While for most people the Space Race ended when the Americans landed on the moon in 1969, there was a second, smaller-scoped space race going on in Germany afterward: which of the two would have someone in space first? Would it be the East Germans or the West Germans? In 1978, this was decisively concluded by Sigmund Jähn, the first East German cosmonaut, who was selected by the Soviet Interkosmos program for training and sent off on the Soyuz 29/31 mission pair to spend a week at the Salyut 6 space station before returning to his home a hero, and immediately being assigned to lead the Nationale Volksarmee's (East German Army) Cosmonaut Training Center. He later became a Major General in said army, was awarded with the Order of Lenin and Hero of the Soviet Union, and would later join the European Space Agency (ESA) and train (now unified) German astronauts for the Mir-92, Euromir-94, Euromir-96 and Mir-97 missions.

Diagram of the Salyut 6 space station from the back cover; see the liner notes for details on what the numbers mean.

In short, this was a big deal for East Germany, and it was worthy of great celebration for their hero. That's where this record comes in - and you can see this immediately in the cover, with Jähn seated next to Valery Bykovsky, posing in their space suits next to their docking module. Famous orchestras of the Berlin radio and TV, pioneer choirs (think of them like the East German Komsomol), even rock bands like the famous prog legends Stern-Combo Meißen were dragged in to come together and celebrate this great achievement. The result is an album that refuses to stick to any one aesthetic other than a positive, euphoric mood, and of course lyrics about how cool it is that there's a German in space and how nice our friends over at the USSR are. If you don't know German, I think some of the impact is lost as some of these songs positively drip with socialist realism-like melodrama, but unfortunately I don't think I have it in me to transcribe everything.

Side A is what you'd expect from a propaganda record: children's choirs (Guten Tag, ihr goldenen Sterne, Gruß der Kosmonautenbrüdern, etc.), big bands (Unser Mann aus dem All), and Schlager (Die Erde dreht sich linksherum, Acht Tage lang im Weltraum), that very German kind of pop music which is united by its happy-go-lucky, carefree vibe. Side B is where it gets interesting. Clearly satisfied with checking off their socialist melodrama quota, the government backers let the more experimental bands take over this side, and immediately you get these gorgeous Moroder-like synths in "Hoch im All" from the Orchester Lothar Kehr, the lovely folk-rock of Gruppe Drei on "Steigen wie ein Falk", the striking In den Kosmos from the famed Stern-Combo Meißen, or the epic Kosmoslied from Hansi Klemm and the Günter-Fischer Quintett, which is the reason I bought this record in the first place as I believe it's the only time this song was pressed to disk. It's a lovely collection of some of the great talent in the DDR, and I'm glad to be able to show it to you all.

However, a word of warning. As much as I have tried, and tried, and tried again, there are two issues with this rip: A1 and A2 are basically unlistenable due to huge skips, and overall there's this clipping sticking to the left channel whenever things get even a little loud. I've checked my cartridge, tracking force, anti-skate, tested other records...it's just this one. For the skips, I'm not surprised if the previous owner of this record played "Die Erde dreht sich linksherum" to death, as it's quite catchy (or "Hoch im All" which also has some more minor skips), but given how cheaply made the cover for this record is - it's very thin cardboard and was practically falling apart when I touched it, despite being visually in great shape - I wouldn't be surprised if they cheaped out on the production, especially since they needed to churn out a lot of these. That said, AMIGA is not exactly known for low quality vinyl either, so I genuinely don't know what's going on here. I'm just glad I could salvage what I did, and that we can all listen to it together now!

Liner Notes

These are dense (and in tiny print, too.) Coming from a country where we barely credit our musicians or composers on records and every release is a mystery (Venezuela), there is just a ton of information here. In the interests of accuracy, I will copy these down twice; first in the original German, then translated. I know this will make for a probably too long post, but I think it's important.

