Take on Me (partially found instrumental demo take of a-ha song; 1983): Difference between revisions

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(rewrote most of it, added better uploads in gallery, added info on possible upcoming release)
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|image=A-ha - Take On Me (1984 Single).jpg
|image=A-ha - Take On Me (1984 Single).jpg
|imagecaption=The 1984 single cover of ''Take On Me''.
|imagecaption=The 1984 single cover of ''Take On Me''.
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Lost'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
}}
}}
A-ha (usually stylised as a-ha) is a Norwegian Synth-pop trio formed in 1982 consisting of lead singer Morten Harket, keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, and guitarist Pål Waaktaar-Savoy. The band saw international success in 1985 following the release of their hit song '''Take On Me''' and its innovative music video. It took the band several rewrites and releases of Take On Me for it to become the big hit it's known as today, with the earliest recording of the song dating back to 1981 and being by a different band Pål and Magne were in<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/release/15160057-Bridges-Miss-Eerie Discogs page for the Miss Eerie (1981 Take On Me demo) 7" single release]</ref>.
A-ha (usually stylised as a-ha) is a Norwegian Synth-pop trio formed in 1982 consisting of lead singer Morten Harket, keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, and guitarist Pål Waaktaar-Savoy. The band saw international success in 1985 following the release of their hit song '''Take On Me''' and its innovative music video. It took the band several rewrites and releases of Take On Me for it to become the big hit it's known as today, with the earliest recording of the song dating back to 1981 and being by a different band Pål and Magne were in<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/release/15160057-Bridges-Miss-Eerie Discogs page for the Miss Eerie (1981 Take On Me demo) 7" single release]</ref>.
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Despite how many iterations Take On Me has gone through up until its 1985 release on the album ''Hunting High And Low'', most of these early versions have been included on archival releases or became public in some form. One of the few known exceptions to this is an instrumental take of the song which has never seen an official release outside of a 40 second snippet in a 2005 documentary by NRK<ref>[https://youtu.be/EpqFyMkQx7k?t=15 Reuploaded clip of the NRK documentary featuring the demo snippet]</ref>.
Despite how many iterations Take On Me has gone through up until its 1985 release on the album ''Hunting High And Low'', most of these early versions have been included on archival releases or became public in some form. One of the few known exceptions to this is an instrumental take of the song which has never seen an official release outside of a 40 second snippet in a 2005 documentary by NRK<ref>[https://youtu.be/EpqFyMkQx7k?t=15 Reuploaded clip of the NRK documentary featuring the demo snippet]</ref>.


This demo was recorded in 1983, likely at Rendezvous studios where a-ha recorded most of their demos at the time<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/a-ha-Hunting-High-And-Low/release/7540264 Discogs page on the 2015 Hunting High And Low Boxset, listing demos recorded at Rendezvous]</ref>. It's very clearly a different take to the one officially released by a-ha in 2004 and 2010, however it was likely done around the same time as the released take. It's unknown whether or not vocals were recorded for this take as well. As of August 2022, this NRK documentary remains the only source of this unreleased demo.  
This demo was recorded in 1983, likely at Rendezvous studios where a-ha recorded most of their demos at the time<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/a-ha-Hunting-High-And-Low/release/7540264 Discogs page on the 2015 Hunting High And Low Boxset, listing demos recorded at Rendezvous]</ref>. It's a different take to the one officially released by a-ha in 2004 and 2010, however both versions were likely recorded around the same time. It's unknown whether or not vocals were recorded for this take. As of August 2022, this NRK documentary remains the only source of this unreleased demo.  


