I bought this album in a record store in 1974. I was 15 years old at the time. I had to save my pocket money before I could buy it. The album is still in beautiful condition. I am now 64 years old and still enjoy it. For today's music lovers nothing special I think, they were raised on synthesizer sound.
This is electronic art. Synth-pop began here, this is pretty much its proof of concept. Since I first listened to it, it’s now a bucket list goal in my life to drive on the autobahn listening to Autobahn.
Have done exactly that - a truly transcendent experience. You can understand they joy they used to feel in their secondhand high capacity Mercedes Benz’s travelling the length and breath of their country at whatever speed they deemed appropriate (no limit). Amongst the rubble of post war Germany it must have been an absolute escape from the aftermath that of WW2. Their albums MADE me travel
As a 19 year old I remember buying the Autobahn single in 1975 and playing it on my Technics amplifier and Wharfdale speakers. Such joy. Weren't the 1970s simply the best for music?👏👏👏👍
Saw them doing this song on American TV. My mom and I were astonished. They didn’t look or sound like anyone else and their instruments were still so new. Loved them ever since!
Somewhere there is a picture of my great grandpa sitting in a recliner with headphones on, listening to this album. It was taken about 1978. Electronic music runs in my blood.
Finally Kraftwerk, one of the most influential band you usually never heard of. I live in Montréal Canada and most of my family lives in Québec City, and my father was a great fan of Autobahn, so every time we would drive to Québec, witch was a lot of time during the year, it would play in the car. Perfect music for the long 2 hour drive. You definitely have to listen to Autobahn during the next long drive you will do. In the beginning Kraftwerk had different member change but after the recording of Autobahn there is always 4 member. During their most popular years it was the 2 founding members, Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider and Wolfgang Flür and Karl Bartos where the other 2. Also, Autobahn was a transitional album, only Ralf and Florian played on the title track. Wolfgang only played on one track and Karl join the band for the tour. Autobanh is also the last album with acoustic instruments, after that they became electronic only.
You’ve got to imagine listening to this as a 12 year old boy who had never heard an electronic music instrument before, let alone a whole album of it. Truly mind blowing, apart from the genius of the band that produced this amazing piece of music.
Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre were the pioneers of electronic music and had a lasting impact on the genre. They were way ahead of their time and their possibilities. And what they did was something that had never been heard before. Anyone who heard the first 30 seconds of “Autobahn” during that time may have had their life changed forever. Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre definitely influenced me. And as children we always sang "Autobahn" when we were on the highway/freeway or on that Autobahn and on the way to vacation. Was great fun. I salute these pioneers. Greetings from Germany.
Kraftwerk is the most sampled group in music history. From Afrika Bambaataa to Could play. Trans Europe Express, Robots, Models, Radioactivity, are some of the many classics of this sensational group.
the number Coldplay borrowed from them is one of my favourite Coldplay numbers but they have so many from there early years its a hard one with coldplay but kraftwerks influence is a hair raising moment in talk by coldplay
You did Jean-Michel Jarre. You’ve done Vangelis. Now you’ve done Kraftwerk. Now it’s time to discover Tangerine Dream. Try their live concert in the USA (the album “Encore”, one song per side on a double-album) and the live concert in Poland (the album “Poland”, one song per side on a double-album). Now, back to Mike Oldfield, please :)
Justin, you have mentioned that you enjoy your bike. Kraftwerk's Tour de France soundtrack is excellent biking music. It is also good music to put on when the weather doesn't allow you to go out.
This is the dawn of techno. Huge influence on the Detroit techno legends Derrick May, Juan Atkins, Jeff Mills... who took this whole vibe and really developed it into a whole genre of futuristic dance music. Kraftwerk deserves credit for getting their first.
Kling Klang, baby! So glad to see you get into these guys, JP - you've taken the car trip and now have the train (Trans-Europe Express) and bicycle (Tour de France) voyages ahead, among many other great tracks. I was selling stereo equipment back in 74 and could almost guarantee sales by running Side 1 here on a high end turntable and cartridge thru a couple of JBL floor monitors (each about the size of a mini Cooper😂). So much fun! Can't wait for you to explore further and I second the motion from others that you also check out Tangerine Dream, Cluster, Can and many others.👍
I like the way they use the sounds you would hear driving along the "Autobahn" car engines, the sound of a car zooming but using a synth to depict this sound, as such can be musical. It's different from the usual rock music around at the time. It's sounds clinical,but in a good way, also repetitive, but again in a good way. Does sound a bit like classical music in parts. I think this sound of car noises, and what you hear driving is maybe the aural equivalent of found objects in art The album cover does depict what the the lyrics say. Also if you look at the cover you will see 4 small photographs on the dashboard..
Im a army brat were stationed in Germany, I'm sitting in the px cafeteria just a kid a soldier goes to the jukebox and plays this tune the single version and my world is never the same after. It went to to number 3 in the BB charts. I heard on Casey Kasims American top 40 at #3 in 1975. Been a fan ever since. Long live Kraftwerk !
Oh my god you finally did them. This is a great song The song of the future when this came out in 74. These guys have so many good songs, The Robots, The Model, The Man Machine, Trans Europe express, compoter love, Tour de france. Kraftwerk are amazing, also Ian curtis of Joy division used to bring in Kraftwerk albums during Joy divisions recording sessions and they got some influence from them, you can hear it on Unknown pleasures and Closer. Check out more Kraftwerk you wont be disappointed.
So recently I had this talk with a young Russian girl, huge fan of EDM. I played Die Roboter (The Robots) and asked whether she knew this new song. She went Wow, great dance song with retro elements, who are these guys? Haha, yea that was released in 78, for me their best song (that intro alone). Timeless music.
I remember a confused reviewer in Sweden recognizing the importance of this song, while not really liking electronica. “Well, I guess this is the future now”
Kraftwerk's appearance on the BBC science programme 'Tomorrow's World' in 1975 is credited with inspiring a generation of young musicians and pop fans in the UK. I think they are to electronic music what The Beatles were to guitar pop and rock. It took a few years for people to catch up.
Kraftwerk were massively influential and are one of those "jumping off points" that can lead you in different directions, from spacey-prog to dance music to industrial electronic noise. Neu, Cluster, Popol Vuh. You won't be surprised to find out that Eno is in there too. Coming back to Kraftwerk, Computer World was another massively influential record.
I'm a huge fan of Kraftwerk, and for the life of me cannot understand how they're not in the R&RHOF, (given their influence to not just the electronic music genre, but new wave, synth-pop, and even hip-hop). My favorite albums are the three with the classic line-up of Ralf Hutter, Florian Schneider, Karl Bartos, and Wolfgang Flur, "Trans Europe Express", "The Man Machine" and "Computerworld".
Kraftwerk is a fantastic band! This is not normally my type of music but I love these guys! You're in for a treat! This album (Autobahn), Trans Europe Express and the Man Machine are essential listens
cool video! I remember my dad playing this on the autobahn when we were visiting germany in 2016. I remember how we were going 220kmh in our volvo lol.
Imagine this is 1974. You're with a group of teenage friends, students, candles, beers, lots of it. Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple...enz, enz. One of your friends stands up, walks towards the turntable and puts on Kraftwerks vinyl LP Autobahn IT..IS..1974!!...It is out of time, alien like, It has nothing to do about "I don't know how it feels like to drive in EUROPE on the Autobahm so I don't get the HYPE (lmfao). Murican dumbing down everyting they don't understand (Ignorant Muricans) As if all Eupopeans (see what I did there?) drove on the Autobahn and used that as an inspiration to make Techno music..20 years later. Anywhoo. Yet it feels natural. Hence your reaction. like you've heared it before. AND people nowadays are not easily shocked, let alone e the imagination how it was to hear this kinda music back in 1970-ish. Not only the sounds, but the rhythms. The innovators and pioneers of electronic music, as well as major influences for techno, synth-pop, hip-hop, house music, post-punk and various flavours of dance music.
