Autobahn - Original 1974 German Philips label 5-track LP

Rare original 1974 German Kling Klang Verlag/Philips original vinyl LP - released in November 1974, Kraftwerk's fourth studio album, 'Autobahn', stands as the monumental catalyst that transformed electronic music from avant-garde experimentation into mainstream art. Marking the definitive shift away from their early Krautrock roots, the album features the iconic, sweeping 22-minute title track that occupies the entire A-side—a sonic simulation of a drive on the German highway system, complete with synthesized car horns and motorik rhythms.

The album's groundbreaking sound architecture was forged in a close sonic partnership with the visionary producer Konrad 'Conny' Plank. Recorded between Kraftwerk's own Kling Klang headquarters in Düsseldorf and Plank's newly established farmhouse sanctuary, Connys Studio, in Wolperath near Cologne, 'Autobahn' utilized cutting-edge electronic weaponry like the Minimoog synthesizer alongside traditional flutes and violins. A true timeless classic and an essential cornerstone for any serious record collection.

Vinyl has the matte blue grid labels with top fat capital lettering company name - just under the shield logo. Vinyl has the 2 cm black pressing ring. Housed in the the classic picture cover displaying the brilliant Pop-art and Bauhaus-inspired painting by Emil Schult featuring a perspective looking out through a car's front windshield toward a highway, capturing a grey Volkswagen Beetle and a Mercedes-Benz cruising the lanes, complete with an inset photograph of the band mounted on the dashboard - the back cover featuring a photograph of the four band members - Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, Klaus Dinger, and Wolfgang Flür - sitting tightly together in the backseat of a car.

For those into the machine stamped matrix info:

Side 1: 1A    K    10 AA6305231   1Y//2   320
Side 2: 2A   G    10 AA6305231   2Y//2   320

The machine-stamped matrix codes in the dead wax/runout reveals that the album is pressed by the PolyGram/Phonodisc replication plant in Hannover/Langenhagen, Germany, 

The '320' stamp explicitly verifies that the lacquer master was cut and processed at PolyGram/Phonodisc mastering studios in Hannover - then pressed with the fresh '1A' and '2A' first-generation stampers pulled from the first Mothers (1/2), ensuring the closest possible audio proximity to the original master tape - manufactured from the second official lacquer cuts (1Y//2 & 2Y//2) during the initial 1974 release phase.

The 'K' and 'G' initials : Internal shift-operator and quality-control identification stamps from the Hannover factory floor. This is as such authentic German 1974 very early pressing of Kraftwerk's masterpiece.

Condition: Exc (Vinyl and Labels)/Exc (Cover):
Vinyl has little and faint sleeve scuffing only - a mix of upper VG+ and Close to Near Mint/Excellent sides. Labels has very little wear to the matte blue labels - graded Close to Near Mint/Excellent and Near Mint.
Picture cover has a few minimal laminate creases from edges - a little seam rubbing - mostly to lower seam edges - 

Tracklisting:

Side 1:
1. Autobahn (22:30)

Side 2:
1. Kometenmelodie 1 (6:20)
2. Kometenmelodie 2 (5:44)
3. Mitternacht (4:40)
4. Morgenspaziergang (4:00)

All tracks are written by Ralf Hütter & Florian Schneider

Recorded at:
Conny's Studio
Wolperath
Germany

Kling Klang Studios/ Conny's Mobile Studio
Mintropstrasse 16
Düsseldorf
Germany

Mastering & Lacquer Cutting:
Phonodisc GmbH
Werk II: Klusriede 26
3012 Langenhagen

Vinyl pressing at::
Phonodisc GmbH
Werk I: Podbielskistrasse 164
3000 Hannover 1
 

Credits:

Kraftwerk
Ralf Hütter – vocals, electronics
Florian Schneider – vocals, electronics
Wolfgang Flür – percussion
Klaus Röder – violin, guitar

Technical Credits:
Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider – production
Konrad Plank – Recording engineer

Artwork:
Emil Schult – Cover painting
Barbara Niemoller – photography