Yugoslavia – six republics, four decades, one dictator and a single record label that ruled them all: Jugoton (Zagreb, Croatia). Jugoton was by far the country’s largest label with the strongest and most diverse output that stretched from Balkan roots to contemporary trends and the sound of tomorrow.

The early days of Yugoslavia featured strong censorship but by the end of the ‘60s the Communist party views softened up to a large degree. Westernized music already had a solid presence and the first James Brown influenced compositions were released. Yugo funk, a term coined by DJs and crate diggers from the Balkans, encompasses a wide variety of performers and genres: from the 60’s Merseybeat rock bands, prog rock groovers, and big band jazz orchestras to the late 70’s sophisticated 4×4 funk and essentially everything in between.

Jugoton Funk Vol.1, a first of its kind, celebrates the pioneer years of funk-infused music released by Jugoton. While in pursuit of these treasures all over the Balkan region and beyond, the compilation’s selectors, Dr. Smeđi Šećer & Višeslav Laboš, both active as DJ’s and crate diggers from the sole beginnings of the ex-Yu craze, wanted to capture the authentic and idiosyncratic funk sound of Jugoton and Yugoslavia. So here it is, comb your mustache, light up a fat one, turn up the amplifier and headbang away to these amazing tunes remastered from original master tapes dug out of the Jugoton vaults (now Croatia Records).

• First ever beats, breaks, and rare grooves compilation from ex-Yugoslavia
• Eastern European diggers delight
• Remastered straight from the vaults of Jugoton
• Raw funk, psych, prog rock, orchestral disco, big band jazz funk and more
• Start of a new series on Everland Music, dedicated to extraordinary 60s and 70s artists from ex-Yugoslavia, exclusively distributed by Everland Music
• Limited edition of 500 double LPs in stunning gatefold sleeve

01. Arsen Dedic - Punom parom / 1978
02. Marijan Kasaj - Ideja / 1975
03. Thimir Pop Asanovic - Mali crni brat / 1976
04. Igor Savin - Alfa / 1979
05. Ipe Ivandic - Dzambo / 1976
06. Dalibor Brun - Davni zivot / 1976
07. Plesni orkestar RTZ - Ljetne skice / 1977
08. Ljupka Dimitrovska - Sta je tu je / 1975
09. More - Aerodrom / 1974
10. Zdravko Colic - Mujo kuje konja po mjesecu / 1975
11. Alfi Kabiljo - Novinar (theme) / 1979
12. Mladi levi - Zaznamovan / 1969
13. Oko - Tema IV / 1976
14. Pro arte - Ko vjecnu tugu nosi taj ima pravo da pjeva / 1970
15. Rok hotel - Blue jeans / 1978
16. Durdica Milicevic - Himna suncu / 1972
17. Soul Sound Band - Ja te uzalud ljubim (Vehicle) / 1971
18. Kosovski bozuri - Artizane e vogel / 1979
19. Josipa Lisac - Lezaj od suza / 1974
20. Ibn Tup - Dogadaj u 'Balkan Expressu' / 1978
21. Grupa Rok - Dva jarca / 1974