Kornelyans ‎– Not An Ordinary Life (1974, Cd, Serbia / Ex Jugoslavia)

Here's another gem that slips under the radar all too often.  Although they changed the band name for this one LP to Kornelyans to benefit the English-speaking world, this is actually Korni Grupa, the same band who gave the world one of the true masterpieces of experimental/progressive rock music from the former Yugoslavia in 1972 with their eponymous LP.  This was their follow-up aimed at a wider audience, and it should have done way better than history tells.  
Recorded in Italy and marketed for English language audiences, the album was poorly promoted and suffered disappointing sales.  But there's some incredible music here... kinda like a mix of Banco and/or PFM with Korni's unique Yugoslavian style.  Some of the vocals remind me of another great Italian band, Acqua Fragile.  But this album stands on its own rather well, with great variety in the track selections and a full, powerful symphonic rock sound with a tight rhythm section that stops and starts and changes faster than a hummingbird flits from flower to flower.  On "Not an Ordinary Life, Korni and Co. really push the envelope (for the time), and left us this one yet stunning document for us to enjoy.  And I enjoy it immensely!
This was reissued in 1989 by Italy's then-fledgling CD reissue label, Vinyl Magic, who I'm happy to report is still going strong after almost 2 decades.  But this CD (Vinyl Magic VM 030) went out of print almost immediately and has become one of the hardest CDs to locate.  Why this album hasn't been reissued after 18 years is a complete mystery to me.  I'm grateful to at least have a copy to listen to, but I'd love to have an official copy someday.  Who knows... maybe with the increase in classic former-Yugoslavian progressive rock reissues, this one will finally make it back into circulation again.  C'mon Serbia, you've got the technology! Highly recommended. RYM

Tracklist:
1. Rising (2:16)
2. Not An Ordinary Life (10:19)
3. Generation 1942 (6:43)
4. Fall Off The Land Of Woman (5:31)
5. Temporary Parting (4:00)
6. Man With A White Flag (11:50)

Line-up / Musicians
Zlatko Pejakovic: lead vocals
Josip Bocek: electric & acoustic guitars, backing vocals,
Kornelije Kovac: keyboards, backing vocals
Bojan Hreljac: bass
Vladimir Furduj: drums

CD Vinyl Magic - VM 030 CD