The trip, the joy of a sunny, relaxing trip, where the important is to go. No matter where. The wind, the clouds, the mountains, the sea beyond. The music in the car. Going fast but with no hurry. Stop at gas station, ask where is nowhere and start again the trip. This are my impression listening this amazing masterpiece.
Kraftwerk really sounded like the future in 1974 and motorways seemed to be a futuristic way of travel then too. It's an utterly hypnotic piece of music. This was a seminal album directly influencing Bowie ahead of his Berlin period but also dozens of electronic groups in the late seventies / early eighties.
Autobahns were built already since the 1930's. Originally their purpose was to allow fast transfer to troops, Germany being what it was at the time. But true by 1920's all the modern day travelling was possible, aeroplanes, trains and ships as well, telephone and radio were new and exciting. In a way the song is a reflection of that time and also 60's optimism, man on the Moon, television, jet passenger planes, travelling became possible to wide part of the people.
@@onsesejoo2605 That's really interesting. Motorways only really started opening in the UK on a gradual basis in the sixties, so I always think of a full cross-country motorway network as a seventies phenomenon So true about the era being seemingly full of possibilities with space travel and colour TV, etc.
Music aside, this was also regarded as social commentary, with the ability to drive endlessly on the Autobahn (with no speed limit) being seen as part of the mindless consumerism that was the "bread and circuses" for the German public in the era of the postwar economic miracle. I don't know if that's what the band had in mind, but that kind of interpretation was certainly part of the reaction to the song.
Justin's quotes from a band member near the end suggest that that was not what they had in mind, so I guess it must have been other people's hostile reaction to the song.
@@roberttaylor5997 At the time, especially British press tended to look down their noses to what they called "Krautrock", lumping bands like Can, Kraftwerk, Amon Düül, Tangerine Dream to that category.
Full-length version is a challenge in repetitiveness, but that's what long trips on German motorways feel like, and it is a great and important piece!! Kraftwerk's first few albums (the band later was a bit embarrassed of) were actually experimental Krautrock thingys with flute, guitar noise etc. This was the first time they went fully electronic, the rest of this album sounds less so. Later albums cemented their reputation as robotic music performers and were maybe even more or at least equally influential.
Haven’t heard this in *decades*, wow. It was a big deal for local DJ’s to play the whole song in 1974, prolly for a bathroom or Smoke break in hindsight. For a midwest kid it was truly groundbreaking music.
Synth-pop starts with these guys. This is the album that got their name out there. This is the song that knocked on everyone's door. The world would never be the same from this point forward.
Kraftwerk, Neu, Can, Faust, Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, Guru Guru, Agitation Free, Amon Duul, Amon Dull II, Cluster, Ash Ra Tempel and a whole host of other fantastic German bands from the Krautrock scene 69-75 produced some of the most creative, cosmic and transcendent music by anyone, anywhere at any time. You can hear whole new genres coming into being through their experimentation and embracing of new technology. An era difficult ever to see being repeated.
Know a lot of these bands from back then. I still love them and still have all the records. Krautrock! Do you know Grobschnitt? Solar music live, Rockpommel’s land are great albums.
@@palantir135 Hah, just listened this morning to a 31 linutes life version of Die Sinfonie with my son in the car. Reminded me why I was a fan of Grobschnitt (the only band I have ever seen 4 times and the only band I drank a beer with the guitar player).
This is the only Kraftwerk that I truly love. It is delightful and surprising, even after decades of listening to it. Directly influenced by Kraftwerk, Gary Numan' album "Replica" has to very good instrumentals that might interest you, since most people credit him with creating the modern era of electronic Rock. "When the Machines Rock" is upbeat and danceable, while "I Nearly Married a Human" is slow and beautiful. Ultravox, the band whom Numan credits with starting his genre, have a fantastic instrumental: "Astradyne", from their Midge Ure-led period.
Kraftwerk have a special place in my musical catalogue. I like the way they use different languages in their vocals, mainly German and English though. Had the chance to see them live a few years ago. Only concert I've been to where they handed out 3D glasses for the show. It was fantastic. Are we having an electronic weekend? With Tangerine Dream cued up for later?
@@Totenkopfzwerg Rubycon is their best album from my point of view because their two suites are very surreal but ultimately relatively accessible compared to say Phaedra which was more obscure. Stratosfear is really great too but easier to tackle.
@@a.k.1740 Well put. I do enjoy all of them, but yeah Rubycon is definitely the most spell-binding. Whether it's brought up to my mind from the album cover or whether it's something in the music itself, I'm not sure, but "with my mind's eye" I can see the movement of water in various ways and shapes when listening to that album. A profound experience every single time. And I don't use any hallucinogenic substances, mind you, that's just the power of the music itself :)
@@Totenkopfzwerg I don't use hallucinogens either so I really know what you mean because since listening to 70s Tangerine Dream music and more specifically Rubycon (which goes a long way back now), mentally visions of colors, smells, textures and landscapes come automatically to me so I understand the power of images that this music provides.
Their first 2 albums,simply called Kraftwerk 1 and 2 had a traffic come as the logo,when The Robots was released,they had mannequins made with motors in them.the heads sculpted to exact likeness
Great review and greatly appreciate not stopping the music to talk. Kudos to you. I was 9 when I heard Autobahn and it was so different to the usual guitar rock stuff and so ahead of its time. This was recorded before polyphonic synthesizers, digital drum machines, digital sequencers, samplers came out. They mainly used a Minimoog, Arp Odyssey, EMS VCS3, Sennheiser VSM-201Vocoder and tape delays, phasers and flangers. They took apart an old rhythm box like the sort that came in home organs and added metal pads and sticks to trigger the sounds. The only polyphonic instrument was some kind of organ like a Farfisa, so if anyone knows what it was that Ralf used, I'd love to know. Both founding members were classically trained. Florian Schneider was a flautist and I'm sure it was Ralf who played the guitar parts. It is only recently that they were admitted to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. An incredible piece of music with clear classical influences and the forerunners of break downs and build ups of Trance. RIP Florian mein herr. The single version came out in 1975 and the traffic noises in the middle section was used as the theme tune for a BBC children's TV series called 'Out Of Bounds' and kometenmelodie 2 on the other side of this LP also featured during the last episode of the series.
My first Kraftwerk experience was with this song. I was amazed at how they could create this groove without using guitars, bass or drums. On an unimportant note, a few years ago, my dream of driving down the Autobahn while listening to Autobahn came true lol
Happy memory - Driving from Taumarunui to Tauranga (NZ) on a hot, midsummer's day 1975 - windows down, Kraftwerk cranked up - first time hearing Autobahn - unforgettable
The world of music would not be the same without Kraftwerk. This is what pioneers sound like, even as they are quite accessbile most of the time. My favourite album of them is Trans-Europe Express, but The Man-Machine is probably their most accessible/successful one. Loved to see them live some years ago as well :)
This's a great track. A real gamechanger in the genre of electronic music. Though this's not a 100% electronic, there's organic instruments too. And Kraftwerk often seen as the doyens, and were/are hugely influential. Though electronic music'd been around since the 50's. The underlying beats, the various sections/melodies played over mimicking the sounds, feel of a long road trip. The radio being tuned, nice touch. A classic, hypnotic, and accomplished piece of work.
