a-ha - Singles 1984-2004

a-ha celebrates their 20th anniversary with the release of a new singles collection. Throughout their career, a-ha has officially released 32 singles. 13 of them became top ten singles in the UK, and 14 singles have been number one on the radio lists over the world. The new singles album includes some of the highlights from a-ha’s last 20 years. 2004. Album Description

A-Ha is amazing

It's a shame that A-ha is known as "one hit wonder" here in America, but I have to say that they are one of the best bands ever... I went to many music stores to buy their CDs, but none seemed to carry their recent albums. However, thanks to Amazon.com, I was able to buy some of their recent albums. If you want to know what they sound like these days, this album is perfect one for you. February 15, 2008

Great band, but songs are all redone

I guess I need to learn how to burn my own greatest hits CD, because I had no idea that hardly any of these songs are the versions from the original albums. In fact, many of the songs on this CD are cut shorter. I guess people don't realize the difference, because everyone seems to give such high ratings. I think that The Living Daylights is a HOT song, but this version, which was in the movie, sucks compared to the version that's on their Stay On These Roads CD. I can't imagine why they couldn't use THAT version in the movie, and why they couldn't put the same version in this CD. When I buy a "greatest hits" CD, I usually get the original recordings, and if they're different versions, it is mentioned on the cover. I don't know if Headlines and Deadlines is the same, but I heard it is. July 20, 2007

took me back

I lost touch with the band, but this collection brought me back up to speed. I enjoyed them all. January 10, 2007

An A-Ha Moment!

It's a shame that A-Ha never fully realized their star potential with American audiences. Other then the still charming "Take On Me" and the follow-up "The Sun Always Shines On TV" from their "Hunting High And Low" debut, their chart success stateside never matched the band's international superstardom. Which means that - as far as American audiences are concerned - neither of their best-of's has been issued here. I actually picked my copy of this up while on vacation in London. It was well worth it.

A-Ha were far more than their pretty faces on the MTV videos. (But to be the band that could lay credit to the "Take On Me" - or even the lesser known "Cry Wolf" - video.) Seven studio albums and world-wide sales of more than 60-thousand albums certainly vindicates that point. What most of us Yanks missed was the frequently inventive pop-music this trio turned out. They were masters of the confectionary ballad, with songs like "Manhattan Skyline," "Velvet" and "Stay On These Roads" masterworks of melodrama.

In their later albums, A-Ha was finding conflict within their group and the albums began to reflect the turmoil. (The CD also contains an honest recollection of the band's history.) The synths began to take a lower profile and more live (and livelier) recording began to unfold. While A-Ha was still making some cutting edge pop, a song like "Minor Earth Major Sky" is particularly dark. There is even a relatively faithful version of the Everly Brothers' "Crying In The Rain."

And then there is the matter of that voice. Morten Harket had a falsetto that rivaled Freddie Mercury's and certainly influenced singers like The Darkness' Justin Hawkins. It hit that impossibly high note in "Take On Me" but could also add to the drama of the band's shot at a James Bond theme, "The Living Daylights." Obviously hoping Bond would do for them what "A View To A Kill" did for Duran Duran, A-ha rocks it in a cinematic way, and it could possibly be both Harket's best vocal and the most under appreciated of all the James Bond movie themes.

Which about sums up this collection. There is some of the finest pop you've never heard here, new wave of otherwise. Terrifically re-mastered for this CD, A-Ha "The Singles - 1984/2004" showcases an under appreciated band who created some perfectly realized music, even without the sun shining on them in the US. (Come on Rhino - we know you can do it.) January 4, 2007

overlooked band

Boy, I forgot about this band. What a treat to find them again. Great compilation of songs for those that don't want to purchase all their CD's. Great gift for that 80's lover, as well. November 15, 2006

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