Schlank Mit Martin Lauer (10 Minuten Morgen-Gymnastik)

Released in the early 1960s by the German label WERGO, this record captures a unique intersection between West German pop culture and athletic performance. Martin Lauer, a celebrated Olympic athlete who won gold in the 110-meter hurdles at the 1960 Rome Games, leveraged his national fame to promote physical fitness. The record was designed as an instructional audio companion, providing a guided ten-minute morning gymnastics routine intended to make professional-grade physical maintenance accessible to the general public in their own homes.

The production reflects the era's growing interest in civilian fitness programs and the use of the phonograph as a tool for personal instruction. WERGO, a label typically associated with avant-garde and contemporary classical music, took a distinct departure from its catalog with this release. By utilizing Lauer’s credibility as a decorated sprinter, the record aimed to capitalize on the post-war health boom, presenting a structured, rhythmic approach to exercise that mirrored the disciplined training regimens common in top-tier sports at the time.