Scoundrel Days

Last updated

Scoundrel Days
Scoundrel Days album cover.jpg
Studio album by
a-ha
Released6 October 1986 (1986-10-06)
Recorded1986
Studio RG Jones, London, UK
Genre
Length38:41
Label Warner Bros.
Producer
A-ha chronology
Hunting High and Low
(1985)		Scoundrel Days
(1986)		 Stay on These Roads
(1988)
Singles from Scoundrel Days
  1. "I've Been Losing You"
    Released: 22 September 1986
  2. "Cry Wolf"
    Released: 24 November 1986
  3. "Maybe, Maybe"
    Released: December 1986 (Bolivia only)
  4. "Manhattan Skyline"
    Released: February 1987

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.

Contents

Production

Scoundrel Days was the second long-player release from a-ha, which was highly anticipated after the success of their first album, Hunting High and Low (1985), which had reached #2 in the United Kingdom's Album Chart, and number 15 in the United States' Billboard 200 in the previous year. Scoundrel Days was recorded in England in early 1986 at RG Jones Recording Studios on Beulah Road in Wimbledon, South-West London. The record was produced by Alan Tarney, who had produced the band's singles "Take On Me" and "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." in the previous year, and it was engineered by Gerry Kitchingham. [1]

The songs were composed by Pal Waaktaar and Magne Furuholmen; the band's vocalist Morten Harket did not contribute to the songwriting as he had on their first album. Waaktaar and Furuholmen also self-produced three of the record's tracks, "I've Been Losing You", "Maybe Maybe", and "Soft Rains of April". [1]

Yamaha DX7 and Roland Juno-60/106 synths were used in the recording of this album, the Roland Juno 60 was used on opening of the song "Manhattan Skyline" (which is the same synth used on the "Take On Me" riff) and the Yamaha DX7 drum sound was used on the opening of "October". "Scoundrel Days" and "Swing of Things" signature sounds were obtained from a PPG Wave. The drums and several other sound effects were from drawn from a Fairlight CMI.[ citation needed ]

Single releases

"I've Been Losing You" was the first single from the album. It reached number one in Norway and number eight in the United Kingdom. "I've Been Losing You" became the most commercially successful single from the album in Europe.

"Cry Wolf" was the second single from the album. It was the most successful single from the album in the United States, where it peaked at number 14 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the band's last entry on the latter chart. The single reached the top 40 nearly everywhere else it was released, including top-five chartings in the United Kingdom, Poland and Ireland, reaching number two in Norway. (The lyrics "Night I left the city I dreamt of a Wolf..." are credited to Lauren Savoy whom Pål later married).

"Maybe, Maybe" was the third single released from the album, but was released solely in Bolivia. [2]

"Manhattan Skyline" was the fourth and final single released from the long-player, reaching #13 on the United Kingdom's chart. The song was co-written by keyboardist Magne Furuholmen and guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savoy. The song starts with a calm verse in F major, before kicking into a hard rock-style chorus with a guitar riff in D minor. In the official A-ha biography, The Swing of Things, Furuholmen said it was "perhaps one of the most inspired cut and paste-projects that Paul and I did. I wrote the quiet part. Paul wrote the rock part." [3]

Artwork

The cover photography was taken by Norwegian photographer Knut Bry at the Haleakala volcano on Maui, Hawaii, in 1986. [4]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
MusicfolioStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Rolling Stone Unfavourable [9]
Smash Hits Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg

The album's peak on the Billboard 200 was number 74. The album was another big hit by A-ha and sold over 6 million copies worldwide which gave the band international recognition. Scoundrel Days achieved Platinum status in the UK and Switzerland as well as Germany and Brazil. The album reached number two in the European Top 100 Albums chart.

