Computer World

For the computer magazine, see Computerworld.

Computer World
Studio album by Kraftwerk
Released	May 1981
Recorded	1979–1981 at Kling Klang Studio, Düsseldorf, Germany
Genre	Electronic
Length	34:21
Label	Kling Klang EMI Warner Bros.
Producer	Ralf Hütter Florian Schneider
Kraftwerk chronology
The Man-Machine (1978) Computer World (1981) Electric Café / Techno Pop (1986)
Singles from Computer World
"Computer Love" b/w "The Model" Released: 7/1981, EMI 5207 (UK) "Pocket Calculator" b/w "Dentaku" Released: 5/1981, EMI 5175 (UK) "Taschenrechner" b/w "Dentaku" Released: 1981 Kling Klang 1C00646365 "Computerwelt 1 (Special Mix)" b/w "Nummern"; "Computerwelt 2" Released: 1982, 12", Kling Klang 1CK062-46379Z

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Drowned In Sound	(10/10)[2]
Mojo	[3]
Robert Christgau	(B)[4]
Uncut	[5]

Computer World (German: Computerwelt) is the eighth studio album by the German electronic music band Kraftwerk, released in May 1981. The album deals with the themes of the rise of computers within society. Critics see this album as a peak in the career of Kraftwerk, along with Autobahn and Trans-Europe Express. The compositions are credited to Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, and Karl Bartos.

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". The song is also sung in German—"Taschenrechner", French—"Mini Calculateur", and Japanese—"Dentaku" (電卓). While not major, it should also be noted that there are a few noticeable differences in the album mixes used on the English- and German-language releases.

As was the case with the two previous albums, Computer World was released in both German and English language editions. The title of the final track is in English in all releases, as it is a pun based on the slogan "It's more fun to compete!" that could be seen on old pinball machines.

The track "Computer Love" was released as a 7-inch 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 reissued 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.

"Computerwelt" was remixed in 1982 as a punchier-sounding dance version, with additional bass and percussion. It was released in January 1982 as a twelve-inch vinyl single only in Germany. The original track was nominated for a Grammy award in the category of Best Rock Instrumental Performance.^[6] Computer World was also chosen by the BBC for use in the titles of their UK computer literacy project, The Computer Programme.

Track listing

All songs written by Karl Bartos, Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider, except where noted.

Side one

1. "Computer World" ("Computerwelt") (Karl Bartos, Ralf Hutter, Florian Schneider, Emil Schult) – 5:05
2. "Pocket Calculator" ("Taschenrechner") (Bartos, Hutter, Schult) – 4:55
3. "Numbers" ("Nummern") – 3:19
4. "Computer World, Part 2" ("Computerwelt 2") – 3:21

Side two

1. "Computer Love" ("Computerliebe") (Bartos, Hutter, Schult) – 7:15
2. "Home Computer" ("Heimcomputer") – 6:17
3. "It's More Fun to Compute" – 4:13

Personnel

The original 1981 sleeve notes are relatively unspecific regarding roles, merely listing all the equipment suppliers and technicians under the heading Hardware and the various other people involved, such as photographers, as Software. By contrast, the 2009 remaster notes give the performer credits as the following:

• Ralf Hütter — voice, vocoder, synthesizer, orchestron, synthanorma sequenzer, keyboards, electronics, producer
• Florian Schneider — vocoder, speech synthesis, synthesizer, electronics, producer
• Karl Bartos — electronic percussion
• Guenter Spachtholz — engineer

Wolfgang Flür is included in the general list of contributors to the software but is not credited with a performing role.^[7]

References

1. ^ Raggett, Ned (2011 [last update]). "Computer World - Kraftwerk | AllMusic". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/computer-world-r617126. Retrieved 9 July 2011. 
2. ^ Power, Chris (2011 [last update]). "Kraftwerk - Computer World: Remastered / Releases / Releases // Drowned In Sound". drownedinsound.com. http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14742/reviews/4138139. Retrieved 9 July 2011. 
3. ^ Snow, Mat (November 2009). "Gut Vibrations". Mojo (London: Bauer Media Group) (192): 110. ISSN 1351-0193. 
4. ^ Christgau, Robert (2011 [last update]). "Robert Christgau: CG: Kraftwerk". robertchristgau.com. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=762&name=Kraftwerk. Retrieved 9 July 2011. 
5. ^ Cavanagh, David. "Uncut Reviews: Kraftwerk - Reissues". Uncut. http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/kraftwerk/reviews/13709. Retrieved October 22, 2009. 
6. ^ Rubiner. Julia. "Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music ". Gale, 1993.
7. ^ (2009) Album notes for Computer World (Digital Remaster) by Kraftwerk [CD]. Great Britain: Mute/EMI Records (CDSTUMM307).