Posts Tagged ‘a-ha’

Jørun Bøgeberg on a-ha – Ranking Highs and Lows podcast

Jørun Bøgeberg on stage in 2024
(Picture by Jakob)

Former a-ha bassist Jørun Bøgeberg is a special guest on the latest episode of the podcast a-ha – Ranking Highs and Lows.

Interviewed by hosts JP and Jesper, Jørun shares some of his favorite moments from his time with a-ha in the 1990s.

There are stories from the recording sessions of East of the Sun and Memorial Beach, as well as life on the road. He also talks about recording with Savoy and his own background in music.

The episode can be found on spreaker.com, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Be also sure to check out last month’s podcast episode, in which JP and Jesper were joined by author and journalist Ørjan Nilsson who presented his own list of the 20 best a-ha songs.

Morten shares Parkinson’s diagnosis

A new picture of Morten
(Photo credit: Stian Andersen for a-ha.com)

Morten Harket has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This was revealed in an article on a-ha.com today, written by a-ha biographer Jan Omdahl.

“I’ve got no problem accepting the diagnosis. With time I’ve taken to heart my 94-year-old father’s attitude to the way the organism gradually surrenders: ‘I use whatever works’”, Morten says.

Although it’s a disease that Morten will have to live with for the rest of his life, the article describes how Morten underwent advanced brain surgery in June and December 2024 which, together with medication, has softened the impact of his symptoms.

But it has changed his voice, which he says is “one of many grounds for uncertainty” about his creative future. When asked by Omdahl if he’s able to sing now, Morten says he doesn’t really know:

“I don’t feel like singing, and for me that’s a sign. I’m broadminded in terms of what I think works; I don’t expect to be able to achieve full technical control. The question is whether I can express myself with my voice. As things stand now, that’s out of the question. But I don’t know whether I’ll be able to manage it at some point in the future.”

He points out that being a singer is just one of many aspects of his life:

“I’ve got other passions too, I have other things that are just as big a part of me, that are just as necessary and true.”

Morten has the following message to us fans:

“Don’t worry about me. Find out who you want to be – a process that can be new each and every day. Be good servants of nature, the very basis of our existence, and care for the environment while it is still possible to do so. Spend your energy and effort addressing real problems, and know that I am being taken care of.”

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Magne has also posted a statement about Morten’s diagnosis on his Instagram:

“dear everyone.
morten has just shared the painful news that he has parkinson’s disease.

having known about morten’s diagnosis for some time does not take the force out of the blow, nor diminish the impact it has had, and will continue have, on us – as people and as a band.

our thoughts are first and foremost with morten and his family at a difficult time adjusting to the changes that this condition has brought into their lives.

the news brings sadness, but it is worth it to remember through the hurt that there is also a lot of gratitude: for all the amazing memories, for how our combined creative efforts as a band have been so generously embraced by the world, and for how lucky we are that people continue to find meaning, hope and joy in our shared musical legacy.

all future a-ha-related activities will of course be tuned to suit morten’s situation, but together we will work to try and find ways to give you the best of ourselves.

thank you everyone for all your support, your kind words, and consideration.”

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a-ha manager Harald Wiik has given the following comment to VG:

“As a lifelong a-ha fan and having had the great pleasure of working with Morten, Magne and Paul as much as I’ve done, there’s nothing I would want more than seeing them on stage together again, but making plans for the future is neither possible nor appropriate at this time.

My only focus is on giving Morten any support and help he would want and need. My thoughts also go out to all others affected by this brutal disease.”

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We here at a-ha-live.com would like to thank Morten for his openness and honesty about the diagnosis. We hope the treatment and medications will continue to alleviate the worst symptoms and want to wish him all the best on the journey ahead.

Classic Pop Magazine issues a-ha special

Magazine cover

In its series of special issues entirely devoted to one band or artist, Classic Pop magazine has recently put out a special edition about a-ha, to mark the 40th anniversary of Hunting High and Low. The magazine was published in the UK on April 17th and is also available digitally.

