Dah (band)

Dah was formed in 1972 by Zlatko Manojlović (a former Džentlmeni and Fleš member, guitar) and Branko Marušić "Čutura" (a former Albatrosi and Džentlmeni member, guitar and vocals).[1] The first lineup also featured Branko Gluščević (a former Iskre, Siluete and Lutalice member, bass guitar) and Radomir Dubičanin (a former Fleš member, drums).[1] In April 1973, the band performed at BOOM Festival in Ljubljana and their song "Ako poželiš" ("If You Wish") was released on the double live album BOOM Pop Fest '73 recorded on the festival.[1] Soon after, the band released their debut 7-inch single with songs "Ako poželiš" and "Noćna buka" ("Night Noise"), which they promoted performing in the display window of a record shop.[1]

After the release of the single, Marušić left the band and began his solo career.[1] Manojlović took the singing duties, and Dah performed as a power trio for a year and a half.[1] After Dubičanin moved to Siluete, he was replaced by Velibor "Boka" Bogdanović (a former Plavi Dečaci, Džentlmeni, YU Grupa and Opus member).[1] For a while the band performed with violinist Dragan Mihajlović,[1] and on several occasions the band worked in studio with organist Miodrag Okrugić (a former Beduini, YU Grupa and Opus member), this cooperation being recorded on the single "Gitareska" ("Gitaresque").[1]

Dah debut album Veliki cirkus (The Big Circus) was released in 1974 through Jugoton.[1] The album lyrics were written by the disc jockey Zoran Modli.[1] The lyrics for some of the songs, such as "Prohujalo sa vihorom" ("Gone with the Wind"), "Majka Jugovića" ("Mother of the Jugovićs") and "Troil i Kesida" ("Troilus and Criseyde") were inspired by great works of literature.[1] The album brought the hit "Šošana",[1] the melody of which was based on Yosef Hadar's composition "Erev Shel Shoshanim".[2]

In 1975, the band moved to Belgium, where they performed under the name Land.[1] The Belgian lineup of the band featured, alongside Manojlović and Bogdanović, Zlatko Manojlović's brother Goran (keyboards), Tommy Splitwood (bass guitar) and Willy Pultz (guitar).[1] This lineup released the English language version of "Šošana" (entitled "Shoshana") as a single.[1] The single was very successful, Polydor Records releasing it in West Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and Spain, and reaching No. 1 on the Morocco national radio chart.[1] After the single release, the band performed as an opening band for Focus.[1] Eventually, the lineup split-up, Splitwood and Pultz continuing their career in the band Cool Breeze.[3]

In 1976, Yugoslav members moved back to Yugoslavia, changed their name back to Dah and released their second album, Povratak (The Return), which featured a new version of "Šošana".[1] In 1977, the band leader Zlatko Manojlović went to serve his mandatory stint in the Yugoslav People's Army, and his brother Goran became the temporary leader of Dah. The last Dah lineup featured, beside Goran Manojlović, Zdenko Pomper (bass guitar), Vidoja Božinović (a former Dim Bez Vatre and Pop Mašina member, guitar), Dušan Đukić "Đuka" (a former Immamorata and Pop Mašina member, drums) and the singer Latke. This lineup of the band performed for a year and disbanded. Upon his return from the army, Zlatko Manojlović formed the band Gordi, and later started a successful solo career.[1]

In 1991, Serbian and Yugoslav alternative rock band Disciplina Kičme sampled Dah song "Noćna buka" in their song "Buka u modi" ("Noise in Fashion").[4] In 1994, Serbian and Yugoslav pop rock band Ruž covered the song "Šošana" on their album N˚4, which was produced by Manojlović.[5]

• Dah at Discogs
• Dah at Prog Archives