Minor Earth Major Sky

Last updated
Minor Earth Major Sky
Aha Minor Earth Major Sky.jpg
Studio album by
A-ha
Released14 April 2000
Recorded1998–2000
Genre
Length58:42
Label WEA
Producer
  • A-ha
  • Kjetil Bjerkestrand
  • Millenia Nova
  • Ras
  • Roland Spremberg
  • Andre Tanneberger
  • Pål Waaktaar
A-ha chronology
Memorial Beach
(1993)		Minor Earth Major Sky
(2000)		 Lifelines
(2002)
Singles from Minor Earth Major Sky
  1. "Summer Moved On"
    Released: 25 March 2000 [1]
  2. "Minor Earth Major Sky"
    Released: 10 July 2000
  3. "Velvet"
    Released: 14 September 2000
  4. "The Sun Never Shone That Day"
    Released: 21 September 2000

Minor Earth Major Sky (stylised as minor earth | major sky) is the sixth studio album by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 14 April 2000 by WEA.

Contents

Background and release

Following the release of a-ha's fifth studio album, Memorial Beach (1993), the band decided to go on a hiatus. In 1998, the band was invited to perform at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert. Paul Waaktaar-Savoy had written "Summer Moved On" especially for this performance. [2] They also performed "The Sun Always Shines on T.V.". This performance was a-ha's comeback into the world of music and the band decided to return to the studio.

Almost the entire album was remixed by producer Niven Garland at the record company's insistence to make it more radio-friendly for the band's German market.

"Summer Moved On", "Minor Earth Major Sky" and "Velvet" were commercially released as singles. "I Wish I Cared" was an Internet download single, accompanied by an Internet-only music video—one of the first of its kind.

The aircraft cockpit on the cover art is from a Boeing 707.

Backing vocals for the track "Velvet" were provided by Simone Larsen of Norwegian band D-Sound.

Reception

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg link
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
MusicfolioStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg link

Commercial performance

Minor Earth Major Sky debuted at number one on the Norwegian Albums Chart, and became the band's first number one album in Germany. The album peaked at number 27 on the UK Albums Chart, but was not released in the U.S. This album was certified platinum in Norway and Germany and gold in Austria, Spain and Switzerland.

Track listing

Standard version
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Minor Earth Major Sky" Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, Magne Furuholmen Boogieman, Roland Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Kjetil Bjerkestrand [a] 5:25
2."Little Black Heart"Furuholmen, Waaktaar-SavoyBoogieman, Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Bjerkestrand [a] 4:35
3."Velvet"Waaktaar-Savoy, Lauren Savoy Boogieman, Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Bjerkestrand [a] 4:21
4."Summer Moved On"Waaktaar-SavoyBoogieman, Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Bjerkestrand [a] 4:38
5."The Sun Never Shone That Day"Waaktaar-Savoy, SavoyBoogieman, Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Bjerkestrand [a] 4:40
6."To Let You Win" Morten Harket, Håvard RemBoogieman, Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Bjerkestrand [a] 4:24
7."The Company Man"Furuholmen, Waaktaar-SavoyBoogieman, Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Bjerkestrand [a] 3:15
8."Thought That It Was You"Harket, Ole Sverre-OlsenBjerkestrand3:50
9."I Wish I Cared"FuruholmenBoogieman, Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Bjerkestrand [a] 4:23
10."Barely Hanging On"Waaktaar-SavoyBoogieman, Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Bjerkestrand [a] 3:56
11."You'll Never Get Over Me"Waaktaar-SavoyBoogieman, Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Bjerkestrand [a] 5:40
12."I Won't Forget Her"Waaktaar-SavoyBoogieman4:44
13."Mary Ellen Makes the Moment Count"Waaktaar-SavoyWaaktaar-Savoy4:51
Japanese version (bonus track)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Summer Moved On" (remix)Waaktaar-SavoyBoogieman, Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Bjerkestrand [a] , C.L.A.S.S. Production [b] 6:00
Russian version (bonus tracks)
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Minor Earth Major Sky" (Black Dog mix)Waaktaar-Savoy, FuruholmenBoogieman, Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Bjerkestrand [a] , R.A.S [b] , Island Brothers [b] 4:07
15."Velvet" (Stockholm mix)Waaktaar-Savoy, SavoyBoogieman, Spremberg, a-ha [a] , Bjerkestrand [a] , Palaar Suna [b] 4:16
2019 deluxe edition (disc two)
No.TitleLength
1."Minor Earth Major Sky" (Early Version)5:50
2."Little Black Heart" (Alternate Mix)4:35
3."Velvet" (Early Version)5:18
4."Summer Moved On" (Early Version)4:38
5."The Sun Never Shone That Day" (Early Version)4:24
6."To Let You Win" (Early Mix)4:39
7."We Will Never Speak Again" (Demo)4:19
8."The Company Man" (Early Version)4:30
9."Life's Not Fair" (Early Version of "I Wish I Cared")3:31
10."Barely Hanging On" (Early Version)3:52
11."I Won't Forget Her" (Early Version)4:51
12."Manhattan Skyline" (Live - Oslo 2001)5:51
13."Thought That It Was You" (Live - Oslo 2001)3:45
14."You'll Never Get Over Me" (Live - Oslo 2001)6:02
15."Mary Ellen Makes the Moment Count" (Live Oslo - 2001)6:06
16."Summer Moved On" (Demo)3:34

