TOUR DE FRANCE SOUNDTRACKS (Hungary, 2003)
EMI/ JJSR, 0724359171043


Huzza! Finally I can present Kraftwerk's final studio album on cassette on this blog. It only ever came in this edition, at least officially, so it's kind of a rare occasion...


I find it interesting that the only place that issued this album on cassette, except of course the inevitable pirate editions, was Hungary - were cassettes a huge market there in 2003? I don't know. It is also possible, but as usual speculation on my part, that it was made for export to some extent, but given it's relative rarity I can't say I have much to support this theory. Anyway, I am glad that there is a cassette version, for whatever reason!


Just one other Hungarian cassette has surfaced - Electric Cafe came out here in 1986. Where that was a fairly simple design, they pulled all stops on this one - a long, 4-panel J-card, full of much of the same illustrations and graphics as on the CD and LP versions - the Eiffel tower, cyclists, even the Elektrokardiogramm. Also, the lyrics as well as full credits. (The lyrics to "Régéneration" are not listed separately - but they are all from "La Forme", so nothing is actually missing.)


The cassette itself is of a style which was a standard since 1986 I suppose - clear shell, with a dark grey plastic foil inside, and white print, without paper labels.










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