Kraftwerk Frequently Asked Questions
Recordings
- When will Kraftwerk release new material?
- What are the recent Kraftwerk releases?
- What recordings have Kraftwerk made?
- What is the album KRAFTWERK REMIXES?
- What is the '3-D The Catalogue / 3-D Der Katalog'?
- What is the 'The Catalogue / Der Katalog'?
- What are the differences between the original and the digitally remastered (2009) albums?
- What is the 'Minimum-Maximum'?
- What is the so-called 'Notebook'?
- Is the album Tone Float made by Kraftwerk?
- What are the best Kraftwerk albums?
- How can I get copies of Kraftwerk's early albums?
- Are the François Kervorkian and William Orbit remixes of Radioactivity available on CD?
- How good are Kraftwerk bootlegs?
- Where can I get Kraftwerk bootlegs?
- What is the 'Maximum Kraftwerk' CD?
- Is the 'Kraftwerk and the electronic revolution' DVD an official product?
- Where can I get Kraftwerk live recordings?
- What Kraftwerk videos have been made available to buy?
- Did Karl Bartos sing on any Kraftwerk song?
- Was Kraftwerk's song Autobahn influenced by The Beach Boys?
- Do any copies of the album Techno Pop exist?
- Does the German-language version of the album Trans Europe Express have an extra track?
- What is the correct track listing for the album Concert Classics?
- Is the CD A Short Introduction to Kraftwerk an official release?
- Are the tracks on the album The Mix remixes?
- Is the track Zehn Kleine Negerlein on the bootleg CD Toccata Electronica really by Kraftwerk?
- What is the music at the start of the bootleg CD Virtua Ex Machina?
- What is the album Outburn?
- Is the song 'Popcorn' made by Kraftwerk?
- What is wrong with the '3-D Der Catalog'?
When will Kraftwerk release new material?
You could get more information at the Parlophone Records site (maybe...). For the latest information (and rumours) please visit any sites mentioned at the links page and / or join a mailing list / forum.
"- Are there new tracks you're making now?
- Yes, we are always working on new tracks and patterns and sound compositions, and once we are finished with our work on the 3D Catalogue, those eight albums, then we will concentrate on number nine."
(Ralf Hütter, 2015, see all of the interview at www.rollingstone.com)
Please note that this FAQ is not updated every day and not intended to be a news site.
What are the recent Kraftwerk releases?
See also the questions:
- What is the album 'KRAFTWERK REMIXES?'
- What is '3-D The Catalogue / 3-D Der Katalog'
- What is 'The Catalogue / Der Katalog'
- What is the 'Kling Klang Machine No1'?
- What is the 'Minimum-Maximum'?
__________
The August 2023 issue of MUSIKEXPRESS magazine contains an exclusive 7" single, a black vinyl by KRAFTWERK, with a cover of the song 'Tour de France' (3:29), exclusively designed Ralf Hütter, on occasion of the 20th anniversary of Kraftwerk's last regular studio album 'Tour de France Soundtracks'.
45 RPM / Musikexpress Exclusive Vinyl / Parlophone Records / LC04513 KLING KLANG
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KRAFTWERK REMIXES
Release date: 25th March 2022
Parlophone
3x black vinyl 0190296504761
3x yellow transparent vinyl 0190296504754 (limited edition from the official KlingKlang shop)
2x CD 0190296504778
See also the question: 'What is the album KRAFTWERK REMIXES?'
__________
The June 2021 issue of MUSIKEXPRESS magazine contains an exclusive 7" single, a yellow transparent vinyl by KRAFTWERK, with the exclusive version of the song 'Heimcomputer (Ralf-Hütter-Edit)' (4:45).
45 RPM / Musikexpress Exclusive Vinyl / Parlophone Records / LC04513 KLING KLANG
__________
December, 2020, 'KRAFTWERK REMIXES' album was released in digital formats.
(Parlophone, 190295046293 / WAV, AAC, MP3, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC)
__________
In October 2020 'The Catalogue / Der Katalog' from 2009 from Germany and UK were released as individual heavyweight LPs in coloured vinyl.
__________
July, 2020, the '3-D The Catalogue / 3-D Der Katalog' and all studio albums were released in "streaming format" at Amazon Musid HD and Tidal HIFI.
__________
The April 2019 issue of MUSIKEXPRESS magazine contains an exclusive 7" single, a blue transparent vinyl by KRAFTWERK, with the exclusive version of the song 'Autobahn' (4:35), curated by Ralf Hütter.
45 RPM / Musikexpress Exclusive Vinyl / Parlophone Records / LC04513 KLING KLANG
__________
Kraftwerk 12345678 3-D
Release date: 16th March 2018.
1 CD, 77 mins edit version, with highlights from each of the 8 main albums.
PCM stereo, English version
clear-tray jewel case, 8-page booklet, put in outer slipcase
0190295670511 / Parlophone Records / LC04513 KLING KLANG
This album is a part of the '3-D Der Katalog'.
__________
Kraftwerk 12345678 3-D
Release date: 8th December 2017.
1 CD, 77 mins edit version, with highlights from each of the 8 main albums.
PCM stereo, German version / limited
clear-tray jewel case, 8-page booklet, put in outer slipcase
0190295705688 / Parlophone Records / LC04513 KLING KLANG
This album is a part of the '3-D Der Katalog'.
__________
The August 2017 issue of MUSIKEXPRESS magazine contains an exclusive 7" single, one sided vinyl by KRAFTWERK with the song 'Die Roboter' (radio edit, 3:33), from the '3-D Der Katalog'.
45 RPM / Musikexpress Exclusive Vinyl / Parlophone Records / LC04513 KLING KLANG / Matrix runout: 121501A1FK
__________
The 2-track remix single 'Aerodynamik + La Forme' was released on 17th September 2007 in CD and 12" vinyl format mixed by Hot Chip. (There is no new material.)
CDEM 730 / EMI 50999 5 07098 2 3 / LC04513 KLING KLANG
12EM 730 / EMI 50999 5 07099 1 5 / LC04513 KLING KLANG
__________
12 years after their remix album, The Mix and 17 years after their last album of new songs, Electric Café, Kraftwerk's new album, Tour de France Soundtracks, was released on 4th August 2003 (Tour de France 2003, a single containing edited versions of album tracks, was released on 7th July, Aerodynamik single was also released on 15th March 2004).
What recordings have Kraftwerk made?
The following albums were made and released by Kraftwerk:
- Kraftwerk, 1970
- Kraftwerk 2, 1972
- Ralf & Florian, 1973
(the so called early albums)
- Autobahn, 1974 (digitally remastered in 2009)
- Radioactivity / Radioaktivität, 1975 (digitally remastered in 2009)
- Trans Europe Express / Trans Europa Express, 1977 (digitally remastered in 2009)
- The Man Machine / Die Mensch Maschine, 1978 (digitally remastered in 2009)
- Computer World / Computerwelt, 1981 (digitally remastered in 2009)
- Electric Cafe, 1986 (digitally remastered in 2009, under the name Techno Pop)
- The Mix, 1991 (digitally remastered in 2009)
- Tour de France Soundtracks, 2003 (digitally remastered in 2009, under the name Tour de France)
The most important singles:
(because they contain new songs)
- Tour de France, 1983
- Tour de France, 1999
- Expo 2000, 1999
Live recordings:
- Minimum Maxmimum, 2005 (CD, LP and DVD)
- Minimum Maxmimum, 2006 (SACD)
- 3-D The Catalogue / 3-d Der Katalog, 2017 (BLU-RAY, DVD, CD, LP, MP3)
- Kraftwerk 12345678 3-D, 2017 (CD) - German version
- Kraftwerk 12345678 3-D, 2018 (CD) - English version
Remixes:
- Expo 2000 Remix, 2000. (CD, LP)
- Aerodynamik + La Forme, 2007. (CD, LP)
- KRAFTWERK REMIXES, 2020. (digital format)
- KRAFTWERK REMIXES, 2022. (CD, LP, limited yellow transparent LP)
For different kinds of releases and singles see one of the online Kraftwerk discographies available on the World-Wide Web, such as
www.discogs.com/artist/4654-Kraftwerk,
or the archives of the Kraftwerk International Discography at
twingokraftwerk.com
What is the album KRAFTWERK REMIXES?
