Customer Reviews

Falco 3

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I remember buying this on vinyl when it first came out in the USA in early 1986 and it made me become the die hard Falco fan I still remain today. I played the heck out of this LP (belive it or not my vinyl is still near mint!) However ones that were familiar with the original US release will notice that on this CD since it is the 1985 original German pressing on CD, that "Rock Me Amadeus" is the version used in the video and not the "Solieri" version which appeared on the US LP and CD (when it was in print). Also the other change is "Vienna Calling" being the version used in the video and not the different and extended mix on the US LP (the video versions were obviously the original mixes). Both versions on the US LP were versions made for 12" singles in Germany when we in the US got different 12" mixes for both. All around though this is a very nice remaster and sounds much better than the vinyl and original US CD version. Now for the album itself, stand out tracks that are quite good are "Macho Macho", the very Bowie inspired "Nothing Sweeter Than Arabia". Also look out for the not so big hit in the US but classic everywhere else, "Jeanny" and the jazzy cover version of Bob Dylan's "Its All Over Now Baby Blue" which at the very end has a quite timeless and comical blooper they kept in with the sax player hitting a sour note and mumbling in a German accent (...)This is a good way to get into Falco if your not already a fan.

First of all, I am an extremely big Falco fan from NYC. (May his soul rest in peace)
I absolutely adore "Rock Me, Amadeus" to this very day.
I have the 33" LP of "Falco3" which contains the "Stalieri" version of "R.M.A". This version was the one which ran down the historical facts of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself, and the ladies chorus of "Baby,Baby do you, do you rock me" was in my opinion, the ESSENCE, CULMINATION, & APEX OF THE ENTIRE SONG!!!. To have bought the CD & not to have heard that fabulous chorus at the end totally took the wind outta my sails. I was really upset...

What can anyone say - this is pure Falco at his best. Each of these songs is intoxicatingly catchy and contains an addictive mix of synth sounds and funky guitar-work. My only quibble is that the "Rock Me Amadeus" mix is too short! But then it's my all-time favourite song and I can't get enough of it. If you like Falco, if you like 80's synth pop, you'll want to be buried with this album.

Falco 3 is one of my favorite albums of all time! All the tracks (with the exception of It's All Over Now, Baby Blue) were fantastic. This is the original German version of the album and, therefore, is missing the incredible American remixes of Rock Me Amadeus (Salieri version) and Vienna Calling. You need to track down the out of print AMERICAN version of Falco 3 to get both extended American mixes; the American version has a different cover (a close-up of Falco's face). The Gold Mix of Rock Me included on this original German version of Falco 3 does not have the spoken background info lead-in on Mozart or the female "do it to me, rock me" chorus.

If you like Rock Me Amadeus, you might also like Rasputin by Boney M, which is similar in that it is about a real historical figure, gives you a history lesson, has a sexy female chorus, and is great poppy euro-trash from the 1980s. Also check out German group Modo who sound a lot like Falco, IMO. Their hits include Eins, Zwei, Polizei, Super Gut, and Mein Lebes Tango.

Even though Falco's "3" was the absolute definitive height of his career (commercially speaking). This by no means is his best release. Bloated and pretentious, Falco's singing gets lost in endless techno-poly rhythms and synth overlays. Thus boring the listener with extreme dance oriented schlock in it's purest disco-tronic 80's form. "Rock Me Amadeus" was a three and a half minute video and radio ditty. Here it's presented in pompous "Solieri" mode, clocking in at some eight and a half minutes. Making the listener long for the vinyl 45 version. "Vienna Calling", another three and a half minute radio and video gem is also given the same treatment (the "Metternich Arrival" mix). Rendering the listener with some very mis-leading results. Meaning; you're not really sure the extensions were all that enticing, let alone necessary. This outing is worth the price of admission for the snot kicking ("get down on your knees and pray") "Macho Macho" alone. "Munich Girls" is also a highlight of this 1985 release.

However, to avoid the monotony of it all...his 1999 "Greatest Hits" (Budda Records) package is perhaps a better value for your money and also contains the overrated (yet under-appreciated video translation) "Jeanny" and the radio edits of Rock Me Amadeus and Vienna Calling.

(note; this review is for the original 1985 A&M "U.S." CD release.)

olofpalme63

I bought this album when it first came out in the 80's, and I still have it today and will pull it out and listen to it. To me, in my opinion, there isn't a bad song on the whole album! I love 'em all! I remember the video to "Amedeus" when it was released, I thought that it was so cool! My favourite songs on here if I had to pick one or two would be, (1.) "Amedeus" and (2.) "Jenny" There is something sad, desprite, and longing about that song. I don't know what he's saying, when he's singing in his native language, but I would love to find out. It greatly saddens me to know that he is no longer with us. Who knows what other masterpieces he could've created if he haden't died so suddenly. I will continue to play this great album of his, and remember him as the talented artist that he was.

Falco has been a favorite of mine since I was six years old!For one thing "Rock Me Amedeus" made me think I could speak
German (especially in that clipped,Rick Osasek delivery).But one
other thing that makes 'Falco 3' special to me is that in the
80's dance arena Falco was like no other.Tunes like "Jeanny",
"Vienna Calling " and of course "Amedeus" come off as pure
Austrain hip-hop-a short lived genre that only seems to have survived those three songs!And nobody can tell me that "America"
is'nt an extremely catchy tune.I do wonder though what the lyrics are in English-since Falco is clearly laughing mockingly
during most of it I'll bet it's pretty funny!It's too bad that he died in that car crash several years ago-I can't think of anyone in contemporary dance music at all like him!

Falco 3 is a classic 80's album, because it incorporates everything you associate with the era - the rock, synth, electic drum with the trademark Falco wacky, but so precise lyrical delivery.

The tracklist ranges from classics to cheesy rock/pop, in particular the tracks 'Munich Girls' 'Manner Des Westerns' and 'Macho Macho' may fall into the latter category, but they are addictive tracks that keep you singing and bopping along - in particular behind the wheel!

Falco 3 is the soundtrack of the 80's generation,it's production is slick, and for these reasons I think it's his best album.

Falco is one of my favorite 80s rock stars. His somewhat non-mainstream themes are refreshing, his style is interesting, and his songs are overall great to listen to even in this new millenium. Too bad he's dead.

USA Version differs from EUROPEAN VERSION basically in tracks names, but the very differences are track 1 (8:00) & track 6 (7:00)
Original USA Version CD was released as A&M 07502151052 with the picture of Falco in CD cover sleeve meanwhile European version has a red cover with his signature.

01 Rock Me Amadeus [The Solieri Version]
02 America [The City Of Grinzing Version]
03 Tango The Night [The Love Mix]
04 Munich Girls (Looking For Love) [Just Another Paid One]
05 Jeanny [Sus-Mix Spect Crime Version]
06 Vienna Calling [The Metternich Arrival-Mix]
07 Manner Des Westens - Any Kind Of Love [Wilde Bube Version]
08 Nothing Sweeter Than Arabia [The Relevant Madhouse Danceteria Jour-Fix-Mix]
09 Macho Macho [Sensible Boy's Song]
10 It's All Over Now, Baby Blue [No Mix]