A-ha - Hunting High & Low - 1985 - Already Been Deluxed!

 

 Already Been Deluxed - Day Seven - A-ha - Hunting High & Low - 1985

This was the collection that inspired me to do the "Already Been Deluxed" week to begin with.  One of my favorite albums, A-ha has released the BEST deluxe version of any album I've ever found.  You have album tracks, b-sides, remixes, unavailable tracks, demos and early versions.  All my favorite types of tracks.  

No one can think of 80s music or consider 80s music without mentioning Take On Me.  It is quintessential 80s to the Nth degree.  The entire album is Synthpop perfection.  Even though Take On Me has been overplayed thousands of times, it is still fun to hear and sing along.  Train Of Thought is catchy and rhythmic, and The Sun Always Shines On TV is by far the best song on the album.  Fortunately, the beloved Dreamtime has remixed the crap out of it, making a mammoth 13 minute version.

I have posted the four disc set exactly as released, and added my new covers to them.  I will admit, though, that I did add material to disc one that wasn't previously on there, but the collection as a whole is so complete, I think it still qualifies for this week in particular.

As ALWAYS - I want to think our superb fan-mixers Dreamtime and McDoc for their great work, as they've made versions uniquely their own, without changing the sound and style of the original.  Wonderful job, guys!

Tomorrow starts "Nothing Extra Nothing More" week, with seven days of awesome albums that don't have any bonus material that I can add, but are definitely in my top album category, and worthy of being recognized even though they are not "Deluxed".

CD1   CD2   CD3   CD4

A-ha - Stay On These Roads - 1988

After Scoundrel Days came out, I eagerly awaited this release.  My sister was the one who bought all the A-ha stuff, so when this came out, I prodded and pushed her relentlessly until she finally went down and bought it (I was 16 and she was 14)  I think in that first couple months, I listened to this album more than her. 

I feel that this is a fantastic album.  It continues along the same vein as it's predecessors with beautiful synths and warm vocals and melodies.  A truly terrific album. BUT...

-  I prefer Scoundrel Days to this album.
-  The original mix of The Living Daylights is really horrible.  The album mix is by far SUPERIOR.
-  I've included the unreleased demos from these sessions, and they're pretty weak.

This album was A-ha's last trendy poppy pretty-boy release.  Starting with the very next album, they actually released an album that had some balls.  That's when I began to truly respect them as musicians in it for the long haul, and not some flash in the pan.

They've obviously released a deluxe version of this album already, but I felt the need to do my own version, as they (along with a lot of other artists) didn't release it in a format that could be listened to in one sitting without shuffling the tracks.  They'd back shitty demo with excellent recording to live track to remix to first and second takes to the same song mixed differently back to back to back.  I hope that with this collection, I've weeded out the garbage and made it more palatable for one listening.  I hope you agree...

A-ha - Stay On These Roads - 1988

A-ha - Scoundrel Days - 1986

My little sister was "into" A-ha about the time this album came out.  Secretly, I was too, but would never admit it.  I remember we were at Venture, a store similar to Target, in the Chicagoland suburbs when she made the decision to finally buy an A-ha album.  She had both HH&L and Scoundrel Days to choose from.  Having heard most of HH&L, I was eager to hear Scoundrel Days, and I tried my hardest to talk her into purchasing it.  But, she had only heard stuff from HH&L, so therefore, that was what she was determined to get.  I was pissed.  To this day I still prefer Scoundrel Days over the debut album, but at least now I have both. la la la.

People often made fun of A-ha for being pretty boys making synth music.  But, we are now looking at more than 30 years, and A-ha is still writing some fantastic tunes that have balls.  Even on this, their sophomore release, there are a lot of quality tunes (with the exception of that silly Whales song.)  I still think they don't get the credit they deserve.  At least their home country gives them kudos.

Only one b-side, but quite a few mixes and a fan mix of I've been losing you.  Quite spectacular.  Picture sleeve isn't anything special.  Just added the single sleeves.

Have at it...

A-ha - Scoundrel Days - 1986