Computer World

"We live in a computer world, so we made a song about it", said mastermind Ralf Hütter.{{cite web|url=https://vinylwriters.com/computerwelt-kraftwerk-recorded-the-first-anti-surveillance-song-40-years-ago/ |title=Legendary Work|date=2022}} Computer World has been described as a futuristic conceptual work that predicts the presence of computer technology in everyday life. Featuring themes such as home computers and digital communication, the album has been seen as both a celebration of computer technology as well as a warning about its potential to exert power on society with social control and digital surveillance. Despite its theme, the production of the album was completely analogue and did not involve any computer technology.Schütte, Uwe "Computerwelt (1981)" German Pop Music: A Companion Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG, 2017

The cover shows a computer terminal (apparently based on the Hazeltine 1500){{Cite web|url=http://ask.metafilter.com/18539/Computer-World-cover|title = Computer World cover}} displaying the heads of the four band members. The font is indicative of OCR-A.

The inner sleeve artwork, created by Emil Schult and photographed by Günter Fröhling, depicts four slightly robotic-looking mannequins (representing the band members engaged in studio activities: performing, recording, mixing), similar to the artwork of the previous album, The Man-Machine, also created by Fröhling. In two photos, the mannequin representing Karl Bartos is seen playing a Stylophone, an instrument which is featured{{citation-needed|date=March 2025}} on the track "Pocket Calculator".

Computer World peaked at {{nobr|No.{{space|hair}}15}} on the UK Albums Chart. It was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 12 February 1982 for shipments in excess of 60,000 copies.

The track "Computer Love" was released as a seven-inch single in the UK, in June 1981, backed with "The Model", from the group's previous album The Man-Machine. The single reached {{nobr|No.{{space|thin}}36}} in the charts. In December 1981 the two songs were reissued as a double A-side twelve-inch single, and reached {{nobr|No.{{space|hair}}1}} on the UK Singles Chart in early February 1982, although "The Model" received the most airplay.

"Pocket Calculator" was released as a seven-inch single in the USA by Warner Brothers in 1981, pressed on a fluorescent yellow/lime vinyl, matching the color of the album cover. The flip side featured the Japanese version of "Pocket Calculator," "Dentaku".{{cite AV media |title=Pocket Calculator |type=7" single |others=Kraftwerk |publisher=Warner Bros. Records |year=1981 |id=WBS 49723}} “Pocket Calculator” charted at No.38 in the UK Singles Chart.

"Computerwelt" was remixed in 1982 as a dance version with additional bass and percussion sounds. It was released in January 1982 as a twelve-inch vinyl single only in Germany. The original track was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance in 1982.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t0UEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA90 |title=24th Annual Grammy Awards Final Nominations |magazine=Billboard |location=New York |issn=0006-2510 |volume=94 |issue=3 |date=23 January 1982 |access-date=1 May 2014 |page=90}} "Computer World" was also chosen by the BBC for use in the titles of their UK computer literacy project, The Computer Programme.

Kraftwerk issued several different versions of the single "Pocket Calculator" in different languages: namely, German ("Taschenrechner"), French ("Mini Calculateur"), and Japanese ("Dentaku", or 電卓). Also Italian version ("Mini Calcolatore") was performed playback in television.

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/computer-world-mw0000199024 |title=Computer World – Kraftwerk |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=1 May 2014 |last=Raggett |first=Ned}}

| rev2 = Drowned in Sound

| rev2score = 10/10{{cite web |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14742/reviews/4138139 |title=Album Review: Kraftwerk – Computer World: Remastered |website=Drowned in Sound |date=14 October 2009 |access-date=9 July 2011 |last=Power |first=Chris |archive-date=10 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710023728/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/14742/reviews/4138139 |url-status=dead }}

| rev3 = Encyclopedia of Popular Music

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Kraftwerk |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music |last=Larkin |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Larkin |publisher=Omnibus Press |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|4}}{{cite news |title=CDs of the week: Kraftwerk reissues |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |issn=0261-3077 |date=14 April 1995 |last=Sweeting |first=Adam |author-link=Adam Sweeting}}

