# Telekon

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1980 studio album by Gary Numan

Telekon Studio album by Gary Numan Released 5 September 1980 Recorded December 1979 – 1980 Studio Rock City Studios (Shepperton) Matrix Studios (London) Genre New wave electronic synth-pop Length 49:54 Label Beggars Banquet Producer Gary Numan Gary Numan chronology The Pleasure Principle (1979) Telekon (1980) Living Ornaments '79 (1981) Singles from Telekon "We Are Glass" Released: 16 May 1980[1] "I Die: You Die" Released: 22 August 1980 "This Wreckage" Released: 12 December 1980[2]

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [3] Pitchfork 8.6/10[4] Rolling Stone [5] Smash Hits 7/10[6] Spin [7]

***Telekon*** is the second solo studio album by the English [new wave](/source/New_wave_music) musician [Gary Numan](/source/Gary_Numan). It debuted at the top of the [UK Albums Chart](/source/UK_Albums_Chart) in September 1980, making it his third consecutive (and to date, final) No. 1 album. It was also the third and final studio release of what Numan retrospectively termed the "machine" section of his career, following *[Replicas](/source/Replicas_(album))* and *[The Pleasure Principle](/source/The_Pleasure_Principle_(album))* (both 1979).[8]

## Music and lyrics

In contrast to Numan's previous album *[The Pleasure Principle](/source/The_Pleasure_Principle_(album))*, *Telekon* featured heavy use of guitars and a richer, more complex sound with a broadened use of different synthesizers in combination with viola and violin. The album's sound ranges from heavier tracks such as "I'm an Agent" and "The Joy Circuit" to more sombre, melancholic songs such as "Sleep by Windows" and "Remember I Was Vapour". Lyrically the album mixed dystopian themes on tracks such as "I Dream of Wires" and "The Joy Circuit", with more personal lyrics such as "Remind Me to Smile" and "Please Push No More" that dealt with Numan's feelings about his sudden fame and relationship with his fans.[9] Several songs such as "Remember I Was Vapour" and "Please Push No More" suggests a goodbye, hinting at Numan's retirement from live work a few months later. "The whole album's got that little hint of goodbye in it", Numan confirmed in a 1981 interview, "In 'This Wreckage' the Japanese writing says 'I leave you'."[10]

## Title and recording

In an interview with *[Smash Hits](/source/Smash_Hits)* magazine in November 1979 Numan hinted on initial plans that his next album *Telekon* was going to be about [telekinesis](/source/Telekinesis).[11]

The recording of the album was reported to be nearly finished already in December 1979, but the release was held back to September 1980 due to Numan's one album a year contract with [Beggars Banquet](/source/Beggars_Banquet_Records).[12] The sessions also yielded the song "A Game Called Echo" which was not included on the finished album.[12]

## Releases and promoting

*Telekon* was released in September 1980. To boost initial sales in the UK, on first release the album came with a free single, in a plain black sleeve, including two live recordings from 'The Touring Principle' tour; "Remember I Was Vapour" and "[On Broadway](/source/On_Broadway_(song))". A year later, in an attempt to further boost sales, the album came with a free poster in the UK using a photo taken from the main Telekon photo-shoot. The cassette release included the singles "[We Are Glass](/source/We_Are_Glass)" and "[I Die: You Die](/source/I_Die%3A_You_Die)" which were not on the vinyl LP.[13]

A number of Dutch releases were pressed on coloured vinyl.[14] The US, Canadian and Australian releases replaced the track "Sleep by Windows" with "I Die: You Die". The album was released on vinyl and cassette in Japan.[15]

### Singles

*Telekon* was preceded by the two singles "[We Are Glass](/source/We_Are_Glass)" and "[I Die: You Die](/source/I_Die%3A_You_Die)", which were only included on the cassette release of *Telekon* and on later reissues. The album's opening number, "[This Wreckage](/source/This_Wreckage)" succeeded the album and upon its release in December 1980, the single peaked at No. 20 in the UK. Numan later admitted that, regardless of its merits as a song, it was a "bloody stupid single".[16] The live version of "[Remember I Was Vapour](/source/Remember_I_Was_Vapour)", released as a bonus single with the UK album, was released as a 12" single in Germany with the studio version on the B-side.[17] "Remind Me to Smile" was released as a US single with "I Dream of Wires*"* on the B-side.[18] "Remember I Was Vapour" was also released as a 7" single with "[On Broadway (Live)](/source/On_Broadway_(song))" as the B-side.

