Milestones: Kraftwerk - Radio-Aktivität: German 1st Pressing vs 2020 Remaster

Germany
Kraftwerk - Radio-Aktivität amzn.to/3peOliS
USA
Kraftwerk - Radio-Aktivität amzn.to/3bQ3GDE
United Kingdom
Kraftwerk - Radio-Aktivität amzn.to/3QH2Ojn
The Düsseldorf band Kraftwerk released "Radio Activity", their fifth album, in 1975. The songs on the album deal with radioactivity and nuclear energy, or radio broadcasting, in keeping with the pun of the title.
Particularly successful in France, the album reached the #1 position in the charts. The single "Radio Activity" also sold more than 400,000 copies.
Warner Music / Parlophone Records have now confirmed that the 2009 vinyl remasters Kraftwerk - Der Katalog 12345678 - from Germany and the UK will be released as individual heavyweight LPs in coloured vinyl for the first time
There are a total of the six German LPs and the eight UK LPs - Autobahn, Radio Activity, Trans Europe Express, The Man-Machine, Computer World, Techno Pop, The Mix and Tour De France. The German editions include five German-language versions plus Radio-Activity, which features German song titles on the artwork, although the audio is identical to the UK pressing. The new vinyl editions are pressed on 180g heavyweight vinyl in a dynamic palette of colours: From the translucent neon yellow of "Computer World" and to the blue of "Autobahn", they sound flawless. The design of the Kraftwerk albums was conceived and produced by Ralf Hütter and the covers were printed to the highest production standards. Each album comes with an illustrated booklet that holds these visionary imagery worlds of Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk's unmatched influence on electronic music and pop culture can currently be traced at the Design Museum London, where the highly acclaimed exhibition "Electro: From Kraftwerk to the Chemical Brothers" is on display. Kraftwerk's 3D exhibition space is one of the standout moments of the exhibition, a fully immersive experience that captures the uniqueness of a Kraftwerk concert with its cutting-edge sonic and visual presentation
Kraftwerk's coloured vinyl LPs will be released as a special limited edition via Warner Music / Parlophone.
Here is "Radio-Aktivität" by Kraftwerk as a limited edition on 180 g heavy Translucent Yellow Vinyl, 2009 remastered, with 16-page booklet.
kraftwerk the model .remastered mix vinyl community vinyl collection vinyl record collection vinyl collector mofi vinyl community 2022

[@markusberzborn6346]

An interesting fact about this LP I only learned much later: "The Voice of Energy" was not an original idea by Kraftwerk but a homage to Werner Meyer-Eppler who had made a very similar (the text is almost identical) vocoder experiment in the 1950ies already. Meyer-Eppler was an influential professor of phonetics and information theory at the University of Bonn - and Stockhausen studied with him for a while. Another connection of Kraftwerk to Bonn: they bought lots of their equipment - or had it specially made for them - at the legendary Synthesizerstudio Bonn led by Dirk Matten and Hajo Wiechers (and later by Dirk Matten alone) - see the liner notes to several Kraftwerk LPs. This was the first special shop dedicated to synthesizers WORLDWIDE and it existed until the late nineties, we also bought our instruments there and a visit to the studio was always a very special event for us, and Dirk Matten also had - and still has - several interesting first-hand stories about Kraftwerk and other legendary pioneering musicians to tell, as they all were customers. Nice memories!

[@miguelbarrio]

Fascinating. Are there any books on Kraftwerk's instrument details and/or early synthesizer shops like the one you mention? Thank you!

[@markusberzborn6346]

I am not informed what books are possibly on the market, but there are fan sites in the Internet with rather detailed information about Kraftwerk's equipment over the years. I do not think that there are many open questions left in this respect.

[@DeAudiofilosyLocos]

I saw them in June this year at Radio City, very good experience. And I brought my active ear protection 😁

[@aspjake123]

@@DeAudiofilosyLocos Saw KW in Seattle 2022. Sooooo good. I was front row but had passive hearing protection.

[@rockcityliverpool]

Being 6 or 7 years old in 80’s communist Romania, I remember that when I first heard Kraftwerk I was bewildered. I have never heard music like that, my brothers and I were mesmerized. My father had a rather impressive eclectic vinyl collection. Computer world and The man machine were there as well sounding so unique. The lack of information about how they were recording their music helped to the mysterious image this band had. To this day, Inlove them and all the music they have created. They are hugely important to me and to the music scene.

[@jamesk990]

In 1986 I got rid of my entire music collection when I moved to CD but I kept my OG copies of Man Machine and Computer World. I remember buying Computer World at the HMV shop in Oxford street London and they had it on display all round the top of the shop when it was released in 1981. Then in 2015 I was buying and putting together a new HIFI system which has one similarity to yours Michael, I have an OTL amplifier. When I was putting the system together I asked my friend who was also a HIFI dealer if he would put on some vinyl for old times sake. I had not heard an LP in those intervening 29 years at all put when he played one I was mesmerised. OMG what had I been listening too in the last 30 years I thought. I then bought a turntable and moved totally back to vinyl and have since luckily replaced most of my favourite classic LP,s. I am so glad I kept those two OG copies of Kraftwerk because they are Iconic master pieces and sound fantastic on my new system and take me back to that period of my life when I first heard them.

