Great first album then gradually downhill from there. I hate all that stadium rock that they got into. Awful. Mark lost his way for me. He's a fantastic rock and roll guitarist and his best work is often on other people's albums.
@@PhilBaird1 I don't get this hatred for "stadium rock". Lots of bands do that, Queen, Wings, ELO, U2, Eric Clapton etc. The band has hits and starts playing to bigger crowds so they play stadiums, maybe their music reflects that, but so what?
Nice topic! I have already given my ranking earlier, but it still stands for me 1. Love Over Gold 2. Brothers In Arms 3. Making Movies 4. Communique 5. Dire Straits 6. On Every Street None of them are bad in any way!
I started listening to Dire Straits again after a gap of many years. Their best records sound better than ever. 1. Love Over Gold 2. Dire Straits 3. Making Movies 4. Communiqué 5. Brothers In Arms 6. On Every Street
Yeah yeah yeah thanks Pete for Dire Straits. My rank: 1. Love Over Gold - Masterpiece. Brilliant music. Great mood from start to finish. 2. Communique - Great, fuller, clear sound. There is no weak track on this album, maybe the title track is missing the musical action 3. Debut - A captivating, melancholic album with an intimate atmosphere. Traditional production minimalism but with its unique style of the band and leader Mark Knopfler took me all the way 4.Making Movies - Great start to the album. Unfortunately later it's a bit worse. A very good album, but in my opinion weaker than the first two. The band keeps the level, but it does not impress so much. 5. Brothers In Arms - The band's most popular album for a reason. Brilliant production, catchy songs. I prefer to listen to the second part of the album. The Man's Too Strong my favorite song from the album. The final title ballad is amazing. Knopfler's beautiful dialogue and fantastic guitar always knocks me out 6. On Every Street - This album is just a collection of good songs. The title track and You and Your Friend are outstanding The live albums Alchemy and On The Night are phenomenal showing what a fantastic band Dire Straits was in the first and second stages of their activity and how a brilliant musician Mark Knopfler is
I’ve been anticipating this show for what feels like forever. Dire Straits has been one of my top 10 favorite bands of all time since I was a little kid and I love most everything they did. Here’s my list: 6. On Every Street Rating: 7.0/10 Favorite Song: On Every Street Comments: It’s a fine album for what it is. Love a few songs, but for the most part it’s bloated and doesn’t need to be as long as it is. 5. Communiqué Rating: 8.0/10 Favorite Song: Lady Writer Comments: I used to think this album was mediocre until I re-listened to it just a few months ago. It’s still my least favorite album of Dire Straits’ perfect era, but it’s far from a weak album. Side one of the album is close to the sound of the debut and side two is a bit more active and where they were headed with Making Movies. I love a lot of the songs on Communiqué, and I often consider “Lady Writer” to be my favorite song of all time. It’s so good and I kind of hate that I rarely rank it any higher than this. 4. Dire Straits Rating: 8.0/10 Favorite Song: Sultans of Swing Comments: Yeah, I gave this the same rating as Communiqué, and I could honestly put it in the number 5 slot, but I think I like some songs on here more than some others on Communiqué. Aside from the obvious big hit from this album, I love “Down to the Waterline,” “Southbound Again,” “In the Gallery,” and “Wild West End.” Those songs give the album a leg up on Communiqué most of the time to me. 3. Love Over Gold Rating: 8.4/10 Favorite Song: Industrial Disease Comments: Yeah, I know an 8.4/10 for an album like Love Over Gold is kind of low. How could I not give it at least a 9 when it has songs like “Telegraph Road,” the title track, and “It Never Rains?” To be honest, I just haven’t heard the album enough yet. I know it’s a truly fantastic album and I reeeeally want to give it a much higher rating, but I need more exposure to it. 2. Making Movies Rating: 9.2/10 Favorite Song: Expresso Love Comments: This album is so close to perfection for me. I mean, when an album’s got “Tunnel of Love,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Skateaway,” “Expresso Love,” and “Solid Rock,” it really is one of the greatest albums of all time. But “Hand in Hand” and “Les Boys” kind of get in the way of it being a 10/10 because they are such drop offs in the energy department. Still, it’s an amazing album and my second favorite from Dire Straits 1. Brothers in Arms Rating: 10/10 Favorite Song: Brothers in Arms Comments: Honestly, I know a couple other Dire Straits albums are probably better than this one, but I have so much nostalgia for Brothers in Arms that I just can’t put another one above it. I’ve been listening to this album for as long as I can remember and I’ve somehow never burnt out on a single song on it. Every song on it is a masterpiece in my eyes and the album as a whole has always been around my top 10 favorites of all time.
First 3 for me with prob 1 and 3 swapping places. Brothers In Arms had lovely production but too much equipment as someone once said. ßaw them as a support band with their first album and the usual heckles and laughter when they came on. They started playing and the laughter stopped. By the time that guitar run came in on Sultans jaws were dropping at what we were watching. Supposedly a bar band.
