Although they began as performers of improvised live music in the early 1970s, Kraftwerk’s main body of work consists primarily of studio recordings, released mostly as concept albums.
Since the mid-1970s Kraftwerk have always picked at least two album tracks for release as singles. These accompanying singles were, for many years, created by simply editing down the album recordings, rather than being remixed or otherwise expanded. Since 1991 Kraftwerk have tended to follow the trend for releasing singles in multiple remixed arrangements. Where necessary, any such remixes have been put in supplementary lists below the album track listings.
Very rarely, a small number of recordings have only been issued as albumless singles – these are therefore shown as separate projects.
In 1975 Kraftwerk began writing lyrics that combined both German and English verses. Beginning with the album Trans-Europe Express, released in 1977, most songs by Kraftwerk have been created as duplicate versions sung in English or German. Additional versions sung in French, Japanese or Spanish have also sometimes been made.
Recordings
The listing below comprises the official recording projects released by Kraftwerk (not including retrospective compilations or live albums).
"Geigerzähler" "Radioaktivität" "Radioland" "Ätherwellen" "Sendepause" "Nachrichten" "Die Stimme der Energie" · "Antenne" "Radio Sterne" "Uran" "Transistor" "Ohm Sweet Ohm"
"Geiger Counter" "Radio Activity" "Radioland" "Airwaves" "Intermission" "News" "The Voice of Energy" "Antenna" "Radio Stars" "Uranium" "Transistor" "Ohm Sweet Ohm"
Titles were translated for German (homeland) and English (foreign) albums but the actual recordings are identical, sung in a mixture of the two languages
First released: June 1983 (Vinyl/Cassette); August 1984 (Vinyl) remixed versions; July 1999 (CD)
Chart: #22 UK, #47 Germany (1983); #24 UK (1984)
1983
"Tour De France" (sung in German) "Tour De France" (sung in French) All issued tracks derive from edits of these recordings
1984
"Tour De France" (Kraftwerk remix in German) "Tour De France" (Kraftwerk remix in French) "Tour De France (Remix)" (François Kevorkian remix) All issued tracks derive from edits of these recordings. Also re-released in 1999 but with no additional remixes.
Electric Café (Deutsche Version) · Electric Café · Electric Café (Edicion Española)
First released: November 1986 (Vinyl/Cassette); December 1986 (CD)
Chart:
German
English
Spanish
"Boing Boom Tschak" "Techno Pop"(sung in German and Spanish) "Musique Non-Stop" "Der Telefon-Anruf"(sung in German) "Sex Objekt"(sung in German) "Electric Café" (sung in French and Spanish) ·
"Boing Boom Tschak" "Techno Pop"(sung in English and Spanish) "Musique Non-Stop" "The Telephone Call"(sung in English) "Sex Object"(sung in English) "Electric Café" (sung in French and Spanish) ·
"Boing Boom Tschak" "Techno Pop"(sung in Spanish) "Musique Non-Stop" "The Telephone Call"(sung in English) "Sex Object" (sung in Spanish) "Electric Café" (sung in French and Spanish)
"Die Roboter" "Computerliebe" "Taschenrechner" "Dentaku" "Autobahn" "Radioaktivität" "Trans Europa Express" "Abzug" "Metall Auf Metall" "Heimcomputer" "Musik Non Stop"
"The Robots" "Computerlove" "Pocket Calculator" "Dentaku" "Autobahn" "Radioactivity" "Trans Europe Express" "Abzug" "Metal On Metal" "Homecomputer" "Music Non Stop"
Additional tracks created from the same music data as the album tracks, for release on singles:
