Nuggets
My Chevy Vega post brought back a flood of memories and one of the best is the time that our friend PJ put on Sultans of Swing on the Vega car stereo. I said, "wow, who is that?" And thus began my love of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler's guitar playing.
There are two Dire Straits records that are must haves. The debut record, Dire Straits, and the third record Making Movies. Tunnel of Love on the third record is my favorite Dire Straits song.
But my favorite Dire Straits album is the debut record, Dire Straits. From the opening notes you know its going to be a great record and it is. Sultans of course is a classic song, but there is not one bad song on the record. I was going to name some of my favorite songs but the list turned into the entire record. It's been too long since I pulled this one out. It's going into Heavy Rotation for a while.
You can get the remastered version of this record on Amazon.
I'd have this record, two other Dire Straits records (Making Movies and Love Over Gold) and two Mark Knopfler solo albums (Golden Heart and Sailing to Philadelphia) in my top 50. I don't understand why Knopfler gets nowhere near the recognition in the US that Clapton gets. Or why Dire Straits / Knopfler isn't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
He's got a new album with Emmylou Harris coming out sometime soon, and they're doing a mini-tour to support it. If you've never seen him live (or even if you have), it's a must-see.
Posted by: JayR | April 21, 2006 at 09:57 AM
Radio City, Thursday 6/22. Got the email alert and tickets yesterday LOL
http://www.pollstar.com/tour/searchall.pl?AN=Y&By=Artist&Content=MARKNO&PSKey=Y
Posted by: druce | April 21, 2006 at 10:44 AM
mmmmmm.... Dire Straits.
"Making Movies" is a great one. The perfect marriage of songs, performance, and sound.
"Skateaway" has to be my favorite song on there. When that chorus comes in... perfect.
Posted by: Chrispy | April 21, 2006 at 10:58 AM
Had to comment on this one. I remember hearing Dires for the first time in a high school drafting class (the only class where a radio played all the time). One of the best memories of Dires for me...the Brothers In Arms tour - seeing them play at the best venue on the planet - Red Rock Amphitheater. What a night!!
Posted by: Arnie McKinnis | April 21, 2006 at 11:59 AM
Gotta agree with Chrispy on the Makin Movies account, but the first record is a gem as well.
Posted by: jackson | April 21, 2006 at 12:17 PM
I gotta disagree with the votes for Making Movies over Dire Straits. I listend to both records this morning and the debut record is better, more diverse, better songs, and just does it for me more.
Posted by: fred | April 21, 2006 at 01:44 PM
Ok people! It's Communiqué! That's their best album, came out in between the two you're talking about. Oh, you disagree? Alright, let's just put on Genesis Trick of the Tail until we can all get along. Now. Back to Dire Straits. I'll take 'em all.
Posted by: Karen E | April 21, 2006 at 07:42 PM
100% agree that the first one is tops. I always crank up Down to the Waterline when it comes up on my iPod. What a great intro!
Posted by: Don | April 22, 2006 at 03:33 AM
Never mind that Money For Nothing is oddly homophobic.
Posted by: Dave | April 22, 2006 at 07:02 AM