[@martinpearson4639]

I love Kraftwerk on vinyl. There is so much depth, detail and layers to the sound on a record. The music jumps out of my speakers almost in 3D fashion.

[@johnmiller3689]

Really enjoying these pressing comparison videos, they have definitely gotten me more interested in exploring the original versions. Keep up the great work!

[@booom4849]

First time I tested my phono preamp, I brought it to a friend along with an Autobahn digital remaster. He had an Fontana 1980 "reissue", so we compared. The difference was big, the analogue one smoked the digital remaster. Much much smoother and more clarity. My friend commented it as: "There is much more going on in the analogue version". For your last question: When I listen to Kraftwerk, I try to put my mind back in time and imagine how electronics are something special, rather than having our lives filled by them.

[@BalduinOrgMusic]

I don't get it why Ralf Hütter still doesn't accept to reissue his first 3 records produced by Conny Plank, Kraftwerk 1/2 and Ralf & Florian, on proper vinyl. Many people including me love those early Kraftwerk records and yes, they do belong to the Katalog.

[@markusberzborn6346]

I also find these early records extremely fascinating. Do you know the acoustic versions Zeitkratzer recently made of "Kraftwerk 1" and "Kraftwerk 2"? A really great listening experience and available on LP.

[@recordcollectornews]

It took me 30 years to really start listening and to begin to understand Kraftwork.

[@musiconrecord6724]

I discovered Kraftwerk when Man Machine came out. I was at boarding school and a friend who knew I was into avant-garde electronic music gave me a copy of the British music journal New Musical Express, and the cover story was about Kraftwerk. I bought the record and was hooked - I think in some ways they are a more important band in terms of their influence than even The Beatles. I have all the albums in differing original pressings from different countries, and I have the remasters. On the earlier albums in particular the OG versions have more of an analogue "bloom" than the remasters, but there is less of a difference on the last couple of albums which venture into more "digital" territory in terms of the instruments they are using (I have no idea if they were recorded with any digital steps). In general I would say the remasters have a more "integrated" and "blended" sound. Actually I really like them and listen to them all the time along with the originals. Though I have to say that my OG German copy of Trans-Europe Express is a sonic spectacular, as is my UK OG of Man Machine - so rich and full. But for anyone on a budget, the remasters will serve you very well indeed. No allowances need to be made, unlike many modern reissues. It boils down to a different aesthetic approach in terms of the mastering.

[@musiconrecord6724]

I will also say that the presentation on the reissues is spectacular: fantastic design and tons of extra artwork.

[@ginntonic123]

Kraftwerk are extremely important imo, they were set apart from everything else in the 70s and they are still apart from everything in 2022. They have to be in my top 3 bands of all time. I have the remasters both German and English versions . Those versions (2009) are the “original” versions in my book as they are the ones that I fell in love with . RIP Florian Schneider. Still remember the Christmas video you did with Mazzy about Kraftwerk vs Beatles influence wise, has to be one of the most genuinely enjoyable videos I’ve seen in you tube. One of those life moments, as I remember hanging Christmas lights listening to it .( and watching it now and then) great video my friend

[@Michael45RPM]

!!!! thx Jorge

[@JonPickles]

I’m loving these comparison videos Michael

[@wibbel85]

Thanks for the video. I highly recommend Karl Bartos autobiography. Gives great insight into Kraftwerk in the studio. I also would love to see you interviewing Karl Bartos or Wolfgang Flür. Wolfgang in interviews is always great fun. I guess he still lives in Düsseldorf, too. You should give it a try :) Greetings from the east side of Düsseldorf und mach weiter so!

[@greencraig8570]

Wir fahr'n fahr'n fahr'n auf der Autobahn

[@jeffreybarr2386]

I very much enjoy listening to you talk about music you love Michael! In college 1989 someone special introduced me to Sad Lovers & Giants, Cocteau Twins, Kraftwerk and more with mix tapes. Kraftwerk became one of my all time favorites. 🧡

[@therevrockinrollin]

It’s always nice to hear you say Kraftwerk correctly. What I have noticed in electronic remasters (not Kraftwerk - I don’t have the pleasure of the OGs) that the decay of those early simple/rudimentary synthesizers does seem to get smoothed out. Again, that may be for modern tastes, the band or engineers. I think that roughest is the decay or overloading of the current. It can of course be great! But I think you are on to something. Kraftwerk are an essential chapter in the history of pop music. No doubt. Excellent video.

[@jasonsmith2032]

I love this idea! Thanks for this one!

[@ericarmstrong6540]

I am not a big fan of Kraftwerk, but there is no denying their importance in music history. Radio Activity is an important record. The first Kraftwerk album I heard was The Man Machine. Lots of good tunes on that record. Personal favorite of mine from that album: Neon Lights. Another good video.

