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Computer World
Studio album by Kraftwerk
Released	1981
Recorded	1980-1981
Genre	Electronic music
Length	39:21
Label	Kling Klang EMI Warner Bros. Elektra
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.

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.

Contents 1 Track listing 1.1 English release 1.2 German release 1.3 French release 1.4 Japanese release 2 Equipment 3 Trivia

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

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

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

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.

• 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

• "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'.

Kraftwerk

Ralf Hütter | Florian Schneider

Karl Bartos | Wolfgang Flür | Fritz Hilpert | Henning Schmitz | Emil Schult

Discography

Albums: Tone Float (as Organisation) | Kraftwerk | Kraftwerk 2 | Ralf und Florian | Autobahn | Radio-Activity | Trans-Europe Express | The Man-Machine | Computer World | Electric Café | Tour de France Soundtracks

Live and Compilations albums Exceller 8 | The Mix | Klang Box | Minimum – Maximum | The Catalogue

Non-album singles: Kohoutek-Kometenmelodie | Tour de France | Expo 2000

Videography

Minimum – Maximum (DVD)