Ned Raggett of AllMusic said, "The opening two songs alone make for one of the best one-two opening punches around: the tense edge of the title track, featuring one of Morten Harket's soaring vocals during the chorus and a crisp, pristine punch in the music, and 'The Swing of Things,' a moody, elegant number with a beautiful synth/guitar arrangement (plus some fine drumming courtesy of studio pro Michael Sturgis) and utterly lovelorn lyrical sentiments that balance on the edge of being overheated without quite going over...The '80s may be long gone, but Scoundrel Days makes clear that not everything was bad back then." [10]

Scoundrel Days included the singles "I've Been Losing You", "Cry Wolf", "Maybe, Maybe", and "Manhattan Skyline". All of the UK singles made the top 20 on UK Singles Chart. "I've Been Losing You" and "Cry Wolf" were the most successful singles from the album, "Cry Wolf" became a minor hit in the US and charted on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #50, while "I've Been Losing You" was the most successful single in Europe.

As part of a re-release of their first two albums, Scoundrel Days was expanded and remastered in 2010.

On 6 July 2010, the A-ha albums Hunting High and Low and Scoundrel Days were released as deluxe editions in the US through Rhino Records; both albums debuted in the top 40 of the Billboard Top Internet Sales chart; Hunting High and Low at number 34 and Scoundrel Days at number 36. [11] The remastered reissue of Scoundrel Days reached number 52 in Germany, number 27 in Norway, number 190 in the UK.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Magne Furuholmen and Pål Waaktaar, except where noted

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Scoundrel Days" 3:56
2."The Swing of Things"Waaktaar4:14
3."I've Been Losing You"Waaktaar4:24
4."October"Waaktaar3:48
5."Manhattan Skyline" 4:52
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Cry Wolf" 4:05
7."We're Looking for the Whales" 3:39
8."The Weight of the Wind"Waaktaar3:57
9."Maybe, Maybe"Furuholmen2:34
10."Soft Rains of April" 3:12

2010 remastered reissue

Disc 1 - The Original Album & Bonus Tracks [12]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."I've Been Losing You" (Extended Version)Waaktaar7:03
12."Cry Wolf" (Extended Version) 8:12
13."Manhattan Skyline" (Extended Remix) 6:49
Disc 2 - Demos, B-Sides & Rarities
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Scoundrel Days" (Demo) 4:57
2."The Swing of Things" (Demo #3)Waaktaar4:42
3."I've Been Losing You" (Octocon Studio Demo)Waaktaar3:16
4."October" (Demo)Waaktaar2:59
5."Manhattan Skyline" (Demo) 4:51
6."Cry Wolf" (Demo) 3:33
7."We're Looking for the Whales" (Demo) 3:19
8."The Weight of the Wind" (Demo)Waaktaar4:16
9."Maybe, Maybe" (Demo)Furuholmen2:28
10."Soft Rains of April" (Guitar Version) 2:09
11."Scoundrel Days" (Octocon Studio Demo) 3:59
12."This Alone Is Love" (Original Version) 4:33
13."Days on End"Waaktaar, Morten Harket 3:08
14."Train of Thought" (Live in Croydon)Waaktaar6:38
15."I've Been Losing You" (Live in Croydon)Waaktaar5:07
16."The Blue Sky" (Live in Croydon)Waaktaar5:13
17."We're Looking for the Whales" (Live in Croydon) 6:44
18."Cry Wolf" (Live in Croydon) 5:55
Download-only bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
19."I've Been Losing You" (Dub)Waaktaar4:22
20."Soft Rains of April" (Piano Version) 2:23
21."The Swing of Things" (Demo #1)Waaktaar4:06
22."I've Been Losing You" (Early Demo)Waaktaar4:11

Personnel

A-ha

with:

Production

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Scoundrel Days
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [38] Platinum250,000*
France (SNEP) [39] Platinum300,000*
Germany (BVMI) [40] Platinum500,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [41] Platinum15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway) [42] Platinum100,000 [42]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [43] Platinum50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [44] Platinum300,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

a-ha 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.

<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 synthpop/rock 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, released on 28 October 1985 in the United Kingdom and 1 November 1985 in the United States and by Warner Bros. Records. 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>Minor Earth Major Sky</i> 2000 studio album by A-ha

Minor Earth Major Sky is the sixth studio album by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 14 April 2000 by WEA.