[@JBLClassic]

I first heard about Kraftwerk when I was a kid in the 80's. I read an interview with the guys from 808 State and they said they were hugely influenced by Kraftwerk. Then not long after that, my dad picked up Autobahn on CD and told me that he bought that when he was in the service back when it came out. I've been a big fan ever since. I've managed to find most of the OG's at little pop up record fairs in the neighborhood. Good video.

[@albertguffanti8414]

Was at my local record store yesterday and they happened to have an original US press and the reissue. Picked up the original and am loving it. Thanks @Michael. Thus is my first Kraftwerk record.

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

I can remember listening to a 12" 45rpm single on headphones as my first intro to KW. I was blown away by the sounds and sheer detail in the production.

[@papabear1417]

My knowledge of Kraftwerk was their UK singles until spending many a happy morning and afternoon watching these episodes. I purchased 3-D as a sample of their work, knowing streaming can do only so much. The purchased Radio-Activity in German as the albums sound so much better. When I can find older versions, they'll be bought.

[@philipslade6810]

Am I the only one who could listen to this man all night. That German tinged English is incredible.

[@knockshinnoch1950]

I was 14 in 1975 when Autobahn was a top 20 hit in the UK. I'd heard nothing like it before- I was listening to the 1980s- the future! I was instantly hooked as was my audiophile dad who played the album to anyone and everyone who visited. That was where my love affair with the exotic mysterious German band began. No one else I knew liked them- Radioactivity Trans Europe Express. The Man Machine and the surprise monster No1 hit single The Model brought the band to a wider audience. I saw them perform at the old Glasgow Apollo Theatre around 1982- what an amazing experience- the Robots and the "big" projection screens- it was an audio visual experience like no other. I remember vividly how the strong bass passed through my body in that precise rhythm. As the band played the theatre emergency lighting dimmed in time to the beat as if Kraftwerk was some living entity that sucked the power from the building. It really was one of the greatest live events I've experienced. Eventually I discovered the original German language albums and the journey was complete. It all made much more sense in German, a much more inclusive and proper experience- everyone I played the German albums too were amazed by the clipped harsh Teutonic lyrics that were the perfect fit for the music. Kraftwrk don't get the respect and recognition they deserve for their significant contribution to the development of so many genres of popular music as they are outwith the English speaking popular music world dominated by the USA & UK who are fixed on the Beatles. I still have all my original albums in excellent near mint condition. They still sound like the future almost 50 years since they were released.

[@FogAndLime]

finally!!! some records worth comparing! :P. Just kidding a bit Michael but i HOPE you do more Krautrock, especially CAN. The mute reissues for Can are excellent would be fascinated to hear what you think about the OGs vs. Reissues.

[@musiclassica]

Danke, Michael. I think the importance of Kraftwerk in popular music (and culture) since the 1970’s has been proven time and again.

[@TheGlawton]

Thanks for your take, Mike. I love KW and have been listening to them since the '70s. Trans EE is my favorite. I own Autobahn, Computer World, Man-Machine, and Tour de F. I think you've piqued my interest on this enough that I'll seek it out to purchase. Keep up the good work. BTW - loved your take on the BG vs OG Waiting for Columbus. Went out and bought both and so I'm doing my own comparison.

[@vicadam9941]

Completely agree that this recording is very important and foundational to much that followed later in modern music. That it is a concept album makes it even more fun to listen to. 🇨🇦

[@shakinghell1318]

I love the way you pronounce Kraftwerk 😀

[@Michael45RPM]

its easy for me :-)

[@taralewis9916]

I have the first 5 original LP's from the 70's. No need to buy any reissues they sound great

[@rongreen1538]

After your brilliant record review who cares about any difference. Fantastic video, thank you.

[@itsvladzino3246]

This channel feels like GROUNDHOG DAY movie. Yet, I love it.

[@Michael19841]

Great video. I first learned of Kraftwerk after buying OMD’s Architecture & Morality album. They were very clear in stating Kraftwerk were their greatest influence. I can certainly hear it on that record. Unfortunately I could not get German versions of the Kraftwerk albums on vinyl in Scotland. They always sounded better in German to me although I couldn’t understand the words. Kraftwerk are a brilliant band.

[@davidbarnes3232]

Amazon has them. I ordered yesterday and they are from the UK… I am in Canada

[@bluntlaser]

Love this album and have an original as well as the remaster. Agree with all your comments. The added compression on the remaster always seemed really obvious on Antenna to me. Be interested to hear your thoughts on Computer World/ComputerWelt too. That is one weird remaster! The original vinyl (both versions) sound great but have never been satisfied with any digital copy. The first japan CD (and the target CD) is pretty good but still not a patch on the vinyl. I guess we don't have to worry about the CD's on your channel though luckily!

[@TylerKingNuReview]

I finally saw Kraftwerk last month after something like a dozen years of waiting and they were astounding. Radioactivity is an album that did take me a while to get into; I much prefer The Man-Machine and Trans-Europe Express, but Radioactivity is an album I have grown to appreciate more and more. Just like Avalon by Roxy Music, I have an original Japanese pressing of Radioactivity that sounds flawless.

