Kraftwork Computerwelt Computer World 1981 RARE German Press LP EMI Electrola NM

$

25

Kraftwork
Computerwelt
EMI Electrola
German Language Version
German Printing and Pressing

Item Details
Manufactured in: Germany
Recorded: 1979–1981 at Kraftwerk's own Kling-Klang studio, Dusseldorf, Germany
Original Issue: May 10, 1981
This Issue: Unknown - matches most/not all Discogs 1981 identifiers (see below)
Label: EMI Electrola
Runout Deadwax Matrix Numbers:
Side 1: (stamp:) 46311 A1
Side 2: (stamp:) 46311 - B1

My matrix matches the 1981 German first edition but my rear jacket says "Printed in Germany" instead of "Printed in Holland." Also the catalog number on my label says "1C 064-1 46311 1" instead of "1C 064-46 311." If anyone knows the year of release for this copy please send a message.
I found this LP in my record shelf this week while looking for something else. I bought it new long ago and have no recall of ever having playing it. I was buying a lot of imported vinyl at the time and must have put it away to get at later. I do have an affinity for synth music but must have been distracted. Its only full sampling was for this play test on an expertly setup high-end audiophile turntable, arm, and cartridge. Has never been exposed to heat or tobacco smoke and always stored vertically in a specially designed record cabinet (Rackit) to prevent warpage.
Was cleaned on a VPI HW 16 with Audio Intelligent solutions and ultra-pure water rinse (50X purer than distilled water) before my pre-sale sound check. I wear nitrile surgical gloves while cleaning and play testing to avoid any chance of transferring finger oils to the vinyl.
Very sensitive play testing was performed straight off my Ayre P-5xe fully balanced phono preamp over Sennheiser HD 600 headphones using a Schiit Audio Valhalla 2 tube headphone amp fitted with Voskhod Soviet matched tubes (see last photo).

Track list
1: Computerwelt, Taschenrechner, Nummern, Computerwelt 2.

2: Computer Liebe, Homecomputer (on label), It's More Fun To Compute.

I never take "distant" photos nor the so-prevalent type with the LP sticking halfway out of the jacket. I take close-ups under photo lamps so you can see nearly everything I describe in the jacket grading. It is virtually impossible to know the true vinyl condition from any photograph. That takes very bright and close visual inspection PLUS play testing with thorough coverage on high resolution equipment.
Grading Details
Note: Record grading by text characters is subjective and does not fully describe quality levels. Please see photos and my detailed descriptions below.

Outer Jacket Inspection:
NM-/NM
The only thing of note is glue residue from the original price sticker that dried up and fell off somewhere over the years. It may be possible to remove that glue with some kind of solvent that won't also damage the sleeve finish (pure isopropyl, perhaps?). I did not want to attempt removal so I will leave it up to the buyer. Every other aspect of the jacket is near mint and virtually indistinguishable from a brand new copy. Inner sleeve is solid NM on both sides. Please examine my photos carefully so you can judge the grading to your own personal opinion.

Vinyl visual inspection:
After cleaning, surface visuals were inspected under high intensity halogen light. I rotated and tilted the record in multiple angles with my eyes a few inches away from the vinyl. Side 1 just had only a couple of barely visible polishing lines from the paper inner sleeve and overall looks just beautiful NM. Side 2 is also a near perfect visual NM.

Play Testing:
NM/NM
Extensive play testing was performed after visual inspection. I listened to the beginning of each track, then advanced thru at about a 1/4" at a time listening for a few minutes on each needle drop. I also listened to all lead-in, lead-out and transition grooves between each track. Continuous written notes were taken. Here is rundown of each side from my notes.

Side 1 Play
All tracks meet the attributes of my notes: "crisp. lush, deep, clear and incisive." There is something classic about those analog tone generators. This German pressing is truly dead quiet, even in the transition grooves. I heard nothing from the vinyl that distracted me from the creative musicality of the compositions. Track 3 made great use of the drum machines and had some really delicious spatial effects.

Side 2 Play
I found Track 2 to be very lyrical. Everything I described about Side 1 applies here. It plays absolutely perfect. I seriously doubt that one could find a copy that plays better than this one.

Packaging

• Record will be placed outside the jacket to protect against seam splitting.
• Original inner sleeve is included separately.
• Record has been placed into a new MFSL-style "rice paper" sleeve, as the original is paper, may be holding onto some dust, and could be abrasive during shipping. This new inner sleeve will keep the vinyl surfaces clean during shipping and ultimate buyer usage.
• Outer jacket is contained in a new clear polyethylene protective sleeve.
• Sent in good quality record mailer with cardboard stiffeners.

• Shipping will be via USPS Media Mail for a flat charge of $3.98 per single album sale.
• A combined shipping discount is available on multiple sales completed within 5 business days($3.98 plus $0.50 for each additional LP).
• If you intend to buy more than one LP do not pay immediately but wait for my all-combined invoice. A discount for the combined items will show on that invoice. Then, once payment is received, the items will ship.