Kraftwerk
ListenVom Himmel Hoch · 1970
Kraftwerk — “Vom Himmel Hoch,” from the 1970 album.
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1970 · Philips
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk’s first album catches Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider still building their musical language from organ, flute, violin and percussion. Behind the orange traffic cone is a group whose sound was taking shape through the people it brought into the studio. [1] [2]
| Accession | OMMA-0042 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Kraftwerk |
| Release | 1970 · Germany |
| Label | Philips · 6305 058 |
| Format | 12-inch vinyl LP · stereo |
| Issue | German issue |
| Runouts | Not documented |
| Recorded grade | NM |
Release history and significance
Drummer Klaus Dinger remembered receiving a call from Hütter while the album was being recorded. Hütter picked him up that same day and took him to the studio. Dinger recalled that Hütter and producer Conny Plank liked his contribution; Schneider later asked him to record it again. To Dinger, the two performances sounded much the same. [1]
The finished album credits Andreas Hohmann on the first side and Dinger on “Vom Himmel Hoch.” Hütter’s organ and Tubon meet Schneider’s flute, violin and electric percussion across four extended pieces, beginning with “Ruckzuck.” The instrumentation gives the record a markedly different character from Kraftwerk’s later electronic pop. [2]
Issued by Philips in 1970, the album’s gatefold brings together Hütter’s traffic-cone design and an industrial photograph by Bernd and Hilla Becher. It links the music to the visual world of structures, tools and everyday objects that would remain important to the group. [2]
Market context
Discogs lists sales for the German Philips 6305 058 edition from US$31.40 to US$290.70, with a median of US$119.69, as recorded on 14 September 2026. [2]
Physical Description
Black-vinyl LP. The German Philips edition uses silver printing on blue labels and an orange-and-white traffic cone on the gatefold cover. [2]
Condition
The media was graded M− at acquisition; the sleeve was graded Very Good Plus.
Provenance
Acquired through Discogs from seller owenscarlet on 23 August 2025.
Sources
- Michael Dee, interview with Klaus Dinger for POP. Dinger’s account of joining the first Kraftwerk album sessions.
- Discogs, Kraftwerk — Kraftwerk, release 125204. Edition reference and sales statistics consulted 14 September 2026.
Catalogue text reviewed 14 September 2026.