"Hunting High and Low" is the debut studio album by Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha, first released on June 01, 1985, in Norway and the United States, with a later release in the UK and Europe on October 25, 1985. The album was a significant commercial success, achieving high positions on charts worldwide, and it was recorded at Eel Pie Studios in London, produced by Tony Mansfield, John Ratcliff, and Alan Tarney. The album features five singles, including the iconic "Take On Me," which became a global hit. The band was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards in 1986, marking a-ha as the first Norwegian band to receive a Grammy nomination.
"Take On Me," initially released in 1984, was re-recorded for this album after its early version failed to chart in the UK. The accompanying music video, directed by Steve Barron, combined live action and rotoscope animation, gaining significant traction on MTV and leading the single to peak at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, "The Sun Always Shines on T.V.," followed suit, becoming a top hit, especially in the UK where it reached number one. "Train of Thought" and the title track also charted well, although "Hunting High and Low" had limited success in the U.S. but did well in other markets.
The music videos for "Take On Me" and "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." received multiple nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1986, with "Take On Me" winning six awards. The album was re-released and remastered in 2010, further solidifying its status in music history. In 2020, the music video for "Take On Me" reached one billion views on YouTube, making a-ha the first European act to achieve this milestone. Overall, Hunting High and Low is celebrated not just for its commercial success but also for its enduring influence on the synth-pop genre and its innovative music videos.