| rev5 = Mojo

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Gut Vibrations |magazine=Mojo |location=London |issn=1351-0193 |issue=192 |date=November 2009 |last=Snow |first=Mat |author-link=Mat Snow |page=110}}

| rev6 = Q

| rev6score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Kraftwerk: Computer World |magazine=Q |location=London |issn=0955-4955 |issue=104 |date=May 1995 |page=123}}

| rev7 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev7score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Kraftwerk |last1=Coleman |first1=Mark |last2=Randall |first2=Mac |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/468 468–69]}}

| rev8 = Select

| rev8score = 4/5{{cite magazine |title=Kraftwerk: Radio Activity / Man Machine / Computer World / The Mix |magazine=Select |location=London |issn=0959-8367 |issue=60 |date=June 1995 |last=Harrison |first=Andrew}}

| rev9 = Uncut

| rev9score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/kraftwerk/uncut-reviews-kraftwerk-reissues-review |title=Uncut reviews: Kraftwerk – Reissues |magazine=Uncut |location=London |issn=1368-0722 |date=16 October 2009 |access-date=1 May 2014 |last=Cavanagh |first=David |author-link=David Cavanagh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205031308/http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/kraftwerk/reviews/13709 |archive-date=5 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}

| rev10 = The Village Voice

| rev10score = B{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv11-81.php |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide |newspaper=The Village Voice |location=New York |issn=0042-6180 |date=2 November 1981 |access-date=9 January 2016 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}

}}

Computer World was ranked the second best album of 1981 by NME.{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/bestalbumsandtracksoftheyear/1981-2-1045398 |title=1981 Best Albums And Tracks Of The Year |website=NME |date=10 October 2016 |access-date=14 February 2018}} But some contemporary critics were unimpressed. Smash Hits reviewer David Hepworth described the content as "predictable" and "gimmicky" and not the presumed step forward by the group: "Kraftwerk are seemingly content to tootle around on their instrument panels in the service of a bunch of non-songs about pocket calculators and computers", Hepworth wrote, giving the album a 4 out of 10 rating.{{cite magazine|title=Albums |author=Hepworth, David |magazine=Smash Hits 14 May 1981 |page=36 }}

Retrospectively, Computer World has frequently appeared in numerous 'Best'-listings. In 2012, Slant Magazine placed it at {{nobr|No.{{space|thin}}25}} on its list of the 100 best albums of the 1980s.{{cite web |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/best-albums-of-the-1980s/ |title=The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s |website=Slant Magazine |date=5 March 2012 |access-date=1 May 2014}} In 2018, Computer World was listed by Pitchfork as the 18th best album of the 1980s.{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-albums-of-the-1980s/?page=10 |title=The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s |website=Pitchfork |date=10 September 2018 |access-date=20 September 2018 |page=10}} Pitchfork listed the track "Computer Love" as the 53rd best song of the 1980s.{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9700-the-200-best-songs-of-the-1980s/8/ |title=The 200 Best Songs of the 1980s |website=Pitchfork |date=24 August 2015 |access-date=8 April 2017 |page=8}} Rolling Stone named Computer World the 10th greatest EDM album of all time in 2012.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-30-greatest-edm-albums-of-all-time-160883/kraftwerk-computer-world-warner-bros-1981-229794/ |title=The 30 Greatest EDM Albums of All Time |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2 August 2012 |access-date=1 May 2014 |last1=Dolan |first1=Jon |last2=Matos |first2=Michaelangelo}}

{{further|Computer World (tour)}}

Following the release of the Computer World album, Kraftwerk went on a subsequent tour, that started on 24 May 1981 and ended on 14 December 1981.

Computer World maintains a distinct influence over subsequent releases across a multitude of genres; this influence is particularly noticeable in early and contemporary hip-hop and rap.