Release date: 21st Dec 2020
Parlophone / 190295046293 / digital release (WAV, AAC, MP3, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC)
Non Stop 8:32 ("new" song, it had not been released before)
Robotnik (Kling Klang Mix) 7:58
Robotronik (Kling Klang Mix) 5:05
Radioactivity (William Orbit Hardcore Remix - Kling Klang Edit) 5:35
Radioactivity (Francois Kervorkian 12" Remix) 7:26
Expo Remix (Kling Klang Mix 2000) 6:50
Expo Remix (Kling Klang Mix 2002) 5:40
Expo Remix (Kling Klang Mix 2001) 6:49
Expo Remix (Orbital Mix) 4:57
Expo Remix (Francois K & Rob Rives Mix) 7:21
Expo Remix (DJ Rolando Mix) 7:29
Expo Remix (Underground Resistance Mix) 3:58
Expo Remix (UR Unfiltrated Mix) 3:26
Expo Remix (UR Thought 3 Mix) 2:43
Aero Dynamik (Kling Klang Dynamix) 6:58
Aero Dynamik (Alex Gopher / Etienne De Crecy Dynamik Mix) 7:42
Aero Dynamik (Francois K Aero Mix) 7:52
Aero Dynamik (Intelligent Design Mix By Hot Chip) 8:34
La Forme (King Of The Mountains Mix By Hot Chip) 11:31
__________
Release date: 25th March 2022
Parlophone / 3x black vinyl / 0190296504761
3x yellow transparent vinyl / 0190296504754 / limited edition
A1 - Non Stop 8:32 ("new" song, it had not been released physically before)
A2 - Robotronik (Kling Klang Mix) 4:54
A3 - Robotnik (Kling Klang Mix) 7:43
B1 - Home Computer (2021 Single Edit) 4:45
B2 - Radioactivity (William Orbit Hardcore Remix / Kling Klang Edit) 5:35
B3 - Radioactivity (François Kevorkian 12" Remix) 7:27
C1 - Expo Remix (Kling Klang Mix 2002) 5:40
C2 - Expo Remix (Kling Klang Mix 2001) 6:49
C3 - Expo Remix (Orbital Mix) Remix Orbital 4:57
D1 - Expo Remix (François K + Rob Rives Mix) 7:21
D2 - Expo Remix (DJ Rolando Mix) 7:29
D3 - Expo Remix (Underground Resistance Mix) 3:58
D4 - Expo Remix (UR Thought 3 Mix) 2:43
E1 - Aéro Dynamik (Kling Klang Dynamix) 7:01
E2 - Aéro Dynamik (Alex Gopher / Étienne De Crécy Dynamik Mix) 7:42
E3 - Aéro Dynamik (François K. Aero Mix) 7:52
F1 - Tour De France (Etape 2) 4:57
F2 - Aéro Dynamik (Intelligent Design Mix By Hot Chip) 8:34
F3 - La Forme (King Of The Mountains Mix By Hot Chip) 6:33
+
Parlophone / 2x CD / 0190296504778
1-1 Non Stop 8:32 ("new" song, it had not been released physically before)
1-2 Robotnik (Kling Klang Mix) 7:43
1-3 Robotronik (Kling Klang Mix) 4:54
1-4 Radioactivity (William Orbit Hardcore Remix / Kling Klang Edit) 5:35
1-5 Radioactivity (François Kervorkian 12" Remix) 7:27
1-6 Expo Remix (Kling Klang Mix 2002) 5:40
1-7 Expo Remix (Kling Klang Mix 2001) 6:49
1-8 Expo Remix (Orbital Mix) 4:57
1-9 Expo Remix (François K + Rob Rives Mix) 7:21
1-10 Home Computer (2021 Single Edit) 4:45
2-1 Expo Remix (DJ Rolando Mix) 7:29
2-2 Expo Remix (Underground Resistance Mix) 3:58
2-3 Expo Remix (UR Thought 3 Mix) 2:43
2-4 Aéro Dynamik (Kling Klang Dynamix) 7:01
2-5 Aéro Dynamik (Alex Gopher / Étienne De Crécy Dynamik Mix) 7:42
2-6 Aéro Dynamik (François K. Aero Mix) 7:52
2-7 Aéro Dynamik (Intelligent Design Mix By Hot Chip) 8:34
2-8 La Forme (King Of The Mountains Mix By Hot Chip) 11:31
2-9 Tour De France (Etape 2) 4:57
(the differences are highlighted)
What is the '3-D The Catalogue / 3-D Der Katalog'?
Release date: 26th May 2017.
3-D The Catalogue (English) / 3-D Der Katalog (German) features new live recordings of Kraftwerk’s 8 classic albums performed and filmed at various locations around the world between 2012-2016 and mixed at KlingKlang Studio.
3-D The Catalogue / 3-D Katalog was released across a number of formats:
3-D Der Katalog 4xBLU-RAY BOX / 0190295924911
3-D The Catalogue 4xBLU-RAY BOX / 0190295924959
12”x12” (31,6cm) rigid board box set with lift-off lid, housing a 228-page hardback book and an 8-panel digipak in a card slipcase with 4xBlu-ray discs containing:
- disc 1-2: 8 album performances filmed in 3D (2D compatible) with Dolby Atmos sound (5.1 compatible), aprrox 220mins;
- disc 3-4: tour films / projections, presented in 3D (2D compatible), with Dolby Atmos sound (5.1 compatible) aprrox 220mins.
