A-ha - Take On Me (WEA)

Gold star too for A-ha, a Norwegian trio. "Take On Me" and "And You Tell Me" are fresher that a freezing gust up the fjord and highlight the singer's incredible vocal range. Essential purchases both. (Martin Townsend, No1, November 3, 1984)

A-ha - I've Been Losing You (Warner Bros)

As someone who previously couldn't have cared less either way about A-ha, it came as something of
a shock to find this is actually a very good record. Sounding tougher and meaner than before, there's: (a) a good lyric about losing your way, given a typically soaring vocal by Morten (sounding oddly like Bono in places); b) a slightly used but dead catchy hook that pleads, rather touchingly, "tell me things I could find useful"; c) a very nifty false ending - all of which give it a bite missing in previous efforts. A lot of people will have to reshuffle their prejudices ... (Ian Cranna, Smash Hits, September 10, 1986)

More music to chat up au-pairs to, this the first of no doubt several singles to betaken from the forthcoming album Scoundrel Days. Last time we tuned in Morten was hunting high and low, now he's losing someone - probably girlfriend Bunty. But hold that sleigh team back Marts, and don't go throw yourself into the nearest fjord - I know where she is! She's prancing around in Billy Idol's new video. Easily the worst effort so far and I predict that it won't even go Top 40 (Ha-Ha). 2/5 (Frank Gillespie, No 1, October 4, 1986)

A-ha - Take On Me (WEA)

Morten, Pal and Mags (they're from Oslo) have come up with the clumsiest title of the week here. This song sounds like a cross between Queen and the Thompson Twins, and something tells me this trio are going to have a hit sooner or later. File alongside Spelt Like This and the Roaring Boys as The Groups Most Likely To But Don't Deserve to. (Stuart Husband, No 1, April 20, 1985)

Pal, Morten and Mags. No, not an exotic brand of dog food but three unfortunately christened Norwegian toddies, who are the driving force behind A-Ha. Must confess to a secret predilection for this on its initial release a while back. The revamped version kicks off with a hideously synthetic drum beat but develops into a multi-layered little pop gem. The winsome ones may have dreadful names but they make irresistible noises. (Lesley O'Toole, Record Mirror, October 5, 1985)

A-ha - The Living Daylights (Warner Brothers)

Nothing could surpass Shirley Bassey's "Goldfinger", and since then there's been a number of dire themes accompanying James Bond films. Mort and the boys belt out something that might have stood a better chance as the theme for a gardening programme. The world tour seems to have well-knackered them. Licensed to thrill? I think not. (Robin Smith, Record Mirror, June 27, 1987)

Following in the footsteps of Shirley Bassey, Paul "Fab Macca Wacky Thumbs Aloft" McCartney, Duran Duran and little Sheena Easton, our Nordic foragers come to tackle the James Bond Movie Theme - that's the bit they play over chose dated silhouettes of girlies with not very many clothes on and blokes in suits with great big pistols. Unfortunately, James Bond films aren't really much cop and neither, usually, are these James Bond Movie Theme thingies. And this particular example is no exception. Oh, it's unmistakably A-ha: Morten's voice starts out smoky and sneery and then goes into a piping falsetto at the first available opportunity as per usual and there's piles of "dramatic" "tension" and everything. But is there a proper tune? No. Can you twist to it? No you jolly well cannot. In fact, it's all fearfully Duran Duran before they went good. (Tom Hibbert, Smash Hits, June 17, 1987)

A-ha - Manhattan Skyline (WEA)

Just when you think you can have a little snooze because A-ha have dished up another Eurovision song contest-type ditty, something dreadful happens. The gentle musings about umbrellas flying (?) are interrupted and a Slade record suddenly appears from nowhere - except of course it's not Slade because you can still hear the little tinkly bits. This is really very strange indeed, jumping about madly between quiet bits and lots of crashing drums. What has come over them? (Lola Borg, Smash Hits, February 11, 1987)

Swings and roundabouts here. Much meatier than the annoying "Cry Wolf" but less beautiful than the mighty "Hunting High And Low", "Manhattan Skyline" is edited from Scoundrel Days (and there can't be much of that not on singles) and shows A-Ha quiet and contrite, brash and bold all on the same song - charmer chameleons! It's backed with "Looking For The Whales" recorded live in London. If they'd peered towards Birmingham, they'd probably have seen one! (John Aizlewood, No 1, February 28, 1987)

When Aled Jones grows up, he'll probably be Morten Harket. This, the latest from the denim-clad Adonises, is the muso side of A-ha. Touches of Peter Gabriel and Sergeant Pepper creep in, with those virginal choir-boy-whose-balls-have-dropped off vocals are as forward as ever. If A-ha weren't so pretty they'd be on the cover of 'Q' and treated as the new Tangerine Dream. And that's something none of us need. (Eleanor Levy, Record Mirror, February 21, 1987)