Computer World
Studio album by Kraftwerk
Released	1981
Recorded	1980-1981
Genre	Electronic music Synthpop
Length	39:21
Label	Kling Klang (Germany) EMI (world outside US and Canada) Warner Bros. (US and Canada - 1981) Elektra (US and Canada - 1988)
Producer(s)	Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (B) link Q Mac. 1995
Kraftwerk chronology
The Man-Machine (1978) Computer World (1981) Electric Café (1986)

Computer World (German version: Computerwelt) is a concept album created by Kraftwerk and released in 1981. It deals with the themes of the rise of computers within society. Many see this album as a peak in the career of Kraftwerk, along with Autobahn. Image File history File links CW-E-front. ... A studio album is a collection of previously unreleased, studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... Kraftwerk (pronounced [], German for power station) are a German musical group who have made significant contributions to the development of experimental, electronic, New Wave, synthpop and techno music. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Electronica be merged into this article or section. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For the Liverpool krautrock band, see Kling Klang (band). ... The EMI Group (LSE: EMI) is a British music company comprising of the major record company EMI Music which operates several labels, based in Brook Green in London, England, and EMI Music Publishing, based on Charing Cross Road, London. ... Warner Bros. ... Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, and today operates under Atlantic Records Group. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Ralf Hütter (born 20 August 1946 in Krefeld, Germany) is the lead singer, keyboardist, and reportedly band leader of Kraftwerk and is usually the one interviewed. ... Florian Schneider-Esleben (born April 7th, 1947, Germany) is one of the founding members of influential and pioneering electronic music band Kraftwerk. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 4. ... Robert Christgau (2007) Robert Christgau (sometimes abbreviated in print to Xgau), born April 18, 1942, is an American essayist, music journalist, and the self-declared Dean of American Rock Critics[1] His first reviews were published by Esquire in 1967. ... Q is a music and entertainment magazinepublished monthly in the United Kingdom. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... Kraftwerk (pronounced [], German for power station) are a German musical group who have made significant contributions to the development of experimental, electronic, New Wave, synthpop and techno music. ... The Man-Machine is a 1978 album by Kraftwerk. ... Electric Café is a music album by the group Kraftwerk. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Kraftwerk (pronounced [], German for power station) are a German musical group who have made significant contributions to the development of experimental, electronic, New Wave, synthpop and techno music. ... Autobahn (German for motorway) is an album by Kraftwerk, released in 1974. ...

The compositions are credited to Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, and Karl Bartos. Musically the album is stronger than ever - the sound is further refined to pure electronics and vocals (gone is the last vestige of "real" instruments, the Vako Orchestron), and the sequencing and electronic percussion reach new sonic and rhythmic heights - a real "funkiness" is on display for the first time since 1970's "Vom Himmel Hoch" from the first album, tracks such as "Numbers" connecting with elements of hip hop music in the USA. Ralf Hütter (born 20 August 1946 in Krefeld, Germany) is the lead singer, keyboardist, and reportedly band leader of Kraftwerk and is usually the one interviewed. ... Florian Schneider-Esleben (born April 7th, 1947, Germany) is one of the founding members of influential and pioneering electronic music band Kraftwerk. ... Karl Bartos was born on May 13, 1952 in Berchtesgaden, Germany. ... The Optigan (a portmanteau of Optical Organ) was an early electronic keyboard instrument designed for the consumer market. ... Funk is an African American musical style. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ...

In keeping with the album’s concept, Kraftwerk showcased their music on an ambitious world tour and issued several versions of the single, "Pocket Calculator" – sung in German (Taschenrechner), English, French (Mini Calculateur) and Japanese (Dentaku).

"Computerwelt" was subsequently remixed as a punchier-sounding dance version ("Computerwelt Special Mix", with additional bass and percussion) and released in January 1982 as a twelve-inch vinyl single only in Germany. The English version of the "Computer World" track lacks approximately half the lyrics of the German "Computerwelt", and consequently most of its meaning.

