Well-Tuned: Sometimes, Dire Straits is a Good Thing…

DW Dalrymple

DW is an ex-mountaineer now residing in the Palmetto State, a former political hack/public servant, aspiring beach bum and alleged rock-n-roll savant. Forever a student of the School of Life. You can find him on Twitter @BIG_DWD

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10 Responses

  1. Back in the dats when albums had sides, side A of Making Movies was one of the best.

    1. Tunnel of Love
    2. Romeo and Juliet
    3. Skateaway

    The coda to Tunnel of Love is one of the most beautiful things in all of popular music.

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  2. John Puccio says:

    Brothers in Arms was one of the first 15 Cds I ever bought as a teenager. I played it constantly.

    It’s such an interesting album to me. The first three tracks (the “hits”): So Far Away (groovy), Money For Nothing (iconic mega hit) and Walk of Life (happy crappy!) are all a trojan horse into the atmospheric, jazz-infused melancholy you’re describing. The transition to “Your Latest Trick” is a dramatic downshift. And the true heart of the album “Why Worry” is probably my favorite Dire Straits song ever.Report

    • DW Dalrymple in reply to John Puccio says:

      You’re right John, their style is one not easily duplicated. Unpredictable but yet predictable all in the same album. When you listen to them for the first time you think you know what you’re getting then they make a complete right turn on you…and you’re like yeeeeeah…Report

  3. Michael Cain says:

    Knopfler has always been criminally underrated. Okay, almost always. Anyone who can get Eric Clapton to play (mostly) rhythm guitar, Sting to do back up vocals, with Phil Collins on drums for a charity performance of Money for Nothing, and they all look like they’re having fun…

    The MTV references just make me feel old. I was married by the time it debuted, and the first kid was two and a half by the time “I want my MTV” showed up in Money for Nothing. I’m sure the kids don’t remember when they were sick, with a 103-degree temperature, wanting to be walked while they snuggled in, at 2:00 in the morning, that Dad did it to MTV. Dad remembers.Report

  4. DW Dalrymple says:

    Well Michael, I’m not as old as you but my wife and I were discussing earlier today about how one could call at any time of the day and get the time of day–“Ohio Bell time is…” and we used to talk on the phone back in high school till TV signed off! So we are KINDA old!

    Knopfler is underrated. He is a true virtuoso, also a tremendous song writer. Telegraph Road, the lyrics and the guitar work, one of many examples of his mastery of both skills.Report

  5. InMD says:

    On a semi related note a friend of mine just introduced me to JJ Cale who I understand was a major inspiration to the Dire Straits, as well as Clapton. Cale was a musician’s musician and there’s a very workmanlike quality to his songs. I’d suggest any Dire Straits fans give him a listen, the inspiration is obvious, and it’s always interesting to hear what our musical heros were very clearly listening to themselves.Report

  6. Marchmaine says:

    I posted this on twitter a few months ago… it hit me that I think Mark Knopfler’s songs as an older gent are better than when he was younger. I think he aged into the nostalgia in Romeo & Juliet.

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