My favourite Kraftwerk track. This was very innovative for the time, and one of the first electronic albums to chart. A highly edited version was released as a single.
My brother taught me what stereo meant by playing this record. Kraftwerk is not given nearly enough credit for the influence they've had on music, from new wave to electronica, and even hip hop. I love your quote about whether the similarity to Fun, Fun, Fun is intentional (which I had thought it was). "No, they are wrong." Such German.
Still one of my fav bands for nearly 50 years. All of Ralf Hütters and Florian Schneiders synthesizers, modulators and the vocoder were custom-built prototypes. Florian also played a synthesized flute and Wolfgang Flür one of the very first electronic drum kits, located in a briefcase. The line-up was completed by Klaus Röder, who played synthesized guitar and electronic violin and viola and produced many of the sounds of the cars and buildings passing by. The first fully virtual musical head trip! Greez from Germany, Mike! 😉 🚗 🚘 🚙
Wow, what a great song, so ahead from their time, I’ve heard this band back in 1978 Trans-Europe Express and that’s it, till now. I must add it on my list, thank you so much for bringing it up.
In 1974, I was a meer 13 year old, listening to glam rock and along comes this really strange new sound. Yes, there was synthetic music, mainly from prog rock bands, but nothing like this. Autobahn, for me, was a pivotal point and the start of a journey into an electronic future.
Great track to chill or driving on the Autobahn and a opener to modern dancemusic, techno, electro, hip- hop, and so on. Nice reaction and best wishes from Düsseldorf.
Glad to see this song getting some reactions. It is a classic. Though I actually like Kometenmelodie 2 a little bit more and Mitternacht is a great track as well.
This main title song had three section, first of BEGINNING,after the 2nd is CONTINUE, and the final section is CONCLUSION, released on 8-track cassette tape in US
Break dancers worshipped them.I was almost 2 in the summer of 78 when dad bought The Man Machine,as soon as the record started,my ear was against the speaker,loved them since,RIP Florian Schneider,Co founder
It's hard to overstate how revolutionary this sounded when it came out. They totally influenced a generation of musicians who interpreted that sound into new genres. More amazingly, Kraftwerk listened to those musicians that they influenced and were themselves influenced and changed their music. I really encourage you to listen to a newer live version like this one... it's very familiar fo the original, yet they have updated the density and dynamics a bit, as well as some of the percussion. They kinda became DJs of their own tracks. ruclips.net/video/1DO-Ddqbqgs/видео.html
While there were other members, the driving forces (pun unintended) behind Kraftwerk were Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider. Schneider, who died in April 2020 (RIP), was name-checked in David Bowie's track, "V-2 Schneider," from the "Heroes" LP.
How cool is that to hear first the German band Tangerine Dream and now the German band Kraftwerk as a reaction. I love both bands and also the good Frenchman Jean-Michel Jarre I love this electronic music since the end of the 70s when I heard Kraftwerk's Roboter on the radio. By the way, the car sounds were originally recorded on a German Autobahn.
Thanks for putting up the video of the Autobahn dashcam - never been there, but parts of it are very similar to Highway 70 in Kansas. I really like Ralf and Florian in their early days - I have their 1973 self titled album, a collection of audio impressionist sketches of things like roulette tables. The flute is a nice flourishing touch. That same year, Pink Floyd released Dark Side of the Moon - would be interested to know if the highway sequence was the inspiration for 1974's "Autobahn" - which of course takes it to a very advanced level. Great synth effect of rubber wheels splashing through a soaking rain.
It's funny you should mention I-70, Bob, as my friends and I would regularly drive it (abilene to Salina or abilene to Topeka, Lawrence or KC) and this album was, without a doubt, one of our go-to's.
Yay! Love these guys. Back in my university days, I used to listen to this, Trans-Europe Express, and Radioactivity with my earphones in so I could get to sleep when my housemates were being complete idiots and being loud till all hours in the night. I always used to think they were singing "Fan, fan, fan of the Autobahn". I think that fits quite well, since the whole album is dedicated to that road network.
One thing to keep in mind about a musical piece like this is that we were almost always stoned when we listened to it. That's one of the main reasons that many of us sought out music such as this (prog, electronic, etc.) back then--because it was such a great accompaniment to being stoned.
THE Autobahn is everywhere in Germany, from the coasts in the north to the Alps in the South, from the Western borders to the Eastern borders. It's actually a grid of many Autobahns (Autobahnen), who cross each other, with the odd numbers roughly leading fom North to South, and the even numbers leading from West to East with many shorter segments (higher numbers) in between. Except mumber 10 leads around Berlin. The scenery can be nice, depending on where you are.
Did you know there is or was a gallery type museum in London dedicated to there ground breaking musical genius I just googled it, it documents the full journey of there electronic music journey from the start untill the present day with the chemical brothers even Donna summers disco hit I feel love the short and long versions you can recognise there influence big time in them, kraftwork influencing motown disco type dance hits now that was some thing never expected but they even had there own club hit with the model
I must go to that museum! I never knew it was there, thank you. And Hermand is right, JP - you must listen to Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love', a classic of both disco and electronic music.
Legendary!!! At some pint, especially sense you are on a early electronic music kick, I've said it before, Todd Rundgren's "A Treatise On Cosmic Fire" It's deep, it's beautiful, it's terrifying and it's satisfying. BUT........ It's over 30mins long!!!! It's on side two of the 1975 album "Initiation"
I discovered this band in 1974 and bought this album as a cut out , Autobahn what great album, but I saw this band in ,2004 at the Jackie Gleason theater, but my friend and I miss half the show and we came in when they did neon lights. so we miss them do Autobahn, but that was no problem , because they release minimum. Maximum on DVD and when I saw it , I said , my god , I miss that many songs. , But what great concert , At least we got to see them perform Radio activity and other great songs.
Heard this for the first time in early 1975 in Philadelphia on a popular radio show at the time - The Dr. Demento show - who played a lot of music, much of it comedy and tracks like these that weren't so often played on the radio.
Justin...you know what...my goodness I could give you a BIG hug brother. You totally understood the essence of the song. Thank you for getting around to this. 1. I myself LOVE being on the road too. Have taken many many road trips. (Going to share one in a moment). 2. I was in high school when this came out. WNEW- FM 102.7 in NYC would play the entire song. I think that's how it sold well. Many of us found this NEW music exhilarating. 3. I used to listen to this on the headphones and all the while look at the cover and fantasize about driving on the Autobahn. In the mid 80's I was living in Olso, Norway. I had friends in Munich, Germany. ROAD TRIP!!! (You betcha) Took car on ship from Olso to Kiel, Germany. I had this song on cassette and as soon as I got on the Autobahn I turned it on and cranked it up. My fantasy became a living reality. One of those moments when I was thankful to the Lord for letting me fulfill a dream. 4. I witnessed Kraftwerk live at the Jackie Gleason theater in Miami Beach a few years ago. They were finishing up a tour in South America and were on their way back to Germany. They stopped in Miami for the only show in the USA. I have been to many many concerts BUT nothing was like this show. It was unreal...I walked away stunned. 5. Justin...keep em coming! Beep Beep 🛣
Heard this on FM radio, had to have it. Bought the 8track and played it in my newly carpeted van with four speakers, not quadraphonic though, I wished. Had some friends ask me if I had a quad system while playing Autobahn. Yes, it’s repetitive but, takes you on a journey without leaving your chair, still works. Fahren on the Autobahn is fun, I suspect. Also bought Stratosfear by Tangerine Dream a bit later, love it too. Peace and Doppler Music
If I am not mistaken, they built from scratch their own synthesizers taking from just innovative musicians to original technological craftsmen. They were all-in 100% to what they were doing. (the Autobahn is a series of roads).