Tunnel of Love came on in a little basement record store in London’s Soho district in the fall of 1980. When I first heard that solo I thought it was the most beautifully lyrical electric guitar playing I had ever heard. No bullshit, just pure music. I travelled through Europe for three months with my childhood sweetheart and when we finally broke up on the trip, that bloody song followed me around Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands like a ghost. The last time I heard it before returning to Canada was in an Amsterdam weed bar, and the very gorgeous waitress was dancing around to it, almost as possessed by it as I was. The final solo is followed by my favourite closing lick in all of music, that little B flat winding down to F 13 note phrase to say goodbye forever❤️ My sentimental favourite Dire Straits song. Brothers in Arms title track is right there but for very different reasons. Greatest anti-war song ever written IMO.
What a band Dire Straits were - so powerful and unique. I really loved the band as a youngster and have developed a different relationship with the music as an oldie (but goodie). Brothers in Arms is especially powerful but Movies takes me to my youth faster than any other album. I really love all the earlier albums and if I ever hear "mtv" again I will jump off a bridge. THANKS PETE PARDO!
1978/ as a Junior in high school. / left school walked directly to my job in a deli / bakery till 10 pm. Sultans of SWING 1978 reminds me so much of that job. Certain songs / certain times ! Cut a TON of cold cuts to that song & filled a ton of jelly / and cream donuts 🍩 as well. Great 👍 memories
@@toddhowe427 Agree. But they were great songs already. For me, the miracle of Alchemy is making Once Upon A Time In The West interesting - and stretched out to boot.
Have you heard the version On Alchemy Live? That whole album must rank as one of the greatest ever Live albums but I don't see it getting much recognition.
Thanks for doing Dire Straits. Some really great music here, just incredible song writing with amazing leads. 1. Communique 2. Making movies 3. Brothers in arms 4. Love over gold 5. Dire Straits 6. On every street
1. Love Over Gold ( Epic masterpiece of an album with solid production and great songwriting and structure throughout and some Prog Rock) 2. Communique ( Great album especially the first half, second half good songs with some flow to them, this was my first album experience so guilty pleasure of an album) 3. Making Movies ( Another Great album great songwriting melodies and hints of Prog) 4. Dire Straits ( Excellent Debut similar to Communique but second half of album kind of loses steam) 5. Brother In Arms ( Good album with peaks and valleys with 80s production and a couple of big hits) 6. On Every Street ( Good album with a few good tracks but the rest is just ok)
There are so many masterpieces on that album and it makes album even better than almost all live albums, might be the best setlist for a live concert ever.
Been waiting on this one for ages!! Thanks Pete! My favourite would by far be alchemy live; everything sounds better on that album - a band at its creative and artistic peak. Studio wise, making movies and love over gold are tight 1 & 2
I still remember '78, in the midst of the Punk explosion, Sultans of Swing burst onto my car radio.... I was in... Hook, line & sinker! Got the album soon after. Been a fan through the years, but at the time was struggling with Love Over Gold, was cemented with Brothers in Arms, but despite an affinity due to seeing them tour On Every Street, the foundations were becoming unstable. Anyway, a really tough one to separate these ... 6. Communique (a very good album, favs - Once Upon a time in the West, Lady Writer & Where d'ya think You're Going?) 5. Dire Straits (really solid debut, favs - Down to the Waterline, In the Gallery, Sultans of Swing & Wild West End) 4. On Every Street (only shaded as this one always transports me back to the NEC in Birmingham. Favs - Calling Elvis, On Every Street, Heavy Fuel, My Parties) 3. Brothers in Arms (if the CD followed the original album, without extended songs it may have been No. 1. Favs - Money for Nothing, Your Latest Trick, Ride Across the River & Brothers in Arms) 2. Making Movies (this should have been one of the greatest albums of all time... 6 exceptional songs... then Les Boys... WTF! If this had to be included, at least hide it in the middle of the album, it's dire, literally) 1. Love Over Gold (can't believe I've just done this, but all 5 tracks are varying degrees of pure class. Has never been a favourite, but not a bad song = best album) Really enjoyed this one, especially as I've just surprised myself with my top DS choice 🤔
Great review. I have been on a camping trip this past week - which was wonderful. But I was looking forward to catching up with what you were doing here on Sea of Tranquility. I love these Dire Straits albums. For me, I would rank them as follows (I tend to favor their earlier sound): 1. Dire Straits 2. Brothers In Arms 3. Communique 4. Making Movies 5. Love Over Gold 6. On Every Street
6. On Every Street 5. Brothers In Arms 4. Communique 3. Lover Over Gold 2. Dire Straits 1.Making Movies Pete, since you brought him up, how about a show of some kind on Springsteen?
Hey Pete! I think making movies should not be considered not only as a great classic album but also a historical document! There will never be another it’s almost perfect. Thanks for doing what you do.