3-D Der Katalog 8CD BOX / 0190295873578
3-D The Catalogue 8CD BOX / 0190295873424
Rigid board box set with lift-off lid, holding 8x capacity wallets with 8 CDs (the 7th disk is headphone surround), 16-page booklet contains the tracklists.
3-D Der Katalog 8xALBUM VINYL / 0190295923501
3-D The Catalogue 8xALBUM VINYL / 0190295923518
12”x12” (31,6cm) rigid board slipcase, housing 8 albums across 9 pieces of heavy weight (180g) vinyl (the 7th album is double vinyl with headphone surround sound) + download card
3-D Der Katalog 2xBLU-RAY+DVD / 0190295924928
3-D The Catalogue 2xBLU-RAY+DVD / 0190295924973
Card slipcase, containing 6-panel digipak with 1 Blu-ray (filmed in 3D with Dolby Atmos sound, 2D compatible) and 1 DVD (2D video, 5.1 sound), each featuring 77 mins edit, with highlights from each of the 8 albums.
3-D Der Katalog 2xVINYL / 0190295924898
3-D The Catalogue 2xVINYL / 0190295924942
77 mins edit version, with highlights from each of the 8 albums, double heavy weight (180g) vinyl + download card.
__________
An extra CD album was released in December of 2017:
Kraftwerk 12345678 3-D 1xCD / 0190295705688 / only German version
77 mins edit version, with highlights from each of the 8 main albums, PCM stereo, German version / limited, clear-tray jewel case, 8-page booklet, put in outer slipcase
An another extra CD album was released in March of 2018:
Kraftwerk 12345678 3-D 1xCD / 0190295670511 / English version
77 mins edit version, with highlights from each of the 8 main albums, PCM stereo, English version / clear-tray jewel case, 8-page booklet, put in outer slipcase
__________
See more at the official Kraftwerk site.
You can find some info about the video-recording at www.arri.com.
What is the 'The Catalogue / Der Katalog'?
Digitally remastered versions of
- Autobahn,
- Radioactivity / Radioaktivität,
- Trans Europe Express / Trans Europa Express,
- The Man Machine / Die Mensch Maschine,
- Computer World / Computerwelt,
- Techno Pop (originally Electric Cafe),
- The Mix,
- Tour de France (originally Tour de France Soundtracks) albums which were released in 2009 in CD box set. It contains eight compact disks in 'mini-vinyl' card wallet packaging with individual large format booklets.
The Catalogue KLANGBOX 002 / 5 0999 9 67506 2 9
Der Katalog KLANGBOX 002DE / 5 0999 3 07852 2 9
The remastered albums were also released as
- individual CDs presented in special slipcases featuring newly expanded artwork
- individual heavyweight vinyl LPs with large format booklets.
- digital downloads.
The Catalogue Retrospective 12345678 Special Edition
In 2012, (to celebrate the event 'Retrospective 12345678'?), a new limited black edition of 'The Catalogue' was released in 2000 copies (this number can be seen on the back side of the box). It also contains eight CDs in 'mini-vinyl' card wallet packaging with individual booklets, only the colour of the box was changed from white.
The Catalogue KLANGBOX 003 / 50999 6 44970 2 0
Der Katalog Retrospektive 12345678 Spezial Edition
In January of 2013, (to celebrate the event 'Retrospektive 12345678' in Düsseldorf?), a new limited black edition of 'Der Katalog' was released in 3340 copies (this number can be seen on the back side of the box) with the same contents as the white-boxes have...
Der Katalog KLANGBOX 004DE / 50999 9 79411 2 5
The Catalogue / Der Katalog Colored Limited Edition LPs
In October 2020 'The Catalogue / Der Katalog' from 2009 from Germany and UK were released as individual heavyweight LPs in coloured vinyl.
In total there are the six German LPs and the eight UK LPs - Autobahn, Radio-Activity, Trans Europe Express, The Man-Machine, Computer World, Techno Pop, The Mix and Tour De France. The German editions include five German language versions and additionally Radio-Activity, which shows German song titles on the artwork, although the audio is identical to the UK pressing. The new vinyl editions are pressed on 180g heavyweight vinyl in a dynamic palette of colours.
