To the casual observer, a-ha has always been defined by a singular, skycraper-high falsetto and a groundbreaking animated music video. But for the devoted, the Norwegian trio’s sophomore album, 1985’s Scoundrel Days, represents the moment Morten Harket, Magne Furuholmen, and Pål Waaktaar stripped away the teen-idol gloss to reveal the brooding art-rock band underneath.
The Remastered and Expanded Edition—released as part of the band's comprehensive reissue campaign—does more than just polish the audio; it excavates the ambition and melancholy that made this album one of the most compelling, yet underrated, records of the 1980s. aha scoundrel days remastered and expanded upd
A-ha fans have seen reissues before—the 2010 Deluxe Edition and the 2015 vinyl reprint. Both had issues. The 2010 version used a noisy, over-limited master. The 2015 vinyl was sourced from a digital file. The 2025/2026 Scoundrel Days Remastered and Expanded UPD is different: To the casual observer, a-ha has always been
| Feature | 2010 Deluxe | 2025 UPD | |--------|-------------|-----------| | Source | 16-bit digital tape transfers | 1/2” Analog Masters @ 192kHz | | Dynamic Range | DR6 (heavily compressed) | DR12 (natural) | | Bonus Material | 5 standard B-sides | 14 tracks including 7 unreleased | | Vinyl Pressing | Standard weight, GZ Media | 180g, Optimal (Germany), lacquers by Bernie Grundman | | Atmos Mix | No | Yes | A-ha fans have seen reissues before—the 2010 Deluxe
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.