Rheinita

Rheinita is a 1979 single by German band La Düsseldorf. It was the band's most successful single, reaching number 3 on the German music charts (their previous single Silver Cloud reached number 2 but sold fewer copies). The success of the single in both its 7" and 12" versions led EMI to offer the band a 1 million DEM advance, should they break their contract with Teldec.

Recording & release

Following the success of their debut album, La Düsseldorf decided to dispense with producer Conny Plank and buy their own studio in Düsseldorf. Viva evolved over several years in the studio, the band now having unrestricted studio access. The album was released in 1978, and was followed the next year by the Rheinita single.

Unusually for a hit record it is instrumental (as was Silver Cloud) and over seven minutes long in the full 12" version. Nevertheless it sold well in Germany, some music magazines making it "record of the year". The band were forced to go on tour in support of the single, an enterprise made difficult by the heavily overdubbed nature of their music, and of "Rheinita" in particular. They played a free concert for television, recordings of which are widely available on the internet, in which the band members mimed their parts and danced enthusiastically on stage.