Einzelhaft Explained

Einzelhaft
Type:	studio
Artist:	Falco
Cover:	einzelhaft top.jpg
Released:	1982
Recorded:	1981–1982
Studio:	Stereo West Studios, Vienna Arco Studios, Munich
Genre:	Pop pop rock funk
Length:	41:17
Label:	A&M GiG/Sony
Producer:	Robert Ponger Falco
Next Title:	Junge Roemer
Next Year:	1984

Einzelhaft (Solitary Confinement or Incarcerated!) (1982) is the debut album by Austrian singer 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 promotional single, "Auf der Flucht (On the Run)", was released in the US and France. In 1983 the single, "Maschine Brennt / On the Run", hit No. 9 on 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 (Ganz Wien)", which reached No. 11 on the Austrian radio chart Ö3-Hitparade. The German version, which is more popular, is called "Ganz Wien". The song was not noticed in other countries.

Production

In early 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 three 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 the top of the charts in more than 20 countries. In the American Disco charts the song also reached No. 1.

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. 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 of 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

Disc two (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

Weekly charts

Chart (1982–1983)! scope="col"

Peak position
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[2]	23
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)^[3]	21

Year-end charts

Chart (1982)! scope="col"

Peak position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[4]	1

Notes and References

1. Web site: Falco Chart History: Dance Club Songs . . billboard.com . . 9 August 2023.
2. Book: Pennanen, Timo . Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 . fi . 1st . Helsinki . . 2006 . 978-951-1-21053-5.
3. Web site: Classifiche . . it . 2 June 2022. Select "Album" in the "Tipo" field, type "Falco" in the "Artista" field and press "cerca".
4. Web site: Jahreshitparade Alben 1982 . austriancharts.at . de . 17 May 2022.