### The Teletour

From September to November 1980, Numan toured the UK and North America in support of *Telekon*.[19][20] The tour was followed by three "farewell concerts" at [Wembley Arena](/source/Wembley_Arena) in April 1981 with guest [Nash the Slash](/source/Nash_the_Slash).[21]

### Classic Album Tour and *Micromusic* DVD

In December 2006, Numan undertook a *Telekon* "Classic Album" tour, comprising four concerts in the UK in which he played all the songs from the *Telekon* album, as well as its associated singles and B-sides. On the 2CD *EKO: The Telekon 06 Audio Programme* (sold at the 2006 *Telekon* gigs and from Numan's website), Numan discussed (with interviewer Steve Malins) the making of *Telekon*, revealing that it is his favourite of his "early albums." Numan followed the 2006 tour with further "Classic Album" tours, for *[Replicas](/source/Replicas_(album))* in 2008 and *[The Pleasure Principle](/source/The_Pleasure_Principle_(Gary_Numan_album))* in 2009.

In 2006, Numan promised fans a DVD release of the 1981 *Micromusic* video. On his official website in October 2008, Numan announced that the long-lost master tapes of the *Micromusic* concert had been found, "in excellent condition and, to make things even better, more footage has been found from two other camera positions that were not used on the original version. This new footage will be edited into a new updated version...We expect this to be, with all the extra footage and interviews, a double disc DVD." On 19 March 2010, Numan announced that the *Micromusic* DVD would be released on 13 April.[22] *Micromusic* was released on that date as a one-disc DVD; in addition to the concert itself, the DVD featured an hour-long interview with Numan as a special feature.

In June 2025, Numan announced a 45th anniversary 15-city UK tour of Telekon[23] with Dublin and Belfast added in July.[24]

## Critical reception and legacy

Like Numan's previous album, *Telekon* received a largely hostile reception in the British music press on its release, but has proved to be an influential work cited as a major influence by musicians such as Trent Reznor of [Nine Inch Nails](/source/Nine_Inch_Nails) and Stephen Merritt of [Magnetic Fields](/source/Magnetic_Fields_(band)).[9]

Upon its release in 1980, *Smash Hits* reviewer Red Starr found *Telekon* to be "better than *[The Pleasure Principle](/source/The_Pleasure_Principle_(Gary_Numan_album))* but not so good as *[Replicas](/source/Replicas_(album))*" and that Numan was "recycling old ideas instead of pioneering new ones."[6]

In a retrospective review for [Pitchfork Media](/source/Pitchfork_Media) in 1999, Michael Sandlin wrote: "On Telekon, Numan is a master texturalist, skilled in creating synth parts that perfectly coalesce and swim melodically around each other; an interplay much like Television innovated in the mid-1970s using guitars. He works wonders with his arsenal of simple synthesizer effects. He also utilizes acoustic piano, and occasionally integrates electric violas, violins, and flecks of distorted rhythm guitar. And he uses this many- sided approach to optimal effect; the piano and synthesizers trade off carrying melody and countermelody, while some Moog parts are used expressly for atmospheric effect or layered to build the rhythmic girth of a song. Numan's ideas no doubt serve as a template of sorts, and many of these compositions have more than withstood the trials of time. Many of today's legions of sample- happy, MIDI- obsessed nerds claim to have learned a thing or two from Numan's intelligent compositional craft."[4]

## Cultural references

*[NME](/source/NME)* used the track title "I Dream of Wires" as the name for a fictitious [synth-pop](/source/Synth-pop) act about which they published a series of spoof articles in early 1995, culminating in reports of the alleged band's death in a coach crash in Eastern Europe.[25]

"I Dream of Wires" was covered by English singer [Robert Palmer](/source/Robert_Palmer_(singer)) on his 1980 studio album *[Clues](/source/Clues_(Robert_Palmer_album))*, featuring Numan on keyboards and synthesisers.[26]

"I'm an Agent" was covered by English [pop punk](/source/Pop_punk) band [Kenickie](/source/Kenickie) as a bonus CD track on CD1 of their January 1997 number 24 hit single "In Your Car".

