top of page

Aha: Scoundrel Days Remastered And Expanded Upd //free\\

Start with the original album (remastered), then dive into the b-sides The Weight of the Wind and Soft Rains of April , then close with the live Cry Wolf .

Scoundrel Days rejected the disposable bubblegum label, revealing an eclectic collection of melancholic synth-rock, aggressive percussion, and sweeping arrangements. It was a brave creative left turn that ultimately forecasted the sophisticated "adult pop" direction the band pursued throughout the 1990s and beyond. Disc 1: The Remastered Original Album & Extended Mixes

Scoundrel Days has aged remarkably well—darker, smarter, and less reliant on the band’s falsetto gimmickry. The editions finally give the album the sonic depth it always deserved. If you only know a-ha for the Take On Me video, this is where you discover they were real songwriters.

Now, nearly four decades later, the newly announced (Ultimate Premium Deluxe) edition repositions the album not as a difficult sophomore effort, but as a prescient, genre-defying work.

A standard “UPD” expanded version runs about 18–22 tracks, including: aha scoundrel days remastered and expanded upd

Highlights include a guitar-led version of "Soft Rains of April," the "This Alone Is Love" original version, and multiple demos of "The Swing of Things".

The album is available at various retailers, often in different formats:

: A hauntingly beautiful, melancholic closer that leaves listeners in a state of cinematic awe. Disc 1 Bonus Tracks

Pre-orders include an immediate download of the newly remastered “Manhattan Skyline” and the unreleased outtake “Broken Satellite.” Start with the original album (remastered), then dive

To the casual observer, a-ha has always been defined by a singular, skycraper-high falsetto and a groundbreaking animated music video. But for the devoted, the Norwegian trio’s sophomore album, 1985’s Scoundrel Days , represents the moment Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen, and Pål Waaktaar stripped away the teen-idol gloss to reveal the brooding art-rock band underneath.

Upon its release, Scoundrel Days did not quite match the massive commercial numbers of Hunting High and Low in the United States, largely because it refused to cater to the American radio formats of the time. However, it was a massive success across Europe, the UK, and South America, cementing a fierce, fiercely loyal global fanbase that would sustain the band for the next four decades.

While Warner Music is frequently praised for celebrating the Hunting High and Low era, fans are hoping the 40th anniversary of Scoundrel Days brings similar attention to this often-underrated masterpiece. Whether it’s a 2-CD/1-DVD set or a multi-vinyl package, a 2026 update would ensure that the brilliance of the Scoundrel Days era is preserved for new generations of fans. Key Reissue Details (If Announced) Synthpop / Rock-Pop Original Label: Warner Bros. Records 2026 Context: 40th Anniversary

The first disc contains the original 10-track album, punchier and clearer than ever before, supplemented by rare 12-inch extended cuts. Disc 1: The Remastered Original Album & Extended

If you’ve recently stumbled upon the phrase while browsing forums, streaming services, or online music stores, you’re likely looking at shorthand for one of the most comprehensive reissue campaigns of the Norwegian synth-pop trio’s landmark 1986 album.

Original CD pressings of Scoundrel Days suffered from low volume, muddy bass, and a lack of clarity in the high frequencies. This new update was overseen by original engineers using modern digital tools (and in some versions, analog tape transfers at 24-bit/96kHz).

: Morten Harket’s vocals are praised as "soaring" and "underrated," with critics noting his ability to move from fatalistic verses to hopeful, high-octane choruses in tracks like the title opener. Key Tracks :

The true gold for fans, however, lies on the second disc. This collection of 18 rare tracks provides an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the writing and recording of Scoundrel Days . The disc includes:

If you are reading this, you likely have a memory burned into your brain: the neon-drenched alleyways, the synth beat dropping right as the protagonist draws a blade, and that iconic line, “Trust me? I wouldn’t trust me as far as I could throw this city.”

bottom of page