German Liner Notes

Seite 1
Die Erde dreht sich linksherum
K: Klaus Schneider / T: Günter Hansel / A: Lothar Kehr
Unternehmen Münchehofe, Orchester Lothar Kehr
1:35

Unser Mann aus dem All
K u. A: Arndt Bause / T: Dieter Schneider
Jürgen Erbe-Chor, Pionierchor »Omnibus«
Rundfunk-Tanzorchester Berlin
Leitung: Günter Kretschmer
3:20

Kannste globn, da komm' wir alle hin [sic]
K: Traditional / T: Kollektiv / A: Klaus Schneider
Gerhard Kegel, Singegruppe, Instrumentalgruppe und eine Gruppe des Rundfunk-Kinderchores Leipzig
2:00

Bruder Gagarins
K: Rainer Neumann / T: Gerd Eggers / A: Helmut Frommhold
Rainer Neumann, Jahrgang '49 und Streichergruppe
2:40

Gute Mutter Erde
K u. A: Klaus Schneider / T: Bärbel Milchmeyer
Gerhard Neef und Uta Wilke, eine Gruppe des Rundunk-Kinderchores Leipzig, Instrumentalgruppe
2:00

Eine Reise zu den Sternen
K u. A: Harald Röser / T: Hans-Georg Herde
Die Spreeathener, Instrumentalgruppe
Leitung: Wolfgang Latarius
2:10

Gruß dem Kosmonauten
K u. T: Gerhard Graul
Rundfunk-Kinderchor Berlin, Leitung: Manfred Roost
0:40

Wenn ich einmal groß sein werde
K: Hajo Lehmann / T: Rudi Bienert / A: Jürgen Peter
Heiko vom Rundfunk-Kinderchor Berlin Studio-Ensemble,
Leitung: Jürgen Peter
0:55

Guten Tag, ihr goldenen Sterne
K: Hajo Lehmann / T: Rudi Bienert / A: Jürgen Peter
Pionierchor »Omnibus«, Studio-Ensemble
Leitung: Jürgen Peter

Gruß den Kosmonautenbrüdern
K, deutscher Text u. A: Paul Funk / T: Pionierleiter aus Artek
Rundfunk-Kinderchor Berlin, Leitung: Paul Funk
Paul Funk, Klavier
1:45

Acht Tage lang im Weltraum
K: Klaus Schneider / T: Wolfgang Brandenstein / A: Jürgen Peter
Monika Hauff und Klaus-Dieter Henkler, Die Unentwegten Studio-Orchester
Leitung: Jürgen Peter
2:30

Seite 2

Hoch im All
K: Klaus Hugo / T: Dieter Schneider / A: Lothar Kehr
Cantus-Chor, Orchester Lothar Kehr
2:40

Steigen wie ein Falk [sic]
K u. A: Ingo Koster / T: Jochen Kramer
Gruppe »Drei«
3:25

In den Kosmos
K: Thomas Kurzhals / Norbert Jäger / T: Norbert Jäger
A: Thomas Kurzhals
Stern-Combo Meißen
5:00

Eroberung der Venus
K: Horst Krüger / T: Roland Kästner
Unternehmen Münchehofe, Horst Krüger-Studioband
4:05

...in dieser Zeit
K: Klaus Hugo / T: Ingeburg Branoner / A: Horst Krüger
Alfons Frank
Undernehmen Münchehofe, Horst Krüger-Studioband
3:55

Kosmoslied
K u. A: Günther Fischer / T: Eberhard Fensch
Hansi Klemm, Günther Fischer-Quintett
4:35

Titel 1-17 Aufnahmen Rundfunk der DDR

VEB DEUTSCHE SCHALLPLATTEN BERLIN DDR
Made in German Democratic Republic [sic]

Lithografie und Druck: VEB Gotha-Druck
Mikrorillenplatten nur mit einem Mikro- oder Stereoabtaster abspielen.
Für Stereoplatten (auch bei Monowiedergabe) nur einen Stereo-Tonabnehmer verwenden.
Platte und Abtastspitze stets von Staub reinigen.
Ag 511/01/78 Verpackung nach TGL 10609

16,10 M

Wissenschaftliche Raumstation Salut 6, Sojus 29/31
Zeichnung: Roland Jäger

Legende:

Sojus-Raumschiffe 29/31
Durchstiegsluke
Sonnenbatterien
Station Salut 6
Antennen des Anlegesystems
Zentrales Steuerpult
Multispektralkamera MKF 6
Duschkabine
Wissenschaftliche Gerätesektion