Notes

Personnel

A-ha

Additional musicians

Technical and design

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Minor Earth Major Sky
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI) [25] Platinum300,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [26] Gold50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [27] Gold25,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A-ha</span> Norwegian synth-pop band

A-ha is a Norwegian synth-pop band formed in Oslo in 1982. Founded by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, Magne Furuholmen, and Morten Harket, the band rose to fame during the mid-1980s.

<i>Stay on These Roads</i> 1988 studio album by A-ha

Stay on These Roads is the third studio album by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 3 May 1988 by Warner Bros. Records. Six singles were released from the album.

<i>Scoundrel Days</i> 1986 studio album by a-ha

Scoundrel Days is the second studio album by Norwegian band a-ha, released on 6 October 1986 by Warner Bros. Records. A remastered edition with additional tracks was released in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magne Furuholmen</span> Norwegian musician and visual artist

Magne Furuholmen is a Norwegian musician and visual artist. Also known by his stage name Mags, he is the keyboardist of the synth-pop band A-ha and co-wrote hits such as "Take On Me", "Stay on These Roads", "Manhattan Skyline", "Cry Wolf", "Forever Not Yours", "Analogue ", "Minor Earth Major Sky", "Touchy!", "You Are the One", "Move To Memphis" and "Foot of the Mountain". A-ha has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. He was named Knight First Class of the Order of St. Olav by King Harald for his services to Norwegian music and his international success.

<i>Hunting High and Low</i> 1985 studio album by a-ha

Hunting High and Low is the debut studio album by the Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha, first released on 10 June 1985 by Warner Bros. Records in Norway and the United States, and then released in the United Kingdom and Europe on 25 October 1985. The album was a huge commercial success, reaching high positions on charts worldwide. The album was recorded at Eel Pie Studios in Twickenham, London, and produced by Tony Mansfield, John Ratcliff and Alan Tarney.

<i>East of the Sun, West of the Moon</i> 1990 studio album by A-ha

East of the Sun, West of the Moon is the fourth studio album by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 27 October 1990 by Warner Bros. Records. Named after a Norwegian fairy tale, the album was something of a departure from the band's earlier radio-friendly sound to a darker, moodier tone. It peaked at number one in the band's native Norway and reached top 20 in various European countries and Japan. It was co-produced by Ian Stanley, formerly of the band Tears for Fears.

<i>Memorial Beach</i> 1993 studio album by A-ha

Memorial Beach is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian band A-ha, released on 14 June 1993 by Warner Bros. Records.

<i>Lifelines</i> (A-ha album) 2002 studio album by A-ha

Lifelines is the seventh studio album by the Norwegian band A-ha, released on 24 April 2002 by WEA. The album topped the charts in Norway and Germany, and reached the top 10 in Austria, Denmark, Poland and Switzerland. In 2019, Lifelines and Minor Earth Major Sky, both of A-ha's albums recorded for Warner Music Germany, were remastered and re-released with an extra disc, which contained demos, early versions and alternate mixes. They also received their first official vinyl releases.

<i>Analogue</i> (album) 2005 studio album by A-ha

Analogue is the eighth studio album by the Norwegian band A-ha, released in 2005. It is a-ha's first album on Polydor Records (Universal), having previously been signed to Warner Music. Four singles were also released from this record. The album's second single, "Analogue " became the group's first top 10 hit on the UK Singles Chart since "Stay on These Roads" (1988). The album reached No. 24 in the UK and got silver certification there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A-ha discography</span>

The discography of A-ha, a Norwegian synthpop/rock band, consists of eleven studio albums, eight compilation albums, six box sets, ten extended plays, and fifty singles. This list does not include solo material or other projects recorded by A-ha band members.

<i>How Can I Sleep with Your Voice in My Head</i> 2003 live album by A-ha

How Can I Sleep with Your Voice in My Head is a live album by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 25 March 2003 by WEA Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shapes That Go Together</span> 1994 single by A-ha

Shapes That Go Together is a song by Norwegian band A-ha and the official song of the Paralympics '94 which was held at Lillehammer, Norway. The single was written by Magne Furuholmen and Pål Waaktaar, who from now onwards refers to himself as Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, produced by Christopher Neil and arranged by A-ha and Kjetil Bjerkestrand. The song was released in February 1994 by Warner Bros. and reached number 27 on the charts in the UK, staying within the charts for three weeks total. It also reached number 57 in Germany, number 28 in Poland and number 15 in Denmark. The band performed the song at the 1994 IRMA Awards in Dublin. Its music video was directed by Barry Maguire.