Autobahn / 5099996601419 / blue translucent
Radioaktivität / 5099969958717 / yellow translucent / German text on cover
Radioactivity / 5099996601914 / yellow translucent / English text on cover
(English and German versions have the same (bilingual) audio content)
Trans Europa Express / 5099969958816 / clear / German
Trans Europe Express / 5099996602010 / clear / English
Die Mensch-Maschine / 5099969958915 / red translucent / German
The Man-Machine / 5099996602218 / red translucent / English
Computerwelt / 5099969959011 / yellow translucent / German
Computer World / 5099996602317 / yellow translucent / English
Techno Pop / 5099969959110 / clear / German
Techno Pop / 5099969959110 / clear / English
(English version can be with German text on back cover)
The Mix / 5099969959219 / white, double LP / German
The Mix / 5099996605219 / white, double LP / English
Tour de France / 5099996610916 / blue and red translucent, double LP
Each album comes with an illustrated booklet.
What are the differences between the original and the digitally remastered (2009) albums?
See also the question about 'The Catalogue / Der Katalog'.
Apart from some new artworks, the main differences are:
- the album Trans Europe Express also has the track Abzug as the German version does, it is just a title, a part of the track Metal on Metal,
- the album Electric Cafe (1986) was renamed, the new name is Techno Pop (this new title is reverted to the original title of Techno Pop unreleased album from 1983),
- the song Telephone Call (Der Telefon Anruf in German) was replaced by the shorter 7" single version from 1987 and one more, also a single version of House Phone mix was inserted,
- the album Tour de France Soundtracks (2003) was also renamed, the new name is Tour de France.
In point of sound quality, whether the old albums or the digitally remastered versions are better, might be a matter of individual taste.
What is the 'Minimum-Maximum'?
Minimum Maximum - the band's first live album - was released on 6th June 2005 in (double) CD and vinyl ('4 LP in a box') format, in German and also in English language.
2CD / EMI 24356 06112 (English)
2CD / EMI 94631 20462 (German)
2CD / Astralwerks 24356 06112 (English)
4LP / EMI 560 6111 (English)
Minimum Maximum double DVD - the band's first live video recording - was released on 5th December 2005. It contains a full-length concert set from the tour 2004 and a short video (Aero Dynamik) from the MTV Music Awards in Edinburgh, 2003.
2DVD / EMI 336 2949 - PAL, regio 0 (English)
2DVD / EMI 336 2939 - PAL, regio 0 (German)
2DVD / US Astralwerks 336 2929 - NTSC, regio 0 (English)
Minimum Maximum was also released on 17th April 2006 in hybrid 5.1 SACD/CD.
EMI 94633 49962 (English)
See also the question 'What is the so-called 'Notebook'?'
What is the so-called 'Notebook'?
The 'Notebook' is a special Kraftwerk release from 2005. It contains the Minimum Maximum double CD, the Minimum Maximum double DVD, accompanied by an 88-page hard cover book with concert and artwork pictures, technical data of the tour 2002 - 2005, packaged in a laptop-style box with an inner lenticular image.
Notebook Set 2CD+2DVD / EMI 345 8552 (English)
Notebook Set 2CD+2DVD / EMI 346 0482 (German)
Notebook Set 2CD+2DVD / Astralwerks 346 0572 (English)
Is the album Tone Float made by Kraftwerk?
Not exactly. Before Kraftwerk, Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider were part of the group Organisation. Their first and last record under this band name is called Tone Float, released in 1970.
RCA Victor - SF8111
Organisation is often called by fans as 'Pre-Kraftwerk'.
What are the best Kraftwerk albums?
As you might expect, opinions as to what constitutes Kraftwerk's best work differ widely. A poll conducted by Jose Corchado in October 1998 via email indicated that the favourite album among Kraftwerk fans was Computer World, followed by Trans-Europe Express and The Man-Machine. The favourite album had remained unchanged since a poll by Lars Nellemann in 1996, in which the The Man Machine was in second place. It seems that the The Man Machine had declined a little in popularity: it came first in an earlier poll in 1993, with Computer World in second place.
With the rise of social media, fans often make polls, this issue often comes up with similar results.
Note also that the sound quality of Kraftwerk releases are of variable quality across the record companies on which they have appeared.
How can I get copies of Kraftwerk's early albums?
The first three albums by Kraftwerk, Kraftwerk 1, Kraftwerk 2 and Ralf & Florian are out of print, as is Tone Float, the album which Hütter and Schneider recorded as part of the group Organisation.
Hütter and Schneider have allegedly talked about seeing these albums released, but have certainly not rushed to do so. Possibly this is because the image and sound of these albums is very different from the Kraftwerk material which followed. You may be lucky enough to find copies from usual second-hand sources, such as second-hand record shops, record fairs and record collecting magazines.