Can I just say that Kraftwerk's album 'Ralf and Florian' is an often overlooked masterpiece. We gotta get you to react to some tracks from that record too. Kraftwerk has a lot of great stuff, but I'm not worried about people recommending the later stuff. Just want to make sure 'Ralf and Florian' gets some love. Oh and the first two records are great too.
just two weeks ago I made a roadtrip through (mainly the eastern part of) Germany,.... 100 miles/hour for a couple hours and then accellarating to about 130 miles an hour,... top down and noise cancelling headphones on with, you guessed it, Kraftwerk. the museic perfectly emulated the experience. thanks for the reaction video.
This is another one I have been waiting for I've enjoyed this album since is first came out. I was stationed in Berlin with 4th in 6th inf in the mid 70s. I didn't find out it was popular in the US until I came back home in 1978. I now have all Kraftwerks main albums. While in Berlin, I also discovered Triumverat's "Illusions on a Double Dimple" Another fine album with side-long epics by a German band. Autobahn is an amazing accomplishment. Beautifully captures the spirit of a long drive in music. Did you catch that in the last lyric the band hears their own song when they turn on the car radio. (The verse after all the part with the all the traffic sounds. I, of course enjoyed the reaction as usual. Keep em coming.
It might be worth repeating (no pun intended) that the development of affordable synths was in it's infancy at this time. Only a few years before this, Moog's modular synth was hand built and only affordable to a few rich individuals around the world. 72/73, Pink Floyd only had one synth for Dark Side of the Moon. New, smaller, affordable synths were coming out and you can hear the Minimoog on this album, for example. They also use the EMS Synthi AKS used by Floyd on "On the Run", with it's basic sequencer. The point is that the sounds on this were absolutely new and amazing to people at the time. It was futuristic in every way.
A great song from the German club of electronic music pioneers and yes it does include some established instruments. Really liked Autobahn back in the mid 70's, the cars buzzing through your head was well done. Future music then and now. Remember they only had first generation electronic stuff in those days. The current autobahn numbering system was introduced in 1974 but the roads are older. Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream (Phaedra or Ricochet) and Klaus Schulze (Timewind or Blackdance) were the fathers of German electronic music which later went global. Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze are totally electronic. So enjoy the early German electronic music it is a deep well. Great reaction. PS When I was working in Germany driving on the Autobahn I could not shake this tune out my head! Even 20 years later.
There's a video of New Order's Ceremony (one of the Joy Division songs they recorded after Ian Curtis's death), which I keep going back to because it's like someone driving around, just listening to the song (and it's the best version of the song too, there were a couple of recordings). Like being in a movie, it just captures the excitement of the mundane so well. Love your channel.
Dr. Dre in the beginning of the fantastic 4-part documentary “ The Defiant Ones” mentions how influential Kraftwerk was on early hip-hop/rap artists. He plays the tune “Metal On Metal” from another album as example. Very cool! 😎
IIRC some parts of the autobahn have speed limits. When I was in Germany, in 1974, there were speed limits on the entire autobahn because of the oil/gas shortages imposed by OPEC in their first big move to get more of the benefit of the oil being pumped out of their nations. It has been a long time since I heard this. Apparently I still like it. FM radio was a great place to hear new music. Great song and great reaction.
In 1974 there was no drum machines or vocoders that you could purchase. Kraftwerk build their own electronic drums. The drums were metal pads hit with metal sticks. Kraftwerk also had a vocoder built for them. The actual vocoder that was used in the recording has been owned by Daniel Miller for years. Daniel is the founder and head of Mute records. Kraft wek has done some rerecording's of this track. The Mix has a version The 3-d Catalogue has a version as well. Kraftwerk was originally a psychedelic band.Kraftwek has a lot of great albums
One of my favorite driving songs is L.A. by The Fall. But it's kinda specific to driving late at night on the freeway, in light traffic, through an urban or industrial area. For example 101 through San Francisco north bound and onto the Bay Bridge to Oakland.
Kraftwerk is amazing. I saw them in Montreal. One of the best show ive seen. When i was in France on the summer 2001 i listened the Trans Europe Express album over and over. It's in my top 5 of best albums ever. You can imagine something like autobahn but with train vibes. The 2 tracks Trans Europe Express and Metal on metal. just perfect. You really feel like you are in a train.
Love Kraftwerk and your reaction! There was a video that went with Autobahn, they used to show it on the telly when I was a kid before kids afternoon TV started. It was a bit freaky tbh. My fave bit in this is the voices singing in harmony with those on the radio.
Bought this when it came out because I had read about them in a music magazine at the time, so I took a chance. Very inventive and influential band. I found it interesting but not mind blowing.
I bought this album in a record store in 1974. I was 15 years old at the time. I had to save my pocket money before I could buy it. The album is still in beautiful condition. I am now 64 years old and still enjoy it. For today's music lovers nothing special I think, they were raised on synthesizer sound.
This is electronic art.
Synth-pop began here, this is pretty much its proof of concept.
Since I first listened to it, it’s now a bucket list goal in my life to drive on the autobahn listening to Autobahn.
Have done exactly that - a truly transcendent experience. You can understand they joy they used to feel in their secondhand high capacity Mercedes Benz’s travelling the length and breath of their country at whatever speed they deemed appropriate (no limit). Amongst the rubble of post war Germany it must have been an absolute escape from the aftermath that of WW2.
Their albums MADE me travel
As a 19 year old I remember buying the Autobahn single in 1975 and playing it on my Technics amplifier and Wharfdale speakers. Such joy.
Weren't the 1970s simply the best for music?👏👏👏👍
70s and 80s such great times
Saw them doing this song on American TV. My mom and I were astonished. They didn’t look or sound like anyone else and their instruments were still so new. Loved them ever since!
Somewhere there is a picture of my great grandpa sitting in a recliner with headphones on, listening to this album. It was taken about 1978. Electronic music runs in my blood.
Sounds like a good memory 🙂
I used to listen to the song all the time when I drove with my dad in the car on the highway in Germany. Brings back good memories.🥰
Thats a great memory :)
Finally Kraftwerk, one of the most influential band you usually never heard of. I live in Montréal Canada and most of my family lives in Québec City, and my father was a great fan of Autobahn, so every time we would drive to Québec, witch was a lot of time during the year, it would play in the car. Perfect music for the long 2 hour drive. You definitely have to listen to Autobahn during the next long drive you will do.
In the beginning Kraftwerk had different member change but after the recording of Autobahn there is always 4 member. During their most popular years it was the 2 founding members, Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider and Wolfgang Flür and Karl Bartos where the other 2. Also, Autobahn was a transitional album, only Ralf and Florian played on the title track. Wolfgang only played on one track and Karl join the band for the tour. Autobanh is also the last album with acoustic instruments, after that they became electronic only.
You’ve got to imagine listening to this as a 12 year old boy who had never heard an electronic music instrument before, let alone a whole album of it. Truly mind blowing, apart from the genius of the band that produced this amazing piece of music.
Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre were the pioneers of electronic music and had a lasting impact on the genre. They were way ahead of their time and their possibilities. And what they did was something that had never been heard before. Anyone who heard the first 30 seconds of “Autobahn” during that time may have had their life changed forever. Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre definitely influenced me. And as children we always sang "Autobahn" when we were on the highway/freeway or on that Autobahn and on the way to vacation. Was great fun. I salute these pioneers. Greetings from Germany.
Kraftwerk are undoubtedly one of the most influential groups of all time. Such innovation and creativity. Hi from the UK 👋👍
Also Tangerine Dream...
