Error in the System

Error in the System
Studio album by Peter Schilling
Released	24 March 1983 (English version) 3 July 1982 (German version)
Studio	Peer-Southern Studios in Hamburg, Germany
Genre	New wave Neue Deutsche Welle synthpop
Length	35:42 (English version) 37:54 (German version)
Label	Elektra (US) WEA Records (GER)
Producer	Armin Sabol Peter Schilling
Peter Schilling chronology
Error in the System (1983) Things to Come (1985)
Singles from Fehler im System/Error in the System
"Major Tom (Völig losgelöst)" Released: 1982^[discuss] "Die Wüste lebt" Released: 1983 "Major Tom (Coming Home)" Released: 1983

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

Error in the System is the first English album by German singer Peter Schilling, and is the English counterpart to the German album Fehler im System. The English and German versions have been combined and sold as a single box set in several parts of the world.[2][3][4]

Singles

The English version contains the song "Major Tom (Coming Home)", which reached the top 15 in New Zealand[5] and the US,[6] and the top 50 in the UK.[7] The German version includes the songs "Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst)", which reached number one in Germany, Austria and Switzerland[8][9][10] and number two on the Dutch Top 40,[11][12] as well as "Die Wüste lebt".[13] Because "Major Tom (Coming Home)" was his one and only entry into the top 40 on the US charts, he is generally considered a one-hit wonder in that country.[14]

Track listings

Error in the System

Side one

1. "Only Dreams" (Schilling, David Lodge) – 3:22
2. "Lifetime Guarantee" (Schilling, Lodge, Armin Sabol) – 6:20
3. "The Noah Plan" (Schilling, Lodge) – 4:21
4. "Error in the System" (Schilling, Matthew Garey) – 3:35
5. "Fast Alles Konstruiert" (Schilling, Lodge, Armin Sabol) – 6:20 (cassette only)
6. "Major Tom (Völlig Losgelöst)" (Schilling, Lodge) – 4:08 (cassette only)

Side two

1. "Major Tom (Coming Home)" (Schilling, Lodge) – 5:03
2. "Major Tom, Part II" (Sabol) – 3:35
3. "(Let's Play) U.S.A." (Schilling, Sabol, Garey) – 3:18
4. "I Have No Desire" (Schilling, Garey) – 3:22
5. "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" (Silent Night, Holy Night; trad.; arr. Sabol/Schilling) – 3:26
6. "Dann Trügt Der Schein" (Schilling, David Lodge) – 3:22 (cassette only)
7. "Die Wüste Lebt" (Schilling, Lodge) – 4:21 (cassette only)

Fehler im System

Side one

1. "…Dann trügt der Schein" (Schilling) – 3:28
2. "Fast alles konstruiert" (Sabol, Schilling) – 6:48
3. "Die Wüste lebt" (Schilling) – 4:56
4. "Fehler im System" (Schilling) – 3:30

Side two

1. "Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst)" (Schilling) – 4:59
2. "Major Tom" (Sabol, Schilling) – 3:50
3. "U.S.A." (Sabol, Schilling) – 3:22
4. "Ich hab' keine Lust" (Schilling) – 3:31
5. "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" (trad.; arr. Sabol, Schilling) – 3:30

Personnel

Musicians

• Peter Schilling – all vocals
• Armin Sabol – guitars (all tracks), additional bass (on "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht")
• Rolf Kersting – bass (all tracks except "Major Tom")
• Gunther Gebauer – bass (on "Major Tom")
• Frank Hieber – keyboards (all tracks except "Major Tom")
• Gonzo Bishop – keyboards (on "Major Tom")
• Dicky Tarrach – drums, percussion (all tracks except "The Noah Plan" and "Major Tom")
• Mickie Stickdorn – drums, percussion (on "The Noah Plan")
• Curt Cress – drums, percussion (on "Major Tom")

Production

• Produced by Peter Schilling and Armin Sabol
• Recorded and engineered by Frank Reinke, Geoff Peacy, Lars Hidde, Manfred Lohse, Peter Schilling and Peter Schmidt
• Track 5 mixed by Holger J. Magnussen; all other tracks mixed by Frank Reinke
• Art direction – Bob Defrin
• Front cover photo – Gesine Petter
• Back cover photo – Job Crogier

Charts

Chart performance for Fehler im System

Chart (1983)	Peak position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[15]	4
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[16]	28
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17]	2

Certifications

Certifications for Fehler im System

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[18]	Gold	250,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. AllMusic review
2. (in German) "Error in the System's German Amazon Page". Amazon.de. Retrieved on January 27, 2011.
3. "Error in the System's Amazon Page". Amazon.com. Retrieved on January 27, 2011.
4. "Error in the System's British Amazon Page". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved on January 27, 2011.
5. (in Dutch) "Peter Schilling-Major Tom". Ultratop.be. Retrieved on January 27, 2011.
6. Whitburn, Joel (2007). Top Pop Singles 1955-2006 , Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-172-7.
7. British Hit Singles & Albums, 18th Edition (2005). Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 978-1-904994-00-8.
8. Major Tom in Offizielle Deutsche Charts
9. Major Tom in den österreichischen Charts
10. Major Tom in der Schweizer Hitparade
11. Top 40 Hit dossier 1956-2001 ISBN 90-257-3349-2
12. "Peter Schilling - Major Tom (völlig losgelöst)". ultratop.be. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
13. Die Wüste lebt [7" Vinyl Single]: Peter Schilling: Bücher. Amazon.de. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
14. Sutton, Michael (1956-01-28). "Peter Schilling". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
15. "Austriancharts.at – Peter Schilling – Fehler im System" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
16. "Dutchcharts.nl – Peter Schilling – Fehler im System" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
17. "Offiziellecharts.de – Peter Schilling – Fehler im System" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
18. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Peter Schilling; 'Fehler im System')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 16 June 2022.

External links

• Error in the System at Discogs (list of releases)
• Fehler im System at Discogs (list of releases)