a-ha / Take On Me blue vinyl 7″

I too would love to know what the exact version on the B-side is. I have a few versions of Tony Mansfield’s original, but am hoping that this B-side is one that’s NOT yet been included on the Hunting High & Low re-issues. Like other posters here, I’m a huge fan of TM’s work and hope that he is well since his disappearance from the music scene.

Can anyone review the distinctiveness of the Alternate Mix? From Chis Hopkins’ comment I take it it’s somewhere closer to the sound of the demo than the 1984 mix, but if so how so?

I would happily pay for it, but as I don’t have my turntable set up it would just add to the stacks and piles of stuff I’ve never listened to and I still wouldn’t know what it sounds like.

Now, if they would only start giving digital copies with vinyl purchases…

If they would have put on the video version on as the A side, I think it would have tied in better considering the new documentaries were timed with this release. Plus it would have given another reason for people who bought the anniversary edition on record store day to buy this one. New packaging, colored vinyl and rare versions are nice but not enough for this fan to buy this one.

Bought a copy last week from the official record store. They charged £4.09 for postage and unbelievably “handling”. How else were they supposed to put the record in the packet? What was really annoying though was the fact it was sent in the flimsiest cardboard envelope. I am amazed the record didn’t get damaged in transit. Why they couldn’t send it in a proper 7″ record miler with protectors for that price is beyond me. When I complained to them they said they would mention it to their mailing department. Thanks for the after thought!

I got this a few days ago, I kind of wish it was in a standard 7″ sleeve, it would be more authentic although I acknowledge there were all kinds of wierd and wonderful sleeve gimmicks in the 80s. I do think of A-ha more of a picture disc band (the nature of being pretty) but this release is much better than the RSD &” pic disc.

Somebody mentioned the producer of the A-Ha B-side Tony Mansfield. Just thought I’d add that this is the same guy who wrote,produced and fronted New Musik,one of my favourite bands of the very early 80’s. Sanctuary didn’t chart very high when released ,but is a pop classic that I still love loads And From A to B is a very solid LP with 4 ace charting singles too. I too often wonder why Tony Mansfield has kind of disappeared from the music scene and has never produced,written or released any music for many years.

Wouldn’ t it have been better to give a new release to “The Sun Always Shines on TV” for a change?
A 7″ or 12″ with some alternate versions, etc. on the B-side.
I think it never got a rerelease, if I am not mistaken.
Really majestic, as Simon said.

In other a-ha news, the 4 CD hhal set is now down to 13.99 on Amazon uk

There is an ABBA christmas single too…

a “super deluxe edition” of “scoundrel days” would make much more sense to me.

Thanks for clarifying that the b-side is previously unreleased. I couldn’t tell if “alternate mix” meant a genuine alternate version of Tony Mansfield’s mix, or if that was just the label’s way of saying “this is a different version than the one on the a-side that you’re so familiar with.” :)

Any idea as to how limited the release is? I.E.: print quantities?

Tony Mansfield produced two of my favourite records ever,the first two captain sensible albums,he seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth,can anybody shed any light on his where abouts, asked the captain this myself and even he dident know,told me that he went a bit weird, probably not short of a few bob as he produced a lot of ah,ha,just very interested to know wot has become of him,man was a keyboard genius,just listen to Brenda parts 1and 2 ,thanks in advance. John.

Is there only me who prefers the majestic ‘The Sun Always Shines On Tv’?

The you tube documentary is fascinating. Part 3 is out Friday. Now I’ll have to play the whole album again for the 1st time in years!

U.S. shipping is 6.99 from the U.S. shop. Making this a 17 dollar purchase overall. Too steep for me.

Worth pointing out it’s FREE Postage if you spend over £25. Only have to spend just over a tenner on top of the price of the item if you take into account the saving on P+P !!!

If you think £4.10 postage is a lot, try £10.08 for postage to the Netherlands.
It’s more like “Take from me”.

Ordered! £4.10 postage for a 7 inch single is a bit steep mind. Rough Trade 7 inch postage less than half this charge.

Would this be an unreleased mix that was deemed not suitable for the ‘definitive’ 2CD set, nor the later five disc set?

Blimey…Magne doing a pretty perfect Pierce Brosnan impression. For a bunch of lads who have been around since the early 80s they look terrific. Ever since I first saw him in Five daughters I always thought Sean Harris should have played Pål. Good knows who would play Morten, maybe Morten himself. No one has those cheeks.

Nice story, thanks for pointing it out Paul.
£10 for a Blue 7″ though, not for me but I am sure it will still fly off the shelves and I am sure as others will point out…… The definitive box set of Hunting High and Low was not quite definitive then? Another unreleased version crawls out of the woodwork. It’s still a great set though, one of my favorites and pretty much, to me at any rate, the Gold standard of how a single album SDE should be done