Kraftwerk is the most sampled group in music history. From Afrika Bambaataa to Could play. Trans Europe Express, Robots, Models, Radioactivity, are some of the many classics of this sensational group.
the number Coldplay borrowed from them is one of my favourite Coldplay numbers but they have so many from there early years its a hard one with coldplay but kraftwerks influence is a hair raising moment in talk by coldplay
"Neon Lights" is another great one from Kraftwerk
That is possibly my favourite track by them
@@gerardodoherty9178 🤗👏
Me: "Hell yeah! Can't wait for more Kraftwerk reactions!"
Most of the comments: "Hell yeah! Can't wait for more Tangerine Dream reactions!"
😒
Lol! Theres time for both :D
You did Jean-Michel Jarre. You’ve done Vangelis. Now you’ve done Kraftwerk. Now it’s time to discover Tangerine Dream. Try their live concert in the USA (the album “Encore”, one song per side on a double-album) and the live concert in Poland (the album “Poland”, one song per side on a double-album).
Now, back to Mike Oldfield, please :)
Force Majeure FTW!
I saw Tangerine Dream at the Windsor Auditorium in Windsor, Ontario, Canada in 1976. Theirs was one of the first laser light shows I saw. Peace.
YES! He will really like Tangerine Dream. And he's getting closer to Crises.
@@jimschroeder1176 can’t wait for Crises!
@@donthomasdunigan7004 lucky you! I love their concerts. So uniquely wonderful.
Justin, you have mentioned that you enjoy your bike. Kraftwerk's Tour de France soundtrack is excellent biking music. It is also good music to put on when the weather doesn't allow you to go out.
This is the dawn of techno. Huge influence on the Detroit techno legends Derrick May, Juan Atkins, Jeff Mills... who took this whole vibe and really developed it into a whole genre of futuristic dance music. Kraftwerk deserves credit for getting their first.
It is an absolute masterpeace! Sounds of the freeway and music united in one.
Kling Klang, baby! So glad to see you get into these guys, JP - you've taken the car trip and now have the train (Trans-Europe Express) and bicycle (Tour de France) voyages ahead, among many other great tracks. I was selling stereo equipment back in 74 and could almost guarantee sales by running Side 1 here on a high end turntable and cartridge thru a couple of JBL floor monitors (each about the size of a mini Cooper😂). So much fun! Can't wait for you to explore further and I second the motion from others that you also check out Tangerine Dream, Cluster, Can and many others.👍
That's cheating. Of course you'd get a sale.
I like the way they use the sounds you would hear driving along the "Autobahn" car engines, the sound of a car zooming but using a synth to depict this sound, as such can be musical. It's different from the usual rock music around at the time. It's sounds clinical,but in a good way, also repetitive, but again in a good way. Does sound a bit like classical music in parts.
I think this sound of car noises, and what you hear driving is maybe the aural equivalent of found objects in art
The album cover does depict what the the lyrics say. Also if you look at the cover you will see 4 small photographs on the dashboard..
Ahhh, ill have to look at the cover again. Ty for the hint!
Im a army brat were stationed in Germany, I'm sitting in the px cafeteria just a kid a soldier goes to the jukebox and plays this tune the single version and my world is never the same after. It went to to number 3 in the BB charts. I heard on Casey Kasims American top 40 at #3 in 1975. Been a fan ever since. Long live Kraftwerk !
Oh my god you finally did them. This is a great song The song of the future when this came out in 74. These guys have so many good songs, The Robots, The Model, The Man Machine, Trans Europe express, compoter love, Tour de france. Kraftwerk are amazing, also Ian curtis of Joy division used to bring in Kraftwerk albums during Joy divisions recording sessions and they got some influence from them, you can hear it on Unknown pleasures and Closer. Check out more Kraftwerk you wont be disappointed.
So recently I had this talk with a young Russian girl, huge fan of EDM. I played Die Roboter (The Robots) and asked whether she knew this new song. She went Wow, great dance song with retro elements, who are these guys? Haha, yea that was released in 78, for me their best song (that intro alone). Timeless music.
I remember a confused reviewer in Sweden recognizing the importance of this song, while not really liking electronica. “Well, I guess this is the future now”
they also influenced David Bowie when he lived in Berlin. Some say he drove the freeways and listened to this album for hours
Kraftwerk's appearance on the BBC science programme 'Tomorrow's World' in 1975 is credited with inspiring a generation of young musicians and pop fans in the UK. I think they are to electronic music what The Beatles were to guitar pop and rock. It took a few years for people to catch up.
Kraftwerk were massively influential and are one of those "jumping off points" that can lead you in different directions, from spacey-prog to dance music to industrial electronic noise. Neu, Cluster, Popol Vuh. You won't be surprised to find out that Eno is in there too. Coming back to Kraftwerk, Computer World was another massively influential record.
Yeah, I jumped off after Trans Europe!
I'm a huge fan of Kraftwerk, and for the life of me cannot understand how they're not in the R&RHOF, (given their influence to not just the electronic music genre, but new wave, synth-pop, and even hip-hop). My favorite albums are the three with the classic line-up of Ralf Hutter, Florian Schneider, Karl Bartos, and Wolfgang Flur, "Trans Europe Express", "The Man Machine" and "Computerworld".
They are 2021 inductees to R&RHOF.
Kraftwerk is a fantastic band! This is not normally my type of music but I love these guys! You're in for a treat! This album (Autobahn), Trans Europe Express and the Man Machine are essential listens
cool video! I remember my dad playing this on the autobahn when we were visiting germany in 2016. I remember how we were going 220kmh in our volvo lol.
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Imagine this is 1974. You're with a group of teenage friends, students, candles, beers, lots of it. Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple...enz, enz. One of your friends stands up, walks towards the turntable and puts on Kraftwerks vinyl LP Autobahn IT..IS..1974!!...It is out of time, alien like, It has nothing to do about "I don't know how it feels like to drive in EUROPE on the Autobahm so I don't get the HYPE (lmfao). Murican dumbing down everyting they don't understand (Ignorant Muricans) As if all Eupopeans (see what I did there?) drove on the Autobahn and used that as an inspiration to make Techno music..20 years later. Anywhoo. Yet it feels natural. Hence your reaction. like you've heared it before. AND people nowadays are not easily shocked, let alone e the imagination how it was to hear this kinda music back in 1970-ish. Not only the sounds, but the rhythms. The innovators and pioneers of electronic music, as well as major influences for techno, synth-pop, hip-hop, house music, post-punk and various flavours of dance music.
The trip, the joy of a sunny, relaxing trip, where the important is to go. No matter where. The wind, the clouds, the mountains, the sea beyond. The music in the car. Going fast but with no hurry. Stop at gas station, ask where is nowhere and start again the trip. This are my impression listening this amazing masterpiece.
Kraftwerk really sounded like the future in 1974 and motorways seemed to be a futuristic way of travel then too. It's an utterly hypnotic piece of music.
This was a seminal album directly influencing Bowie ahead of his Berlin period but also dozens of electronic groups in the late seventies / early eighties.
Autobahns were built already since the 1930's. Originally their purpose was to allow fast transfer to troops, Germany being what it was at the time. But true by 1920's all the modern day travelling was possible, aeroplanes, trains and ships as well, telephone and radio were new and exciting. In a way the song is a reflection of that time and also 60's optimism, man on the Moon, television, jet passenger planes, travelling became possible to wide part of the people.
@@onsesejoo2605 That's really interesting. Motorways only really started opening in the UK on a gradual basis in the sixties, so I always think of a full cross-country motorway network as a seventies phenomenon So true about the era being seemingly full of possibilities with space travel and colour TV, etc.
