Aha Scoundrel Days Remastered And Expanded Upd

The 2010 Remastered and Expanded Deluxe Edition of a-ha's sophomore album, Scoundrel Days, is widely regarded by fans and retrospective critics as the band's creative peak. While their debut Hunting High and Low (1985) was a massive pop success, Scoundrel Days (1986) represents a deliberate shift toward a darker, edgier, and more "adult" synth-pop sound that avoided the "bubblegum" label of their early MTV fame.  Album Overview & Musical Direction 

Produced largely by Alan Tarney, the album moved away from immediate, accessible pop toward moody, atmospheric, and often gothic landscapes. 

A "Darker Beast": The album is characterized by "glacial precision" and layered melancholy. Tracks like the title track "Scoundrel Days" and "The Swing of Things" feature cinematic arrangements that hint at the band’s later work on Bond themes.

Retrospective Praise: Although critics were initially cautious in 1986, retrospective reviews from AllMusic and The Quietus now hail it as one of the finest pop albums of the '80s.

Vocal Performance: Morten Harket’s vocals are a central highlight, showcasing a range that moves from a "guttural primal growl" on "Manhattan Skyline" to his signature soaring falsetto.  The 2010 Remaster & Bonus Content  aha scoundrel days remastered and expanded upd

The Deluxe Edition (released for the album's 25th anniversary) significantly improves the audio quality over previous digital transfers, which some listeners felt were "lousy" or brittle. 

Remastering: PopMatters notes that while the volume is "a bit louder," the remaster uncovers details previously lost in the original 1980s transfers.

Disc 2 Content: The expanded edition includes a wealth of rare material:

Demos & Rarities: Features early versions of almost every track, including a guitar-focused "Soft Rains of April" and "This Alone Is Love," which was later rerecorded for their third album. The 2010 Remastered and Expanded Deluxe Edition of

Live Tracks: Live recordings from 1986/1987 (such as "Train of Thought" and "Cry Wolf" live in Croydon) showcase the band as a dynamic, professional live act.

Extended Versions: Remixes like the "Extended Remix" of "Manhattan Skyline" and the "Extended Version" of "I've Been Losing You" provide the era-appropriate "hand-edited" remix experience. 

Why You Need This Update (Even If You Own the Original)

If you are a vinyl purist, you might ask: Do I need a digital remaster? Yes, for three reasons:

1. Portability: The UPD is optimized for headphones. If you listen on AirPods or high-end cans, you will hear separation that the original cassette or vinyl couldn't physically reproduce.
2. The Unreleased Material: The expanded demos show how a-ha constructed their sound. The early demo of "Cry Wolf" has a completely different chorus melody. For songwriters, this is gold.
3. Corrected Errors: The original 1986 CD had a tape speed issue on "October." The remastered and expanded upd corrects the pitch so the song plays at the intended key.

What You Actually Get (Typical Tracklist for “Remastered & Expanded UPD”)

A standard “UPD” expanded version runs about 18–22 tracks, including: Why You Need This Update (Even If You

Original album (10 tracks)
Scoundrel Days, The Swing of Things, I’ve Been Losing You, October, Manhattan Skyline, Cry Wolf, We’re Looking for the Whales, The Weight of the Wind (yes, originally a b-side that got promoted in some reissues), Soft Rains of April, Maybe, Maybe.

Bonus material (varies by UPD version):

• The Weight of the Wind (original 7″ mix)
• I’ve Been Losing You (extended version)
• Cry Wolf (live from Oslo, 1986)
• Manhattan Skyline (early demo)
• Scoundrel Days (alternate mix)

Revisiting the Synth-Pop Masterpiece, 40 Years Later

In the pantheon of 1980s synth-pop, few albums balance icy production, emotional depth, and melodic ambition as effortlessly as Aha’s second studio album, Scoundrel Days. Originally released in 1986, the album arrived as the Norwegian trio—Morten Harket (vocals), Magne Furuholmen (keyboards), and Pål Waaktaar-Savoy (guitar, lyrics)—struggled to escape the shadow of their monstrous debut single “Take On Me.” Where Hunting High and Low (1985) sparkled with youthful longing and MTV-ready visuals, Scoundrel Days was darker, more textured, and unafraid of lyrical discomfort.

Now, nearly four decades later, the newly announced “Scoundrel Days: Remastered and Expanded UPD” (Ultimate Premium Deluxe) edition repositions the album not as a difficult sophomore effort, but as a prescient, genre-defying work.

4. The "Quality of Scoundrel" Life Updates

Let’s address the elephant in the room. The original had terrible saving mechanics. You could only save at payphones, which meant repeating 45 minutes of stealth if you failed.

• Quick Save is here.
• Photo Mode: Pause the chaos to frame that perfect shot of you kicking a goon off a rooftop.
• Controller Rework: The clunky tank controls are gone. The new combat flows like a modern action RPG, but the difficulty remains brutal.