Classic Pop promises “132 pages of exclusive interviews, stunning photos and in-depth articles – featuring classic albums, side projects, top 40 tracks, videos and much more!”

Starting off with the story of Bridges, followed by the early days of a-ha in London, the magazine goes through each studio album up until True North, with additional articles about a-ha’s stage shows, their solo careers, a-ha: The Movie and a list of top 40 a-ha tracks chosen by Classic Pop.

Of particular interest is a new interview with Paul and Magne primarily about the early days, a look at a-ha’s album covers through the years with designers Jeri Heiden and Martin Kvamme and photographer Just Loomis plus a chat with director Steve Barron about each of the eight music videos he did for a-ha.

Some of the other articles are reprints of previously issued material, such as Barry Page’s liner notes for Bridges’ Våkenatt vinyl box set from 2018 and the a-ha interview about True North from Classic Pop magazine in 2022.

Although marred by a number of factual errors and some questionable photo choices, the magazine serves as a decent overview of a-ha’s career for casual fans.

The magazine is available to order directly from Classic Pop’s official store.

Magne joins Poing and Hekate on stage

Poing on the left and Hekate to the right, with Magne in the middle.
(Screenshot from video clip posted by Poing on Facebook)

The Norwegian jazz ensemble Poing joined forces with up-and-coming vocal trio Hekate for a special live performance of a-ha’s Hunting High and Low album at Riksscenen in Oslo on Friday, March 28th.

With a special blend of jazz, contemporary and folk music, they started the concert with “Here I Stand and Face the Rain”, playing the full album in reverse order.

Before the show it had been hinted that “special guests” may appear, which became evident when Magne walked on stage to join them on keyboard during “Take On Me”.

Poing has posted a video clip of the performance on their Facebook page.

“It was fun to experience the album like this. And I wish we had recorded a couple of the songs in a similar fashion”, Magne told Norwegian music website Ballade after the concert.

Poing and Hekate will perform Hunting High and Low live once more as part of the Risør Chamber Music Festival on June 26th.

Hunting High and Low – The Demos to be released on Record Store Day

The release comes on Crystal Clear Vinyl.

Record Store Day 2025 is coming up on April 12th. This year Rhino/Warner Music will release Hunting High and Low – The Demos as a limited edition (7,250 worldwide units) on Crystal Clear Vinyl.

This is a follow-up to Hunting High and Low – The Early Alternate Mixes, which was released for Record Store Day in 2019.

Just like the Early Alternate Mixes vinyl, the demos on this release are most probably tracks that have already been released numerous times before, as part of the HHAL 30th Anniversary Deluxe CD Box Set (2015), the HHAL Expanded Edition CD Set (2019) and the HHAL Super Deluxe Vinyl Box Set (2023).

Tracklist:
1. Take On Me (Demo)
2. Train of Thought (Demo)
3. Hunting High and Low (Demo)
4. The Blue Sky (Demo)
5. Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale (Early Version)
6. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. (Demo)
7. And You Tell Me (Demo)
8. Love Is Reason (Demo)
9. I Dream Myself Alive (Demo)
10. Here I Stand and Face the Rain (Demo)

Previous a-ha releases for Record Store Day also include Take On Me (30th Anniversary Picture Disc) on 7″ vinyl in 2015 and a-ha hits South America on 12″ vinyl in 2016.

Magne: No plans for a-ha in 2025

Picture by Carlos Maciá

BBC radio host Richard Green has interviewed Magne for his weekly show on BBC Radio Devon, to talk about the new solo album Living With Ourselves and possible a-ha plans for 2025. The 30-minute segment is available on BBC Sounds, starting at 2:17:45.

