BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984
“Take On Me” is a 1984 synth-pop song by Norwegian band a-ha.
a-ha wrote and recorded the first version of this song in 1982 with the title “Lesson One” – it had different lyrics but contained the basic keyboard riff. In 1983, the song got the attention of industry veteran Terry Slater, who becomes their manager and helps them secure a contract with Warner Bros. Records later that year.
In early 1984, they re-wrote the song as “Take On Me” and recorded it with producer Tony Mansfield. Released as a single only in Europe, it went to #3 in their native Norway, but didn’t chart anywhere else, flopping particularly hard in the UK. A video was made for this version that was remarkably undistinguished compared with the one that came after.
This is the original 1984 version of “Take On Me” released in Europe before the song became an international hit in 1985.
SIDE A:
Take On Me (Long Version) 3:46
Remix – John Ratcliff
SIDE B:
And You Tell Me 1:49
Remix – John Ratcliff
Stop! And Make Your Mind Up 2:58
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records – 920 268-0
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: Germany
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop
CREDITS:
Producer – Aha* (tracks: B2), John Ratcliff (tracks: B2), Tony Mansfield (tracks: A, B1)
Find the 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
Thanks again
Must add my own seperate comment for this now i’m back from holiday. Awesome. More A-ha please!
I like this version.
Thank you, Paul.
Lovely track. In it’s time, people called this version as “the blue version” ’cause the video.. “Lesson One” was to me as a huge introduction to a-ha’s “childhood” 🙂 Sadly there’s no trace of the very first version of the “Take On Me” – Bridges-s “The Juicyfruit Song” (before Harket). Only available snippet is from NRK’s TV-doc. You can watch the whole thing via http://www.nrk.no/nett-tv/klipp/243139/ Enjoy!
Good job, Paul.
Wow… in some ways, this hardly even sounds like the same song! I can see why this didn’t exactly light people up the way the 1985 version did; the vocal delivery doesn’t have the same energy, and the “rinky-tink” synthesizer sound definitely doesn’t have the same punch to it. An interesting historical artifact, though, if only for the non-album “B”-side track!
A-ha released an expanded & remastered version of “Hunting High & Low” a few years ago, and inexplicably left this off it. (They did include the non-LP B-side, and the 7″ version of this release). I just compared that B-side track with theirs, and yours blows it away! THANK YOU for not only filling that hole that they left, but doing it better than the record company would have.
Not exactly true… I have it. It was downloadable! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunting_High_and_Low
Guess that’s what I get for buying the CD instead of the download.
I bought the CD’s too but there were extra tracks available as downloads only for both this and Scoundrel days as CD’s were maxed-out i think. 4 tracks for each i hope i’m right in saying? I read it at the time so deliberately purchased the downloads
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoundrel_Days
“Hunting High and Low” was the first album I bought. I’ve sinced explored other bands and genres but this band has stayed realivent to me for 30 years. You can imagine that having these excellent sounding rare songs is special to me. Also the vintage album art is a huge plus. A very sincere thank you.
Yeap very good need to grab a few im back after a seperation and getting a flat to stay
That was fun, to hear the ur-version of this monster hit!
Really cool Paul! Thank you 🙂
I only found out recently this song had another version (and video). Exciting!
Ah, the original mix! Ooh ooh. Thanks Paul. I was looking out for this one a long time.
Thank you, Paul. It’s these sort of obscure gems that keep me coming back. I’d love a comprehensive a-ha block if you have it in you! 🙂
Nice song!!
I didn’t realize this song had such a history. Thank you, as always, for such interesting music.
You’re very welcome VanceMan 🙂
Are you the master of unearthing impossible-to-find yet amazing music?
It’s not a real question, it’s rhetorical. You are amazing Paul!
Thank you Stephen. Always found it a fun challenge trying to get the obscure stuff 🙂
Hola amigo, no me funciona, Nombre de usuario: BTG Contraseña: burningtheground de ninguna manera
I love this song…always loved the extended remix (not this 12″) even though it always sounded muffled.
However, the Family Guy rendition of this is hysterical! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZpKPrUKn1U Watch until the very end! 🙂
Very cool! Who doesn’t love this one? Thank you! 🙂
You’re welcome Woz! 🙂
Wow, the original version!!!
Thanks DjPaulT again for sharing another of your precious gems with your hard worked & dedicated rips.
You’re welcome Partytimeboy 🙂
I ‘stopped and made my mind up.’ DjPaulT is very generous!
Thank you Greg 🙂
THANK YOU!!!!!!!
You’re welcome Maxxwell 🙂
Are you able to find “Cry Wolf”? That mix has eluded me for some time.
Thanks brother.
I just love this song. So happy and so pop. Yes, it was my introduction to the band, but I really, really adore “Take On Me.” Thanks for posting this one. It’s cool because the band is getting back together. You’re always topical Paul and that’s another reason why you’re so special. You absolutely rock Paul!!!
Jeff
Thank you Jeff. This version is pretty cool because it is the version that was released prior to the bands success in 1985. A totally different mix than the hit version we all know and love. For the ’85 version they really beefed up the energy.
thanks so very much, i love you paul !
That’s very sweet Harry wave 🙂
this version is very rare for me, thanks so very much again my friend!, regards from Perú/machupicchu 🙂
Thanks Paul. I’m so glad a-ha have decided to get back together and release a new album. I’ve always cherished their 80s 12″ singles the most .
Looking forward to hearing new material from them 🙂
Awesome! Thanks for sharing this in “remastered” (okay, it just sounds that good) quality!
You’re welcome Siver Blue 🙂