Indexi -

Indexi was a Yugoslav pop-rock and later post-psych band from Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, that cut multiple singles during their initial 1962–69 run. Reconfigured, they issued a 1972 partial-compilation cassette, followed by a second singles period. Their one proper album, Modra Rijeka, appeared in 1978 on Jugoton.

Members: Ismet “Nuno” Arnautalić (rhythm guitar, 1962-69), Šefko Akšamija (bass, 1962-65), Slobodan “Bobo” Misaljević (guitar, 1962-65), Đorđe Uzelac (keyboards, 1962-65), Nedim Hadžihasanović (drums, 1962-63), Alija Hafizović (vocal, 1963-64), Đorđe Kisić (drums, 1964-68, 1977-91, 1999-2001), Davorin Popović (vocal, 1964-2001), Slobodan Kovačević (guitar, 1965-2001), Fadil Redžić (bass 1965-96), Kornelije Kovač (keyboards 1967-68), Miroslav Šaranović (drums 1968-73), Đorđe Novković (keyboards, 1968-69, 1973), Ranko Rihtman (keyboards 1969-70), Vlado Pravdić (keyboards, 1971-73), Enco Lesić (keyboards, 1971-72, 1975), Milić Vukašinović (drums, 1974-75), Miroslav Maraus (keyboards 1974), Nenad Jurin (keyboards, 1976-96), Perica Stojanović (drums, 1976)

Background

Indexi formed in September 1962 in Sarajevo when rhythm guitarist Ismet “Nuno” Arnautalić and bassist Šefko Akšamija assembled a student rock group. They recruited drummer Nedim “Nedo” Hadžihasanović, lead guitarist Slobodan “Bobo” Misaljević, and keyboardist Đorđe Uzelac.

Arnautalić named the group after the grade-record books issued to Yugoslav university students. The musicians emerged from a Sarajevo youth music scene that included Eho ’61, a club at the Second Sarajevo Gymnasium.

Indexi made their public debut on December 11, 1962, at Sarajevo’s Dom milicije. They subsequently played dances at Sloga with an instrumental setlist drawn from the Shadows and American guitar groups. Singer Alija Hafizović joined for a summer 1963 engagement at a youth camp in Neum. Drummer Đorđe Kisić, previously active in Sarajevo jazz orchestras, replaced Hadžihasanović that spring. Indexi established ties with Radio Sarajevo, where they taped early songs and performed with the station’s dance and revue orchestras.

Radio Sarajevo producer Esad Arnautalić, the older brother of Ismet, spurred Indexi’s early setlist. Ismet wrote the instrumental “Djevojka iz III-G,” recorded on September 22, 1964, at Radio Sarajevo. Singer Davorin Popović joined that autumn from the Sarajevo group Pauci. Arnautalić also wrote “Nikada,” which appeared on the four-track Sedam veličanstvenih EP on PGP RTB.

1965–1969

In 1965, Indexi lost three members (Misaljević, Akšamija, and Uzelac) and reconfigured with guitarist Slobodan “Bodo” Kovačević and bassist Fadil Redžić, both from the band Lutalice. Kovačević wrote “Pružam ruke,” which Indexi entered in the 1967 Yugoslav Eurovision selection. Indexi also played the inaugural Vaš šlager sezone festival in Sarajevo and toured the Soviet Union. Keyboardist Kornelije Kovač joined in 1967, followed by his successor Đorđe Novković and drummer Miroslav Šaranović.

Indexi recorded Kovačević’s “Plima” and the 11-minute “Negdje na kraju, u zatišju” in 1969 at Radio Sarajevo. The extended tracks marked a turn toward psychedelic rock. Arnautalić left for military service that December.

1970–1978

Indexi continued with keyboardist Ranko Rihtman and released the 1971 single “Svijet u kome živim” (b/w “Da sam ja netko”). Jugoton followed with “Sanjam” (b/w “Balada”) in 1972, the year RTV Ljubljana assembled earlier recordings on the Indeksi cassette. Indexi won the 1973 Vaš šlager sezone festival with “Predaj se srce.” Redžić wrote the 1974 Diskoton single “Bacila je sve niz rijeku.”

Indexi reunited for a February 1975 concert at Sarajevo’s Skenderija and toured Yugoslavia. Keyboardist Nenad Jurin joined in 1976; drummer Đorđe Kisić returned the next year. Kovačević developed a song cycle based on poems from Kameni spavač and Modra rijeka by Bosnian poet Mak Dizdar, with additional music by Redžić. Indexi entered the Jugoton studio in Zagreb in January 1978 with producer Nikola Borota Radovan for Modra rijeka, their first dedicated studio album.

Discography:

Indeksi (1972)
Modra Rijeka (1978)

References and notes

Ismet Nuno Arnautalić: Moja priča o Indexima — Founder’s account of the September 1962 formation, original personnel, student origins, early repertoire, Sloga engagements, and 1963 performances in Neum. (Radio Sarajevo)
Priča o Indexima 3: Kako su Indexi snimili svoju prvu pjesmu — Ismet Arnautalić recounts Esad Arnautalić’s role, the September 1964 recording of “Djevojka iz III-G,” and the arrival of Popović, Kovačević, and Redžić. (Radio Sarajevo)
Ismet Nuno Arnautalić: O Indexima, Sarajevu, muzici i prijateljstvu — Founder interview distinguishing the Eho ’61 school club from a performing group and discussing his departure from Indexi. (Start BiH)
Pojava autentične popularne muzike u Sarajevu: Diskografija grupe Indexi do 1966. — Sead S. Fetahagić, 2020. Academic examination of the earliest recordings, original compositions, first EP, and disputed release chronology. (Spoznaja — University of Zenica)
Indexi: Kako su počeli, a kako proslavili 24 godine postojanja (1967–1986) — Reproduction of Miroslav Kutanjac’s July 1967 Plavi vjesnik interview, with the band’s account of its Radio Sarajevo arrangements, 1965 Opatija appearance, Eurovision selection, and contemporary recording activity. (Buka / Plavi vjesnik)
Basist grupe Indexi Fadil Redžić — September 16, 2013 interview in which Redžić explains how Esad Arnautalić and Bodo Kovačević arranged the transfer from Lutalice in 1965. (Index.hr)
Indexi — Encyclopedia entry covering membership, festival appearances, long-form recordings, Popović’s solo album, and the development of Modra rijeka. The early EP date differs from Fetahagić’s discographical findings. (Hrvatska enciklopedija)
Indeksi (cassette, 1972) — Examination of the early full-length cassette and its use of recordings from 1969–1972. (Soviet Sam)
Indexi – Modra rijeka — Account of Kovačević’s concept, the use of Mak Dizdar’s poems, Redžić’s compositions, January 1978 Zagreb recording sessions, and production credits. (Fondacija Mak Dizdar)