Translated Liner Notes

[Editor’s note: These are written a little weird, but I’m fairly certain every time it says “Studio Ensemble” or similar, it means the studio orchestra of DDR national radio, as that’s where all but the last track were recorded]

Side 1
Die Erde dreht sich linksherum (The Earth turns counterclockwise)
Composed by: Klaus Schneider / Lyrics: Günter Hansel / Arrangement: Lothar Kehr
Unternehmen Münchehofe, Lothar Kehr Orchestra
1:35

Unser Mann aus dem All (Our man in the universe)
Composed and arranged by: Arndt Bause / Lyrics: Dieter Schneider
Jürgen Erbe chorus, Pioneer chorus »Omnibus«
Dance Orchestra of Radio Berlin
Director: Günter Kretschmer
3:20

Kannste globn, da komm' wir alle hin (Can you believe it, we're all coming) [Editor’s note: "globn" means glauben. It's a Kölsch thing apparently, which is kind of ironic since that is in the far west of Germany.]
Composed by: Traditional / Lyrics: Kollektiv / Arrangement: Klaus Schneider [Editor’s Note: Pretty sure “Kollektiv” here just means that the lyrics are folk knowledge, but it’s a little unclear]
Gerhard Kegel, vocal group, instrumental group and a group from the children’s chorus of Radio Leipzig
2:00

Bruder Gagarins (Brother Gagarin)
Composed by: Rainer Neumann / Lyrics: Gerd Eggers / Arrangement: Helmut Frommhold
Rainer Neumann, Jahrgang '49 and Streichergruppe
2:40

Gute Mutter Erde (Good Mother Earth)
Composed and arranged by: Klaus Schneder / Lyrics: Bärbel Milchmeyer
Gerhard Neef and Uta Wilke, a vocal and an instrumental group and children’s chorus from Radio Leipzig [Editor’s note: The original is super unclear. Pretty sure it’s that they had a bunch of people from Radio Leipzig help out here.]
2:00

Eine Reise zu den Sternen (A trip to the stars) [Editor’s note: a Star Trek, if you will]
Composed and arranged by: Harald Röser / Lyrics: Hans-Georg Herde
Die Spreeathener, instrumental group
Director: Wolfgang Latarius
2:10

Gruß dem Kosmonauten (Greeting of the cosmonauts)
Composed by, Lyrics: Gerhard Graul
Children’s chorus of Radio Berlin, Director: Manfred Roost
0:40

Wenn ich einmal groß sein werde (When I grow up)
Composed by: Hajo Lehmann / Lyrics: Rudi Bienert / Arrangement: Jürgen Peter
Heiko from the Radio Berlin children’s chorus and studio ensemble
Director: Jürgen Peter
0:55

Guten Tag, ihr goldenen Sterne (Good day, you golden stars)
Composed by: Hajo Lehmann / Lyrics: Rudi Bienert / Arrangement: Jürgen Peter
Pioneer chorus »Omnibus« and studio ensemble
Director: Jürgen Peter
2:10

Gruß den Kosmonautenbrüdern (Greeting of the Cosmonaut Brotherhood)
Composed, arranged and German lyrics: Paul Funk / Original lyrics: Pioneer leaders from Artek [Editor’s note: Artek was the central and most important Pioneer Camp in the Soviet Union]
Children’s chorus of Radio Berlin, Director: Paul Funk
Paul Funk, keyboard
1:45

Acht Tage lang im Weltraum (Eight days in space)
Composed by: Klaus Schneider / Lyrics: Wolfgang Brandenstein / Arrangement: Jürgen Peter
Monika Hauff and Klaus-Dieter Henkler, Die Unentwegten and studio orchestra [Editor’s Note: Die Unentwegten were a choir]
Director: Jürgen Peter
2:30

Side 2
Hoch im All (High in the universe)
Composed by: Klaus Hugo / Lyrics: Dieter Schneider / Arrangement: Lothar Kehr
Cantus-Chor, Lothar Kehr orchestra [Editor’s note: Cantus-Chor just means Cantus Chorus but it’s easier to look up this way.]
2:40