Bootleg CDs of Kraftwerk 1, Kraftwerk 2, Ralf & Florian and Tone Float have appeared from several sources since 1994. The audio quality is variable, depending upon the source recording used (the bootlegs are mastered from copies of the original, vinyl records, so record surface noise will often be audible) and of course the quality of the mastering itself. These pressings are of course illegal, but copies have been known to make their way to even major record shops.
Are the François Kervorkian and William Orbit remixes of Radioactivity available on CD?
Kervorkian and Orbit remixes were issued on CD single releases in the UK and Germany, but there was no CD single release for the USA. Furthermore, some William Orbit mixes are available only on vinyl. Radioactivity is available in the USA as a 12" single; this release contains the William Orbit Hardcore Remix which is unavailable elsewhere. Another unique mix is the William Orbit 7" Remix, which is available only on the German 7" release.
See the archive of International Kraftwerk discography for more information on releases of this song.
How good are Kraftwerk bootlegs?
Many, many Kraftwerk bootlegs have been made over the years, and a discussion of their relative merits is beyond the scope of this FAQ. However, track listings and cover art of just some of them can be seen at the bootleg section of
www.twingokraftwerk.com/.
See also the item in this FAQ about bootleg reissues of the early Kraftwerk albums.
Where can I get Kraftwerk bootlegs?
This FAQ is not intended to give tips how to get bootlegs and/or illegally published materials.
What is the Maximum Kraftwerk CD?
It is a biography, a 'spoken word product', there is no original music of Kraftwerk and it is not authorised by Kraftwerk, not official. It contains the full story of the band with interviews, released in 2004 by Chrome Dreams.
Is the 'Kraftwerk and the electronic revolution' DVD an official product?
No. It is an unauthorised DVD of Kraftwerk history from the begining, through their most important and influential period until 2008. It includes rarely seen live and performance footage of Kraftwerk and some other contemporary bands, studio recordings of many of Kraftwerk tracks, interviews of former members and contributors (especially Karl Bartos and Klaus Röder) and many photographs.
Released in 2008 by Chrome Dreams (main feature: 180 minutes, all regions, sreen format 4:3, stereo sound mix)
Where can I get Kraftwerk live recordings?
- 3-D The Catalogue / 3-D Der Katalog features new live recordings of Kraftwerk’s 8 classic albums performed and filmed at various locations around the world between 2012-2016 and mixed at KlingKlang Studio, released in 2017.
The 3-D The Catalogue / 3-D Der Katalog can be ordered from the KlingKlang Konsum Product online shop.
- Minimum Maximum CD, LP and DVD (the band's first live releases) were released in 2005. They contain a full-length concert set from the tour 2004 and a short video (Aero Dynamik) from the MTV Music Awards in Edinburgh, 2003.
Nowadays these are very rare products, might be bought in larger record shops or on second-hand markets...
- There are some live videos in flash format at the official Kraftwerk site,
here is the direct link...
What Kraftwerk videos have been made available to buy?
See also the questions
- What is the '3-D The Catalogue / 3-D Der Katalog'? and
- What is the 'Minimum-Maximum'?
There are only few official promotion videos ever released on the market by Kraftwerk in the past. For examples:
- On the 1999 CD release of Tour de France which includes the 1983 promotional video of the track.
- The another is on the single Expo 2000 from 1999 which includes the video of Expo2000 Radio Mix.
- A high quality version of the Tour de France 2003 video is available as a multimedia track on the Japanese CD edition of Tour de France Soundtracks. (EMI TOCP-66224)
If you know more, please, email me.
Despite strong interest from fans, a compilation of Kraftwerk's promotional videos has never been officially released. However, there are some video appearances by Kraftwerk on the following releases:
- The Japanese video cassette (NTSC format) compilation Spirits of Germany includes Kraftwerk's Trans Europa Express and Die Roboter. The release is distributed by TOEI Video; the catalogue number is TE-M 388.
- The Japanese video disk (NTSC format) release Frontiers of Progressive Rock 7 (catalogue number SM 048-3227) includes Rückstoss Gondoliere (aka Truckstop Gondelero, aka Vor dem blauen Bock), performed live on the Beat Club TV program in June 1971, when the line-up of Kraftwerk was Florian Schneider, Michael Rother and Klaus Dinger (Ralf Hütter was not member of the band in that time!). In early 2000, Rückstoss Gondoliere was also released in Germany, on the VHS videocassette Beat Club - The Best of '71 (Studio Hamburg, catalogue number 4 03178 920043). In 2001, this was also issued on DVD (Studio Hamburg, catalogue number 4 031778 020088, regional code: 2; sound options: Dolby Digital 5.1 (remastered) or Mono Dolby Digital 2.0 (original sound)).
