# The Group "After The Fire" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-after-the-fire/619470 "2012-04-21T00:59:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-after-the-fire/619470/1 "2012-04-21T00:59:25Z")
I used their hit “Der Kommisar” recently in a story I wrote about my time in a Communist Youth group (Young Pioneers) while living with my Oma in East Germany. Do any of you have that album/cd and could you give me a mini-review? I ask because so many times back then, all you got was the hit and 11 tunes of garbage. Thanks Q ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-after-the-fire/619470/2 "2012-04-21T16:49:57Z")
Their biggest hit was a cover of a Falco song. Their version is I think better than the original. A little more menacing, whereas Falco’s original has him faffing about on a green screen supposedly fleeing ol’ Komissar. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-after-the-fire/619470/3 "2012-04-21T17:06:01Z")
According to Wikipedia, [the album “Der Komissar” was released on](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Kommissar_%28album%29) was a compilation of older songs from previous albums. Looking now to see if I can find any reviews for you. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-after-the-fire/619470/4 "2012-04-21T17:13:12Z")
Alas, nothing I’ve checked that might have a review goes back quite that far. ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-after-the-fire/619470/5 "2012-04-21T18:18:46Z")
FWIW, Allmusic gives the group’s studio albums 2 stars each, but gives ATF 4 1/2 stars. There isn’t much of a review, but they say “the album makes for pleasant, if dated, techno power pop of the late '70s/early '80s.” ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-after-the-fire/619470/6 "2012-04-21T19:41:48Z")
Thanks, everyone. I think Falco (Rock Me, Amadeus) wrote that song as well and died not long afterward. For those who may be wondering about the short speech in the song, it means, 'Everything clear (or better phrased “okay?”) Mr. Komissar?" Q ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-after-the-fire/619470/7 "2012-04-21T19:52:23Z")
I just listened to the song again. That acoustic guitar wasn’t in the original single and sounds very cool. I haven’t bought a cd in ages, but I’m going to look for it or download it. Quasi ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-after-the-fire/619470/8 "2012-04-21T19:56:46Z")
> [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](#): > > “the album makes for pleasant, if dated, techno power pop of the late '70s/early '80s.” That is damning with extraordinarily faint praise if I ever heard it, considering that we’re talking about the heyday of Cheap Trick, the Cars, Squeeze, and the Knack. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-after-the-fire/619470/9 "2012-04-22T06:37:08Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > I just listened to the song again. That acoustic guitar wasn’t in the original single and sounds very cool. I haven’t bought a cd in ages, but I’m going to look for it or download it. > > Quasi God, this song is for me the very definition of ‘guilty pleasure’! As a fan of mostly AOR radio and hard rock liking a techno-dance neo-disco song like this was, conflicting. And yes, the acoustic guitar bridge in the middle (as well as some extra choruses) was not in the shorter 45 edit [(nor the music video).](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbFEaOH31fY) I remember being disappointed that it wasn’t and going out and buying the LP instead. For those looking for it: I found this song on a compilation CD called \*\*Rock of the 80’s Volume 4 \*\*(©1993 Priority Records cat# 4992-53684-2). It contains the LP edit. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-after-the-fire/619470/10 "2012-04-22T14:46:42Z")
Apropos of very little, I recall hearing \*three \*versions of that song on the radio all around the same time: Falco, ATF, and an all-girl version. Don’t recall the chick band’s name, but it was amusing too. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-group-after-the-fire/619470/11 "2012-04-23T21:14:00Z")
I think it was Laura Branigan (_“Gloria”_) who did the ‘chick’ version. She changed the title/chorus to [“Deep in the Dark”,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branigan_2) overall it was a pretty awful version…