In 1982, American DJ and rapper Afrika Bambaataa wrote the song "Planet Rock" and recorded chords inspired from Trans-Europe Express. The song's lyrics also included the Japanese number counting "Ichi Ni San Shi" from Kraftwerk's "Numbers".

Cybotron's 1983 release "Clear", from the album Enter, contains multiple auditory elements of Computer World: the musical refrain closely resembles parts of "Home Computer" and "It's More Fun to Compute"; additionally, the track contains musical allusions to other Kraftwerk tracks.{{cite web |last1=Ben |first1=Cardew |title=SOLID GOLD: THE REMARKABLE INFLUENCE OF DETROIT TECHNO'S FIRST ALBUM, 'ENTER' BY CYBOTRON |url=https://djmag.com/content/solid-gold-remarkable-influence-detroit-techno%E2%80%99s-first-album-%E2%80%98enter%E2%80%99-cybotron |website=DJ Mag |publisher=Thrust Publishing Ltd |access-date=4 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203135343/https://djmag.com/content/solid-gold-remarkable-influence-detroit-techno%E2%80%99s-first-album-%E2%80%98enter%E2%80%99-cybotron |archive-date=3 December 2021 |url-status=dead}}

Señor Coconut y su Conjunto, an electronic project of German musician Uwe Schmidt which initially covered Kraftwerk's songs, published a merengue-styled version of "It's More Fun to Compute" on their first LP El Baile Alemán, wrongly labeled as "Homecomputer" on the sleeve.

Coldplay used the main riff from "Computer Love" in their song "Talk" from their 2005 album X&Y. La Roux used the main riff from "Computer Love" in their song "I'm Not Your Toy" from their self-titled debut album.

Ricardo Villalobos's track "Lugom-IX" from the 2006 album Salvador prominently uses the riff from "Computer World".

Fergie's track "Fergalicious", from her 2006 debut album The Dutchess, borrows heavily from two tracks on Computer World: the opening synth line from "It's More Fun to Compute", as well as the rhythmic component of J.J. Fad's "Supersonic", as the latter track's beat is based upon the Computer World track "Numbers".{{cite web |last1=Kyle |first1=Munzenrieder |title=How "Fergalicious" Is the Perfect Example of Kraftwerk's Huge Influence on Music |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/story/kraftwerk-florian-schneider-fergalicious |website=W Magazine |publisher=Women's Wear Daily |access-date=4 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104145859/https://www.wmagazine.com/story/kraftwerk-florian-schneider-fergalicious |archive-date=4 January 2022 |url-status=dead}} Arabian Prince, the co-producer of "Supersonic", has been vocal about his admiration of Kraftwerk.{{cite web |last1=Ferguson |first1=Kevin |title=Love old school hip-hop? Thank Kraftwerk |url=https://archive.kpcc.org/programs/offramp/2016/09/09/51972/love-old-school-hip-hop-thank-kraftwerk/ |website=89.3 KPCC |publisher=Southern California Public Radio (SCPR) |access-date=4 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104145713/https://archive.kpcc.org/programs/offramp/2016/09/09/51972/love-old-school-hip-hop-thank-kraftwerk/ |archive-date=4 January 2022 |url-status=dead}}

"Home Computer" is used as background music in the Young Sheldon episode "A Computer, a Plastic Pony, and a Case of Beer".

LCD Soundsystem took "Home Computer" throughout the track Disco Infiltrator.

DJ Hooligan (Da Hool) sampled The Mix version of "Home Computer" for the Underground and Cursed remix of the song "Scatman's World" by Scatman John.

Beck took sounds from it and played "Home Computer" live.{{cite web|url=https://www.whosampled.com/sample/68602/Beck-Get-Real-Paid-Kraftwerk-Home-Computer/ |title=Beck Track|website=WhoSampled |date=1999}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUdxSzvxqNg |title=Beck Track II |website=YouTube |date=2016}}

Neil Young's 1983 electronic album Trans was influenced by Computer World.

