Dire Straits (from Alchemy)-- live version of "Romeo and Juliet"

[ailsagirl]

[SamKnause]

1. The Alchemy album is excellent !!!!!!!!!!!

Telegraph Road is a masterpiece !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sultans of Swing is an outburst of energetic excellence !!!!!!!!!

Mark Knopfler is an amazing man.

His talents are other worldly.

Mark writes the words, the music, and arranges the songs.

The drummer, Terry Williams is at another level on this album.

I have watched over 20 people brought to tears on YouTube watching Sultans of Swing.

They are touched and amazed at the talent they are witnessing.

[ailsagirl]

2. You said it all, SamKnause

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[SamKnause]

3. Thank you for the kind words.

Last edited Wed Jun 5, 2024, 04:30 PM - Edit history (1)

I have been binging on Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits for 6 months.

I have watched every interview I can find.

I have watched every documentary I can find.

I have listened to every concert I can find.

I have listened to all of Dire Strait's songs.

I have listened to all of Mark Knopfler and the Notting Hillbillie's songs.

I have listened to all of his solo songs.

He has composed and and produced film scores for nine films.

He has played with George Jones, Chet Atkins, Tom Jones, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Emmylou Harris, and Eric Clapton to name just a few.

He just released a single where over 60 musicians played on 1 song. The song is called Going Home and it was done as an instrumental. Just a few of the names who played Bruce Springsteen, David Gilmour, Peter Frampton, Joe Bonamassa, Pete Townsend,
Sting, Joan Jett, Brian May, Ronnie Wood, Ringo Starr, Slash and the list goes on and on. Jeff Beck recorded his part before he died.

Mark was a journalist. (2 years)

Mark was an English professor. (3 years)

He was on TV at 14 playing acoustic guitar and singing.

At 17 he hitched hiked across Europe.

He is an amazing storyteller.

I have never heard anyone make a guitar sound like Mark does.

It often brings me to tears.

It is too beautiful to describe.

[ailsagirl]

4. He's pretty amazing, isn't he?

I heard two other things:

1) he's never taken a guitar lesson
2) he's left-handed but plays right-handed guitar (with no pick)

A most extraordinary artist!!

[SamKnause]

5. All 3 of those are true.

His parents wanted him to play violin.

He fell in love with a red guitar when he was 9.

His father bought it for him when he was 15.

He had been borrowing acoustic guitars from friends.

He didn't have the heart to tell his father you need an amplifier to play an electric guitar.

Dire Straits was the first band to be barred from South Africa during apartheid.

At the time their album was number 1 in many countries, including South Africa.

All the proceeds from albums and cd's that sold in South Africa went to Amnesty International.

There was a huge concert when Mandela was finally free.

Dire Straits was the first band asked to play.

Jack Sommi, the rhythm guitar player's wife had just given birth to twin girls.

Eric Clapton subbed for him.

In the interviews I have seen he is extremely humble and kind.

[ailsagirl]

6. Definitely an introvert-- how well I can relate

Everyone always says how amazing Clapton is-- frankly, his guitar playing never really moved me. Sure, he's technically good, but there's something missing. Mark "makes his guitar cry, makes it sing"-- he really does! It's remarkable.

A friend got me interested in Dire Straits-- wasn't too difficult. And I got him interested in The Kinks. This was all years ago but doesn't matter-- I still love those two groups.

[SamKnause]

7. I agree about Eric Clapton.

He is an excellent guitar player but he doesn't have what Mark has.

Not many people have what Mark does.

Mark's guitar comes alive because Mark puts his heart and soul into his music.

He created his own unique sound from his love of music.

He's truly amazing.