Burning The Ground Exclusive 1982
NEW 2023 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!
Originally posted December 12, 2012
“Der Kommissar” (German: [deːɐ̯ kɔmɪˈsaːɐ̯]; “The Commissioner”) is a song originally recorded by Austrian artist Falco in 1981. The song was written by Robert Ponger and Falco.
In mid-1982, British rock band After the Fire recorded an English version, also titled “Der Kommissar”, and released it as a single, but the record floundered. Coming off a tour opening for Van Halen, After the Fire was working on material for a new album when in December 1982, the group announced onstage during a concert that they were disbanding. Both the After the Fire and Falco versions were rising on the Canadian charts at the time, but neither had cracked the US pop charts. Around that time, American singer Laura Branigan began working on her second studio album, Branigan 2, and she recorded “Deep in the Dark”, a new song written over the melody and arrangement of “Der Kommissar” which was prepared for release. Then the After the Fire version finally hit the US Billboard Hot 100 on 22 February 1983, and started rising. Though its version barely nicked their home country’s Top 50, in 1983 the song’s music video received extensive airplay on MTV propelling its popularity on US radio. The song entered the US top 40 on 5 March 1983, peaking at No. 5, and spending a total of 14 weeks in the top 40. The single was released under the Epic Records label. Amidst all this renewed attention to the composition, Falco’s own version, which had done well in some US markets but not charted nationally, was re-released, but the German-language record remained essentially a novelty hit there, charting concurrently with the After the Fire version but not rising above No. 74 on the Cashbox chart.
In Canada, Falco’s version had peaked at No. 11 the same late-January week that After the Fire’s version peaked at No. 12. After the Fire’s record company, CBS, pleaded with the band to regroup, but to no avail. While UK promotional singles for “Deep in the Dark” were pressed (the After the Fire version missed the UK top 40 and the Falco version failed to chart there), Branigan’s record company, Atlantic, officially released “Solitaire” in the United States, where that song peaked at No. 7.
SIDE A:
Der Kommissar (Special Extended Remix) 5:43
SIDE B:
Der Kommissar (Dub Remix) 4:50
Engineer [Remix] – Michael Frondelli
Remix [Remix By] – Bruce Harris, Gregg Winter, Jane Brinton
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Der Kommissar | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #5 |
| 1983 | Der Kommissar | U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks | #4 |
| 1983 | Der Kommissar | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play | #17 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Epic – 49-03490
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1982
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
NOTES:
Special Version From The Epic LP: ATF
Though not specifically labeled as such, side A is an extended remix and side B is a dub with chorus vocals only.
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
You can help show your support for this blog by making a donation using PayPal. Thank you for your help.
Thanks a lot for the re-post!!!
I like both (Falco+AtF). Let’s see the quality 😉 By the way… In fact, you posted at: After The Fire – Der Kommissar (US 12″ 1982) December 3rd, 2012 “Der Kommissar” is a song first recorded by Falco in Austria in 1981, covered a year later by British rock band After the Fire. After the Fire’s version featured English lyrics by the band’s Andy Piercy. The single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 2, 1983. After spending 14 weeks on the chart the single peaked at #5 becoming the bands only US hit. In the UK “Der Kommissar… Read more »
Falco’s was the hit here in L.A. after KROQ broke it as an import and was top 10 in twelve countries; top 20 in five more where ATF’s was bigger in mainly the US and South Africa. Never heard Laura Branigan’s rap version until now…Atlantic was wise to go with “Solitaire” instead.
This was by far Falco’s (R.I.P.) best song, and this version is faithful to the original. I think if Falco had re-released this song (perhaps in its English version) after “Rock Me Amadeus”, it could’ve been huge. Anyways, I’m glad I finally get a pristine transfer of the “After The Fire” version! Thank you for your meticulous work!
Wow, I had completely forgotten about this version! I knew Falco’s version from living for a year in Germany but the Laura Branigan version is the one I think of now, I loved Branigan2 at the time and it has some really great songs on it, only Squeeze Box I skip over Seeing this video is bringing me back to high school, my first year back in Canada and I know I saw this video a lot back then. What fun, I’m always delighted to visit your site and see where you’re taking us next! A highlight of the www,… Read more »
Thank you, Art. I really appreciate your comment glad you are part of the BTG family 🙂
Like deja vu! After The Fire’s version was my first introduction to this great tune on MTV. Thank you Paul, I love this version and the Dub!! I can’t help but wonder if you already had it planned for today or your interest was sparked by yesterday’s post?! No matter, great to have your new transfer. Does anyone else remember this song being played in the movie Tank while C. Thomas Howell looks cool walking down the street?? It was also used (a remake version) in a dream sequence, again with C. Thomas Howell, in Grandview, U.S.A.
Retro Hound, you sparked my interest by mentioning this song in the previous post comments I am really happy that you did this was begging for a new transfer. I own the movie “Tank” so I really need to watch it again now 🙂
Fantastic! I’m always happy to be of service in any way I can! I need to rewatch Tank at some point too 🙂
A good friend in high school first introduced me to Falco’s version first. That was around a year before I ever heard the After The Fire’s remake. I really liked the cover version better than Falco’s because it sounded a bit edgier. This time in music was very special to me with all the New Wave records coming out. It’s music like this that influenced my tastes. And to think, I was so into Disco at the time. I really started to shape my musical choices with records like this. Thank you, Paul, for bringing this one back from your… Read more »
You’re very welcome, Jeff 🙂
Wow! What a history I DID NOT KNOW! Mind blown ! I knew the ATF version first I think and always thought it was a massive hit. Then after Rock Me Amadeus I think I learned Falco was the original. (I also was in German in High School so German things were on my radar.)
But wow so many interesting side facts and Branigan and and!!!!
Cool post thanks again!
You’re welcome, ING. Yes, this song certainly made its mark worldwide through many different artists. 🙂