Now Available: a-ha, Hunting High & Low – Super Deluxe 30th Anniversary Edition
There’s no denying that “Take on Me” is one of the most memorable singles to see release during the 1980s, and it’s relatively hard to disagree with the premise that it’s one of tracks that best defines the music of the decade, but with that said, we can’t adequately express just how much great music you’ve missed if you’ve spent the last 30 years thinking of that one wonderful song as the sum total of a-ha’s catalog.
Still, if you’ve somehow never gotten around to exploring the awesomeness of a-ha beyond what you’ve heard on the radio, this is the perfect year to make up for lost time, given that it’s the 30th anniversary of the group’s debut album, Hunting High & Low.
You may remember how we issued a two-disc special edition of that particular release a few years ago, along with a similar reissue of the band’s sophomore effort, Scoundrel Days, but with this being the big 3-0 of the album that first put them on the map, it seemed like the best of all possible years to kick things up a notch and deliver something even more special to the fans: Hunting High & Low – Super Deluxe 30th Anniversary Edition.
Here’s what you get:
Disc 1 - The Album
1. TAKE ON ME
2. TRAIN OF THOUGHT
3. HUNTING HIGH AND LOW
4. THE BLUE SKY
5. LIVING A BOY'S ADVENTURE TALE
6. THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON T.V.
7. AND YOU TELL ME
8. LOVE IS REASON
9. I DREAM MYSELF ALIVE
10. HERE I STAND AND FACE THE RAIN
Disc 2 - The Demos 1982-1984
1. LESSON ONE (Autumn 1982 "Take On Me" Demo)
2. PRESENTING LILY MARS (Naersnes Demo)
3. NÅ BLÅSER DET PÅ JORDEN (Naersnes Demo)
4. THE SPHINX (Naersnes Demo)
5. LIVING A BOY'S ADVENTURE TALE (Naersnes Demo)
6. DOT THE I
7. THE LOVE GOODBYE
8. NOTHING TO IT
9. GO TO SLEEP
10. TRAIN OF THOUGHT (Demo)
11. MONDAY MOURNING
12. ALL THE PLANES THAT COME IN ON THE QUIET
13. THE BLUE SKY (Demo)
14. YOU HAVE GROWN THOUGHTFUL AGAIN
15. WHAT'S THAT YOU'RE DOING TO YOURSELF IN THE POURING RAIN
16. TAKE ON ME (Demo)
17. HUNTING HIGH AND LOW (Demo)
18. I DREAM MYSELF ALIVE (Demo)
19. AND YOU TELL ME (Demo)
20. HERE I STAND AND FACE THE RAIN (Demo)
21. LOVE IS REASON (Demo)
22. THE BLUE SKY (2nd Demo)
23. NEVER NEVER
24. THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON T.V. (Demo)
25. PRESENTING LILY MARS (Rendezvous Demo)
Disc 3 - Singles, Extended Versions & B-Sides
1. TAKE ON ME (Original 7" Version 1984)
2. TAKE ON ME (1984 12" Mix)
3. STOP! AND MAKE YOUR MIND UP
4. TAKE ON ME (1985 12" Mix)
5. TAKE ON ME (Instrumental Mix)
6. THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON T.V. (7" Mix)
7. THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON T.V. (Extended Version)
8. DRIFTWOOD
9. THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON T.V. (Extended Version)
10. THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON T.V. (Instrumental)
11. TRAIN OF THOUGHT (7" Remix)
12. TRAIN OF THOUGHT (U.S. Remix)
13. TRAIN OF THOUGHT (Dub Mix)
14. HUNTING HIGH AND LOW (7" Remix)
15. HUNTING HIGH AND LOW (Extended Remix)
Disc 4 - The Alternate Mixes (Previously unissued)
1. TAKE ON ME (Video Version)
2. TRAIN OF THOUGHT (Early Mix)
3. HUNTING HIGH AND LOW (Early Mix)
4. THE BLUE SKY (Alternate Long Mix)
5. LIVING A BOY'S ADVENTURE TALE (Early Mix)
6. THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON T.V. (Alternate Early Mix)
7. AND YOU TELL ME (Early Mix)
8. LOVE IS REASON (Early Mix)
9. DREAM MYSELF ALIVE (Early "NYC" Mix)
10. HERE I STAND AND FACE THE RAIN (Early Mix)
DVD - The Videos
1. TAKE ON ME (1985 Version) - Directed by Steve Barron
2. THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON T.V. - Directed by Steve Barron
3. TRAIN OF THOUGHT - Directed by Candace Reckinger & Michael Patterson
4. HUNTING HIGH AND LOW - Directed by Steve Barron
5. TAKE ON ME (1984 Version) - Directed by Stevie Price
6. TAKE ON ME (1985 Alternate Cut) - Directed by Steve Barron
It’s effectively the definitive version of one of the definitive albums of the ‘80s, so even if you’re a little overwhelmed, it’ll be worth it in the long run for the musical education you’ll get.
