A-ha – Hunting High and Low (1985) MP3 [320kbps]

Disco 1

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. Dream Myself Alive
10. Here I Stand and Face the Rain
11. Take on Me – Single Version
12. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. – Extended Mix
13. Train of Thought – Radio Mix
14. Hunting High and Low – Extended Remix

Disco 2

1. Take on Me – Demo
2. Train of Thought – Demo
3. Hunting High and Low – Demo
4. The Blue Sky – Demo
5. Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale – Early Version
6. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. – Demo
7. And You Tell Me – Demo
8. Love Is Reason – Demo
9. I Dream Myself Alive – Demo
10. Here I Stand and Face the Rain – Demo
11. Stop! and Make Your Mind Up
12. Driftwood
13. Dot the I
14. The Love Goodbye
15. Nothing to It
16. Go to Sleep
17. Monday Mourning
18. All the Planes That Come in on the Quiet
19. Never Never
20. What’s That You’re Doing to Yourself in the Pouring Rain
21. You Have Grown Thoughtful Again
22. Lesson One – «Take on Me» Demo, Autumn, 1982
23. Presenting Lily Mars
24. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. – Extended Version
25. Take on Me – Instrumental
26. Hunting High and Low – Slow Version Demo
27. Take on Me – Single Mix

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🏔️ The Nordic Echo: Analyzing A-ha – Hunting High and Low (Deluxe Edition)

In the autumn of 1985, three young Norwegians—Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen, and Pål Waaktaar-Savoy—conquered the world with a sound that was as crisp and expansive as a Scandinavian winter. A-ha – Hunting High and Low (Deluxe Edition) is much more than a collection of 80s pop hits; it is a meticulously crafted document of ambition, technical innovation, and melodic genius. For those of us who appreciate the psychological journey of the artist, Armando, this record represents the transition from local «Hooligan» dreamers to global icons of a musical «Dinastía» (dynasty). The Deluxe Edition, with its wealth of demos and early versions, allows us to see the «cleaning» of the songs until they reached their final, perfect form.

The Struggle for Perfection: From Oslo to London

The success of A-ha – Hunting High and Low (Deluxe Edition) was not an overnight miracle. The band famously recorded «Take on Me» three different times with different producers before finding the version that would change their lives. This persistence is a fascinating psychological study in self-belief. Working with producers Tony Mansfield and Alan Tarney, the band utilized the emerging digital technology of the mid-80s to create a sound that felt both futuristic and deeply rooted in the «Doo-Wop» and 60s pop melodies they admired.

The Deluxe Edition is particularly valuable because it reveals the raw, darker edges of the band’s songwriting. Before the high-gloss production, songs like «The Sun Always Shines on T.V.» existed as moody, almost gothic experiments. This evolution shows an artist’s capacity to refine their vision without losing the emotional core that makes the music resonate on a spiritual level.

A Journey Through the Tracklist: Light and Shadow

The tracklist of A-ha – Hunting High and Low (Deluxe Edition) is a balanced scales of synth-pop energy and melancholic introspection:

• «Take on Me»: Perhaps the most iconic synth riff in history. Beyond the famous rotoscoped video, the song is a masterclass in dynamic tension. Psychologically, it is an invitation to vulnerability—»take on me» is a plea for connection in a world of barriers.
• «The Sun Always Shines on T.V.»: A cinematic masterpiece that deals with the isolation of fame and the search for reality in a mediated world. The soaring, operatic vocal by Morten Harket showcases his incredible range and emotional depth.
• «Hunting High and Low»: The emotional heart of the album. A beautiful, string-laden ballad that explores the tireless search for love and meaning. It is a spiritual anthem that resonates with the human need to «hunt» for our higher purpose.
• «Train of Thought»: A darker, more rhythmic track that highlights Magne Furuholmen’s synth textures and Pål’s literary, often existential, lyrics.

Technical Mastery and the «A-ha» Aesthetic

From a technical perspective, A-ha – Hunting High and Low (Deluxe Edition) is a triumph of 1980s engineering. The band were among the first to successfully blend the Fairlight CMI sampler with traditional pop songcraft.

1. The Harket Voice: Morten Harket’s five-octave range is the album’s greatest instrument. His ability to switch from a soulful baritone to a glass-shattering falsetto is legendary.
2. Layered Synthesizers: The use of the Roland Juno-60 and Yamaha DX7 created a «Nordic» atmosphere—cold, shimmering textures that felt entirely new in 1985.
3. The Deluxe Demos: Hearing the early 4-track demos on the Deluxe Edition shows the band’s technical growth, moving from simple beats to complex, multi-layered arrangements.

Cultural Legacy: More Than a «One-Hit Wonder»

The legacy of A-ha – Hunting High and Low (Deluxe Edition) has grown significantly over the decades. While they were initially marketed as «teen idols,» the enduring quality of their music has proven them to be serious composers. They paved the way for modern acts like Coldplay and Keane, who have frequently cited A-ha as a major influence on their own melodic structures.

Spiritually, the album acts as a bridge between the physical and the emotional. In the practice of Ho’oponopono, we address the memories that cloud our vision. A-ha’s music, especially in its more melancholic moments, feels like a «cleaning» of the spirit, acknowledging sadness while reaching for the light. It is a record that rewards deep listening, proving that pop music can be a profound vessel for the human experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, A-ha – Hunting High and Low (Deluxe Edition) is a timeless monument of the 20th century. It is a record that rewards the listener with its technical bravery and its profound melodic honesty. Whether you are listening to the driving rhythm of the hits or the ambient beauty of the demos, the album offers a complete experience for the mind and the heart. It is the sound of three men hunting for something eternal and, through this record, finding it.