[@Michael45RPM]

wow would be interesting to compare the German against the japanese

[@TylerKingNuReview]

@@Michael45RPM If I ever end up with a German present, I definitely will! I have original UK, US, Canadian, and Japanese pressings of The Kick Inside by Kate Bush that I'll probably eventually make a comparison video for. The interesting thing about the Bush album is that each of those pressings have different covers

[@TheRollingStoness]

You are my go-to High end recording consultant..I have the Kling Klang Horzu German OG..

[@vinylkajo]

Quite interesting. I was born 1951 and very interested in british beat music. At the beginning of the seventies I was also into Krautrock and bought the first 3 Kraftwerk albums on the Phillips label. But then their approach changed and I lost them. Now after your video I'll give them a 2nd chance. Thanks

[@shadouk6737]

II only have the recent recent remastered red vinyl of Man Machine and it sounds pretty good but have most of the other albums as original pressings which sound absolutely terrific particularly Computer World and Radio-Activity. Can't really add much more than what's already been said by everyone here regarding the unique importance other than the genre I adore most likely wouldn't exist without these albums by Kraftwerk and a world without Depeche Mode whose Violator is one of the biggest and most successful nods to Kraftwerk, would be a very grim place indeed. I've just purchased Karl Bartos' biography and very much looking forward to delving into that. Love your channel and I loo forward to future updates.

[@markusberzborn6346]

I agree, as Ralf Hütter personally supervises practically everything Kraftwerk does, I suppose he intended the remasters to sound exactly the way they do. Concerning HörZu, they also released some real avantgarde stuff like Stockhausen, Hespos and Xenakis on their "Black Label" series. I always found this quite remarkable, as HörZu was a rather conservative magazine from the conservative Springer publishing house. But then again, the seventies were another time and in some respects more daring and experimental than average society is today.

[@Michael45RPM]

Hello Markus your great Comment on the Stranded Video got accidently deleted by me... i want to stick it as the info was so great and instead i deleted it ..... so sorry

[@markusberzborn6346]

​@@Michael45RPM Why, it is still there! Or do you mean something else?

[@ptbfrch]

Very interesting review! I have that same German first edition in mint condition, and I've owned it now for about 35 years. Great pressing! I too feel they were influential and important to modern music, just like Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Wendy Carlos would show the world what's possible with these kinds of instruments.

[@aspjake123]

Definitely the first for pop attitude. Their music is still being sampled!!

[@FendersRule]

Kraftwerk is awesome. Computerworld and Trans-Europe are among my favorites. I'm still working on completing my Kraftwerk collection (original presses). The original presses sound so good I couldn't imagine wanting to buy one of the newer releases! I've also been enjoying a band called "Luna Set" which is a really rare Kraut-jazz/pop/electronic band around the same time as Kraftwerk--I'm curious if they are more known within Germany.

[@hernanivaloz3771]

Great Master . The new press is a definitive.

[@derekmillar318]

Thanks kraftwerk for everything.....years before their time....thank you

[@thesurfacespins]

I agree, Kraftwerks's Radio Activity is a landmark recording. Music lovers owe a great debt to Horzu... I wonder how a US pressing compares? thanks for sharing.

[@spoteach]

Michael, I like it when you dive a bit deeper into what a record means to you musically. I adore Kraftwerk. Strange you didn't mention that Kraftwerk digitalised their entire backcatalogue in their Kling Klang studios before releasing it in a remastered form on both CD and vinyl. I read only these digitalised versions should be used for all the future rereleases. That made me decide to go back to the originals both on CD and (if I can afford it one day) vinyl. I think this explains the significant difference you experience as a fan by listening to these 21st century rereleases.

[@roberttaylor2035]

Kraftwerk were a foundation to me growing in NYC in the 70s and 80s. Agree that they are hugely influential to start of hip hop. However I would credit Trans Europe Express as being the more influential lp from their discography with regards to hip hop history.. The track was for decades a staple battle record for djs and breakdancers and had crazy street cred even to this day.- Radio Activity not so much (all be it is a classic for the reasons you describe, but not wrt to hip hop).

[@fredmccarroll3476]

I love Kraftwerk! I have all of their albums on the original CD releases and I have several on vinyl. I would love to get all of their albums on vinyl!

[@raphaelroth1456]

Great video! Would be great if you also do Mensch Maschine

[@Michael45RPM]

i will

[@answer4711]

@@Michael45RPM I would like to hear the US Capitol 1st pressing. Both German 1st pressing I own lack the sharpness and clearness of the Radioaktivität, Trans Europa Express or Computerwelt German 1st pressings. Same wirh the French 1st. The Japanese 1st is nearly simlilar to the German 1st. Hard to tell. Maybe you can differenciate better with your system. But I also have a Capitol Fame re-issue. And this one shows the sharpness and brightness this recording needs. It sounds modern and fresh. So how does an OG sound if the cheap re-issue sounds that good? Sounds good in my opinion anyway.