## Track listing

All songs written and composed by Gary Numan except for "[Trois Gymnopédies](/source/Gymnop%C3%A9dies) (First Movement)", which is a composition by [Erik Satie](/source/Erik_Satie).

### LP

Side one No. Title Length 1. "This Wreckage" 5:26 2. "The Aircrash Bureau" 5:41 3. "Telekon" 4:29 4. "Remind Me to Smile" 4:03 5. "Sleep by Windows" (replaced with "I Die: You Die" on North American and other overseas releases) 4:58

Side two No. Title Length 6. "I'm an Agent" 4:19 7. "I Dream of Wires" 5:10 8. "Remember I Was Vapour" 5:11 9. "Please Push No More" 5:39 10. "The Joy Circuit" 5:12

The vinyl album also included a 7" single:[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] A-side - "Remember I Was Vapour (Live)" B-side - "On Broadway (Live)"

### Cassette

Side one No. Title Length 1. "This Wreckage" 5:26 2. "The Aircrash Bureau" 5:41 3. "Telekon" 4:29 4. "Remind Me to Smile" 4:03 5. "Sleep by Windows" 4:58 6. "We Are Glass" 4:47

Side two No. Title Length 7. "I'm an Agent" 4:19 8. "I Dream of Wires" 5:10 9. "Remember I Was Vapour" 5:11 10. "Please Push No More" 5:39 11. "The Joy Circuit" 5:12 12. "I Die: You Die" 3:47

### 1998 CD reissue

No. Title Length 1. "This Wreckage" 5:26 2. "The Aircrash Bureau" 5:41 3. "Telekon" 4:29 4. "Remind Me to Smile" (alternative intro to vinyl release) 4:03 5. "Sleep by Windows" 4:58 6. "We Are Glass" 4:47 7. "I'm an Agent" 4:19 8. "I Dream of Wires" 5:10 9. "Remember I Was Vapour" (alternative mix to vinyl release) 5:11 10. "Please Push No More" 5:39 11. "The Joy Circuit" (alternative mix to vinyl release) 5:12

Reissue bonus tracks No. Title Length 12. "I Die: You Die" (alternative mix to single release) 3:48 13. "A Game Called Echo" 5:07 14. "Photograph" 2:28 15. "Down in the Park" (piano version) 4:15 16. "Trois Gymnopédies" (First Movement) 2:44

- Subsequent digital issues of *Telekon* revert to the original intro mix for "Remind Me to Smile".

## Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Telekon Chart (1980) Peak position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[27] 24 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[28] 53 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[29] 32 UK Albums (OCC)[30] 1 US Billboard 200[31] 64 Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Telekon Chart (1980) Position UK Albums (OCC)[32] 59

## Personnel

**Musicians**

- [Gary Numan](/source/Gary_Numan) – [vocals](/source/Singing), [Minimoog](/source/Minimoog), [Polymoog](/source/Polymoog), [ARP Pro Soloist](/source/ARP_Pro_Soloist), [Roland Jupiter-4](/source/Roland_Jupiter-4), [Sequential Circuits Prophet-5](/source/Sequential_Circuits_Prophet-5), [Yamaha CP-30](/source/Yamaha_CP-30), [Roland CR-78](/source/Roland_CR-78), [Synare](/source/Synare), [guitar](/source/Guitar), [piano](/source/Piano), Minibass [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

