a-ha’s 1985 Debut ‘Hunting High And Low’ Gets A 6LP Box Set

The Norwegian band a-ha have announced that their 1985 debut album Hunting High and Low will be released for the first time in a 6LP boxset. The box set will arrive on February 24th, 2023, featuring an expanded track selection including demos, extended versions, alternate mixes, and b-sides.

It will also feature a rigid slipcase box, containing the album represented across 60 tracks on black 140g vinyl, and a 64 -page 12”x12” booklet with extensive liner notes and photography. The album boasts hit singles such as “The Sun Always Shines On TV”, “Love Is Reason”, “Hunting High and Low” and the iconic “Take On Me”. The album saw them nominated for a Grammy Award in 1986 for Best New Artist (the first Norwegian band to ever be nominated for a Grammy.)

In October 2022, the song “Take On Me” received the BMI Multi-Million Performance Award for more than 8 million airings on the US airwaves since it was released. Hunting High and Low has gone onto be 3x platinum in the UK, and certified platinum in the United States, and has sold over ten million copies worldwide. 

On the 6LP boxset release, the band said:

Recording Hunting High And Low was such a defining moment and an exciting time in our career and joint collaboration, so revisiting this body of work now – more than 30 years later – feels like inspiration rather than obligation.

Tracklist:
LP1 – The Original 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 TV
7. And You Tell Me
8. Love Is Reason
9. Dream Myself Alive
10. Here I Stand And Face The Rain

LP2 & LP3 – The Demos 1982-1984

1. Lesson One (Autumn 1982 “Take On Me” Demo)
2. Presenting Lily Mars (Nærsnes Demo)
3. Så Blåser Det På Jorden (Nærsnes Demo)
4. The Sphinx (Nærsnes Demo)
5. Living A Boy’s Adventure Tale (Nærsnes 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. Dreaming 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 (2^nd Demo)
23. Never Never
24. The Sun Always Shines On TV (Demo)
25. Presenting Lily Mars (Rendezvous Demo)

LP4 & LP5 – 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 TV (7” Mix)
7. The Sun Always Shines On TV (Extended Version)
8. Driftwood
9. The Sun Always Shines On TV (Extended Version)
10. The Sun Always Shines On TV ( Instrumental)
11. Train Of Thought (7” Remix)
12. Train Of Thought (US Remix)
13. Train Of Thought (Dub Mix)
14. Hunting High And Low (7” Remix)
15. Hunting High And Low (Extended Remix)

LP6 – The Alternate Mixes

1. Take On Me (Video Version)
2. Train Of Thought (Early Mix)
3. Hunting High And Low (Early Mix)
4. The Blue Sky (Alternative Long Mix)
5. Living A Boy’s Adventure Tale (Early Mix)
6. The Sun Always Shines On TV (Alternate 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)