Steigen wie ein Falk (Rising like a [hawk?]) [Editor’s Note: Do they mean Falke???]
Composed and arranged by: Ingo Koster / Lyrics: Jochen Kramer
Gruppe »Drei«
3:25

In den Kosmos (In the cosmos)
Composed by: Thomas Kurzhals & Norbert Jäger / Lyrics: Norbert Jäger
Arrangement: Thomas Kurzhals
Stern-Combo Meißen
5:00

Eroberung der Venus (Conquest of Venus)
Composed by: Horst Krüger / Lyrics: Roland Kästner
Unternehmen Münchehofe, Horst Krüger-Studioband
4:05

...in dieser Zeit (…in these times)
Composed by: Klaus Hugo / Lyrics: Ingeburg Branoner / Arrangement: Horst Krüger
Alfons Frank
Undernehmen Münchehofe, Horst Krüger-Studioband
3:55

Kosmoslied (Cosmos song)
Composed and arranged by: Günther Fischer / Lyrics: Eberhard Fensch
Hansi Klemm, Günther Fischer-Quintett
4:35

Titel 1-17 recorded at National Radio of the GDR [Editor's note: Somehow, they don't tell us where Kosmoslied was recorded. Super weird given how detailed these are otherwise.]

VEB DEUTSCHE SCHALLPLATTEN BERLIN DDR [Editor’s note: company name. VEB: Volkseigener Betrieb, Publicly Owned Enterprise]
Made in German Democratic Republic [sic]

Lithography and printing: VEB Gotha-Druck
Only play microgroove records with a micro- or stereo players.
For stereo records (even for mono playback), only use a stereo pickup.
Clean dust from records and stylus .
Ag 511/01/78 packed under TGL 10609 [Editor’s Note: this is a manufacturing standard similar to the GOST of the Soviet Union/Russian Federation or the ISO/NIST standards used today. I can find the original documents for other standards like TGL 10600 in the Spezialarchiv Bauen in der DDR but I can’t seem to find TGL 10609…]

16,10 M [Editor’s Note: This is the price in marks, and more dedicated readers than me can go find out how much this would’ve cost in terms of wages and also on the black market in 1978.]

Scientific space station Salyut 6, Soyuz 29/31
Illustration: Roland Jäger

Legend:

1: Soyuz space ship 29/31 [Editor’s Note: They park at different ends, and are considered two separate missions, one for deployment and one for return]
2.

Sojus-Raumschiffe 29/31
Airlock [Editor’s note: I’m only about 80% sure this is a correct translation]
Solar batteries
Space Station Salyut 6
Antennae of the landing systems
Central control console
Multi-spectral camera MKF 6
Shower cabin
Scientific device section

Track List and Rip

Very fun album throughout, even if you're not much of a Schlager person and just jump straight to the positively majestic stuff on offer on Side 2. I am really excited to share this with everyone, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did - I was floored by Stern-Combo Meißen's contribution.

Please note that despite the fact that East German records use "Side 1" and "Side 2", for the sake of an easier-to-read track list I'm using standard American A/B instead. For details on each track, see Liner Notes above. I've tried tagging as best I can but frankly this amount of detail is exhausting so you can just read the Liner Notes.

**Please be aware that A1 and A2 skip so much they are almost unsalvageable, and B1 has some uncomfortable skips too. They are included due to the rarity of this record and how good B1 is. If you think you can do better at ripping than me, my contact details are in the About page, let's arrange a delivery.]

A1 - Die Erde dreht sich linksherum
A2 - Unser Mann im All
A3 - Kannste globn, da komm' wir alle hin
A4 - Bruder Gagarins
A5 - Gute Mutter Erde
A6 - Eine Reise zu den Sternen
A7 - Flieg, Raumschiff, Flieg
A8 - Gruß den Kosmonauten
A9 - Wenn ich einmal groß sein werde
A10 - Guten Tag, ih goldenen Sterne
A11 - Gruß den Kosmonautenbrüdern
A12 - Acht Tage lang im Weltraum
B1 - Hoch im All
B2 - Steigen wie ein Falk
B3 - In den Kosmos
B4 - Eroberung der Venus
B5 - ...in dieser Zeit
B6 - Kosmoslied

Get the album HERE!