Computer World  

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 +'''''Computer World''''' ([[German language|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 (album)|Autobahn]]''.
 +
 +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 [[Orchestron|Vako Orchestron]]), and the sequencing and electronic percussion reach new sonic and rhythmic heights - a real "[[funk]]iness" 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]].
 +
 +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 "[[Das Modell (single)|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 [[A-side and B-side#Double_A-side|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.
 +
 +{{Listen|filename=Kraftwerk - Computer World excerpt.ogg|title=Kraftwerk - Computer World excerpt|description=An excerpt from the ''Computer World'' title track.}}
 +
 +==Track listing==
 +===English release===
 +#"Computer World" – 5:05
 +#"Pocket Calculator" – 4:55
 +#"Numbers" – 3:19
 +#"Computer World 2" – 3:21
 +#"Computer Love" – 7:15
 +#"Home Computer" – 6:17
 +#"It’s More Fun to Compute" – 4:13
 +
 +[[Image:CW-D-front.jpg|thumb|250px|right|''Computerwelt''.]]
 +
 +===German release===
 +#"Computerwelt" – 5:05
 +#"Taschenrechner" – 5:00
 +#"Nummern" – 3:00
 +#"Computerwelt 2" – 3:30
 +#"Computerliebe" – 7:00
 +#"Heimcomputer" – 6:00
 +#"It’s More Fun to Compute" – 4:15
 +
 +===French release===
 +#"Computer World" – 5:05
 +#"Minicalculateur" – 4:55
 +#"Numbers" – 3:00
 +#"Computer World 2" – 3:30
 +#"Computer Love" – 7:00
 +#"Home Computer" – 6:00
 +#"It’s More Fun to Compute" – 4:15
 +
 +[[Image:CW-J-front.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Japanese version.]]
 +
 +===Japanese release===
 +<div lang="ja">
 +#"Computer World" ("コンピューター・ワールド") – 5:07
 +#"Dentaku" ("電卓") – 4:56
 +#"Numbers" ("ナンバース") – 3:19
 +#"Computer World 2" ("コンピューター・ワールド2") – 3:20
 +#"Computer Love" ("コンピューター・ラブ") – 7:16
 +#"Home Computer" ("ホーム・コンピューター") – 6:17
 +#"It’s More Fun to Compute" ("コンピューターはボクのオモチャ") – 4:12</div>
 +
 +<small>Note 1: The French album has never been reissued on CD.
 +<br>
 +Note 2: On the Japanese re-release CD, track 2 is "Pocket Calculator" while "Dentaku" is a bonus track.</small>
 +
 +==Equipment==
 +*[[Sequential Circuits Prophet 5]] (used only on the tour)
 +*[[Moog synthesizer|Moog Polymoog]]
 +*[[Moog synthesizer|Moog Minimoog]]
 +*[[Korg|Korg PS-3300]]
 +*[[Roland Corporation|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 (toy)|Speak & Spell]] language toy
 +*[[Casio]] FX-501P Programmable Calculator with FA-1 Cassette Interface
 +* EMS and Sennheiser vocoders
 +
 +==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 (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 (dance)|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'.
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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.

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.

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.

Template:Listen

Contents

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
Image:CW-D-front.jpg
Computerwelt.

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
Image:CW-J-front.jpg
Japanese version.

Japanese release

  1. "Computer World" ("コンピューター・ワールド") – 5:07
  2. "Dentaku" ("電卓") – 4:56
  3. "Numbers" ("ナンバース") – 3:19
  4. "Computer World 2" ("コンピューター・ワールド2") – 3:20
  5. "Computer Love" ("コンピューター・ラブ") – 7:16
  6. "Home Computer" ("ホーム・コンピューター") – 6:17
  7. "It’s More Fun to Compute" ("コンピューターはボクのオモチャ") – 4:12

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

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'.


Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Computer World" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.

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