Released 4 August 2003 Length 55:57 Artist Kraftwerk Label EMI | Recorded 1987–2003 Tour de France Soundtracks
(2003) Minimum-Maximum
(2005) Release date 4 August 2003 | |
 | ||
Studio Kling Klang Studio
(Düsseldorf, Germany) Genres Electropop, Electronic music Producers Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider Similar Kraftwerk albums, Electropop albums | ||
Kraftwerk tour de france soundtracks full album bonus tracks 2003
Tour de France Soundtracks is the tenth studio album by the German electronic group Kraftwerk, released in August 2003. It was re-released in October 2009 under the title Tour de France. The album was recorded for the 100th anniversary of the first Tour de France bicycle race, although it missed its intended release date for the actual tour. It includes a new recording of their 1983 single of the same name, the cover artwork of both releases being nearly identical. The announcement of the release caused much anticipation, as it had been 17 years since the group had put out a full album of new studio material (1986's Electric Café, also known as Techno Pop).
Contents
- Kraftwerk tour de france soundtracks full album bonus tracks 2003
- Kraftwerk tour de france complete version prologue etape 1 2 3 chrono
- Singles
- Touring
- Commercial performance
- Track listing
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
Unusually for a Kraftwerk album it did not have separate German and international vocal mixes, but was released only in one version, with a mix of French, German and English. The lyrics were co-written by Ralf Hütter and Maxime Schmitt, who had previously been manager of the Capitol label at Pathé-Marconi (part of the EMI group, the company that distributed Kraftwerk's music in France) and had been involved with the band since the mid-1970s.
A short jingle was supplied to the television broadcaster Eurosport for use in their coverage of the 2003 Tour de France.
A newly remastered edition of the album was released by EMI Records, Mute Records and Astralwerks Records on CD and digital download in October/November 2009, with heavyweight vinyl editions released in November/December 2009.
Kraftwerk tour de france complete version prologue etape 1 2 3 chrono
Singles
"Tour de France", was released in June 1983 and the album includes a new recording of the song.
"Tour de France 2003" was released in July 2003 and includes the songs "Tour De France Étape 1", "Tour De France Étape 2" and "Tour De France Étape 3".
"Elektro Kardiogramm" was released as a promotional single in October 2003.
"Aerodynamik" was released as a single in March 2004.
"Aerodynamik/La Forme Remixes" was released as a remix single on 17 September 2007, including remixes of the songs "Aerodynamik" and "La Forme" by Hot Chip.
Touring
Tour de France Soundtracks took the band on an extensive world tour in 2004. On the tour, they performed the music from four laptop computers running sequencing, sampling and synthesizer software, also controlling and synchronised with large video displays. In 2005, Kraftwerk released Minimum-Maximum, with separate audio and video releases featuring songs performed at various venues during the 2004 tour.
Commercial performance
Tour de France Soundtracks became the highest charting Kraftwerk album. It peaked at number one in Germany, becoming the band's first number one in their home country. However, it did not enter the Billboard 200, even though every Kraftwerk studio album since Ralf and Florian (1973) had charted there.
Track listing
All lyrics written by Ralf Hütter and Henning Schmitz.
Note: The 2003 Japanese CD release of this album also contains the video of the single "Tour de France 2003" as enhanced content.
The promotional version of Tour de France Soundtracks contained a few differences from the album as it was finally released. "Régéneration" is extended to a length of 2:05, and there are slight changes in timbre and modulation during both "Tour de France Étape 3" and "Chrono".
Personnel
Songs
1Prologue0:31
2Tour de France Étape 14:27
3Tour de France Étape 26:41