A-ha: Down To The Tracks - Barry Page

Against all the odds, a-ha scored a huge hit in 1985 with Take on Me. Seemingly overnight, the Norwegian band were topping charts all over the world; a success propelled in part by an innovative video that captured the imagination of an MTV-loving generation. In truth, however, their success had been the culmination of years of hard work and financial struggle; from their origins in bands such as Bridges and Souldier Blue, through to a period of relative squalor in London as they determinedly sought their breakthrough. At their commercial peak, a-ha recorded the theme song for the James Bond blockbuster, The Living Daylights , and, since their formation in September 1982, have sold over 35 million albums worldwide, influencing bands such as Coldplay, Keane, and Radiohead along the way. Aside from showcasing each a-ha album in track by track detail, the book includes a comprehensive look at both the band's pre-fame years and each of the three members' side projects, up to and including the release of Magne Furuholmen's revered new solo album, White Xmas Lies . Told from a number of different perspectives, this fresh take on the story mixes archived interviews and reviews, along with exclusive new input from a wide-ranging number of contributors.