DU Album of the Day: "Dire Straits" Dire Straits

[gratuitous]

This is the good stuff off the top shelf, not for the amateur or the callow. Dire Straits, driven by the guitar virtuosity of Mark Knopfler hit the airwaves in 1978 with "Sultans of Swing." In the midst of the Punk Explosion of the late 1970s, Dire Straits' debut album with its fuzzy impressionist cover photograph on a stark white background looked for all the world like More of the Same. Dismissed as "boring" by the young turks, this was not the standard Boone's Farm Tickle Pink passed off by the poseurs. This was 20-year-old scotch, and not intended for palate of the up-and-comers.

But to begin and end the album with its lone commercial success, or to stop at Mark Knopfler's superior guitar work would be to say the Mona Lisa has a nice smile. There's so much more here, and whether you like blues, straight-ahead rock and roll, literate lyrics, or a combination of it all, Dire Straits delivered a package that couldn't be beat. Personal favorites include Down To The Waterline and Water of Love, but album has a flow and coherence meant to be savored and considered. Don't gulp it down; this album is meant to be sipped.

1) Down To The Waterline
2) Water Of Love
3) Setting Me Up
4) Six Blade Knife
5) Southbound Again
6) Sultans Of Swing
7) In The Gallery
8) Wild West End
9) Lions

[hifiguy]

1. Mark Knopfler emerged full-blown as a master craftsman

with that album. The first time I heard "Sultans of Swing" on the then-hip local FM station I just about drove off the road. That was music that smote of intelligence, skill, and honesty.

[pintobean]

2. Great album

I listened to the whole thing twice last week. It had been a while.

[OriginalGeek]

3. You know an album must be pretty darn good

when all you have on hand by a band is 2 different "greatest hits" packages but between the two, every song but one of the aforementioned album is there.

I have all but Six Blade Knife queued up and I'll have to get the real album so I can have that.

[taught_me_patience]

4. Hell yeah... my favorite album of all time

Every song is great, but there are three super special songs: Waterline, Six Blade, Sultans. The album has it all, super clean licks, great lyrics, blues/country. It has truly withstood the test of time.

[Fix The Stupid]

5. Any giutar players here?

I've almost got 'Sultans of Swing' down - well, everything but that last epic solo...both the short version and the long version - that is going to take a while to learn...

I can't play with a pick, so Knopflers' style totally speaks to me... I've never heard anyone play like him...

Oh wait - check this guy out...

I've been torturing my fingers trying to learn how to play this - this is true talent as well...

[gratuitous]

6. Strictly rhythm, I don't want to make it cry or sing

But I don't know ALL the chords.

[auburngrad82]

7. A truly beautiful album

One of my favorites.

[Grantuspeace]

8. I saw MK three times!

I urge everyone to explore his newer stuff as well! There are many good versions of new and old songs on YouTube.
Rudiger, Boom Like That, Sailing to Philadelphia, Hill Farmer's Blues, Why Aye, Man, What it Is, Done with Bonaparte, Before Gas and TV, Border Revier, Cleaning my Gun...... Etc.

[Grantuspeace]

9. something from "Getting Lucky". 2009 I guess?

Before Gas and Tv.