Das ist Walter () is the debut studio album by Yugoslav band Zabranjeno Pušenje released on April 10, 1984. It was released through Jugoton in Yugoslavia.
The album title is the closing line from the 1972 partisan film Walter Defends Sarajevo and it refers to the city of Sarajevo. The first track is the theme from the film. The album recording began in November 1983 in Studio 17 that was located in record producer Mahmut Paša Ferović's house.
Released by Jugoton, the record was out in limited circulation of 3,000 copies, indicative of the label's modest expectations, however, it started selling surprisingly well, eventually crossing the mark of 100,000 copies sold. It also received plenty of accolades, including making the list of top 100 albums in the history of pop and rock music in Yugoslavia published in the 1998 book YU 100: The Greatest Yugoslav Rock and Pop Music Albums. Das ist Walter is listed in the 87th place.
The album was re-released in 2000 by Nimfa Sound.
Recording
After gigging locally throughout 1982 and 1983 in their hometown Sarajevo, at clubs such as Kuk, Trasa, and CEDUS, Zabranjeno Pušenje was ready to take the next step—releasing a studio album. Consisting of seven energetic youngsters in their early 20s, itching to increase their profile on the scene, they recorded some dozen demos tracks during spring 1983 in a studio in Kiseljak. The lineup that recorded the demos was: frontman and vocalist Dr. Nele Karajlić, rhythm guitar player and main songwriter Sejo Sexon, lead guitarist Mujo Snažni, bassist Samir "Ćera I" Ćeremida, drummer Zenit "FuDo" Đozić, keyboards player Seid Mali Karajlić, and saxophonist Ogi Gajić.
At one of their gigs in Sarajevo's Trasa club sometime during summer 1983, the Zabranjeno Pušenje youngsters were seen by 33-year-old Milić Vukašinović, established Sarajevo-based musician fronting his own band Vatreni Poljubac having already experienced a measure of fame as former drummer of Bijelo Dugme during the 1970s, whom they gave their demo tape to on the occasion. Liking what he saw and heard, Vukašinović put them in touch with his friend and former late 1960s Čičak bandmate Mahmut "Paša" Ferović, who had lately been working as a producer by running a modest recording studio out of his own house.
Going into the studio to record the album, Zabranjeno Pušenje made some personnel changes compared to the lineup that had recorded the demos six months earlier. A new rhythm section came in with Munja Mitić and Šeki Gayton becoming the new bassist and drummer, respectively. Produced by Ferović, the recording sessions began in November 1983 and took almost 7 months to complete due to various extenuating circumstances. In a later interview, Karajlić stated the following about the recording sessions:
The band's rhythm guitarist and main lyrics writer Sejo Sexon remembers the recording sessions as follows:
Midway through the recording session, the young band got a hold of Radomir "Raka" Marić, Bijelo Dugme's manager, who helped them find a record label that would release the material. He first offered it to PGP RTB, but after they refused it, Marić contacted Jugoton's creative director Siniša Škarica who accepted it.
Track listing For songwriters, the lyrics author(s) is/are listed first, followed by the music author(s). Source: Discogs
Personnel Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
Zabranjeno pušenje Sejo Sexon – rhythm guitar Mladen Mitić Munja – bass Mustafa Čengić Mujo – solo guitar Predrag Rakić Šeki – drums, backing vocals Ognjen Gajić – saxophone, flute Seid Karajlić – organ, keyboards, backing vocals Nele Karajlić – lead vocals
Additional musicians Aida, Snježa and Haris – backing vocals (tracks A4, A5, A6, B1, B2, B4) Benja, Yooroe, Dado and Mujo – backing vocals (tracks A2, A3, B5)
Production Mahmut Paša Ferović – production, recording (Studio 17 in Sarajevo, YU) Silvano Bulešić – mastering (Jugoton in Zagreb, YU) Radomir Marić Raka – executive production Vukašin Babović – organizing Milić Vukašinović – supporting Dubravko Majnarić – editor-in-chief (Jugoton in Zagreb, YU) Siniša Škarica – music editor (Jugoton in Zagreb, YU)
Design Nenad Vasilijević – design, photos Rade Kosanović – design Nebojša Žigić – photos (Studio Ada in Belgrade, YU) Miloje Stevanić Đakon – photographic printing
Legacy In 2015, Balkanrock web magazine ranked the album cover of Das ist Walter 41st on its list of 100 Greatest Album Covers of Yugoslav Rock."100 najboljih omota YU rocka", Balkanrock.com
See also New wave music in Yugoslavia
References