Error in the System

Error in the System
Studio album by
Peter Schilling
Released24 March 1983 (English version)
3 July 1982 (German version)
StudiosPeer-Southern Studios, Hamburg, Germany
Genres
Length35:42 (English version)
37:54 (German version)
LanguagesEnglish
German
Labels
Producers
  • 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
  1. "Major Tom (Völig losgelöst)"
    Released: 1982[discuss]
  2. "Die Wüste lebt"
    Released: 1983
  3. "Major Tom (Coming Home)"
    Released: 1983
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star

Error in the System is the English-language debut album by German singer-songwriter Peter Schilling, and is the counterpart to the German-language album Fehler im System, released through Elektra Records on 24 March 1983. The English and German versions have been combined and sold as a single box set in several parts of the world.

Singles

The English version contains the song "Major Tom (Coming Home)", which reached the top 15 in New Zealand and the US, and the top 50 in the UK. The German version includes the songs "Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst)", which reached number one in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and number two on the Dutch Top 40, as well as "Die Wüste lebt". 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.

Track listings

Error in the System

All lyrics are written by Peter Schilling and David Lodge, except where noted; all music is composed by Peter Schilling, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Only Dreams"  3:22
2."Lifetime Guarantee" Armin Sabol6:20
3."The Noah Plan"  4:21
4."Error in the System"
  • Schilling
  • Matthew Garey
 3:35
5."Fast alles konstruiert" (Cassette release only)SchillingSabol6:20
6."Major Tom (Völlig Losgelöst)" (Cassette release only)Schilling 4:08
Side two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Major Tom (Coming Home)"  5:03
2."Major Tom, Part II" (Instrumental) Sabol3:35
3."(Let's Play) U.S.A."
  • Schilling
  • Garey
Sabol3:18
4."I Have No Desire"
  • Schilling
  • Garey
 3:22
5."Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" (Cassette release only)TraditionalTraditional; arr. Sabol/Schilling3:26
6."Dann trügt der Schein" (Cassette release only)Schilling 3:22
7."Die Wüste lebt" (Cassette release only)Schilling 4:21

Fehler im System

All lyrics are written by Peter Schilling, except where noted; all music is composed by Peter Schilling, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleMusicLength
1."... Dann trügt der Schein" 3:28
2."Fast alles konstruiert"Sabol6:48
3."Die Wüste lebt" 4:56
4."Fehler im System" 3:30
Side two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst)"  4:59
2."Major Tom" 
  • Sabol
  • Schilling
3:50
3."U.S.A." Sabol3:22
4."Ich hab' keine Lust"  3:31
5."Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht"TraditionalTraditional; arr. Sabol/Schilling3:30
Total length:37:54

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Charts

Chart performance for Fehler im System
Chart (1983) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)4
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)33
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)28
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)2

Certifications

Certifications for Fehler im System
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) Gold 50,000^
Germany (BVMI) 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. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs. Volume 39, Issue 21 (1984-01-28)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Peter Schilling – Fehler im System" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  18. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Peter Schilling – Fehler im System" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  19. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Peter Schilling – Error in the System". Music Canada. February 1, 1984.
  20. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Peter Schilling; 'Fehler im System')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 16 June 2022.

Error in the System

Fehler im System