music.wikisort.org - Composition

"Early Morning" is a song by Norwegian band A-ha, which was released in 1991 as the third single from their fourth studio album, East of the Sun, West of the Moon (1990). It was written by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and Magne Furuholmen, and produced by Ian Stanley.[2] "Early Morning" reached number 78 in the United Kingdom and number 29 in Ireland.[3][4] A music video was filmed to promote the single, directed by Michael Burlingame, while the video's black-and-white footage was directed by Lauren Savoy.[5]

"Early Morning"
Single by A-ha
from the album East of the Sun, West of the Moon
B-side	"East of the Sun"
Released	25 February 1991[1]
Length	2:59
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Magne Furuholmen Paul Waaktaar-Savoy
Producer(s)	Ian Stanley
A-ha singles chronology
"I Call Your Name" (1990) "Early Morning" (1991) "Waiting for Her" (1991)
Music video
"Early Morning" on YouTube

Recalling the song in 2015, Furuholmen revealed the song references the Doors, which had been "childhood heroes" to the band.[6]

Critical reception

On its release as a single, Julian Cope of New Musical Express picked "Early Morning" as one of the magazine's "single[s] of the week" and commented that it "could be from the second Doors album".[7] In a retrospective review of East of the Sun, West of the Moon, Sassan Niasseri of Rolling Stone said, "'Early Morning' tells of murder and suicide, backed by a psychedelic-sounding bass drumming a la The Doors."[8] Paul Sinclair of Super Deluxe Edition described the song as "wistful adult pop".[9]

Track listings

• CD single

1. "Early Morning" – 2:59
2. "East of the Sun" – 4:47
3. "Train of Thought" – 4:11

• 7-inch single

1. "Early Morning" – 2:59
2. "East of the Sun" – 4:47

• 12-inch single

1. "Early Morning" – 2:59
2. "East of the Sun" – 4:47
3. "Train of Thought" – 4:11

• Cassette single

1. "Early Morning" – 2:59
2. "East of the Sun" – 4:47

Personnel

A-ha

• Morten Harket – vocals
• Paul Waaktaar-Savoy – guitars
• Magne Furuholmen – keyboards

Additional musicians

• Jørun Bøgeberg – bass guitar
• Per Hillestad – drums

Production

• Ian Stanley – producer
• Nick Davis – recording, mixing

Other

• Knut Bry – photography
• Bill Smith Studio – design

Charts

Chart performance for "Early Morning"

Chart (1991)	Peak position
Germany (Official German Charts)[10]	52
Ireland (IRMA)[3]	29
UK Singles (OCC)[4]	78

References

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