Kraftwerk "Trans Europe Express" LP Capitol Records (US) 

Vinyl is NM, Jacket is NM

Classic!

Out of Print!

Track Listing:

A1 Europe Endless
A2 The Hall Of Mirrors
A3 Showroom Dummies
B1 Trans-Europe Express
B2 Metal On Metal
B3 Franz Schubert
B4 Endless Endless

Trans-Europe Express (: Trans Europa Express) is the sixth by German band . Recorded in mid-1976 in , the album was released in March 1977 on . The album's themes were influenced by friends who suggested writing songs about the to reflect Kraftwerk's electronic music style. Critics have described the album as having two specific themes: celebration of Europe and the disparities between reality and image. Musically, the songs on this album differ from the group's earlier style with a focus on electronic mechanized rhythms, minimalism, and occasional manipulated vocals.

Trans-Europe Express charted at 119 on the American charts and was placed on the 1977 critics poll. Two singles were released from Trans-Europe Express: and "Showroom Dummies". The album has been re-released in several formats and continued to receive acclaim from modern critics.

After the release and tour for the album , Kraftwerk continued to move further away from their earlier style of improvised instrumental music, refining their work more into the format of melodic electronic songs. During the tour for Radio-Activity the band began to make performance rules such as not to be drunk on stage or at parties. wrote that about these rules, stating that "it's not easy to turn knobs on a synthesizer if you are drunk or full of drugs. ... We always tried to keep very aware of what we were doing while acting in public." During this tour, early melodies that would later evolve into the song "Showroom Dummies" were being performed.

In mid-1976, Kraftwerk began to work on the album which was then called Europe Endless. Paul Alessandrini suggested that Kraftwerk write a song about the Trans-Europe Express to reflect their electronic music style. Hütter and Schneider met with musicians and prior to recording which influenced song lyrics. Maxime Schmitt encouraged the group to record a version of the song "Showroom Dummies" which led the group to later record several songs in French. The album was recorded at in . Artistic control over the songs was strictly in the hands of members and with Bartos and contributing sequenced electronic . Kraftwerk went to railway bridges to listen to the sounds the train would actually produce. The group found the sound the train made was not danceable and changed it slightly.

Legacy

Sal Cinquemani of described the album's influence as "unprecedented, reaching as wide as rock ('s ), hip-hop ('s classic "", 's recent "Big Booty Express") and pop ('s , which incorporated samples of "Metal on Metal")".

The album had an impact on band as bassist related it: "We were introduced to Kraftwerk by [singer] , who insisted we play Trans Europe Express before we went on stage every time. The tape was played in the venue over the PA system, to be heard by everyone. The first time was Pips [a Manchester club well-known for its ‘Bowie Room’]. Ian got thrown out for kicking glass around the dance floor in time to the track. It took us ages of pleading to get him back in." Drummer also confirmed that Joy Division "used to play Trans-Europe Express before we went on stage, to get us into the zone. It worked because it gets up a lot of momentum. Trans-Europe Express just seemed to express an optimism - even if people see it as machine music". Morris also said: "It reminds me of , the film, with all of the 1920s singing. [...] When you get that marriage between humans and machines, and you get it right, it's fantastic. I have to say it's my favourite Kraftwerk album."

All records are shipped in professional 7” & 12” box mailers. All CDs are shipped in padded bubble mailers.  Buy multiple items and save on shipping.  Thanks for Visiting!!