Ulf Ekberg of Ace of Base, when asked what brought him to music, if he had to boil it down to one reason, responded with: "In one word: Kraftwerk. Once Kraftwerk released their 1981 album Computerwelt it all became clear to me: they showed the world that you can combine music with technology and be successful with it — and that was exactly what I wanted to do."{{cite web|url=https://euromentravel.com/culture/popculture/ulf-ekberg-ace-of-base-interview |title=Roots Music |date=2016}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side one

| title_width = 35%

| lyrics_width = 35%

| music_width = 21%

| title1 = Computer World

| note1 = "Computerwelt"

| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Ralf Hütter|Florian Schneider|Emil Schult}}

| music1 = {{hlist|Hütter|Karl Bartos}}

| length1 = 5:05

| title2 = Pocket Calculator

| note2 = "Taschenrechner"

| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Hütter|Schult}}

| music2 = {{hlist|Hütter|Bartos}}

| length2 = 4:55

| title3 = Numbers

| note3 = "Nummern"

| music3 = {{hlist|Hütter|Schneider|Bartos}}

| length3 = 3:19

| title4 = Computer World 2

| note4 = "Computerwelt 2"

| music4 = {{hlist|Hütter|Schneider|Bartos}}

| length4 = 3:23

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| title_width = 35%

| lyrics_width = 35%

| music_width = 21%

| total_length = 34:27

| title5 = Computer Love

| note5 = "Computerliebe"

| lyrics5 = {{hlist|Hütter|Schult}}

| music5 = {{hlist|Hütter|Bartos}}

| length5 = 7:15

| title6 = Home Computer

| note6 = "Heimcomputer"

| lyrics6 = Schneider

| music6 = {{hlist|Hütter|Schneider|Bartos}}

| length6 = 6:16

| title7 = It's More Fun to Compute

| music7 = {{hlist|Hütter|Schneider|Bartos}}

| length7 = 4:14

}}

• The German Version of "Computer World 2" is 12 seconds shorter and contains a different mix from the 2:30 minute mark.

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".{{cite AV media notes |title=Computer World |type=LP liner notes |others=Kraftwerk |publisher=EMI |year=1981 |id=EMC 3370}} By contrast, the 2009 remastered edition notes list the performer credits as the following:{{cite AV media notes |title=Computer World |type=remastered CD liner notes |others=Kraftwerk |publisher=Mute Records |year=2009 |id=CDSTUMM 307}}

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

• Ralf Hütter – voice, vocoder, synthesizer, keyboards, Orchestron, Synthanorma Sequenzer, electronics, software
• Florian Schneider – vocoder, speech synthesis, synthesizer, electronics, software
• Karl Bartos – electronic drums, software
• Wolfgang Flür – software

• Ralf Hütter – mixing, cover, original artwork reconstruction, album concept, production
• Florian Schneider – mixing, cover, album concept, production
• Peter Bollis – hardware
• Hermann J. Poertner – hardware
• Gerd Rothe – hardware
• Pit Franke – software
• Karl Klefisch – software
• Falk Kübler – software
• Takeshi Shikura – software
• Martin Tewis – software
• Carol Martin – software
• Tom Lanik – software
• Doreen D'Agostino – software
• Marvin Katz – software
• Bob Krasnow – software
• Günter Spachtholz – software
• Joachim Dehmann – software
• Emil Schult – cover
• Günter Fröhling – photos
• Johann Zambryski – original artwork reconstruction

{{div col end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

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{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Computer World}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Kraftwerk|title=Computer World|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=1981|certyear=1982|id=1491-1009-2|date=12 February 1982|access-date=20 December 2021|refname="BPI"}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|3112}}

{{Kraftwerk}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1981 albums

Category:Albums produced by Florian Schneider

Category:Albums produced by Ralf Hütter

Category:1980s concept albums

Category:Electropop albums

Category:EMI Records albums

Category:1980s German-language albums

Category:Kraftwerk albums

Category:Warner Records albums