- [Paul Gardiner](/source/Paul_Gardiner) – [bass](/source/Bass_guitar), [backing vocals](/source/Backing_vocalist)

- [Cedric Sharpley](/source/Cedric_Sharpley) – [drums](/source/Drum_kit), [percussion](/source/Percussion_instrument), backing vocals

- [Chris Payne](/source/Chris_Payne_(musician)) – [viola](/source/Viola), piano, Minimoog, Polymoog, backing vocals

- [Russell Bell](/source/Dramatis) – guitars, [violin](/source/Violin), claves, backing vocals

- [Denis Haines](/source/Denis_Haines) – Prophet-5, piano, ARP Pro Soloist, Yamaha CP-30, whistle, backing vocals

- John Webb, [James Freud](/source/James_Freud), [Simple Minds](/source/Simple_Minds) – handclaps

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Music Week"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1980/Music-Week-1980-05-17.pdf) (PDF). p. 28.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Music Week"](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1980/Music-Week-1980-12-13.pdf) (PDF). p. 26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Prato, Greg. [Telekon](https://www.allmusic.com/album/r171786) at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic_(identifier)). Retrieved 12 December 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pitchfork_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pitchfork_4-1) Sandlin, Michael (31 December 1999). ["Gary Numan:Telekon review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080907022356/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/20449/Gary_Numan_Telekon). [Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website)). Archived from [the original](http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/20449/Gary_Numan_Telekon) on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Shewey, Don (2 April 1981). ["Gary Numan : Telekon : Music review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080620032158/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/garynuman/albums/album/225732/review/5943979/telekon). *[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/garynuman/albums/album/225732/review/5943979/telekon) on 20 June 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Smash_Hits_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Smash_Hits_6-1) Duff, Linda (18 September 1980). "Album Reviews". *[Smash Hits](/source/Smash_Hits)*. London, England: [EMAP](/source/EMAP). p. 35.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** *[Spin](http://www.spin.com)* Simon Price, September 1998, pp. 188-189

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Numan, Gary (1981). *Living Ornaments '79/'80* (LP liner notes).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wac_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wac_9-1) Ange Chan (5 September 2020). ["Gary Numan's Telekon at 40"](https://wearecult.rocks/gary-numans-telekon-at-40). wearecult.rocks.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Gary Numan Interview"](https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/81/Record-Mirror-1981-06-20-OCR.pdf) (PDF). [Record Mirror](/source/Record_Mirror). 20 June 1981. p. 6. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211006161552/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/81/Record-Mirror-1981-06-20-OCR.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Savage, John. "Playing to the Aliens". *Smash Hits 14 November 1979*. p. 7.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bitz_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bitz_12-1) "Bitz". *Smash Hits 13 December 1979*. p. 9.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Telekon](http://www.nureference.co.uk/telekon.htm#top) nureference.co.uk

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Telekon - Dutch Coloured Vinyls](http://www.nureference.co.uk/telekon%20dutcol.htm) nureference.co.uk

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [Telekon World Releases](http://www.nureference.co.uk/telekon%20alt.htm#top) nureference.co.uk

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Stephen Webbon & Gary Numan (1985). "Complete Gary Numan UK Discography". *[Record Collector](/source/Record_Collector) (December 1985, No. 76)*: p.15

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [Remember I Was Vapour](http://www.nureference.co.uk/RIWV.htm#nogo) nureference.co.uk

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [Remind Me To Smile](http://www.nureference.co.uk/RMTS.htm) nureference.co.uk

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** [Teletour UK 1980](http://www.nureference.co.uk/Tour%201980%20Teletour%20UK.htm) nureference.co.uk

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** [Teletour US/Canada 1980](http://www.nureference.co.uk/Tour%201980%20Teletour%20US%20Canada.htm) nureference.co.uk

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** [Tour Programmes](http://www.nureference.co.uk/programmes.htm) nureference.co.uk