"Computer Love" was released as a 7-inch single single in the UK, in July 1981, backed with "The Model", from the group's previous album The Man-Machine. The single reached number 36 in the charts. In December 1981 the two songs were re-released as a double A-side 12-inch single, and reached number one on the UK pop charts in February 1982, although "The Model" received the most airplay. In music, a single is a short record, usually featuring one or two tracks as A-side, often accompanied by several B-sides, usually remixes or other songs. ... For people known as The Model, see The Model (disambiguation). ... The Man-Machine is a 1978 album by Kraftwerk. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 12 single for U2s Beautiful Day The 12-inch [30 cm] single gramophone record came into existence with the advent of disco music in the 1970s. ...

Image File history File links Kraftwerk_-_Computer_World_excerpt. ... Software development stages In computer programming, development stage terminology expresses how the development of a piece of software has progressed and how much further development it may require. ...

Track listing

English release

1. "Computer World" – 5:05
2. "Pocket Calculator" – 4:55
3. "Numbers" – 3:19
4. "Computer World 2" – 3:21
5. "Computer Love" – 7:15
6. "Home Computer" – 6:17
7. "It’s More Fun to Compute" – 4:13

Computerwelt.

Image File history File links CW-D-front. ... Image File history File links CW-D-front. ...

German release

1. "Computerwelt" – 5:05
2. "Taschenrechner" – 5:00
3. "Nummern" – 3:00
4. "Computerwelt 2" – 3:30
5. "Computerliebe" – 7:00
6. "Heimcomputer" – 6:00
7. "It’s More Fun to Compute" – 4:15

French release

1. "Computer World" – 5:05
2. "Minicalculateur" – 4:55
3. "Numbers" – 3:00
4. "Computer World 2" – 3:30
5. "Computer Love" – 7:00
6. "Home Computer" – 6:00
7. "It’s More Fun to Compute" – 4:15

Japanese version.

Image File history File links CW-J-front. ... Image File history File links CW-J-front. ...

Japanese release

Note 1: The French album has never been reissued on CD.
Note 2: On the Japanese re-release CD, track 2 is "Pocket Calculator" while "Dentaku" is a bonus track.

Equipment

• Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 (used only on the tour)
• Moog Polymoog
• Moog Minimoog
• Korg PS-3300
• Roland MC8 Microcomposer sequencer (used only on the tour)
• Friendchip "Mr Lab" unit
• Custom-built 32x2-step analogue sequencers by Matten & Wiechers
• Dubreq Stylophone
• Mattel BeeGees rhythm machine
• Texas Instruments Speak & Spell language toy
• Casio FX-501P Programmable Calculator with FA-1 Cassette Interface
• EMS and Sennheiser vocoders

The Prophet 5 was an analog synthesizer manufactured by Sequential Circuits in San Jose, California between 1978 and 1984. ... The term Moog(pronounced // as in moan) synthesizer can refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for analog and digital music synthesisers. ... The term Moog(pronounced // as in moan) synthesizer can refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for analog and digital music synthesisers. ... Korg Corporation is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments. ... Roland Corporation TYO: 7944 is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. ... The Dubreq Stylophone was a miniature electronic musical instrument invented in 1967 by Brian Jarvis. ... A later Speak & Spell model with membrane keyboard The Speak & Spell was a popular electronic toy consisting of a speech synthesizer and a keyboard. ... Casio Computer Co. ...

Trivia

• "Computer World" was used as the theme music to the programme The Computer Programme, a TV series originally broadcast by the BBC (on BBC2) in 1982. The series aimed to introduce people to computers and showcase their potential. "Computer World 2" was used at the end of the show for the credits.
• According to Hütter (interviewed in 1981), "Pocket Calculator" was the last track to be conceived and came about after band members had discovered electronic toy musical instruments in a department store Christmas display in 1979.
• Coldplay got the permission to use the synthesizer melody of "Computer Love" in their song "Talk", featured on their album X&Y.
• "Home Computer" begins with a sound sample of the off/on jingles of the 'Speak & Spell' electronic spelling game. The 'Speak & Spell' was an early example of a computer in an everyday household object – in this case an interactive toy – rather than shown as a stereotypical piece of space-age gadgetry.
• Faux latino band Señor Coconut recorded a merengue arrangement of the song "Home Computer" for their album of exotic Kraftwerk cover versions, El Baile Alemán.
• The title of the final track is a pun based on the slogan "It’s more fun to compete!" that could be seen on pinball machines of the time.
• Nicole Scherzinger, lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, has launched her solo career with 'Steam', a track that heavily samples 'Numbers'.