“There are some contrasts on this album. Some songs are more acoustically oriented, written more on guitar than on keyboards. Some are more keyboard-written, more synth oriented. I have the privilege to release an album that is not streamlined in the sense that it’s trying to make a dent in the charts or whatever. And that’s a huge privilege to have, to be honest”, Magne says about his new album.

Asked if there are any plans for a-ha to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Hunting High and Low album in 2025, Magne says:

“It has been discussed, and I think both Harald, our manager, and myself have been pushing for something to be planned and to happen. And semi-frustrated that there’s been very little interest in that. So right now there are no plans for a-ha during the 40 year anniversary.”

There may be some a-ha anniversary reissues in the works this year, but no new collaborations with his bandmates:

“It’s been a long time since we were all in a room together. We’re sort of geographically challenged in that way, because Paul is living in LA, Morten is living in this country. We don’t really see each other much, but Morten and I have the occasional encounter. But we do get quite absorbed in our own projects when we’re away from each other and most of the time that has felt like a nice break to gather our thoughts and do things on the side. But this one has felt a little bit like…I’m unsure of what – if anything – is gonna happen.

For all of us there has to be certain conditions met for us to do a tour. Morten is pretty much the one who at this point decides whether he wants to or not. And he hasn’t been very keen to discuss it. Whether that changes in the future…It’s possible, we’ll see. I think Paul always wants to record more stuff. I don’t mind recording more stuff, but I’d like it to be for some project that isn’t just us going in and loving each other for five minutes and then tearing each others hair out for the next six months.”

In his own recent podcast series with Ørjan Nilsson, Magne mentioned the possibility of going out and celebrating a-ha by playing some songs live on his own. But that is sounding less likely now:

“I know that a lot of fans would have loved for us to do something together for this anniversary. It seems almost wrong of me to sort of hijack it and go on tour…and not sure if people would even enjoy it if I sort of say ‘Oh, here’s me doing a few a-ha numbers, so thank you to you guys’. It hasn’t really felt right.”

Just Loomis photo book available digitally

Book cover

Just Loomis’ photo book “Cry Wolf”, featuring photos taken during the Brazilian leg of a-ha’s 1991 tour of South America, is now for sale digitally through Apple Books. The book is 169 pages long and can be purchased for $12.99.

Update 16 November: The book is now also available to purchase for Amazon Kindle.

Here is a description from the publisher:
“CRY WOLF is a selection of Just Loomis photographs taken of the band A-HA in 1991 at their performance in the ROCK IN RIO and their first tour of Brazil. Beginning in RIO and traveling to towns like Recife, Fortaleza and Aracaju, Just Loomis captures the unique relationship between the band and the people of Brazil. Edited and designed by Nicole Segel this is a cinematic picture book. Just Loomis tells the story of this very special time in the history of the band. 180 pages in Amber and Black and white.”

The book was originally published in connection with Loomis’ a-ha exhibition at the Rockheim museum of popular music in Trondheim, Norway in 2020-21. However, the book was only available to buy in person at Rockheim and only around 50 softcover copies were printed, leading it to sell out within a few days. It has since become a highly sought-after collector’s item.

Many fans were unable to see the photo exhibition, due to Covid restrictions. But now at least the photo book is available for a larger public. Another printed edition is uncertain at this point.

News of the digital book edition was first shared by a-ha-forum.de.

Foot Of The Mountain to be reissued on vinyl

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a-ha’s 2009 album Foot Of The Mountain is finally set to be reissued on 180 gram vinyl by Universal on 15 November 2024.

Update 8 November: It seems the release has been pushed back to 6 December 2024. It is now described as a 15th Anniversary Edition on Crystal Clear Vinyl, while a sticker on the cover says “Strictly Limited Edition”. The reissue can be pre-ordered from amazon.co.uk and amazon.de.

The album was first released on 180 gram vinyl in January 2016, but only as a limited edition here in Norway. Reportedly only a few hundred copies were pressed, eventually selling out and making it a sought-after collector’s item.

