Disco de a-ha: “Headlines & Deadlines (Hits Of)”

I was 14 when a-ha stepped onto the scene in 1985.

Definitely the idea for the TAKE ON ME video was stuning, all that cartoons/live mixing was fresh stuff.

Plus the song was catchy and fast became a # 1 hit on both sides of the atlantic.

THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON TV did just great here in Europe but failed to repeat success in the US - although the mannequins storyboard for its video was just as good.

And the musical bridge boasts a great violin section.

A-ha proved to be polyedric artists: HUNTING HIGH AND LOW, TRAIN OF THOUGHTS are just nuggets, THE BLOOD THAT MOVES THE BODY and THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (from the 1987 James Bond original soundtrack) border closely to high-class pop.

MANHATTAN SKYLINE and I'VE BEEN LOSING YOU are possibly the best tracks off their second album, while STAY ON THESE ROADS is a simple, well-crafted, radio-friendly tune.

The unreleased track MOVE TO MEMPHIS is stunningly poly-rhythmical, sensual and sung by a dark-voiced Morten Harkett.

The guys are long gone from the top of the charts but they're definitely not from my heart!

I remember when I bought this album a long time ago. It was way back when I was a junior in high school. I hadn't really heard much by A-Ha other than their classic hit "Take On Me" at the time. But when I got this album it totally blew me away. I listened to it over and over again until I realized that every single song on here kicks. It's a shame that so many people have written off A-Ha as one-hit wonders because they are really so much more than that. In addition to this awesome collection they have four great albums that are not to be missed by any music fans. On this collection, songs like "Cry Wolf", "Train of Thought", and "Touchy" are upbeat songs that are a lot of fun to listen to while songs like "Hunting High and Low", "Stay On These Roads", and "Manhattan Skyline" are more poignant, passionate, and let the listener in on A-Ha's sensitive side. Overall a truly awesome collection. "Take On Me" is NOT the best song on here. In my humble opinion, it's not even the best. I highly recommend this compilation, because all the songs on here range from good to great!

Wow. I looked at the track listing, and thought

I maybe recognised four or five of the songs.

Putting the CD on, I found I knew maybe four or

five by heart, knew the first verse of four others,

and liked the rest.

My favourite has to be "The Blood that Moves the

A concentrated hit of 80's nostalgia that won't be

Although of course best known for the ubiquitous synthdance confection, Take On Me, there's actually quite a lot to recommend here. All 16 tracks are excellent representations of the 80s New Wave movement; fans of Erasure, Depeche Mode, New Order, Pet Shop Boys, etc. will be quite pleased. Besides you-know-what, there's also Cry Wolf, a great dance song that saw little US airplay; a gorgeous remix of their finest ballad, Hunting High And Low; and, IMHO, their very finest dance track, The Sun Always Shines On TV. Everything else has minor flaws, but is still very enjoyable. If you want to remember the glittery 80s in all their hairsprayed MTV glory, get this CD!

Hello, it's DreReich here again, merely admitting my guilt and remorse for writing such a terrible, unneccesary and totally uninformed former review on this album, and I really hope that as soon as whoever is in charge of "screening" these contributions, whoever that person may be, will hopefully see fit to delete my totally completely horrible former review of this album, in place of this newly written, much, much better one! Now, as I was saying, I was completely misinformed! The Norweigian Trio from the '80's was NOT just known for "Take On Me", they had other, better more excellent-sounding dance-pop hits! In fact, after actually giving this album a decent chance, I discovered that I like the sound of almost every track! Adding on to my former review of me liking "Cry Wolf", "Touchy", "You Are The One", "The Blood That Moves The Body", and "The Living Daylights", there is a few more to be considered to have a-Ha be thought of as one of the better '80's groups, them being "Early Morning", "I've Been Losing You", "Stay On These Roads", and the cool, funky "Train Of Thought". So, I've finally been able to get this situation of my chest, and I hope that this better review will be a whole lot more satisfactory to the generable public reading these. There, I feel a lot better now. Goodbye!