Music aside, this was also regarded as social commentary, with the ability to drive endlessly on the Autobahn (with no speed limit) being seen as part of the mindless consumerism that was the "bread and circuses" for the German public in the era of the postwar economic miracle. I don't know if that's what the band had in mind, but that kind of interpretation was certainly part of the reaction to the song.
Justin's quotes from a band member near the end suggest that that was not what they had in mind, so I guess it must have been other people's hostile reaction to the song.
@@roberttaylor5997 At the time, especially British press tended to look down their noses to what they called "Krautrock", lumping bands like Can, Kraftwerk, Amon Düül, Tangerine Dream to that category.
Full-length version is a challenge in repetitiveness, but that's what long trips on German motorways feel like, and it is a great and important piece!!
Kraftwerk's first few albums (the band later was a bit embarrassed of) were actually experimental Krautrock thingys with flute, guitar noise etc. This was the first time they went fully electronic, the rest of this album sounds less so. Later albums cemented their reputation as robotic music performers and were maybe even more or at least equally influential.
Bollocks the full length version us the only decent version.
@@rickb.4168 Agreed - The repetitiveness is part of the theme of the song- being on a long hypnotic road trip.
Very true abou the tune, also Ralf in an interview many years ago, that the lyrics also take the joke of long motorway trips.
This track isn't fully electronic though, it has flute and guitar on it.
Haven’t heard this in *decades*, wow. It was a big deal for local DJ’s to play the whole song in 1974, prolly for a bathroom or Smoke break in hindsight. For a midwest kid it was truly groundbreaking music.
Synth-pop starts with these guys. This is the album that got their name out there. This is the song that knocked on everyone's door. The world would never be the same from this point forward.
Kraftwerk, Neu, Can, Faust, Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, Guru Guru, Agitation Free, Amon Duul, Amon Dull II, Cluster, Ash Ra Tempel and a whole host of other fantastic German bands from the Krautrock scene 69-75 produced some of the most creative, cosmic and transcendent music by anyone, anywhere at any time. You can hear whole new genres coming into being through their experimentation and embracing of new technology. An era difficult ever to see being repeated.
Know a lot of these bands from back then. I still love them and still have all the records.
Krautrock! Do you know Grobschnitt? Solar music live, Rockpommel’s land are great albums.
@@palantir135
Yes I know Grobschnitt😊 When I first got into Krautrock it was like an epiphany and I got really deep into it.
@@palantir135 Hah, just listened this morning to a 31 linutes life version of Die Sinfonie with my son in the car. Reminded me why I was a fan of Grobschnitt (the only band I have ever seen 4 times and the only band I drank a beer with the guitar player).
Klaus Schulze still listen to this great music and for a bit more fantasy I listen to Gandalf 💯😊
@@marceltroia9750 have a few of his earlier albums.
Also, it's worth mentioning, that the next 3 albums, after Autobahn, is in both English, and German. There are more actual lyrics on those...
Finally!!! 👏👏👏 the grand parents of the electronic music! do the whole The Man-Machine Justin! it´s in your hands! 😁
Definitely plan to! Just wanted to hear this one first as I've always heard so much about it😁
First heard this back in '77 or '78 I think, was high AF at the time... what trip! It's been on my playlist ever since.
I suggest the whole album "Power, corruption and lies" by New Order
The single version of this song was a hit in the UK charts in 1975.
Driving for 5 hours is sublime. 350 miles. Every week, twice. Mindcrushing and mindblowing
This is the only Kraftwerk that I truly love. It is delightful and surprising, even after decades of listening to it.
Directly influenced by Kraftwerk, Gary Numan' album "Replica" has to very good instrumentals that might interest you, since most people credit him with creating the modern era of electronic Rock. "When the Machines Rock" is upbeat and danceable, while "I Nearly Married a Human" is slow and beautiful.
Ultravox, the band whom Numan credits with starting his genre, have a fantastic instrumental: "Astradyne", from their Midge Ure-led period.
Kraftwerk have a special place in my musical catalogue. I like the way they use different languages in their vocals, mainly German and English though. Had the chance to see them live a few years ago. Only concert I've been to where they handed out 3D glasses for the show. It was fantastic. Are we having an electronic weekend? With Tangerine Dream cued up for later?
Thats sounds really cool! We'll get some TD on here soon as well🙂
Tangerine Dream, yes please! Put 'Rubycon' (1975) on the airwaves and transport your soul to another dimension :D
@@Totenkopfzwerg Rubycon is their best album from my point of view because their two suites are very surreal but ultimately relatively accessible compared to say Phaedra which was more obscure. Stratosfear is really great too but easier to tackle.
@@a.k.1740 Well put. I do enjoy all of them, but yeah Rubycon is definitely the most spell-binding. Whether it's brought up to my mind from the album cover or whether it's something in the music itself, I'm not sure, but "with my mind's eye" I can see the movement of water in various ways and shapes when listening to that album. A profound experience every single time. And I don't use any hallucinogenic substances, mind you, that's just the power of the music itself :)
@@Totenkopfzwerg I don't use hallucinogens either so I really know what you mean because since listening to 70s Tangerine Dream music and more specifically Rubycon (which goes a long way back now), mentally visions of colors, smells, textures and landscapes come automatically to me so I understand the power of images that this music provides.
This all seems so simplistic today. Take yourself back 47 years and imagine hearing for the first time then. 47 years.
Their first 2 albums,simply called Kraftwerk 1 and 2 had a traffic come as the logo,when The Robots was released,they had mannequins made with motors in them.the heads sculpted to exact likeness
I'm here to second your Boards of Canada recommendation. Those guys are a huge influence on my own music. 👍
some of the most psychedelic music ever
Yup, they're great!
BOC who are Scottish are a fantastic band. If you get a chance, research the Warp record label, lots of great electronic bands on there.
Great review and greatly appreciate not stopping the music to talk. Kudos to you. I was 9 when I heard Autobahn and it was so different to the usual guitar rock stuff and so ahead of its time. This was recorded before polyphonic synthesizers, digital drum machines, digital sequencers, samplers came out. They mainly used a Minimoog, Arp Odyssey, EMS VCS3, Sennheiser VSM-201Vocoder and tape delays, phasers and flangers. They took apart an old rhythm box like the sort that came in home organs and added metal pads and sticks to trigger the sounds. The only polyphonic instrument was some kind of organ like a Farfisa, so if anyone knows what it was that Ralf used, I'd love to know. Both founding members were classically trained. Florian Schneider was a flautist and I'm sure it was Ralf who played the guitar parts. It is only recently that they were admitted to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. An incredible piece of music with clear classical influences and the forerunners of break downs and build ups of Trance. RIP Florian mein herr. The single version came out in 1975 and the traffic noises in the middle section was used as the theme tune for a BBC children's TV series called 'Out Of Bounds' and kometenmelodie 2 on the other side of this LP also featured during the last episode of the series.
Thanks so much Pete! Appreciate the info as well :)
My first Kraftwerk experience was with this song.
I was amazed at how they could create this groove without using guitars, bass or drums.
On an unimportant note, a few years ago, my dream of driving down the Autobahn while listening to Autobahn came true lol
Haha nice! That'd be fun to listen this song on the road
Legend has it, while he was working on Low and Heroes around 76-77, a coked up Bowie would drive around Berlin blasting Kraftwerk.
Happy memory - Driving from Taumarunui to Tauranga (NZ) on a hot, midsummer's day 1975 - windows down, Kraftwerk cranked up - first time hearing Autobahn - unforgettable
Kraut Rock!!!!! I am pleased my copy (bought when it came out) still plays on the old turn table. ALWAYS nice to hear.
