Kraftwerk sees early broadcast recordings released on two (not so official) releases
Kraftwerk sees early broadcast recordings released on two (not so official) releases
Something for the hardcore fans of Kraftwerk. Out soon are two archival live broadcast titles of Kraftwerk: the 5CD box “Die Broadcast Sammlung” on the bootleg label Expensive Woodland (out October 24, 2025) and the single-disc “Pop und Avantgarde [Frankfurt Broadcast 1974]” out on yet another bootleg label Yard Stick (out July 4, 2025).
The 5CD set compiles official radio sessions from 1970–1981; the Frankfurt disc documents a January 25, 1974 HR1 performance. You will not find these recordings in Germany, we’ll explain why in this article.
Table of contents
Tracklist of Kraftwerk – ‘Die Broadcast Sammlung’ (5CD box, Expensive Woodland)
- CD1 – Soest 1970: “Vom Himmel Hoch”, “Ruckzuck”, “Stratovarius”, “Megaherz”.
- CD2 – King Biscuit Radio 1975: “Kometenmelodie”, “Autobahn”, “Morgenspaziergang (Part 1) / Kling-Klang”, “Morgenspaziergang (Part 2) / Tanzmusik”.
- CD3 – BBC Broadcast in Concert 1975: “Kling-Klang”, “Tongebirge”, “Tanzmusik”, “Ruckzuck”, “Prolog im Himmel / Kometenmelodie 1”, “Die Sonne, Der Mond, Die Sterne”, “Kometenmelodie 2”, “Autobahn”, “Mitternacht”.
- CD4 – Utrecht 1981: “Introduction”, “Nummern”, “Computerwelt”, “Metropolis”, “Das Model”, “Geigerzähler / Radioaktivität”, “Computer Liebe”, “Autobahn”, “Taschenrechner”. Captain Video 1981 – Part 1: “Nummern”, “Computerwelt”, “Heim Computer”, “Computer Liebe”, “Das Model”.
- CD5 – Captain Video 1981 – Part 2: “Neonlicht”, “Geigerzähler / Radioaktivität”, “Die Stimme der Energie / Uran / Die Sonne, Der Mond, Die Sterne / Ohm Sweet Ohm”, “Autobahn”, “Spiegelsaal”, “Mitternacht / Schaufensterpuppen”, “Trans Europa Express / Metall auf Metall / Abzug”, “Taschenrechner”, “Die Roboter”, “It’s More Fun to Compute”.
Tracklist of Kraftwerk – ‘Pop und Avantgarde [Frankfurt Broadcast 1974]’ (CD, Yard Stick)
This recording took place at the large broadcasting hall of Hessischer Rundfunk (HR1), Frankfurt, January 25, 1974; including a rare line-up with Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, Wolfgang Flür joined by Klaus Röder (electro-violin/guitar).
Included are “Klingklang” (10:34), “Ruckzuck” (10:55), “Atem” (3:24), “Tongebirge” (2:28), “Tanzmusik” (7:15), “Kometenmelodie 1 / Kometenmelodie 2” (14:10), “Autobahn” (27:14).
How come these bootlegs are available outside Germany?
In the EU/UK, broadcasting organisations’ neighbouring rights last 50 years from first transmission. So 1974–75 broadcasts are now past that broadcaster-right term (from 1 Jan of the following year). Labels often rely on this to press “radio broadcast” CDs.
But that doesn’t automatically legalize a CD. Performers’ and phonogram producers’ rights on sound recordings run up to 70 years if a fixation was lawfully published/communicated (“use-it-or-lose-it” rules came in with the 2011 directive; implemented in the UK/EU in 2013). So even if broadcaster rights lapse, performer/phonogram rights can still block a commercial release.
Only Germany enforces hard. Selling bootlegs there is unlawful and can trigger injunctions, damages and even criminal liability (§§ 97–98, 106 UrhG). German law firms routinely issue takedowns/abmahnungen against bootleg sellers. That’s why many retailers mark these as “not for Germany.”
The 1974/75 radio sets (e.g., “Pop und Avantgarde – Frankfurt Broadcast 1974” on Yard Stick) sit right on the 50-year broadcaster-right threshold, which is why UK/IE/SE shops list them. But the 1981 content in the 5×CD box is well under 50 years on broadcaster rights, and performer/phonogram rights can still apply – so it’s still a classic grey-market situation, not cleared product.
Who are these labels?
Discogs lists Yard Stick explicitly as a bootleg label. The Kraftwerk “Pop und Avantgarde (Frankfurt Broadcast 1974)” appears via mainstream retailers, indicating that it’s circulated in countries where sellers assess the risk as acceptable.
Expensive Woodland Recordings from its side is also a bootleg label and has released dozens of “broadcast/air” releases (especially rock heritage acts). Also this release is stocked by retailers and major marketplaces, you even find them in supermarkets across Europe.
About Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk formed in Düsseldorf (West Germany) in 1970 by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider, evolving from the experimental scene later dubbed krautrock.
Early releases on Philips/Vertigo include “Kraftwerk” (1970), “Kraftwerk 2” (1972) and “Ralf & Florian” (1973). These preceded the international breakthrough album “Autobahn” (1974).\
A run of influential albums followed: “Radio-Activity” (1975), “Trans-Europe Express” (1977), “The Man-Machine” (1978) and “Computer World” (1981). Their later catalogue includes “Electric Café” (1986), “The Mix” (1991), “Tour de France Soundtracks” (2003), the live set “Minimum-Maximum” (2005) and the remastered “The Catalogue” / “Der Katalog” (2009/2012; expanded as “3-D The Catalogue” in 2017).
As of 2025, the live line-up features Ralf Hütter, Henning Schmitz, Falk Grieffenhagen and Georg Bongartz.
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