Although this new 2024 reissue is also described by some retailers as a “limited edition”, hopefully it won’t be quite as limited as the Norwegian pressing. Additionally it’s described as “coloured vinyl”, while the 2016 version was black vinyl in a gatefold sleeve.

Several retailers already has the vinyl up for pre-order, including JPC in Germany and imusic in Norway.

Time and Again to be released on vinyl

The new vinyl set
(Cover photo by Knut Bry)

The music website superdeluxeedition.com reports that an updated version of the 2016 compilation album Time and Again: The Ultimate a-ha will be released on vinyl later this summer, on 9 August 2024:

“What was a 19-track collection is now expanded to 21 tracks and making this the only a-ha compilation to include songs from all 11 original studio albums.

The bonus tracks are ‘This Is Our Home’ from 2017’s MTV Unplugged: Summer Solstice and ‘I’m In’ from 2022’s True North. The album was originally issued as a 2CD set (with bonus remixes on disc two) and has subsequently been made available on streaming platforms.”

The 2LP set is released through Rhino Records and can be pre-ordered from amazon.co.uk and amazon.de.

New a-ha interviews

a-ha on stage in Montreux, July 2022

All three a-ha members have done various press interviews in the last few weeks, to promote a new Super Deluxe Edition 6LP vinyl box set of Hunting High and Low. The set was released on 24 February by BMG, under license from Warner Music, and is available from Amazon UK and Amazon Germany.

Although the music content is exactly the same as on the 30th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition 4CD+DVD set first released in 2015 and reissued as an Expanded Edition 4CD set in 2019, it’s the first time this set has been made available on vinyl.

The new HHAL Super Deluxe vinyl box set

An unboxing video of the new Super Deluxe vinyl set has been posted on YouTube by Paul Sinclair of the SDE website.

Magne and Paul have both been interviewed (separately) for extensive articles in MusicRadar and Rolling Stone Germany, going in-depth about the early days of a-ha and the Hunting High and Low recording process.

Magne has also been interviewed by the website Cryptic Rock.

Meanwhile Morten has talked to UK’s Big Issue magazine, posted online in two different articles here and here, the Sunday Express newspaper, Retropop Magazine and RND in Germany.

Additionally, an interview with Paul appears in the recently published book Dancing to the Drum Machine: How Electronic Percussion Conquered the World, written by Dan LeRoy. The interview (which was done in early 2021) has also been posted online by the author on Substack.

As for what lies ahead, Magne mentioned in an Instagram post on 5 February that he’s working on a new album:
“in other news, i have started working on a new album, and trying to find creative ways of doing it differently this time, so that’s another thing to look backward to this year! plus there are the usual exhibitions, london in april among them, and so on.”

What kind of album Magne is referring to is still unknown, but he did mention in the Classic Pop interview in October 2022 that there may be a new Apparatjik album at some point: “We’ve talked about going into the mountains with acoustic instruments to make a folk album.”

Morten has been working on new songs with Peter Kvint that may end up as a new solo album: “I’ve started to write more lyrics on my own, and feel pretty happy about that”. There is also the possibility of a solo compilation album and a reissue of Wild Seed: “I might pull together a compilation from the totality of everything I’ve done that best represents me. But a reissue of Wild Seed might happen too”, Morten told Classic Pop last year.

Paul continues to be busy in the studio and his long-awaited Waaktaar solo album might see the light of day soon:
“I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s almost there. I had so many songs lying around, and this record will mean that I can sing some of those and have other people sing some, too. There is a lot of freedom to the album, I can say that for sure”, Paul told Classic Pop.

There is also a new Savoy album in the making, for which 12 demos were recorded with drummer Frode Unneland last summer.

More a-ha reissues could also be expected. Both a vinyl box set of the first 5 albums and new deluxe editions of Analogue and Foot Of The Mountain are in the works, according to a-ha manager Harald Wiik last year.

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