A-HA – HUNTING HIGH AND LOW CD4

a-ha was a Norwegian band that was globally successful from the 1980s until their split in 2010. The trio, composed of lead vocalist Morten Harket, guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, formed in 1982 and left Oslo, Norway for London in order to make a career in the music business.

The origin of the name a-ha comes from the lyric of an early song. After checking dictionaries in several languages, they found out that ‘a-ha’ was an international way of expressing recognition, with positive connotations. It was short, a-ha was easy to say and somewhat unusual.

The first song to break through into the mainstream culture was Take on Me, which was featured on the album Hunting High And Low; a main reason for its popularity was the music video that came some time later after the song’s release.

“Take on Me” was the first song Morten Harket heard Magne Furuholmen and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy play. At that time the song was called “Lesson One.” After multiple re-recordings and two failed releases, “Take on Me” became a hit on both sides of the Atlantic in 1985. Although their first release of the song in 1984 was not a major success, it was remixed by producer Alan Tarney a year later, and sold 1.5 million copies worldwide in one week. Eventually the single “Take on Me” is estimated to have sold 7-9 million copies worldwide; it peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number two in the UK Singles Chart. Sales were aided in the U.S.
CD1
Take on Me
Train of Thought
Hunting High and Low
The Blue Sky
Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale
The Sun Always Shines on T.V.
And You Tell Me
Love Is Reason
I Dream Myself Alive
Here I Stand and Face the Rain
CD2
Lesson One (“Take on Me” Demo, Autumn, 1982)
Presenting Lily Mars (Naersnes Demo)
Sa Blaser Det Pa Jorden (Naersnes Demo) (2015 Remaster)
The Sphinx (Naersnes Demo)
Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale (Naersnes Demo)
Dot the I
The Love Goodbye
Nothing to It
Go to Sleep
Train of Thought (Demo)
Monday Mourning
All the Planes That Come in on the Quiet
The Blue Sky (Demo)
You Have Grown Thoughtful Again
What’s That You’re Doing to Yourself in the Pouring Rain
Take on Me (Demo)
Hunting High and Low (Demo)
I Dream Myself Alive (Demo)
And You Tell Me (Demo)
Here I Stand and Face the Rain (Demo)
Love Is Reason (Demo)
The Blue Sky (2nd Demo)
Never Never
The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Demo)
Presenting Lily Mars (Rendezvous Demo)
CD3
Take on Me (Single Version)
Take on Me (Single Mix)
Stop! and Make Your Mind Up
Take on Me (Single Mix)
Take on Me (Instrumental)
The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Single Mix)
The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Extended Version #1) (2015 Remaster) 8. Driftwood
The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Extended Version #2)
The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Instrumental)
Train of Thought (Remix)
Train of Thought (Radio Mix)
Train of Thought (Dub Mix)
Hunting High and Low (Remix)
Hunting High and Low (Extended Remix)
CD4
Take on Me
Train of Thought (Early Mix)
Hunting High and Low (Early Mix)
The Blue Sky (Alternate Extended Mix)
Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale (Early Mix)
The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Alternate Early Mix)
And You Tell Me (Early Mix)
Love Is Reason (Early Mix)
Dream Myself Alive (Early “NYC” Mix)
Here I Stand and Face the Rain (Early Mix)