Headlines and Deadlines: The Hits of a-ha

by a-ha

Overview

Norway's a-ha took "Take on Me" to the number one spot on Billboard's Top 40 in 1985, thanks to the award-winning animated video that accompanied it. Still, a-ha contributed rather accordingly to the '80s pop sound, drenching their music with bouncy riffs and employing the keyboard as the foundation to their colorful formula. Headlines and Deadlines: The Hits of a-ha assembles all of their singles together, a definite one-stop for all of their music. Combining ballads and radiant '80s pop, this set includes their most fervent offering in "The Sun Always Shines on T.V.," which hit number 20 in 1986 and originated from Hunting High and Low, the same album that included "Take on Me." After this album, the band's next couple of releases, East of the Sun and Memorial Beach, were total washouts, which makes this compilation all the more worthy. Other notables include remixed versions of "Hunting High and Low" and "You Are the One," as well as the theme song to The Living Daylights. Though comparisons to Duran Duran are difficult to avoid, a-ha did harbor some distinct qualities in their glossy sound, and quite a few of their songs still contain some redeeming factors, but are better appreciated when lined up in compilation form. ~ Mike DeGagne

Product Details

Release Date:	09/15/1998
Label:	Warner Bros.
UPC:	0075992677325

Tracks

1. Take on Me
2. Cry Wolf
3. Touchy!
4. You Are the One (Remix)
5. Manhattan Skyline
6. Blood That Moves the Body
7. Early Morning
8. Hunting High and Low (Remix)
9. Move to Memphis
10. I've Been Losing You
11. The Living Daylights
12. Crying in the Rain
13. I Call Your Name
14. Stay on These Roads
15. Train of Thought (Remix)
16. The Sun Always Shines on T.V.

Album Credits

Performance Credits

a-ha   Primary Artist,Vocals
Jevetta Steele   Vocals (Background)
Per Hillestad   Drums
Phil Todd   Saxophone
Magne Furuholmen   Keyboards
Kathy Wilson   Vocals (Background)
Leif Korsten Johansen   Bass
Jorun Boseberg   Bass
Paul Waaktaar-Savoy   Guitar
Michael Sturgis   Drums
Martin Ditcham   Tambourine
Morten Harket   Vocals
Jorun Bogeberg   Bass
Oystein Jevanord   Drums

Technical Credits

Daniel Abraham   Remixing,Remix Engineer
Ian Stanley   Producer
Jason Corsaro   Producer
Howard Greenfield   Composer
Alan Tarney   Mixing,Producer,Remixing
Morten Harket   Composer,Producer
Stylorouge   Package Design
Derek Davis   Second Engineer
John Ratcliff   Mixing,Remixing
Bobby Hata   Mastering
Magne Furuholmen   Composer,Producer
Gregg Jackmann   Mixing
Just Loomis   Photography
Derek Duffy   Second Engineer
Michael Cyr   Second Engineer
John Paul   Photography
Eivind Skovdabl   Second Engineer
Sverre Henrikson   Engineer
Alan Turney   Producer
John Hudson   Mixing,Remixing,Mixing Engineer
David Z.   Engineer,Producer
Rod Hui   Mixing
John Barry   Composer,Producer
Tony Mansfield   Producer
Ted Jensen   Mastering
Paul Waaktaar-Savoy   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Djinji Brown   Second Engineer
Carole King   Composer
Nick Davis   Mixing,Recording
Michael Patterson   Drawing,Illustrations
a-ha   Mixing,Remixing
Al Turney   Producer
Brian Poer   Engineer
David Friedlander   Engineer
Justin Strauss   Producer,Remixing
Chris Neil   Producer
Roberth Opsahl-Engen   Second Engineer
Paul Rider   Photography
Jamey Staub   Engineer
Gerry Kitchingham   Engineer,Recording