[@LightBlazeMC]

awesome vid

[@miguelbarrio]

Kraftwerk paved the way... Incredible stuff.

[@DarkSideOfThePepper]

This is my favourite Kraftwerk album. I have a Canadian OG of this. I bought it and asked my German girlfriend to interpret it for me. I love the entire album. I did not buy this release because I have an OG

[@jeffbeamer9882]

My fine German friend did you steal your glasses from Florian Schneider? I saw Kraftwerk concert in America a few years ago with 3D projections. What a joy! I'm curious to hear this record as I only know Autobahn and Computer World. Mach weiter so!

[@eancurtis9333]

When u compress during mastering it squashes the dynamics

[@AeroModule]

They are very important. People say that many albums were ahead of their time, but I believe that's actually true with Kraftwerk. There are parts of Computerwelt that sound at least 10 years ahead of their time.

[@paulgilligan372]

I remember i was at shool and kraftwork had a hit with Autobahn

[@VagueRANT100]

p.s. Michael the "inner" you showed is the same as my Australian OG....possibly the BEST vid you have made so far....beautiful personal memories comes through ....imagine how excited I was when I bought the German pressing of Man Machine from a little record store in Dusseldorf inthe summer of "78 and gave it to a boy who would have been approx your age....he did not know what to make of it....obviously not at the same IQ level as yourself

[@SamuelRivera_DAMN]

Great question, Michael. I believe the punch and roughness of the originals can be attributed to the freshness of the tape, but I think it’s mainly the mastering taste of today's mastering engineers.

[@awrogers3013]

Ah..radioactivity is it, Michael..my favorite as well…I remember hearing it and being completely floored…

[@mwalker2496]

Mike - I have the original 1975 Japanese Toshiba pressing and it's pretty amazing - dynamics, depth and importantly for this album, pin drop QUIET. I'd like to pick up a German copy for comparison.

[@eancurtis9333]

Awesome

[@riodiooo]

Sie haben natürlich recht, dass diese Platte nicht nur ein Wendepunkt für die Band, sondern für die Pop-Musik war. Wenige Monate vor Erscheinen des Albums sah ich Kraftwerk zum ersten Mal live. Mittelpunkt des Konzerts war „Autobahn“. Florian Schneider spielte hauptsächlich Flöte und ein großer Teil des Abends bestand aus frühen Stücken, die man als Krautrock bezeichnen kann. Grüße aus Bilk! Dieter

[@markusberzborn6346]

Dazu war/bin ich leider zu jung. Ich kann diese tollen 1975er Konzerte nur noch über Aufnahmen nachvollziehen. Eine Flöte war übrigens auch bei der großen Computerwelt-Tour 1981 noch dabei (mein erstes Kraftwerk-Konzert), aber sie diente nur als Trigger.

[@MsKalachakra]

Saw you're room tour video. You have a lot of Krautrock not many collectores have, you should do a video about Krautrock. Kraftwerk were so important to synth pop, industrial, techno and hip hop. Watch the Synth Britannia documentary, it was a revolution in music which made guitar music obsolete for a while, until the indie bands began to put great guitar albums all over again, so the synth went underground for awhile until the 90's electronic explosion happened.

[@The_Jazzman]

Schönes Video. Vielen Dank dafür! Ich denke, dass man die epische Rolle, die Kraftwerk in der Entwicklung der Musik gespielt hat, erst in 100 Jahren wirklich erfassen und begreifen können wird (sofern es dann noch Menschen gibt, was ich bezweifle. Aber das ist ein anderes Thema.). Meine Lieblingsplatten sind "Trans Europa Express" und "Die Mensch-Maschine". Letztere insbesondere auch wegen "Neonlicht" - wohl meinem Lieblingsstück von Kraftwerk. Soweit es die Veröffentlichungspolitik visuell und akustisch betrifft, spielt Ralf Hütter beim Kraftwerk-Erbe die Rolle, die George Lukas für "Star Wars" spielt: Was ihm nicht (mehr) gefällt, wird - sagen wir mal freundlich - geupdatet. Was in meinen Augen auch völlig legitim ist! Schade finde ich allerdings, dass Herr Hütter beharrlich die ersten drei Kraftwerk LPs ("1", "2" und "Ralf und Florian") fast schon verleugnet und kurzerhand aus dem Kraftwerkkatalog gestrichen hat. Musikalisch vielleicht nachvollziehbar, historisch jedoch m.E. unverzeihlich. Die Fans kennen sie sowieso, für Originale werden Unsummen auch in Kackzustand verlangt und bezahlt und der Markt wird in unregelmäßigen Abständen von mehr oder weniger guten Counterfeits überschwemmt. Wie aktuell auch von Tone Floats "Organisation"... Eine vertane Chance, den Katalog wirklich abschließend zu kuratieren. Auf den letzten Platz meines persönlichen Kraftwerk-Rankings kommt "Tour de France". Die Scheibe hat mir bei Erscheinen schon nicht gefallen. Und das hat sich bis heute nicht geändert ;-) Take Care. Chris

[@charlesnr]

They are certainly important and were good in concert. But my milestones are the Great Klaus Schultze with favorites Mirage and Ten. Unfortunately was disappointed with the only possibility to see him live with the "GO" project , he did not come to the US. But he is the most important composer using primarily electronic instruments, just not popular hits on the radio. Perhaps you got to see him live in Germany.

