We have already posted about the 50th anniversary tour that Kraftwerk are mounting to commemorate their crucial fourth album that has since become the zero point of the band with all before it consigned to the Ralf Hütter’s vest pocket black hole. Now we just received word of the upcoming release of a Blu-Ray disc in Dolby Atmos® of the “Autobahn” album.

This was the record that changed lives upon its release 50 years ago. Just ask Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphries…or Martyn Ware…or John Foxx…or Jim Kerr. You can’t ask David Bowie, but you get the idea. I can confidently admit that I would be a very different Monk altogether had I not received the critical musical RNA information that this music imparted to me when the sublime/ridiculous US 7″ edit of “Autobahn” managed to sneak into the US Top 40 back when I was an unformed lad of ten years. Such was its impact that I can’t call myself unformed in its wake.

BLU-RAY

Kraftwerk: Autobahn – Dolby Atmos® Blu-Ray – UK [2025]

Dolby Atmos Mix

1. Autobahn 22:47
2. Kometenmelodie 1 (6:26)
3. Kometenmelodie 2 (5:47)
4. Mitternacht (3:45)
5. Morgenspaizergang (4:03)

5.1 Mix (DTS-HD Master Audio 48/24)

1. Autobahn 22:47
2. Kometenmelodie 1 (6:26)
3. Kometenmelodie 2 (5:47)
4. Mitternacht (3:45)
5. Morgenspaizergang (4:03)

Stereo Mix (PCM stereo 48/24)    

1. Autobahn 22:47
2. Kometenmelodie 1 (6:26)
3. Kometenmelodie 2 (5:47)
4. Mitternacht (3:45)
5. Morgenspaizergang (4:03)

Bonus audio (in Dolby Atmos / 5.1 / Stereo)

1. Autobahn (2024 edit) (4.34)
2. Kometenmelodie 2 (2024 edit) (4.12)

Video content (in Dolby Atmos / 5.1 / Stereo)

1. Autobahn* (2024 edit) (4.34)

So the entire album is present in three discrete mixes: The Dolby Atmos® mix, a 5.1 mix, and the 2009 PCM mastering in stereo. The latter two mixes are in medium-high resolution 48/24. New 7″ edits of the title track and “Kometenmelodie 2″ are provided here for the first time. This will now join the UK and US 7” of “Autobahn” in my Record Cell. In a shock move that should surprise no one, the new mixes are by Ralf Hütter and Fritz Hilpert of Kraftwerk rather than any hot-shot misers-for-hire. And finally there is a video of the 7″ “Autobahn 2024” edit. Taken from the multimedia Kraftwerk use in concert.

PIC-DISC LP

Kraftwerk: Autobahn – Pic-Disc LP – UK [2025]

1. Autobahn 22:47
2. Kometenmelodie 1 (6:26)
3. Kometenmelodie 2 (5:47)
4. Mitternacht (3:45)
5. Morgenspaizergang (4:03)

And for analog holdouts, Parlophone is also releasing a picture disc LP of the album which may be the only place these days where one can still see the original, messy, human, Emil Schult collage artwork that once graced every copy of the album on its “B” side. The release date is coming soon on March 7th, 2025. And because this is a Parlophone release, there’s no order cut-off date as there normally is with SuperDeluxeEdition.com…but! Our friends at SDE have their usual spiffy O-card [as pictured at the top of the post images] as an exclusive for their sales of the disc.

They are selling the Blu-Ray for their usual £25.00 price point with the pic-disc LP at £35.00. SDE are also offering bundles of both the Blu-Ray and the LP for £55.00 for those who need everything. If you’re in the UK, then the postage will probably be a good deal for buyers. As for me I will probably talk myself into this even though I’ve yet to play the Ultravox BR I bought from SDE.com last year! That this is not the short run that the SDE releases normally are means that I might wait a bit before buying this. We shall see. Meanwhile, for those about to Werk, we salute you! DJs hit that button!

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