Einzelhaft

Einzelhaft
Studio album by Falco
Released	1982
Recorded	March 1982
Studio	Stereo West Studios, Vienna and Arco Studios, Munich.
Genre	Pop music, pop-rock, funk
Length	41:17
Label	A&M (USA), GIG Records/Sony Music (Europe)
Producer	Robert Ponger Falco
Falco chronology
Einzelhaft (1982) Junge Roemer (1984)Junge Roemer1984

Einzelhaft, (Solitary Confinement or Incarcerated!), (1982) is the name of the first album by Falco. It was released in Austria, Germany, the United States, Japan, Spain, Italy, Canada, Sweden and Finland.

The album achieved some success with its flagship single, "Der Kommissar", an innovative and influential German-language rap song. An English version of the song by After the Fire was a hit in 1983.

A Promo Single, "Auf der Flucht" (On the Run), was released in the USA and France. In 1983 the Maschine Brennt/On The Run CD hit #9 of US Club Play Singles.^[1]

Other songs on Einzelhaft are heavily indebted to the "Berlin Trilogy" of David Bowie: "Nie mehr Schule" borrows its music from Bowie's instrumental track from Low called "Speed of Life", whereas "Helden von heute" is a transparent rewrite of Bowie's song, "Heroes".

Background

In 1980 Falco, who played in the band Drahdiwaberl, signed a contract for three solo-albums produced by Robert Ponger and managed by Markus Spiegel. The first single was That Scene, which reached #11 in the Austrian charts. The German version, which is more popular, is called Ganz Wien. This song was very successful in Austria but was not noticed in other countries.

Production

In spring 1981 Falco and Ponger started to produce the album, and already had a melody for Der Kommissar. Originally Reinhold Bilgeri was to have sung that song but he declined. Impressed by the melody, Falco chose to include it in his debut album. Within 3 days Falco wrote the lyrics to the accompanying rhythm.

In November 1981 the second single "Der Kommissar" b/w "Helden von heute" was released. It reached top of the charts in more than 20 countries in the world. In the American Disco charts the song also reached number one.

To promote his album Falco also released Maschine brennt, Auf der Flucht and Zuviel Hitze.

Re-release (25th Anniversary Edition)

In 2007 the album was digitally remastered and released by Falco's former producers and managers, because it was 25 years after his success with this album. In Austria and Germany it was released on June 8, 2007, in other European countries it was released in the end of 2007.

Track listing

All songs written by Falco/Ponger, except where noted.

1. "Zuviel Hitze" (Too Much Heat) – 4:31
2. "Der Kommissar" (The Commissioner) – 3:51
3. "Siebzehn Jahr" (Seventeen Years) – 3:54
4. "Auf der Flucht" (loosely "On the Run") – 4:13
5. "Ganz Wien" – (All Vienna) 5:06 (Falco)
6. "Maschine brennt" (Engine Burning) – 3:36
7. "Hinter uns die Sintflut" (After Us, the Deluge) – 3:16
8. "Nie mehr Schule" (No More School) – 4:36
9. "Helden von heute" (Heroes of Today) – 4:07 (Falco)
10. "Einzelhaft" – (Solitary Confinement) – 4:01

Track listing Disc 2 (2007 Anniversary Release only)

1. "Nie Mehr Schule (Anniversary Mix 2007) – 4:03
2. "That Scene (Ganz Wien) – 4:25
3. "Interview Johann Hölzel 1993 – Kapitel 1 "Aus Hans Hölzel Wird Falco" – 3:59
4. "Interview Johann Hölzel 1993 – Kapitel 2 "Die Ersten 3 Alben" – 3:09
5. "Interview Johann Hölzel 1993 – Kapitel 3 "Erfolg Und Seine Konsequenzen" – 3:37
6. "Interview Johann Hölzel 1993 – Kapitel 4 "Zeitgeist" – 5:28
7. "Interview Johann Hölzel 1993 – Kapitel 5 "Westen, Osten, Norden, Süden" – 4:40
8. "Interview Johann Hölzel 1993 – Kapitel 6 "Suche Nach Der Wahrheit" – 3:25
9. "Interview Johann Hölzel 1993 – Kapitel 7 "Konzentration Der Kräfte" – 4:12
10. "Interview Johann Hölzel 1993 – Kapitel 8 "Kunst Und Verantwortung" – 2:26
11. "Interview Johann Hölzel 1993 – Kapitel 9 "Zukunftaussichten" – 5:03

Charts

The album peaked #1 in Austria, #19 in Germany and #45 Sweden and #64 of the US Billboard Charts.^[2]

Album

Singles

*#9 in the US Hot Play

References