[@markusberzborn6346]

Yes, this is true, he never played in America, as opposed to Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk. He once jokingly said to Edgar Froese: You do America, I do Europe.

[@Z-eb]

My Favourite 3 Kraftwerk LPs must be : Radio-Aktivität, Trans Europa Express(1976) and Ralf und Florian (1973) (Their first two is also sublime, and it spawned the best german band neu!) AND Yes i will be honest the german versions are superiour!!!!!!!) Viva Hutter and his Ex "Arbeirters" - TIME FOR A NEW LP !!!!! C mon (We waited from 1987 to 2000 (Only an ep, Expo) 2004, and we have waited since then (I Dont count the remake of their recordings or live albums) (The sound Quality on originals, later pressings even the latest represses both on lp and cd is top quality)

[@papabear1417]

The reissue copy of have is a very good product. the yellow vinyl, small poster and quality booklet. I like Kraftwerk, Mazzy was wrong LOL. Definately iconic.

[@DeAudiofilosyLocos]

I heard that they were friends with Karlheinz Stockhausen from music school and in the beggining borrowed his sinthesizers because no one else had in their town

[@markusberzborn6346]

I do not think this is true. Stockhausen only began to use synthesizers of his own in later years. Until then he mostly worked in the WDR studio of which he was artistic director for many years. But it was not his private equipment, it belonged to the WDR in Cologne.

[@DeAudiofilosyLocos]

@@markusberzborn6346 ah so it's a nice urban legend 😃thanks for the clarification

[@davidbagnall335]

Kraftwerk Great Video ! RADIOACTIVITY MINIMUM -MAXIMUM THE MIX 1991 Great! Great! Great!

[@leland242]

Kraftwerk is easily one of the most influential bands of all time, yet they somehow slip under the radar of most casual music fans. Likely someone, eventually, would have created a similar sound, but they did it first and deserve all the kudos. Your comments were interesting regarding the harshness of the originals vs repressings. There is a straight line from those early Kraftwerk albums to early industrial, so the harshness you described is not surprising. Where did it go? Perhaps the sound today is muted from degradation of the original source material - or perhaps the original had that bite from limitations in sound reproduction at that time. I’m not a sound engineer, so no idea, but maybe something to consider. Either way, glad to see them get coverage on your channel!

[@DJWerkz]

I am right with you my friend, always rated Radio Activity and how the concept flowed through the listening experience, although I find myself only playing the remasters but I think audio system setup may also play a big part of the listen. Kraftwerk for me are bigger than the Beatles

[@waxear311]

Hello from the USA. Let me ask you a question, do listen to your speakers with the grills on or off. What are the pros and cons of both on or off . love the channel. ✌️

[@stevecassidy7789]

Not related to your video, but are you aware of the MCA Heavy Vinyl series from 1995?? I believe MCA hired Michael Fremer to head this effort. Virgin 180 gram vinyl remastered from original analoque tapes. According to Discogs they only produced five titles and I have two that I bought late 90's as I was rebuilding my record collection; Dave Mason's Alone Together and Buddy Guy's I Was Walking Through the Woods. Both were remastered by, you guessed it, Kevin Gray from Future Disc! Descriptive notes from Fremer on the hype sticker and the cardboard record protector. This was during Fremer's first incarnation as the Tracking Angle, trying to keep vinyl alive during the CD era. Once again, Discogs only lists 5 titles from this series, the other three being a Buddy Holly album and the Out of Africa soundtrack (not my thing) and the other, the crown jewel, The Who's Who's Next . Both of mine sound great, Mason's album has an amazing supporting cast of musicians and Buddy Guy, as always, cooks from start to finish.

[@Michael45RPM]

sorry Steve do not know them

[@broadhurst5000]

I bought an original German pressing here in aus then later got the re-issue. For me I by far prefer the re-issue. Definitely a more modern sound but the SQ of all these reissues are off the charts. Definitely also recommend getting the German versions.

[@rastheike4329]

Incredible fun: My hi- fi equipment. Yello Radio - Aktivity and be a girl. A very personal and soulful Michael. Yuor presentation. Michael at the age of 10, the first electronic music on vinyl and his girl! :-) A very emotional and moving review. I feel well touched by it. ❤️thanks Michael. Heike

[@deadquietvinyl]

Michael, you are very enthusiastic about the records you present today. Are you trying to tell is is your birthday?? 😊

[@shapeshifterboogie9853]

Thank you Mickael, for taking us through this journey into time, and back to some of your fond memories of the album. Now for a question, This album came out in 1975 one year before Oxygen by JM Jarre, what is the best version of that album. I want to buy it but there are so many versions, I want to buy both the CD and the vinyl record and even the Cassette. Any help from anybody would be much appreciated.

