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Master Release

Shortcut Code: [m2994]
Data Quality Rating: Needs Vote
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4.56 / 5 (547 votes)

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Kraftwerk - Autobahn

Kraftwerk - Autobahn

Genre:
Electronic
Style:
Electro
Year:
1974

Tracklist

Autobahn 22:30 X
Kometenmelodie 1 6:20 X
Kometenmelodie 2 5:44 X
Mitternacht 4:40 X
Morgenspaziergang 4:00 X

Versions

Title, FormatLabelCat#CountryYear
Autobahn (LP, Album) Philips, Philips 6305 231 D, 6305 231 Germany 1974
Autobahn (Cass, Album) Vertigo 7149 005 UK 1974
Autobahn (Cass, Album) EMI Records TC-EMC 203 US 1974
Autobahn (Cass, Album) Philips 7105 181 Germany 1974
Autobahn (LP, Album) Vertigo VEL-2003 US 1974
Autobahn (LP, Album) Vertigo 6360 620 UK 1974
Autobahn (LP, Album) Philips 9294 806 Netherlands 1974
Autobahn (LP, Album) Philips 6305 231 A Italy 1974
Autobahn (LP, Album) EMI Music (Australia) EMC 203 Australia & New Zealand 1974
Autobahn (LP, Album) Philips 6305 231 France 1974
Autobahn (LP, Album) EMI Records EJ 2400701 UK 1974
Autobahn (LP, Album) Philips 6305 231 Canada 1974
Autobahn (LP, Album) Kling Klang NH 3161 New Zealand 1974
Autobahn (LP, Album) Parlophone 31C 064 240070 Brazil 1974
Autobahn (LP, Album) Parlophone 64 2400701 Italy 1974
Autobahn (8-Trk, Quad) Vertigo VQ8-2003 US 1975
Autobahn (Cass, Album) Vertigo VCR4 2003 US 1975
Autobahn (LP, Album) Vertigo 6360 620 Brazil 1975
Autobahn (LP, Album) Mercury SRM-1-3704 US 1977
Autobahn (LP, Album) Mercury SRM-1-1154 US 1977
Autobahn (LP, Album) Vertigo 63 60 620 Spain 1977
Autobahn (8-Trk, Album) Mercury MC8-1-3704 US 1978
Autobahn (CD, Album) EMI Electrola 1C DP 564 7 46153 2 France 1985
Autobahn (CD, Album) Elektra 9 25326-2 US 1985
Autobahn (Cass, Album) Warner Bros. Records 9 25326-4 US 1985
Autobahn (Cass, Album) Parlophone, Parlophone EJ 24 0070-4, TC-AUTO 1 UK 1985
Autobahn (LP, Album) Warner Bros. Records 92 53261 Canada 1985
Autobahn (LP, Album, RE) Warner Bros. Records 25326-1 US 1985
Autobahn (LP, Album, RE) Parlophone, Parlophone EJ 24 0070 1, AUTO 1 UK 1985
Autobahn (LP, Album, RE) EMI Electrola 1C 064-24 0070 1 Germany 1985
Autobahn (LP, Album, RE) EMI Music (Spain) 066 2400701 Spain 1985
Autobahn (LP, Album, RE) EMI Music (Greece) 062-2400701 Greece 1985
Autobahn (CD, Album, RE) Kling Klang, EMI Electrola CDP 564-7 46153 2 Europe 1986
Autobahn (CD, Album, RE) Kling Klang, EMI Electrola CDP 564-7 46153 2 Netherlands 1986
Autobahn (LP, Album, RE) Shilla Records SCL 1023   1991
Autobahn (CD, Album, RE) Toshiba EMI Ltd TOCP-50578 Japan 1998
Autobahn (CD, Album, RE) Capitol Records CDP 564 7 46153 2 Germany 2002
Autobahn (CD, Album, RM) Mute Records Ltd., Kling Klang CDSTUMM 303, 50999 9 66014 2 6 Europe 2009
Autobahn (LP, RM, RE) Kling Klang 50999 6 99586 1 8 Europe 2009
Autobahn (CD, Album) Kling Klang CDP 7 46153 2 UK  
▸ show all 3 reviews

Reviews & Discussion

Rated 5/5
Review by maroko Jun 09, 2009

referencing Autobahn, CD, Album, RE, CDP 564-7 46153 2

One of the best albums I have ever listened to. While there has been quite a lot of debating about which Kraftwerk album is the most influential, futuristic, and innovating one, I won't even try to get into all of that here. Happily enough, I recently rediscovered the simple beauty and floating musicality of "Autobahn", was totally blown away and thought I might share my experiences with potential readers.
The classic track title needs little to no introduction, with a sample of a car ignition, and then a vocoder voice repeats the word 'autobahn'; from there on we're on a 22 minute journey, loaded with awesome drum patterns and phenomenal segments played on keyboards, weird and electroish melodies and various far reaching sounds - to sum it all up: a fabulous voyage through the world of electronic music, which sounds incredibly amazing even today, one can only imagine what this must have sounded like to people who first heard it back in 1974...
The next four tracks, Kometenmelodie parts 1 and 2, Mitternacht and Morgenspaziergang are voiceless excursions through carefully crafted and carried out melody work and pure exploration of how far can electronic equipment go. Everything is mixed up here: piano, violin, guitar, synthesizers, and it all sounds so compact, so well put together. A special mention goes to the closing track, which has a gorgeous lead played on a flute, and it's a perfect outro to this otherwise perfect album. Maybe it's the lack of vocals, maybe it's the somewhat laid back feel of the music, but I just adore the way in which computer manipulation has been given an opportunity to collaborate with classical instruments, thus enabling the single tracks to fully express themselves, and touch more than any vocal in any language ever could.
When people speak about timeless music, I guess this is one of those albums they should be refering to. Too often does it happen today that I hear phrases like "a few years ago this was a hot and exquisite item, but it hasn't stoo up the test of time so well". Similar sounding reviews and opinions are too many to keep track of. But that shouldn't be a problem, especially if you're about to listen to "Autobahn", a fantastic trip down to the core roots of electronic music. Seriously though, if german highways were this pleasant to drive on, I would never want to get off them...
Review by skylt May 17, 2008

referencing Autobahn, 8-Trk, Album, MC8-1-3704

This probably very rare item has said to have been remastered to a DTS DVD probably a bootleg called the Quad mix or something like that, it would be very interesting to hear an original surround mix directly from the kling klang studio long before DVD's and Super audio CD's- is the reason to the lack of rating on this release that very few people have access to the hardware? I would very much like a real review here!
Rated 5/5
Review by FFX Feb 19, 2006 (edited over 3 years ago)

referencing Autobahn, LP, Album, VEL-2003

Most infulential record in electronic dance music history. It brought electronic music to the public with its use of synths blended with traditonal instruments. Most concept albums are only a concept but Kraftwerks really "takes you there". Autobahn takes you on a masterpiece 22 1/2 minute trip down the German super highway. Be cautious driving to this music where they have speeding fines it is infectious and gains speed the whole way through. When you get out of the car have a gentle morning walk with Morgenspaziergang you will swear you are walking 5am on a wooded trail to nowhere.