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["NuWorld: NEWS"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081013054648/http://www.numan.co.uk/box/news.html). Archived from [the original](http://numan.co.uk/box/news.html) on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Telekon 45th Anniversary Tour"](https://garynuman.com/telekon-45th-anniversary-tour/). *Garynuman.com*. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Dublin & Belfast Shows Added To Telekon Tour"](https://garynuman.com/dublin-belfast-shows-added-to-uk-telekon-tour/). *Garynuman.com*. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Dreaming of Wires: The Rise And Fall of Our New Electro-Pop Overlords"](https://lazerguidedmelody.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/dreaming-of-wires-the-rise-and-fall-of-our-new-electro-pop-overlords/). *Lazer Guide Melody*. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Sexton, Paul (6 September 2022). ["'Clues': Robert Palmer Takes Soul Into The New Wave"](https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/robert-palmer-clues-album/). *uDiscover Music*. Retrieved 5 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** [Kent, David](/source/David_Kent_(historian)) (1993). *Australian Chart Book 1970–1992* (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 220. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-646-11917-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-646-11917-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Canada_28-0)** "[Top RPM Albums: Image 4703](https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4703&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4703.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4703)". *[RPM](/source/RPM_(magazine))*. [Library and Archives Canada](/source/Library_and_Archives_Canada). Retrieved 21 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_New_Zealand_Gary_Numan_29-0)** "[Charts.nz – Gary Numan – Telekon](https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Gary+Numan&titel=Telekon&cat=a)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_UK2_30-0)** "[Official Albums Chart on 7/9/1980 – Top 100](https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19800907/7502/)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved 21 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ac_Billboard200_Gary_Numan_31-0)** "[Gary Numan Chart History (*Billboard* 200)](https://www.billboard.com/artist/Gary-Numan/chart-history/TLP)". *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved 8 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["Chart File – Top 100 Albums 1980"](https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/81/Record-Mirror-1981-04-04-OCR.pdf) (PDF). *[Record Mirror](/source/Record_Mirror)*. 4 April 1981. p. 38. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0144-5804](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0144-5804) – via World Radio History.

## References

- Paul Goodwin (2004). *Electric Pioneer: An Armchair Guide to Gary Numan*

- [Allmusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/r171786)

## External links

- *[Telekon](https://www.discogs.com/master/28733)* at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) (list of releases)

v t e Gary Numan Albums with Tubeway Army Tubeway Army Replicas The Plan Studio albums The Pleasure Principle Telekon Dance I, Assassin Warriors Berserker The Fury Strange Charm Metal Rhythm Outland Machine + Soul Sacrifice Exile Pure Jagged Dead Son Rising Splinter (Songs from a Broken Mind) Savage (Songs from a Broken World) Intruder Collaborations Automatic (with Bill Sharpe) Human (with Michael R. Smith) Nicholson / Numan 1987–1994 (with Hugh Nicholson) Live albums Living Ornaments '79 Living Ornaments '80 Living Ornaments '79 and '80 White Noise Ghost The Skin Mechanic Dream Corrosion Dark Light Living Ornaments '81 The Radio One Recordings Scarred Hope Bleeds Fragment 1/04 Fragment 2/04 The Complete John Peel Sessions Engineers Big Noise Transmission Singles "That's Too Bad" "Bombers" "Down in the Park" "Are "Friends" Electric?" "Cars" "Complex" "We Are Glass" "I Die: You Die" "This Wreckage" "Stormtrooper in Drag" "She's Got Claws" "Love Needs No Disguise" "Music for Chameleons" "We Take Mystery (To Bed)" "Warriors" "Change Your Mind" "New Thing from London Town" "This Is Love" "I Can't Stop" "Like a Refugee (I Won't Cry)" "Crazier" Compilations New Man Numan Exhibition The Best of Gary Numan 1978–1983 The Premier Hits Techno Army Featuring Gary Numan Random Exposure Hybrid Resonator (Pioneer of Sound) Related articles Discography Sharpe & Numan Paul Gardiner Cedric Sharpley Dramatis Tubeway Radio Heart "Freak Like Me" "Where's Your Head At"

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Telekon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telekon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telekon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.