporadic Reunions
In 1991, the group released Po trnju i kamenju – Bože moj! (Across Thorns and Rocks – My God!), an album dedicated to traditional religious songs. Marking four decades since their formation in 2002, Babarović re-recorded classic hits under the moniker Boris Babarović Barba & Crveni Koralji for the album Prvih 40 godina (The First 40 Years). The 2006 record 21 karat, featuring members Babarović, Lukačić, Marinac, Zvonko "Deda" Gorički (bass), and Vlatko Medetski (keyboards), presented original compositions by Babarović, Branko Bogunović, Milo Ostrović alongside renditions of international popular songs. In 2008, Croatia Records issued a double compilation titled The Ultimate Collection, which compiled studio recordings as well as tracks recorded during the 1960s when the band served as a studio ensemble for renowned artists such as Gabi Novak, Karlo Metikoš, Mišo Kovač, Ivica Šerfezi, and Zvonko Špišić.
Miroslav Lukačić passed away on 26 December 2014. Josip Badrić died on 19 February 2019. Zvonko Gorički died on 11 May 2020.
Legacy
In 2010, the Serbian pop rock group Kristali recorded a cover of "Da sam drvosječa" for Srđan Koljević's film The Woman with a Broken Nose.
Studio albums
- Rock 'n' roll zbirka (1963-1966) (1985)
- Najbolje izvedbe (1986)
- Ja sam tvoj čovjek (1988)
- Po trnju i kamenju – Bože moj! (1991)
- Prvih 40 godina (2002)
- 21 karat (2006)
EPs
- Najljepši san (1964)
- Napuljska gitara (1965)
- Otiđi od nje (1965)
- Volim je (1966)
- Sam (1968)
- Moja gitara (1969)
- Vrati mi se (1971)
Compilation albums
- Prvih 30 godina (1994)
- S vama u 3. millennium (1999)
- The Ultimate Collection (2008)
- Greatest Hits Collection (2018)
Singles
- "Bez djevojke" / "Još uvijek se nadam" (1969)
- "Mnogo značiš za moj život, draga" / "Dvije čaše" (1970)
- "Nikad nisam imao ništa" / "Pogrešan broj" (1970)
- "Šjor Bepo moj" / "Na brigu kuća mala" (1972)
- "Neka život teče" / "Vizija" (1972)
- "Za svaki dan" / "Nemoj poći kući" (1973)
- "Elvira" / "Tvoj strani svijet" (1974)
Additional appearances
- Rajka (MESAM 86, 1986)