You could not go on a motorway in the early 70s, without someone blasting out these vibes on a cars 8 track cassete system, amazing iconic!
The world of music would not be the same without Kraftwerk. This is what pioneers sound like, even as they are quite accessbile most of the time.
My favourite album of them is Trans-Europe Express, but The Man-Machine is probably their most accessible/successful one. Loved to see them live some years ago as well :)
This's a great track. A real gamechanger in the genre of electronic music. Though this's not a 100% electronic, there's organic instruments too. And Kraftwerk often seen as the doyens, and were/are hugely influential. Though electronic music'd been around since the 50's. The underlying beats, the various sections/melodies played over mimicking the sounds, feel of a long road trip. The radio being tuned, nice touch. A classic, hypnotic, and accomplished piece of work.
My favourite Kraftwerk track. This was very innovative for the time, and one of the first electronic albums to chart. A highly edited version was released as a single.
When you hear the music it sounds like the music song for them great music
My brother taught me what stereo meant by playing this record. Kraftwerk is not given nearly enough credit for the influence they've had on music, from new wave to electronica, and even hip hop.
I love your quote about whether the similarity to Fun, Fun, Fun is intentional (which I had thought it was). "No, they are wrong." Such German.
Still one of my fav bands for nearly 50 years. All of Ralf Hütters and Florian Schneiders synthesizers, modulators and the vocoder were custom-built prototypes. Florian also played a synthesized flute and Wolfgang Flür one of the very first electronic drum kits, located in a briefcase. The line-up was completed by Klaus Röder, who played synthesized guitar and electronic violin and viola and produced many of the sounds of the cars and buildings passing by. The first fully virtual musical head trip! Greez from Germany, Mike! 😉 🚗 🚘 🚙
Wow, what a great song, so ahead from their time, I’ve heard this band back in 1978 Trans-Europe Express and that’s it, till now. I must add it on my list, thank you so much for bringing it up.
It’s hard to believe but this absolute masterpiece is going 50 this year (2024). The real innovators.
In 1974, I was a meer 13 year old, listening to glam rock and along comes this really strange new sound. Yes, there was synthetic music, mainly from prog rock bands, but nothing like this. Autobahn, for me, was a pivotal point and the start of a journey into an electronic future.
Great track to chill or driving on the Autobahn and a opener to modern dancemusic, techno, electro, hip- hop, and so on. Nice reaction and best wishes from Düsseldorf.
Glad to see this song getting some reactions. It is a classic. Though I actually like Kometenmelodie 2 a little bit more and Mitternacht is a great track as well.
This main title song had three section, first of BEGINNING,after the 2nd is CONTINUE, and the final section is CONCLUSION, released on 8-track cassette tape in US
Break dancers worshipped them.I was almost 2 in the summer of 78 when dad bought The Man Machine,as soon as the record started,my ear was against the speaker,loved them since,RIP Florian Schneider,Co founder
My 4 yr old nephew always as asked to listen to the song that went through his head, at least once a day. You need headphones to appreciate it.
It's hard to overstate how revolutionary this sounded when it came out. They totally influenced a generation of musicians who interpreted that sound into new genres. More amazingly, Kraftwerk listened to those musicians that they influenced and were themselves influenced and changed their music. I really encourage you to listen to a newer live version like this one... it's very familiar fo the original, yet they have updated the density and dynamics a bit, as well as some of the percussion. They kinda became DJs of their own tracks.
ruclips.net/video/1DO-Ddqbqgs/видео.html
While there were other members, the driving forces (pun unintended) behind Kraftwerk were Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider. Schneider, who died in April 2020 (RIP), was name-checked in David Bowie's track, "V-2 Schneider," from the "Heroes" LP.
How cool is that to hear first the German band Tangerine Dream and now the German band Kraftwerk as a reaction.
I love both bands and also the good Frenchman Jean-Michel Jarre
I love this electronic music since the end of the 70s when I heard Kraftwerk's Roboter on the radio.
By the way, the car sounds were originally recorded on a German Autobahn.
Thanks for putting up the video of the Autobahn dashcam - never been there, but parts of it are very similar to Highway 70 in Kansas.
I really like Ralf and Florian in their early days - I have their 1973 self titled album, a collection of audio impressionist sketches of things like roulette tables. The flute is a nice flourishing touch. That same year, Pink Floyd released Dark Side of the Moon - would be interested to know if the highway sequence was the inspiration for 1974's "Autobahn" - which of course takes it to a very advanced level. Great synth effect of rubber wheels splashing through a soaking rain.
It's funny you should mention I-70, Bob, as my friends and I would regularly drive it (abilene to Salina or abilene to Topeka, Lawrence or KC) and this album was, without a doubt, one of our go-to's.
You feel happiness drivning, while passing dying forests and brown lakes. Fine. That is what the song is about.
Oh yeah, I love Boards of Canada. Good call. Their music is always interesting. And of course this track by Kraftwerk is a classic!
Yay! Love these guys.
Back in my university days, I used to listen to this, Trans-Europe Express, and Radioactivity with my earphones in so I could get to sleep when my housemates were being complete idiots and being loud till all hours in the night.
I always used to think they were singing "Fan, fan, fan of the Autobahn". I think that fits quite well, since the whole album is dedicated to that road network.
Till yer daddy takes the T-bird away.
Best way to listen to this is on a quadraphonic stereo, the music just circles you and surrounds you. Guarantee you will enjoy it.
ah man! you missed the best part when you turned the screen to us! that was AMAZING! thank you for your sacrifice! ;) what a journey! awesome vid!
1974...when MY HOMETOWN DÜSSELDORF Heroes changed the Music Scene FOREVER !!!! STILL the MOST SAMPLED BAND EVER IN MUSIC HISTORY !!!!
One thing to keep in mind about a musical piece like this is that we were almost always stoned when we listened to it. That's one of the main reasons that many of us sought out music such as this (prog, electronic, etc.) back then--because it was such a great accompaniment to being stoned.
THE Autobahn is everywhere in Germany, from the coasts in the north to the Alps in the South, from the Western borders to the Eastern borders. It's actually a grid of many Autobahns (Autobahnen), who cross each other, with the odd numbers roughly leading fom North to South, and the even numbers leading from West to East with many shorter segments (higher numbers) in between. Except mumber 10 leads around Berlin. The scenery can be nice, depending on where you are.
Hadn't heard this in an absolute age, great to hear again 👍
Did you know there is or was a gallery type museum in London dedicated to there ground breaking musical genius I just googled it, it documents the full journey of there electronic music journey from the start untill the present day with the chemical brothers even Donna summers disco hit I feel love the short and long versions you can recognise there influence big time in them, kraftwork influencing motown disco type dance hits now that was some thing never expected but they even had there own club hit with the model
I must go to that museum! I never knew it was there, thank you.
And Hermand is right, JP - you must listen to Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love', a classic of both disco and electronic music.
@@jeremyb5640 i hav not played it in a while at least a year im'e gonna play the long version right now with a large laid back cup of coffee
That sounds incredibly interesting!
Legendary!!! At some pint, especially sense you are on a early electronic music kick, I've said it before, Todd Rundgren's "A Treatise On Cosmic Fire" It's deep, it's beautiful, it's terrifying and it's satisfying. BUT........ It's over 30mins long!!!! It's on side two of the 1975 album "Initiation"
I discovered this band in 1974 and bought this album as a cut out , Autobahn what great album, but I saw this band in ,2004 at the Jackie Gleason theater, but my friend and I miss half the show and we came in when they did neon lights. so we miss them do Autobahn, but that was no problem , because they release minimum. Maximum on DVD and when I saw it , I said , my god , I miss that many songs. , But what great concert , At least we got to see them perform Radio activity and other great songs.
