Spartacus (Triumvirat album)
Encyclopedia
Spartacus is an album
by the German
group Triumvirat
. Spartacus is a concept album
based on the Roman gladiator
who led the 3rd slave
uprising in 73–71 BC. The lyrics were written by Hans Bathelt
, with contributions by Jürgen Fritz
. It was originally released in 1975 on the EMI
label, and later distributed in the U.S.
by Capitol
. It debuted at number 27 on the Billboard album charts
.
After this album, Helmut Köllen left the band to start a solo career. Two years later, he died of carbon monoxide poisoning
when he was in his car, in the garage, listening to his own compositions on the car's cassette player.
The album was digitally re-mastered and released in CD form in 2002 by EMI
. The re-mastered version included two additional tracks: a live version of "The Capital of Power" and a previously unreleased song called "Showstopper".
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
group Triumvirat
Triumvirat
Triumvirat was a German progressive rock trio that formed in 1969 in Cologne, Germany. The founding members were: keyboardist/composer Hans-Jürgen Fritz , drummer/lyricist Hans Bathelt, and bassist Werner Frangenberg....
. Spartacus is a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
based on the Roman gladiator
Spartacus
Spartacus was a famous leader of the slaves in the Third Servile War, a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Little is known about Spartacus beyond the events of the war, and surviving historical accounts are sometimes contradictory and may not always be reliable...
who led the 3rd slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
uprising in 73–71 BC. The lyrics were written by Hans Bathelt
Hans Bathelt
Hans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
, with contributions by Jürgen Fritz
Jürgen Fritz
Jürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
. It was originally released in 1975 on the EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
label, and later distributed in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. It debuted at number 27 on the Billboard album charts
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
.
After this album, Helmut Köllen left the band to start a solo career. Two years later, he died of carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
when he was in his car, in the garage, listening to his own compositions on the car's cassette player.
The album was digitally re-mastered and released in CD form in 2002 by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. The re-mastered version included two additional tracks: a live version of "The Capital of Power" and a previously unreleased song called "Showstopper".
Track listing
- "The Capital of Power" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
) - 3:13 - "The School of Instant Pain" - 6:22
- "Proclamation" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
, BatheltHans BatheltHans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
) - "The Gladiator's Song" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
, BatheltHans BatheltHans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
) - "Roman Entertainment" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
, BatheltHans BatheltHans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
) - "The Battle" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
, BatheltHans BatheltHans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
)
- "Proclamation" (Fritz
- "The Walls of Doom" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
) - 3:57 - "The Deadly Dream of Freedom" (Köllen, BatheltHans BatheltHans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
) - 3:54 - "The Hazy Shades of Dawn" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
) - 3:09 - "The Burning Sword of Capua" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
) - 2:41 - "The Sweetest Sound of Liberty" (Köllen, BatheltHans BatheltHans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
) - 2:35 - "The March to the Eternal City" - 8:46
- "Dusty Road" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
, BatheltHans BatheltHans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
) - "Italian Improvisation" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
, BatheltHans BatheltHans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
) - "First Success" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
, BatheltHans BatheltHans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
)
- "Dusty Road" (Fritz
- "Spartacus" - 7:39
- "The Superior Force of Rome" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
, BatheltHans BatheltHans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
) - "A Broken Dream" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
) - "The Finale" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
)
- "The Superior Force of Rome" (Fritz
- "The Capital of Power (live)" (FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
) - 3:17 - "Showstopper" (BatheltHans BatheltHans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
) - 3:37
Personnel
- Hans BatheltHans BatheltHans Bathelt is a German musician, who played with progressive rock band Triumvirat.-Studio Albums:*Mediterranean Tales *Illusions on a Double Dimple U.S. #55*Spartacus U.S. #27*Old Loves Die Hard U.S. #85...
— drums, percussion - Jürgen FritzJürgen FritzJürgen Fritz is a German musician. He was the keyboard player in progressive rock band Triumvirat.- Albums :* 1972 – Mediterranean Tales by Triumvirat* 1974 – Illusions On A Double Dimple by Triumvirat...
— piano, organ, synthesizers - Helmut Köllen — bass, acoustic guitars, vocals