Track Listing

1. Scoundrel Days
2. Swing Of Things
3. I've Been Losing You
4. October
5. Manhattan Skyline
6. Cry Wolf
7. Looking For The Whales
8. Weight Of The Wind
9. Maybe Maybe
10. Soft Rains Of April

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3675 in Music
• Released on: 1986-12-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

A slice of the best of 80s pop
Gosh, the memories!
I used to be nuts about these guys when I was 13 - completely obsessed! I had bought Hunting High and Low (and worn a hole in it!) and awaited a new offering with bated breath. This album was released on my 14th birthday, and I can remember traveling home on the bus, gingerly clutching and studying the cover (oh, for the days of vinyl when buying an LP was a REAL event!)
I certainly wasn't disappointed. In fact, I preferred this to the previous album, and it still remains one of my all-time favourites.
I guess if I'm brutally honest, there are a few weak, 80s-lite track (Maybe Maybe, in particular!) but there are some fantastic tunes as well. Unlike HH&L, Scoundrel Days defines a-ha's trademark lush melodic tunes and soaring vocals. It's a far more mature album, and many of the tracks have a timeless quality, that still sounds fresh today.
My own favourite is the incredibly sexy and powerful 'I've Been Losing You'. This is actually my favourite a-ha song ever. But 'Scoundrel Days' and 'The Swing of Things' are also among the best songs they've recorded.
Most people think of this band as a one-hit wonder ('Take on Me) but their career spanned many years and they are still producing some amazing music. Anyone who ever had an interest in the band, or in 80s music in general should defintely give this a listen!

Their best work ever!!!!
If you're an a-ha fan and you don't own this album there is something wrong with you. From start to finish this is an immaculate album, with anthems levelling if not surpassing older hits such as "take on me" and "the sun always shines on tv". My personal favourites would have to be "the swing of things", and their own personal masterpiece "manhattan skyline", songs that touch the soul and beyond. Some criticise lesser tracks than "looking for the whales" and "maybe maybe", each has it's own charm and DO grown on you. Hidden gems would include the title track which certainly should have been released as a single, and "the weight of the wind" a heart pounding thrash out about someone who's clearly losing the plot. a-ha are brilliant make no mistake, and this is their legend.

The album where everything works
A-ha's first album was a classic, this second album is actually an improvement and a huge leap forward for the band.
Take a listen and you will see what A-ha are really capable of, this is A-ha at their very best, most diverse and it all works together on a grander scale than 'Hunting high and low'.
'Scoundrel days' A low key piano and quiet vocals unleash into a monster chorus with mysterious lyrics - a mini epic.
'The swing of things' A great pop song, with heartfelt lyrics about missing a loved one and making choices in life.
'Iv'e been losing you' One of A-ha's best songs - fantastic lyrics, a rockier sound and killer chorus (See also - catchy middle bit and false ending!)
'October' Let this song wash over you, a simple synth ballad.
'Manahattan Skyline' Another mini epic - starting with harpsichord and bursting into a guitar heavy chorus, sounds like a different band have kidnapped A-ha and made them do 'rock'.
'Cry wolf' A catchy synth-driven song with crashing drums and non-stop bass line.
'We're looking for the whales' Another A-ha song that sounds like nothing else they (or anyone else) has done, sort of Motown meets Norwegian sailing song - with lots of hooks!
'The weight of the wind' A relentless, dark, pop song? Yes, A-ha at their best (again) with snarling lyrics, pan pipes and most importantly - a great tune.
'Maybe, maybe' There is much debate about this song and whether it should be on the album at all - it does have a jokey feel - but so did lot's of Beatles' songs! And its something of a relief from the intensity of the last few tracks.
'Soft rains of April' A beautiful ballad, with harps and synths, a good ending to a great record.
This album sounds like no-one else and has not dated at all over the last 20 years, buy it and be inspired by a truly great band.