The Swing of Things / The Demo Tapes

The Swing Of Things was released as an audio book that included unreleased songs/demos created by the Norwegian band a-Ha from their early years.

Track listing

• Take On Me - This demo was recorded at Rendezvous studio in Sydenham in April 1983. It was the first version featuring the complete song as we know it. An earlier version with different lyrics and refrain, called "Lesson One", was recorded in Naersnes, Norway between September and November, 1982. Prior to this, in 1981, Bridges had recorded a version entitled "The Juicyfruit Song", again with a different chorus.^[1]
• Presenting Lily Mars - Inspired by the 1942 film of the same name, this version was recorded at Naersnes in autumn 1982. a-ha re-recorded this at Rendez-vous studio in 1984 as a possible B-side or album track but this version, sadly, remains unissued. The song is less fragile in the 1984 recording.
• Dot The i - This version was recorded at Naersnes in autumn 1982. It was later edited for the CD release, as the original mastertape features vocalist Morten yodelling. Obviously, a-ha were worried about releasing that! It was re-recorded at Rendez-vous in April 1983 and was in fact the first track that a-ha recorded there.
• Days On End - Rendez-vous Demo from October 1983, featuring Guitarist Paul on piano and Morten on trombone (keyboardist Mags was absent). The original title, as written on the tape box from the studio, was "If You Do".
• The Love Goodbye - Another Rendez-vous demo from the spring of 1983. This track was also recorded at Naersnes in autumn 1982 with different lyrics and refrain.
• Monday Mourning - Rendez-vous demo from late 1983.
• Never Never - Rendez-vous demo from late 1983.
• Na Blaser Det Pa Jorden - Translated as "Now It Blows On The Earth", this is a-ha's virgin performance, the first song they ever committed to tape in September 1982. It is not however, contrary to some sources, the only song a-ha recorded in Norwegian.
• Go To Sleep - Rendez-vous demo, late 1983. The opening lines were re-used in "And You Tell Me".
• Hunting High And Low - Rendez-vous demo, 1984.
• I've Been Losing You - Rendez-vous demo, 1984. Another demo of this track was recorded at Octocon studio, Oslo in 1985. Additionally, there is a version by Bridges dating from 1981.
• The Swing Of Things - There are at least three demos of this song. It is unclear where this one was recorded.
• Living A Boys Adventure Tale - Although this is a bonus track on the demo CD, it is not, in fact, a demo. It is an early mix of the album version with different drums and vocals. A demo of this song was recorded at Naersnes in 1982, featuring different lyrics.

References