==Availability==
==Availability==
An official release of this demo is entirely plausible, with a-ha's manager confirming a 6 disc deluxe edition of Hunting High And Low is in the works as of March 2022<ref>[https://a-ha.com/news/q-a-with-harald-wiik Q&A with a-ha's manager Harald Wiik where he confirms plans for a HHAL super deluxe]</ref>. It is also possible that it has leaked into private traders' circles<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210601000000*/http://louvanhille.free.fr/A-HA/A-HAsonglist.html List of every known a-ha song and each variation, including leaked early versions]</ref> as many leaked a-ha demos have, dating back to the mid 80's. Most of these trader exclusive recordings stay unavailable to the general public for years. It was long believed that a collection of leaked demos known as [https://web.archive.org/web/20090615103022/http://www.ahamostwanted.com/ Most Wanted] from 2009 may have contained the demo, however this has since been confirmed false (it only includes an instrumental version of the released 1983 demo).
An official release of this demo is entirely plausible, with a-ha's manager confirming that a 6 disc deluxe edition of Hunting High And Low is in the works as of March 2022<ref>[https://a-ha.com/news/q-a-with-harald-wiik Q&A with a-ha's manager Harald Wiik where he confirms plans for a HHAL super deluxe]</ref>. It is also possible that it has leaked into private traders' circles<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210601000000*/http://louvanhille.free.fr/A-HA/A-HAsonglist.html List of every known a-ha song and each variation, including leaked early versions]</ref> as many other a-ha demos have in the past (as far back as the mid-80's). Most of these trader exclusive recordings stay unavailable to the general public for many years. It was long believed that a collection of leaked demos known as [https://web.archive.org/web/20090615103022/http://www.ahamostwanted.com/ Most Wanted] from 2009 may have contained the demo, however this has since been confirmed false (it only includes an instrumental version of the released 1983 demo).


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
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   |service1    =youtube
   |service1    =youtube
   |id1          =C9jne7-E_Rc
   |id1          =C9jne7-E_Rc
   |description1 =0:10 The only circulating snippet of the instrumental take that is available to the public (Narration from documentary removed with Audacity).
   |description1 =0:10 The only circulating snippet of the instrumental take (Narration from documentary removed with Audacity).
   |service2    =youtube
   |service2    =youtube
   |id2          =XL2R2qZrQ3Y
   |id2          =XL2R2qZrQ3Y
   |description2 =The officially released 1983 demo take with vocals (released on ''The Demo Tapes'' in 2004) and ''Hunting High And Low (Deluxe Edition)'' in 2010.
   |description2 =The officially released 1983 demo take with vocals (released on ''The Demo Tapes'' in 2004 and ''Hunting High And Low (Deluxe Edition)'' in 2010).
   |service3    =youtube
   |service3    =youtube
   |id3          =EOB41mamEP8
   |id3          =EOB41mamEP8
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[[Category:Lost music]]
[[Category:Lost music]]
[[Category:Partially lost media]]
[[Category:Partially found media]]
[[Category:Historic]]
[[Category:Historic]]

Latest revision as of 16:58, 14 August 2022

A-ha - Take On Me (1984 Single).jpg

The 1984 single cover of Take On Me.

Status: Partially Found

A-ha (usually stylised as a-ha) is a Norwegian Synth-pop trio formed in 1982 consisting of lead singer Morten Harket, keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, and guitarist Pål Waaktaar-Savoy. The band saw international success in 1985 following the release of their hit song Take On Me and its innovative music video. It took the band several rewrites and releases of Take On Me for it to become the big hit it's known as today, with the earliest recording of the song dating back to 1981 and being by a different band Pål and Magne were in[1].

Lost Instrumental Demo

Despite how many iterations Take On Me has gone through up until its 1985 release on the album Hunting High And Low, most of these early versions have been included on archival releases or became public in some form. One of the few known exceptions to this is an instrumental take of the song which has never seen an official release outside of a 40 second snippet in a 2005 documentary by NRK[2].

This demo was recorded in 1983, likely at Rendezvous studios where a-ha recorded most of their demos at the time[3]. It's a different take to the one officially released by a-ha in 2004 and 2010, however both versions were likely recorded around the same time. It's unknown whether or not vocals were recorded for this take. As of August 2022, this NRK documentary remains the only source of this unreleased demo.

Availability

An official release of this demo is entirely plausible, with a-ha's manager confirming that a 6 disc deluxe edition of Hunting High And Low is in the works as of March 2022[4]. It is also possible that it has leaked into private traders' circles[5] as many other a-ha demos have in the past (as far back as the mid-80's). Most of these trader exclusive recordings stay unavailable to the general public for many years. It was long believed that a collection of leaked demos known as Most Wanted from 2009 may have contained the demo, however this has since been confirmed false (it only includes an instrumental version of the released 1983 demo).

Gallery

0:10 The only circulating snippet of the instrumental take (Narration from documentary removed with Audacity).

The officially released 1983 demo take with vocals (released on The Demo Tapes in 2004 and Hunting High And Low (Deluxe Edition) in 2010).

The leaked instrumental mix of the released 1983 demo from the Most Wanted compilation.

References