- The BBC television documentary Dancing in the Street was released on three video cassettes, three programmes per video. The third video includes brief footage of Kraftwerk performing Autobahn (this footage was previously shown in the BBC science programme Tomorrow's World). The catalogue number of this video is BBCV 6526. A box set with all three videotapes is also available, catalogue number BBCV 6527. The documentary was broadcast in North America under the title Rock & Roll, and NTSC videos of this were released for that market.
- The Greenpeace video cassette (VHS, PAL format) Stop Sellafield - The Concert includes footage of Kraftwerk performing Radioactivity and The Robots live, but both extracts are incomplete and interrupted by propaganda. This video was released in the UK in 1992. The catalogue number is 74321 13714-3.
A number of bootleg concert videos are in existence, and concert extracts have been shown on German television.
See also the question
'Is the Kraftwerk and the electronic revolution DVD an official product?'.
Did Karl Bartos sing on any Kraftwerk song?
Karl Bartos provided the vocals for The Telephone Call on the album Electric Cafe (and for Der Telefon Anruf, the equivalent track on the German language version of that album).
Was Kraftwerk's song Autobahn influenced by The Beach Boys?
In various interviews during 1975 and 1976 Florian Schneider cited American band The Beach Boys as a conscious influence on Kraftwerk's music. However, he has also said that the similarity of the refrain "Fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n..." ("drive, drive, drive...") in Autobahn to the refrain in "Fun, Fun, Fun" by The Beach Boys is entirely coincidental.
Do any copies of the album Techno Pop exist?
Speaking about the album Techno Pop which Kraftwerk started work on as the follow-up to the 1981 album Computer World, no, this album was never put together. However, work on this project was interrupted a number of times, not least by a cycling accident which befell Ralf Hütter. As a result of these interruptions, Techno Pop was aborted and the material reworked. Techno Pop's track listing was to have included 'Techno Pop', 'Sex Object', 'The Telephone Call' and 'Tour de France'.
A demo version of the song Techno Pop and a demo of Sex Object have appeared on several bootleg CDs, but no finished recordings of any Techno Pop album track was ever given by Kraftwerk to the record company, and none has ever been released, even as a bootleg (despite what some bootleggers may claim).
Some readers, reluctant to let go of their hope of one day finding a bootleg copy of Techno Pop, have drawn my attention to an interview in Sound On Sound magazine, in which former band member Karl Bartos appears, on first reading, to confirm the existence of the album. Here's what he said:
"First of all, after we did the worldwide tour in '81, Ralf had a bicycle accident, and he almost died. He fractured his skull and was away for nearly a year. [...] That was the time when we did 'Tour de France', which was supposed to be the first single of Techno Pop. The single came out, but then this accident happened and it took us a year to continue. Then we got a little bit lost in technology, to be honest. Suddenly, in the mid-'80s, all this digital equipment appeared, including sampling [...] So we had to step back and think it all over, incorporate MIDI and sampling, and a lot of other stuff.
When the Techno Pop record was eventually finished, Ralf flew to New York and mixed it at The Powerstation. The sleeve and everything was done, but Ralf felt insecure about it, and thought we should do the whole production again in New York and call it Electric Cafe, so we did. I think it was a mistake, but that's just my point of view. I mean, it's OK like it is now [...] but I think we should have released the Techno Pop version, because it's much better. Somehow, it's now available as a bootleg record..."
It seems on the latter point, Herr Bartos is almost certainly speaking from hearsay. Bands usually get to hear about bootlegs from their fans (certainly not from the bootleggers...), so when he says "somehow, it's now available as a bootleg" this is almost certainly just a repetition of a rumour which has become common enough to be taken as fact - even by one of the artists involved.
Nevertheless, in order for Bartos to accept even the possibility of there being a bootleg of Techno Pop, there would of course need to be a completed Techno Pop album in the first place. So, why did he talk of there being such an album? It can be seen from careful reading of the above quote that the time between Ralf Hütter's recuperation and his flight to the New York mixing studio was spent taking a new, digital approach to the material; there is no doubt that most, if not all, of this reworking took place at the group's studio in Düsseldorf. We read from the interview, "Ralf flew to New York and mixed it at The Powerstation. The sleeve and everything was done, but Ralf felt insecure about it, and thought we should do the whole production again in New York and call it Electric Café, so we did". So the hold-up this time was due not to a wish to completely rework the material, but just to redo the final production stage.
So it seems it can be seen that there was the original, analogue Techno Pop project (presumably very similar in style to the demos of the tracks 'Techno Pop' and 'Sex Object' which have appeared on several bootleg CDs), and then a completely reworked, digital version (which Kraftwerk initially still called Techno Pop) that required further remix/production work before Hütter was happy to release it - under the new title Electric Café.
