40 years of Masopust by Nerez: One of the defining works of Czech folk music
The folk band Nerez holds a special place in the history of Czech popular music. Their distinctive sound was captured on their debut album Masopust, released in 1986, which later became one of the key works of Czech folk and popular music.
The story of Nerez began on January 20, 1979, when university students Zdeněk Vřešťál and Vít Sázavský met and decided to form a folk duo. Their witty songs quickly attracted attention, and in May of the same year they won the humor and satire festival Příbramský permoník.
The turning point came in 1980 when the duo met singer Zuzana Navarová, who had previously performed with the group Výlety. After returning from a study stay in Cuba, Navarová joined them and in 1981 the band Nerez was officially formed. A year later, with double bassist Vladimír Vytiska joining the lineup, the band achieved its first major successes. They won the prestigious folk festival Porta in Plzeň, while Navarová received an award for best vocal performance at the festival Vokalíza.
Recording the debut album
Although Nerez had gained popularity early on, recording an album in Czechoslovakia during the 1980s was far from simple. Work on what would become Masopust began gradually in 1982. The band would occasionally receive a few days of studio time at the Czechoslovak Radio studio in Hradec Králové, where Navarová’s father worked as an editor. During these short recording sessions, they would record two or three songs at a time.
In 1983 the band returned to the studio and recorded several songs that would later become some of their best-known hits, including “Tisíc dnů mezi námi” and “Samba v dešti.” The rest of the material was completed in 1985 with songs such as “Javor,” “Kytička,” “Pozdě na večeři,” “Kočky,” the title track “Masopust,” and “Světýlko.”
The final song, “Do posledního dechu,” was recorded in Prague in early 1986. With enough material finally gathered, the album was ready for release.
Obstacles before release
Even after the songs were finished, releasing the album was not guaranteed. The state-run label Supraphon initially considered publishing it, but negotiations ran into problems. According to Sázavský, officials criticized certain lyrics, even though the band focused mainly on personal, poetic themes rather than political topics.
Eventually, the second major label in the country, Panton, decided to release the album thanks to the support of music producer Stanislav Titzl. In 1986, Masopust finally reached listeners.
A lasting legacy
The album contains eleven songs and opens with the band’s famous hit “Tisíc dnů mezi námi.” Over time, the record became one of the defining works of Czech folk music.
According to Vít Sázavský, the band never expected the album to achieve such long-lasting recognition. Today, Masopust is regarded not only as the debut of an influential band, but also as a milestone in Czech music history—an album whose poetic songs and distinctive acoustic sound continue to resonate with audiences decades after its release.
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