"Scoundrel Days" is the second studio album by Norwegian band a-ha, released on October 6, 1986, by Warner Bros. Records. A remastered edition with additional tracks was released in 2010.
The album followed the success of a-ha's first album, Hunting High and Low, which had achieved significant chart success in 1985. Scoundrel Days was recorded in England at RG Jones Recording Studios in Wimbledon during early 1986. Alan Tarney produced the album, having previously worked on the band’s hit singles.
Songwriting was primarily by Pål Waaktaar and Magne Furuholmen, with vocalist Morten Harket not contributing to the songwriting this time. Waaktaar and Furuholmen self-produced three tracks on the album. Key instruments used in recording included Yamaha DX7 and Roland Juno synths, which contributed to the distinctive sounds on various tracks.
The album's first single, "I've Been Losing You," topped the charts in Norway and reached number eight in the UK, becoming the most successful single from the album in Europe. The second single, "Cry Wolf," performed best in the U.S., peaking at number 14 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and reaching number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. It had notable success in several other countries as well.
"Maybe, Maybe" was released solely in Bolivia as the third single, while "Manhattan Skyline" was the fourth single, reaching number 13 in the UK. The song features a mix of calm verses and a hard rock-style chorus and was co-written by Furuholmen and Waaktaar.
The album cover was photographed by Norwegian photographer Knut Bry at the Haleakala volcano on Maui, Hawaii, in 1986.
