Scoundrel Days is often cited by critics and hardcore fans as a-ha's definitive masterpiece. Released on October 6, 1986, it was the "difficult second album" that defied expectations by trading the bright synth-pop of their debut for a darker, more cinematic atmosphere.
The Remastered and Expanded (often called the "Deluxe Edition"), originally released in 2010 to coincide with the band's first farewell tour, remains the ultimate version of this alt-pop classic. The Sonic Evolution of Scoundrel Days
While Hunting High and Low was a worldwide phenomenon, the band—led by Pål Waaktaar and Magne Furuholmen—wanted to distance themselves from "teen idol" status. Recorded in London at RG Jones Studios, the album features a more organic, aggressive sound, blending Yamaha DX7 and Roland Juno-106 synthesizers with moodier guitar work and Morten Harket’s most powerful vocal performances to date. Expanded Edition: What’s Inside?
The 2010 Rhino Records reissue transformed the original 10-track LP into a massive 2-CD/digital collection featuring 21 bonus tracks. Disc 1: The Remastered Album & Extended Mixes
The first disc contains the original album digitally remastered, bringing new clarity to the sweeping production of Alan Tarney. A-HA - Scoundrel Days - Amazon.com Music
You can find the "Scoundrel Days Remastered and Expanded UPD" in the following places:
In music archiving and retail contexts, “UPD” almost always stands for “Updated” or “Update.” It signals that the release in question is a newer digital or physical pressing—correcting metadata, adding tracks, or remastering from better sources compared to a prior reissue. Sometimes it’s used internally by streaming services to flag a refreshed album page. aha scoundrel days remastered and expanded upd
Scoundrel Days has aged remarkably well—darker, smarter, and less reliant on the band’s falsetto gimmickry. The Remastered and Expanded UPD editions finally give the album the sonic depth it always deserved. If you only know a-ha for the Take On Me video, this is where you discover they were real songwriters.
Recommended listening order:
Start with the original album (remastered), then dive into the b-sides The Weight of the Wind and Soft Rains of April, then close with the live Cry Wolf.
Have you heard a specific “UPD” version that sounds different? Drop the catalog number in the comments, and we’ll help identify which pressing it is.
The remastered and expanded edition of a-ha's second studio album, Scoundrel Days, was originally released in July 2010 as a Deluxe Edition. As of April 2026, this version remains the definitive expanded release, though fans are speculating on potential new markings for the album's 40th anniversary later this year. Key Features of the Deluxe Edition
The 2010 Rhino reissue (and its subsequent represses) significantly expanded the original 10-track album to a total of 31 tracks:
Disc 1 (Original Album + Bonus Tracks): Contains the 10 original tracks remastered, plus extended remixes of "I've Been Losing You," "Cry Wolf," and "Manhattan Skyline". Scoundrel Days is often cited by critics and
Disc 2 (Demos & Rarities): Features 18 additional tracks, including previously unreleased demos for every song on the album and rare live recordings from the band's 1986 tour in Croydon. 2026 Updates & Anniversaries
While Scoundrel Days turns 40 on October 6, 2026, official news for a specific "40th Anniversary" box set has not yet been confirmed by Warner Music. However, a-ha's reissue campaign is active in other areas:
Analogue 20th Anniversary: A new deluxe 2CD and vinyl edition of a-ha's eighth album, Analogue, is set for release on April 17, 2026, for Record Store Day.
Vinyl Reissues: A 180g vinyl reissue of Scoundrel Days was recently circulated to celebrate its legacy, maintaining the original tracklist on a high-fidelity format. Tracklist Highlights (Deluxe Edition) Notable Tracks 1 Remastered Album "I've Been Losing You," "Cry Wolf," "Manhattan Skyline" 1 Extended Mixes
"Cry Wolf (Extended Version)" (8:12), "Manhattan Skyline (Extended Remix)" (6:49) 2 Demos & Live
"Scoundrel Days (Demo)," "Soft Rains of April (Guitar Version)," "Train of Thought (Live in Croydon)" How to Access the Remastered and Expanded UPD
For a deeper dive into the sonic evolution of the album, you can listen to the title track from the 2010 remaster here: A-ha -- "Scoundrel Days" (2010 remaster) Scott Smith YouTube• Jan 1, 2025 A-HA - Scoundrel Days - Amazon.com Music
The "UPD" in the search term usually signifies a digital update for streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal). In 2023-2024, many labels pushed out a "mastered for iTunes" or "high-res lossless" update. This UPD ensures that if you listen today, you are hearing the 2024-approved remaster, not the 1986 CD transfer.
At the time of its release, Scoundrel Days puzzled critics expecting more catchy, upbeat pop. Lead single “I’ve Been Losing You” dealt with romantic erasure, “Manhattan Skyline” twisted a love song into a tale of emotional collapse, and “Soft Rains of April” ended the album with whispered dread. Commercially, it went platinum in the UK and Norway but stalled at No. 74 in the US—a failure relative to Hunting High and Low.
However, hindsight has been kind. The remastered edition reveals how the trio used digital synths (Fairlight CMI, Yamaha DX7) not as novelties but as orchestral tools. The title track’s metallic percussion and Harket’s wordless falsetto bridge now sound like proto-trip-hop. “The Swing of Things” predicts the melancholic alt-pop of the 2000s (The xx, James Blake). Even the controversial “We’re Looking for the Whales”—often dismissed as pretentious—emerges in the remaster as a climate elegy before its time.
The Expanded UPD portion is particularly revelatory. The outtakes show Aha experimenting with darker, gothic tones (“Broken Satellite”) and baroque pop (“The Longest Night”) that wouldn’t surface fully until their 1990 album East of the Sun, West of the Moon.