If this interpretation is correct, there is little contradiction in what Bartos said in the interview, just ambiguity: when he talks of the album 'Techno Pop' he appears to be talking of the entire Techno Pop / Electric Café project up until the final remastering, not - as Kraftwerk fans usually mean - just the original album of analogue material.
In 2009, 23 years after the album Electric Cafe, Kraftwerk released it again under the name of Techno Pop. See the question 'What is the 'The Catalogue / Der Katalog'?'.
This Techno Pop is a digitally remastered version of Electric Cafe, see the question 'What are the differences between the original and the digitally remastered (2009) albums?'.
Does the German-language version of the album Trans Europe Express have an extra track?
The track list for German version of the album (1977), Trans Europa Express, includes a track, Abzug, which does not appear on the track list for Trans Europe Express. Nevertheless, Abzug is really just part of the title track, as is the similarly listed item Metal On Metal (the same track as Metall auf Metall on Trans Europa Express). It's just that, the title of this section is not printed on the English-languge version of the album.
The digitally remastered (2009) German and English version of these albums have the same track list, that is to say both versions have the track Abzug.
What is the correct track listing for the album Concert Classics?
The track listing on the CD's box is incorrect. The true track listing is:
- Komentenmelodie (1 & 2)
- Autobahn
- Kling Klang
- Tanzmusik
The name of the third track is known from the announcement which can be heard on the recording. However, it sounds very different from the song of the same name on the album Kraftwerk 2.
Is the CD A Short Introduction to Kraftwerk an official Kraftwerk release?
A booklet + CD package, A Short Introduction to Kraftwerk, was released by Sonic Books in May 2000. The UK distributors issued a press release stating that the songs on the CD were official remixes, rerecordings and demo versions. In fact, the material was clearly the work of amateur remixers, and the sound of vinyl noise could be heard in places on the CD, suggesting that the songs had been taken from a vinyl record release. The track listing is indentical to that on the bootleg LP Kraftwerk - Edition 3, although at the time of writing no-one has confirmed that this definitely is the same material.
There is no evidence of Kraftwerk's approval of the CD, let alone their involvement. The CD package itself does not claim their involvement.
Tracklist:
1 It's More Fun To Compute 3:38
2 Kristallo 5:14
3 Autobahn 6:31
4 Hall Of Mirrors 2:36
5 Radioaktivitat 6:11
6 Uranium 7:09
7 Das Model 3:51
Are the tracks on the album The Mix remixes?
No, they are new versions by Kraftwerk of songs they released on previous albums. Whether the old or new versions are the best is a matter of individual taste.
Is the track Zehn Kleine Negerlein on the bootleg CD Toccata Electronica really by Kraftwerk?
No. Although this bootleg CD credits this track to Kraftwerk, they had nothing whatsoever to do with it. The track contains a sample taken from the Kraftwerk song Home Computer but the song is actually by a techno group called "Time to Time".
What is the music at the start of the bootleg CD Virtua Ex Machina?
It's not by Kraftwerk, but is in fact a synthesised version of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, from the soundtrack to A Clockwork Orange by W. Carlos (originally released under the name Walter Carlos, now available under the name Wendy Carlos).
What is the album Outburn?
This appears in some online record price lists as a Japanese import. If you order a copy, you will end up with a copy of the album Autobahn. It seems that someone apparently misheard the correct title, and the error spread rapidly.
The reason for this misunderstanding can be that Autobahn and Outburn sound very similar in Japanese. The world Autobahn in Japanese katakana script (the script used for foreign words) is アウトバーン ( a u to ba a n). When spoken in Japanese it sounds a lot like Outburn.
See the google translator (klick the loudspeaker icon).
Is the song Popcorn made by Kraftwerk?
No, although some people like to say it is...
It is written and composed by Gershon Kingsley. The first release was in 1969, later recorded under the band name Hot Butter in 1972 by a group of musicians.
See more info at
www.gershonkingsley.com
What is wrong with the '3-D Der Catalog'?
The CD box-set of '3-D Der Katalog' (0190295873578) has the English version on disc 2 (Radioactivitaet / 0190295873547), this must surely be a mistake. On disc 7 (The Mix / 0190295873486) is in German, as it should be.
The other formats (2xLP, 8xLP album, 4xBR, 2xDVD+BR, download) have the correct versions.
As far as we know from the fan reports, if the disc was purchased from the official KlingKlang store, you can send it back for replacement (if you want...).