<i>Letter from Egypt</i> 2008 studio album by Morten Harket

Letter from Egypt is the fourth studio album by Norwegian singer Morten Harket, released on May 19, 2008. It is his first album since 1996 and second sung in the English language. The album entered the Norwegian Top 40 Album Chart at number one on week 22.

<i>Foot of the Mountain</i> 2009 studio album by A-ha

Foot of the Mountain is the ninth studio album by the Norwegian synth-pop band A-ha. It was released on 19 June 2009 and reached No. 1 on the German Albums Chart and No. 2 on the Norwegian Albums Chart. In its first week in the UK, the album debuted at No. 5, the group's highest chart placing in that country since Stay on These Roads in 1988.

<i>Live at Vallhall: Homecoming</i> 2001 video by A-ha

Live at Vallhall: Homecoming is a live video album by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 5 November 2001 by Warner Music Vision. It was filmed during the band's two concerts at Vallhall Arena in Oslo on 24 and 25 March 2001.

<i>Ending on a High Note: The Final Concert</i> 2011 live album by A-ha

Ending on a High Note: The Final Concert is a live album by Norwegian band a-ha, released on 1 April 2011. It was recorded at the Oslo Spektrum in Oslo on 4 December 2010, which was initially planned to be their final concert before their eventual reunion in 2015. The concert on the previous night was also recorded as a back-up. The album contains the entire set from the final concert with the exception of "The Bandstand" and "Bowling Green", the latter being an Everly Brothers cover the band performed as part of the final encore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morten Harket</span> Norwegian singer (born 1959)

Morten Harket is a Norwegian singer who is the lead vocalist of the synth-pop band A-ha.

<i>Cast in Steel</i> 2015 studio album by a-ha

Cast in Steel is the tenth studio album by Norwegian band A-ha. The album was released on 4 September 2015 by We Love Music and Polydor. It is their first studio album since Foot of the Mountain (2009), following their second reunion in early 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Move to Memphis</span> 1991 single by A-ha

"Move to Memphis" is a song by Norwegian band A-ha, which was released in October 1991 as a single from their greatest hits album Headlines and Deadlines: The Hits of A-ha (1991). It was written by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and Magne Furuholmen, and produced by A-ha. "Move to Memphis" reached number two in Norway and number 47 in the United Kingdom.

<i>True North</i> (A-ha album) 2022 studio album by A-ha

True North is the eleventh studio album by Norwegian band A-ha. It was released on 21 October 2022 by RCA and Sony Music. The album's opening track "I'm In" was released as the first single on 8 July 2022.

References

  1. ↑ Stavenes-Dove, Siri (1 April 2000). "a-ha, It's Those Norwegians Again". Music & Media . Vol. 17, no. 14. p. 1.
  2. ↑ interview on "a-ha live at valhall homecoming" DVD, 2001
  3. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th Concise ed.). United Kingdom: Omnibus Press. p. 30. ISBN   978-1-84609-856-7.
  4. ↑ a-ha – Minor Earth | Major Sky
  5. ↑ "Response from ARIA re: a-ha ARIA chart history, received 22 December 2017" . Retrieved 19 January 2019– via Imgur.
  6. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – a-ha – Minor Earth | Major Sky" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  7. ↑ "Ultratop.be – a-ha – Minor Earth | Major Sky" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  8. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – a-ha – Minor Earth | Major Sky" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  9. ↑ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 17, no. 19. 6 May 2000. p. 12. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  10. ↑ "a-ha: Minor Earth - Major Sky" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  11. ↑ "Lescharts.com – a-ha – Minor Earth | Major Sky". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  12. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – a-ha – Minor Earth | Major Sky" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  13. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2000. 22. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  14. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 23, 2000". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  15. ↑ ａ〜ｈａのアルバム売り上げランキング [a-ha album sales ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  16. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – a-ha – Minor Earth | Major Sky". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  17. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  18. ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 20. 13 May 2000. p. 13. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  19. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – a-ha – Minor Earth | Major Sky". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  20. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – a-ha – Minor Earth | Major Sky". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  21. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  22. ↑ "Year in Focus – European Top 100 Albums 2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 52. 23 December 2000. p. 9. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  23. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 2000" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  24. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2000". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  25. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (A-ha; 'Minor Earth / Major Sky')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  26. ↑ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 954. ISBN   84-8048-639-2 . Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  27. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Minor Earth, Major Sky')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.