[@markusberzborn6346]

Early French pressings of Oxygene are very good and the MFSL is also very good, but has become really expensive.

[@musiclassica]

As Markus says, any 1970’s pressing will greatly suffice. There were literally millions of this album before 1980. And do not underestimate the CD version of the album. I believe the current Sony imprints will give you great joy.

[@shapeshifterboogie9853]

@@markusberzborn6346 I will start searching for a good 70’s copy! Thanks for the advice.

[@johns126]

Kraftwerk were incredibly influential-they influenced Bowie, now that is saying something!

[@mortenchristensen1613]

I agree but dont forget Jean Michel Jarre. Also a big pioneer in early tech music. You could say he med the first house music track

[@VagueRANT100]

MASTERPIECE...I have an OG English version on vinyl and the CD remaster ...both are great,but the remaster they have "cleaned up" the original mix which reduces the atmospherics...EG some of the intentional static effects on the original album have been lost....I insist that the best version is an original album release....postscript....I ADORE the remake of the title track on the THE MIX album

[@davidbarnes3232]

Acoustic Sounds is showing Kraftwerk copies available from Astralwerks and a release date to be announced on Atlantic. Is that correct. Perhaps if a new series on Atlantic is released you could compare it with the Astralwerks…. Is that the one you have here?

[@davidbarnes3232]

Never mind. I figured it out… the new ones are the coloured vinyl that Acoustic Sounds is waiting for. But my local record shop has them and I ordered them all (German)

[@joda1965]

Ist took me a long time to Like Kraftwerk. Today i love them. My parens weren't as cool aus yours.Mine only plays Classic and Udo Jürgens. It Is so heavy to become Original Pressings from Kraftwerk. But the Remasters are also good to me. Interesting comparison!!

[@KS-yy2fu]

What about George Harrison's Electronic sounds being supposed to be the first electronic record? Rumours are that Kraftwrrk Mighty have been big George Harrison fans. No matter what, Kraftwerk is not only groundbreaking music, it was influential in so many ways. Africa Bambaata Planet Rock is a good example. First touchpoints have been Wir sind die Roboter and Model form Mensch Maschine. The most I like their Trans Europe Express. Not to forget: While Abba is now avatars, Kraftwerk were the first to start this. There is a good collection of electronic stuff from Düsseldorf called Electric City. Though I own a CD only, I am sure it was also published on vinyl. Worth a listening as well.

[@markusberzborn6346]

OK, but this George Harrison LP is not really pop music, it is basically just fooling around a bit with a modular synthesizer, and it was to a large part done by Bernie Krause. And if the question is just "electronic" and not "pop", Stockhausen was of course much earlier. His "Studie 1" was recorded in 1953 and published for the first time on a 10 inch in 1957 (which everybody interested in electronic music should have, it is absolutely essential and groundbreaking). It also contains his famous "Gesang der Jünglinge" in a mono mixdown (from the five original tracks) - later a stereo mix was available as well, but there were no stereo LPs yet in 1957!

[@KS-yy2fu]

@@markusberzborn6346 Thanks for your expertise here. Did not know that. With focus on pop, maybe Timmy Thomas Why cant we live together is the full electronic one. Electric organ and drum machine only. Ok it is not pop it is a soul record.

[@TyroneEpps]

Thos is interesting ! 😊

[@JardinagemOrg]

You did not exageratte at all regarding Kraftwerk influence, in my opinion that's no way to measure it - not even pop would be the same. By coincidence I was listening to them yesterday (Man Machine). For me the album that changed everything was Computer World - there's a me before and a me after, it changed my taste in music (I was 14 years old). I love the remasters because they sound great and because they're in german (as for your advise) and the versions I knew we're the "international". But… Regarding the OG vs. remasters, I think you're talking of another ballgame regarding the previous examples - because (and I can be wrong), these remasters are with the complete involvement of the band, meaning that there's creativity involved. Maybe they can do things they couldn't at the time, maybe their taste evolved, maybe they wanted to try other thing, more contemporary, whatever… Also, being who they are, my guess is they have everything digital a long time ago. The comment about the others remasters I'll do it another time.🖖🏻

[@Another_Audiophile]

For electronic sounds Krafwerk were significant but the one who made the step to pop was Giorgio Moroder.

[@gsg1407]

Agree, his "From Here to Eternity" album released in 1977 is much closer to what we understand today as electronic/dance music compared to Kraftwerk. Moroder's has aged much better in my opinion.

[@markusberzborn6346]

Kraftwerk was not primarily intended as dance music.

[@danilopianca1957]

☺

[@pinchebolillosrecordranch]

I would love to get my hands on German pressings of all of Kraftwerk's albums. The worst pressing of Radio Activity I've ever heard was a late 70's French pressing I owned years ago. Very muddy. What was their biggest selling album in Germany?