<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 Records. 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">The Living Daylights (song)</span> 1987 single by A-ha

"The Living Daylights" is the theme song from the 1987 James Bond film of the same name, performed by Norwegian band a-ha. It was written by guitarist Pål Waaktaar. A revised version of the song was included on the band's third studio album, Stay on These Roads (1988).

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

Foot of the Mountain is the ninth studio album by the Norwegian pop rock 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 and songwriter who is the lead vocalist of the synthpop/rock 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>MTV Unplugged: Summer Solstice</i> 2017 live album by A-ha

MTV Unplugged: Summer Solstice is a live album by the Norwegian band a-ha, released on 6 October 2017 as part of the MTV Unplugged series. It was recorded live at the Harbour Hall at Ocean Sound Recordings in Giske, Norway, on 22 and 23 June 2017.

<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. 1 2 Cover sleeve production credits for Scoundrel Days (1986).
  2. ↑ Discogs entry for 'Maybe Maybe' single release in Bolivia, 1986. https://www.discogs.com/a-ha-Maybe-Maybe/release/13062298
  3. ↑ "A-ha.com: discography/videos/manhattan skyline". A-ha.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2006. Retrieved 2 April 2006.
  4. ↑ "Knut Bry - The Official Website of a-ha". a-ha.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "Scoundrel Days - a-ha - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  6. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th Concise ed.). United Kingdom: Omnibus Press. p. 30. ISBN   978-1-84609-856-7.
  7. ↑ "Musicfolio Review". Archived from the original on 7 July 2011.
  8. ↑ "Q Magazine - Music news & reviews, music videos, band pictures & interviewsQ Magazine - The world's best music". q4music.com.
  9. ↑ "Rolling Stone Review". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 23 July 2008.
  10. ↑ Scoundrel Days info Archived 20 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ "Deluxe albums enter US Billboard charts | The Official Website of a-ha". A-ha.com. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  12. ↑ "Upcoming special releases | The Official Website of a-ha". A-ha.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  13. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 13. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  14. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – a-ha – Scoundrel Days" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  15. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0863". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  16. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – a-ha – Scoundrel Days" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  17. ↑ "European Hot 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 4, no. 2. 17 January 1987. p. 15. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  18. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  19. ↑ "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Retrieved 13 May 2018.Select "A-HA" from the drop-down menu and click "OK".
  20. 1 2 "Offiziellecharts.de – a-ha – Scoundrel Days" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  21. ↑ "Ísland (LP-plötur)". DV (in Icelandic). 31 October 1986. p. 43. ISSN   1021-8254 – via Timarit.is.
  22. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "A-Ha".
  23. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 50. 13 December 1986. p. 56. ISSN   0006-2510 – via Google Books.
  24. ↑ "Charts.nz – a-ha – Scoundrel Days". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  25. 1 2 "Norwegiancharts.com – a-ha – Scoundrel Days". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  26. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – a-ha – Scoundrel Days". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  27. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – a-ha – Scoundrel Days". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  28. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  29. ↑ "a-ha Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  30. ↑ "Chart Log UK – Weekly Updates Sales 2010". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  31. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts . Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  32. ↑ "European Hot 100 Albums – Hot 100 of the Year 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. 27 December 1986. p. 35. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  33. ↑ "Topp 40 Album Høst 1986" (in Norwegian). VG-lista. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  34. ↑ "Top 100 Albums (January to December 1986)" (PDF). Music Week . 24 January 1987. p. 25. ISSN   0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  35. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – LP 1987" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  36. ↑ "European Charts of the Year 1987 – Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. 26 December 1987. p. 35. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts – 1987" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  38. ↑ "Brazilian album certifications – A-ha – Scoundrel Days" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  39. ↑ "French album certifications – Aha – Scoundrel Days" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. 27 December 1987. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  40. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (A-ha; 'Scoundrel Days')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  41. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – A-ha – Scoundrel Days". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  42. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum Awards 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 51/52. 27 December 1986. p. 34. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  43. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Scoundrel Days')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  44. ↑ "British album certifications – A Ha – Scoundrel Days". British Phonographic Industry. 1 December 1986. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
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.