For: Computerworld

Computer World (German version: Computerwelt) is a concept album created by Kraftwerk and released in 1981. It deals with the themes of the rise of computers within society. ManyWho: date=August 2008 see this album as a peak in the career of Kraftwerk, along with AutobahnFact: date=March 2008 and Trans-Europe Express.

The compositions are credited to Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, and Karl Bartos. The sound of the album is more reliant on purely electronics and vocals. For the first time since 1970's "Vom Himmel Hoch" from the group's first album, the band displayed shades of funk music - tracks such as "Numbers" went on to influence early elements of hip hop music in the US.

In keeping with the album's concept, Kraftwerk showcased their music on an ambitious world tour and issued several versions of the single, "Pocket Calculator". The song is also sung in German—"Taschenrechner", French—"Mini Calculateur", and Japanese—"Dentaku" (電卓). While not major, it should also be noted that there are a few noticeable differences in the album mixes used on the English- and German-language releases.

"Computerwelt" was subsequently remixed as a punchier-sounding dance version, with additional bass and percussion and was released in January 1982 as a twelve-inch vinyl single only in Germany. The English version of the "Computer World" track lacks approximately half the lyrics of the German "Computerwelt", and consequently some of its meaning, since the German second verse that was not translated for the English version makes reference to the collection of peoples' personal data (Finanzamt und das BKA - Haben unsere Daten da) by agencies such as the tax authorities and the police.

In an interesting move the same year, the song "Computer World" was nominated for a Grammy award in the category of Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

"Computer Love" was released as a 7-inch single single in the UK, in July 1981, backed with "The Model", from the group's previous album The Man-Machine. The single reached number 36 in the charts. In December 1981 the two songs were reissued as a double A-side 12-inch single, and reached number one on the UK pop charts in February 1982, although "The Model" received the most airplay.

The title of the final track is a pun based on the slogan, "It's more fun to compete!" that could be seen on pinball machines of the time.Fact: date=September 2008

Although the album was originally released by Warner Bros. Records in the US and Canada, it has since been reissued in these regions by Elektra Records. Warner Bros. also issued a vinyl version pressed on neon green vinylFact: date=August 2008.

Side one

1. "Computer World" – 5:05
2. "Pocket Calculator" – 4:55
3. "Numbers" – 3:19
4. "Computer World 2" – 3:21