[@Michael45RPM]

i would guess Mensch Maschine or Computerwelt

[@markusberzborn6346]

The only time they were on number one in the German LP charts was with "Tour de France Soundtracks" in 2003. But probably one had to sell much less records in 2003 to be on number one than in the seventies.

[@Z-eb]

Kraftwerk one and two is just as much NEU as Kraftwerk, shure to check out Kraftwerk Bremen 1971 !! The Missing Link between the two !!

[@markusberzborn6346]

Yes, the 1971 bootlegs are musically fantastic. But unfortunately not soundwise.

[@Fontsman]

Ah yes. The men from Kling Klang. Still so brilliant. Still so relevant... Changed the course of contemporary music. Personally I want to hear a remaster as close as possible to the master tape and not with those edges smoothed off.

[@BalduinOrgMusic]

The new remasters sound terrible. They even eliminated the tape noise between the Geiger counter. It's really terrible. Of course it's all louder and because of that it looses dynamics and the analogue touch of the sounds fully dissapears. The original german 1st press rules.

[@poisonflour6723]

In general I really like the reissues but agree something is not right here . It sounds like some one has removed way to much tape hiss which was always part of the original recording making the remaster sound like they removed a lot of the atmosphere

[@oldvideos6330]

hi 45, have you seen the Kraftwerk and The Electronic Revolution documentary?

[@Michael45RPM]

nope not yet

[@anonymex22]

Kraftwerks = Very good band, used doepfer for there synthetizer building. Original is the most accurate because in those days, the synthetizers capabilities were a lot of punch, very rought and very layered (simple). They softened and compressed the whole thing to be more today electronic sound, but it's not good, it's no more the rought electronic punchy layered (simple) sound that krafwerks delivered those days. Plus the color vinyl even if it change of the black... Would go for the original!

[@markusberzborn6346]

Yes, they used Doepfer equipment, but only from the late eighties/early nineties on. The Doepfer MAQ sequencer was based on an idea by Kraftwerk and Doepfer mentioned that explicitly in their adverts. I think it was a great idea - an analog sequencer for MIDI signals. Florian Schneider had a Doepfer A 100 modular system and made a short piece about it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pn21mJ2wes95oa8

[@rangerunner64]

Regarding why do newer remastered titles sound less edgy, present, punchy? Some feeling that as systems were designed more and more to be flat/neutral, that high mid range became harsh in modern systems and mastering has PERHAPS adjusted for this consciously or not. But of course a lot signaling as to the sonic character and in definition lives in the high mid. So…

[@awrogers3013]

Agree..you are hearing the pathway for electronic music into pop. You can argue that neu is almost as important…. I’m mixing my new record..Side 2 track 1 I have an anti. Antiwoke song..like being asleep is the answer…totally krautrock and maybe some fall mixed in…. Your differences are due to signal loss, Michael The original ALWAYS wins

[@vincentwerner4856]

There is a persistent rumour that those remasters are (partly) rerecorded. When I listen to them I think I can hear that quite clearly (imao).

[@Michael45RPM]

that really may be the case

[@markusberzborn6346]

Kraftwerk also made an explicit re-recording of all their work since Autobahn some years ago, not just a remastering. It is called "3D - The Catalogue" and was available as a 9 LP set. These are largely the versions they play today in concerts.

[@vincentwerner4856]

@@markusberzborn6346 Is that the case? I thought all subsequent issues where just repressings of the 2009 remaster (the one in The Catalogue box).

[@markusberzborn6346]

@@vincentwerner4856 No, Kraftwerk published two different LP sets: Remasterings of their albums from "Autobahn" on and completely new versions of these albums that were entirely rerecorded by the group in the years 2012-2016. The first set mentioned is called "The Catalogue" and the second one is called "3D - The Catalogue", an allusion to the 3D technology they have been using in concerts for some time now - the covers are also different. The 3D versions are not just remasterings or remixes, but musically very different. Try it, you will hear it at once. A selection of these new 3D versions was published on a double LP album in 2017. It is the "3D" records for which they received a Grammy in 2018.

[@markusberzborn6346]

For example, here is the 3D version of "Radioactivity" kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZe2lZVvptZmoac

[@guidoerfen7944]

Fun to see those stickers on the cover again. I had a hard time removing them back in the days (1978). This was irritating to me since these stickers were disturbing the minimalistic aesthetics. Why mess up such excellent cover art? In order to distract from "Goebbels-Schnauze"? My labels don't have the "Hörzu" logo anymore. So it must be 2nd or whatever pressing.

[@scruffy8861]

Never heard the German pressing but did own the 2020 remaster. I say did because i found it bland, somewhat neutered. After a few plays gave it to a friend.

[@awrogers3013]

On a related note, let’s dispel this analog always better than digital..this rule only applies if it was an original analog recording The advantage of recording digitally is that it will sound exactly the same 200 years from now and it will be EXACTLY the same Analog is a precious but unfortunately always DEGRADABLE format

[@adammichael8486]

Do you like Kadavar? 😁