Kraftwerk's Autobahn: Understanding the Pioneers of Electronic Music

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In 1974 I was 5 years old and whenever "Autobahn" was on the radio I was like glued to the speaker. In consequence, "Autobahn" was my very first music cassette. Significantly, I didn't have a stereo at the time, but an old "Blaupunkt" car radio with a cassette slot built into a wooden box by my dad. The cassette has survived all the years and is still safely sitting in my cupboard.

20:56 the lyrics are: "fahr'n, fahr'n, fahr'n, die Fahrbahn ist ein graues Band. Weiße Streifen, grüner Rand." which translates to "drive, drive, drive, the road is a grey band, white stripes, a green roadside" Love your analyses ❤

Without doubt or argument, this is THE ALBUM that brought electronic music into the mainstream conscience. I remember very clearly that I was getting my haircut by a Brazilian "stylist" when I first heard this album circa 1974-5. It was during the Disco era and his salon in NYC had a very Euro vibe, mostly decorated in chic black and white decor. He would spin vinyl, and most of it obscure. When this record came on, I was transfixed. This "new" robotic music that the guy was playing was my doorway into Larry Fast and his Synergy experiments, as well as other electronic artists. Long live Kraftwerk!!

TUBULAR BELLS TUBULAR BELLS II - perhaps the greatest ever sequel to an album ever made. Loved the Autobahn analysis Claudio, very insightful and makes you really appreciate the nuances and complex simplicities!

Great! This record was not recorded in Kling-Klang Studio, but in legendary late producer Conny Plank's studio. He was a master of echo and production and is all over the record. The Minimoog was certainly present at this time and also the Farfisa Professional Piano. Klaus Röder is on guitar and violin.

Can you just imagine being alive in the 70's and hearing this for the first time. Amazing.

I love how Kraftwerk gets almost 100% electrically created sounds to sound human. It’s really what sets them apart from everyone else.

When I Autobahn came out I was 8 years old. I was in Germany with my German grandfather, grandmother and their son, my uncle, who introduced me to the music of Kraftwerk. Got me hooked for life, I got all their original albums and all vinyl remastered ones as well as the CD's. Still play it regularly, I so love their music. BTW I also love driving on the German Autobahn.......remember that until quite recently the German Autobahns were mainly made of large reinforced concrete slabs, so driving on them would produce a "thumb...thumb" noise from your tyres hitting the small gaps between those slabs - now listen to the transition at 18:27.

8-9 year old me would listen to this 8 track over and over (thanks mom and dad for being HIP!) this song is an emotional journey.

The last album they recorded and mixed at the Conny Plank studio :) It was even Conny's idea to add sounds that sounded like cars passing by. This man was quintessential for shaping the Sound of Kraftwerk in their early years and the mixes of the first 3-4 Albums (Kraftwerk, Kraftwerk 2, Ralf & Florian and Autobahn) are AMAZING. I think there's even a quadrophonic Mix of Autobahn. There is an incredible spacial feeling in Conny's mixes which i love so much. Also fun fact, the sound of the Car starting at the beginning is a foley sound that was also often heard in the german Audio Drama series "Die Drei ???" based on the original series about the 3 detectives by Alfred Hitchcock.

I just saw Kraftwerk a week ago in Santiago! Full of young people enjoying the music and singijg aloud the songs ! Ralf Hutter is still there singing for all of us. Autobahn was one of the tracks they played live. Great band, great trajectory, great video !

This was THE song that began a 50 year journey of discovery and enjoyment of "electronic" music for me. It takes me way back to being 12 years old again. It sounds as fresh as the day it was released. The whole album is a joy to listen to.

"Fahrn auf der Autobahn" translates to "Drive on the Highway". It has nothing to do with "fun"!

I'm the same age as you and remember hearing Autobahn for the first time in the 70's; my mind was blown!

Oh yes please, Tubular Bells or any of the early albums of Mike Oldfiel, they are so amazing ! So much to tell about composition, melodies, harmonies, ... These are real masterpieces !

Heard this on late night FM in 74, never heard anything like it. Bought the album the next day, and became a lifelong Kraftwerk fan. RIP FS.

in 2003 we traveled as part of a high school charity band across Europe which worked with Make-A-Wish, granting wishes in each town they performed. One night we rode in a bus from the Hague (Scheveningen) to Frankfort. I went to sleep that night, on the Autobahn, listening to Autobahn. It was surreal. And something I ALWAYS wanted to do. Once in a lifetime! GREAT VIDEO Claudio!! I'm listening through the whole album now, every song just as good as the first time I heard them.

Nobody analyses like Dr. Mix! Excellent as always.

I could listen to you break down records like this for hours. Gives me a new appreciation for it.