Heard this for the first time in early 1975 in Philadelphia on a popular radio show at the time - The Dr. Demento show - who played a lot of music, much of it comedy and tracks like these that weren't so often played on the radio.
Justin...you know what...my goodness I could give you a BIG hug brother. You totally understood the essence of the song. Thank you for getting around to this.
1. I myself LOVE being on the road too. Have taken many many road trips. (Going to share one in a moment).
2. I was in high school when this came out. WNEW- FM 102.7 in NYC would play the entire song. I think that's how it sold well. Many of us found this NEW music exhilarating.
3. I used to listen to this on the headphones and all the while look at the cover and fantasize about driving on the Autobahn.
In the mid 80's I was living in Olso, Norway. I had friends in Munich, Germany. ROAD TRIP!!! (You betcha)
Took car on ship from Olso to Kiel, Germany. I had this song on cassette and as soon as I got on the Autobahn I turned it on and cranked it up. My fantasy became a living reality. One of those moments when I was thankful to the Lord for letting me fulfill a dream.
4. I witnessed Kraftwerk live at the Jackie Gleason theater in Miami Beach a few years ago. They were finishing up a tour in South America and were on their way back to Germany. They stopped in Miami for the only show in the USA. I have been to many many concerts BUT nothing was like this show. It was unreal...I walked away stunned.
5. Justin...keep em coming!
Beep Beep
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Ty Freddie! Thats fantastic that you go to experience that! Perfect road trip :D
Heard this on FM radio, had to have it. Bought the 8track and played it in my newly carpeted van with four speakers, not quadraphonic though, I wished. Had some friends ask me if I had a quad system while playing Autobahn. Yes, it’s repetitive but, takes you on a journey without leaving your chair, still works.
Fahren on the Autobahn is fun, I suspect.
Also bought Stratosfear by Tangerine Dream a bit later, love it too.
Peace and Doppler Music
If I am not mistaken, they built from scratch their own synthesizers taking from just innovative musicians to original technological craftsmen. They were all-in 100% to what they were doing. (the Autobahn is a series of roads).
Can I just say that Kraftwerk's album 'Ralf and Florian' is an often overlooked masterpiece. We gotta get you to react to some tracks from that record too. Kraftwerk has a lot of great stuff, but I'm not worried about people recommending the later stuff. Just want to make sure 'Ralf and Florian' gets some love. Oh and the first two records are great too.
Hope you do the Computer World album, especially the track Pocket Calculator, it's so darn catchy!
One of the songs on that album, "Computer Love", was sampled for a more recent song by Coldplay.
...and „Nummern“ (Numbers in the english version). That is -for me- the best track of Kraftwerk.
just two weeks ago I made a roadtrip through (mainly the eastern part of) Germany,.... 100 miles/hour for a couple hours and then accellarating to about 130 miles an hour,... top down and noise cancelling headphones on with, you guessed it, Kraftwerk. the museic perfectly emulated the experience.
thanks for the reaction video.
Thats great! Sounds like perfection
This is another one I have been waiting for I've enjoyed this album since is first came out. I was stationed in Berlin with 4th in 6th inf in the mid 70s. I didn't find out it was popular in the US until I came back home in 1978. I now have all Kraftwerks main albums. While in Berlin, I also discovered Triumverat's "Illusions on a Double Dimple" Another fine album with side-long epics by a German band. Autobahn is an amazing accomplishment. Beautifully captures the spirit of a long drive in music. Did you catch that in the last lyric the band hears their own song when they turn on the car radio. (The verse after all the part with the all the traffic sounds. I, of course enjoyed the reaction as usual. Keep em coming.
It might be worth repeating (no pun intended) that the development of affordable synths was in it's infancy at this time. Only a few years before this, Moog's modular synth was hand built and only affordable to a few rich individuals around the world.
72/73, Pink Floyd only had one synth for Dark Side of the Moon.
New, smaller, affordable synths were coming out and you can hear the Minimoog on this album, for example. They also use the EMS Synthi AKS used by Floyd on "On the Run", with it's basic sequencer.
The point is that the sounds on this were absolutely new and amazing to people at the time. It was futuristic in every way.
A great song from the German club of electronic music pioneers and yes it does include some established instruments. Really liked Autobahn back in the mid 70's, the cars buzzing through your head was well done. Future music then and now. Remember they only had first generation electronic stuff in those days. The current autobahn numbering system was introduced in 1974 but the roads are older. Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream (Phaedra or Ricochet) and Klaus Schulze (Timewind or Blackdance) were the fathers of German electronic music which later went global. Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze are totally electronic. So enjoy the early German electronic music it is a deep well. Great reaction. PS When I was working in Germany driving on the Autobahn I could not shake this tune out my head! Even 20 years later.
Hey Justin! Welcome to the wonderful world of electronic ‘krautrock’! I hope you’re looking forward to the amazing journey!
In the middle of my early eighties Hip Hop/ Electro faze! Circa 1983-1985 the one 12" I wanted more than air itself was 'Tour De France'
There's a video of New Order's Ceremony (one of the Joy Division songs they recorded after Ian Curtis's death), which I keep going back to because it's like someone driving around, just listening to the song (and it's the best version of the song too, there were a couple of recordings). Like being in a movie, it just captures the excitement of the mundane so well. Love your channel.
Dr. Dre in the beginning of the fantastic 4-part documentary “ The Defiant Ones” mentions how influential Kraftwerk was on early hip-hop/rap artists. He plays the tune “Metal On Metal” from another album as example. Very cool! 😎
IIRC some parts of the autobahn have speed limits. When I was in Germany, in 1974, there were speed limits on the entire autobahn because of the oil/gas shortages imposed by OPEC in their first big move to get more of the benefit of the oil being pumped out of their nations.
It has been a long time since I heard this. Apparently I still like it. FM radio was a great place to hear new music. Great song and great reaction.
In 1974 there was no drum machines or vocoders that you could purchase. Kraftwerk build their own electronic drums. The drums were metal pads hit with metal sticks. Kraftwerk also had a vocoder built for them. The actual vocoder that was used in the recording has been owned by Daniel Miller for years. Daniel is the founder and head of Mute records. Kraft wek has done some rerecording's of this track. The Mix has a version The 3-d Catalogue has a version as well. Kraftwerk was originally a psychedelic band.Kraftwek has a lot of great albums
One of my favorite driving songs is L.A. by The Fall. But it's kinda specific to driving late at night on the freeway, in light traffic, through an urban or industrial area. For example 101 through San Francisco north bound and onto the Bay Bridge to Oakland.
Kraftwerk is amazing. I saw them in Montreal. One of the best show ive seen. When i was in France on the summer 2001 i listened the Trans Europe Express album over and over. It's in my top 5 of best albums ever. You can imagine something like autobahn but with train vibes. The 2 tracks Trans Europe Express and Metal on metal. just perfect. You really feel like you are in a train.
Kraftwerk, the electronic music pionner. One album that you have to hear is Electric Café, one of the funniest of their albums.
Love Kraftwerk and your reaction! There was a video that went with Autobahn, they used to show it on the telly when I was a kid before kids afternoon TV started. It was a bit freaky tbh. My fave bit in this is the voices singing in harmony with those on the radio.
Bought this when it came out because I had read about them in a music magazine at the time, so I took a chance. Very inventive and influential band. I found it interesting but not mind blowing.