Totally understand and respect where Steve is coming from. He makes a lot of obvious sense and put the ranking of the DS albums more into prospective for me. Love DS and was totally into this video!! Thanks for doing this gentlemen!! Now time to go listen to MY favorite DS album!! :)
6. On Every Street Their last album and it took quite a while after the huge succcess of Brothers in Arms. I don't know how much "new" it brings to sound of the band but it is well done and a solid album. Perhaps more for the bigger fan of the band or Mark Knopfler than a casual listener though. 5. Communiqué The second album which like Van Halen II is more of the same thing as the debut of each band. I love the playing on this album and the production but the songs aren't always that memorable. Still a good album I return to as often as any of the others. 4. Making Movies Has some of the bands best songs and took the band one step forward from their initial sound. A good one that get a bit less memorable for each track. Had every song been as great as the first two it could revival for the bands best album. For me. 3. Dire Straits Strong debut with great taste and groove. Could perhaps been a bit more diverse. 2. Brothers in Arms The big hit machine. Amazing production and from what I've seen many seem to think they sort did sell out with this one and yeah, it sold plenty and was more "pop" than the earlier records. Still a great listen though. 1. Love Over Gold NOT the first album to get if you only heard the biggest hits and want more of that but in the right mood this is a terrific album. Longer songs and perhaps a bit progressive but much more safe than something like Gentle Giant, King Crimson or Pink Floyd.
I would have to agree with your ranking. And as much as I love Mark and Dire Straits, On Every Street was something I'd never even buy. Mark sounds like he is mumbling over the whole record and the songs just aren't involving. He seems to have lost his fire and energy after the Brothers in Arms record. And his solo records for me, are also not very compelling.
Great discussion. I am a huge Straits and Knopfler fan and this was a very thoughtful, knowledgeable and entertaining chat about the DS catalogue. Thank you for posting. My album rankings (favorite to least): Making Movies, Communique, Love Over Gold, Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms, On Every Street. Incidentally, my favorite six DS songs, in order (favorite to least): Tunnel of Love, So Far Away, Angel of Mercy, When it Comes To You, Hand in Hand, Once Upon A Time in the West (special mention to B-side Millionaire Blues).
We've all heard it a zillion times but to me it's the best thing they ever did. It had all the ingredients that made the Straits really special before they wandered off into stadium indulgence. I think fame buggered up Mark Knopfler.
Phil Baird I like most of his solo stuff, he seems to be dedicated to getting back to roots type stuff. It seems to suit his vocals better than the “ radio hits “ that the record executives seemed to like .
What an enjoyable listen, loved hearing your view on 'meaty analogue' versus 'over-studio'd digital' - so right, as a vinyl nut, seeking out 1st presses and 're-mastered from the analogue tapes' records is a fun aspect of collecting music, long live real music, real analogue.
This is a no brainer for me. I’ve followed the band from their debut. So here we go top to bottom: Making Movies S/T Communique Love Over Gold Brothers In Arms On Every Street
Appreciate the love being shown DS.....One of my favorite bands ever.......As a sidenote, to what y'all discussed regarding sales in the vid, DS was never THAT huge in the US, but worldwide they are literally one of the biggest bands ever......Not as big as Queen, but somewhat similar in how their worldwide following dwarfs their US following....Anyway, here's my ranking 1. Making Moves 2. Dire Straits 3. Brothers In Arms 4. Communique 5. Love Over Gold. 6. On Every Street.....Love them all though.....
I liked all of them, and here is my ranking. 1. Love Over Gold 2. First 3. Making Movies 4. Communique 5. On Every Street 6. Brothers in Arms The first 4 or 5 are pretty close. I do not own On Every Street as I kind of lost interest in them after Brothers in Arms. That album was a smash hit I know, but it was more song oriented, and did not have enough lead guitar on it for my tastes. The title track, however, I thought was one of their better songs. I know my choice as Brothers In Arms as their worst album, will surprise a lot of people, it is just my opinion, of course.
Although they broke up after the BIA tour, they did get back together twice to play live. I was at both concerts. The first was headlining the Mandela 70th birthday Concert at Wembley Stadium. The guest guitarist was one Eric Clapton. The second was a short set at the Knebworth '90 charity concert. The Pub Rock tag is really any London based band that did the pub gigs in the 1970's. Two pubs in particular were at the forefront of this music. The Hope & Anchor in Islington and the Tally Ho in Kentish Town but there were many others in and around London
For a great live Dire Straits album, I'm crazy about "Live At The BBC" because it sounds really good and it has many of the songs from their self-titled first album - my favorite. Mark's guitar is just crying and his voice fits perfectly.
1. Communique 2. Dire Straits 2. Love Over Gold 3. Brothers In Arms 4. Making Movies 5. On Every Street Top 10 songs: 1. Sultans of Swing 2. Telegraph Road 3. Once Upon a Time In the West 4. Where Do You Think You're Going? 5. Water of Love 6. Private Investigations 7. Tunnel of Love 8. Brothers In Arms 9. So Far Away 10. Calling Elvis
Most people stopped talking about Ritchie Blackmore about 27 years ago, Deep Purple on the other hand have released 7 epic albums since then, the last 3 have all sold incredibly well, this current (2002 - 2020) line up of DP is actually the second most successful line up of this iconic band after the "classic" M2 line up and for alot of younger fans Steve Morse is the only DP guitarist they've ever known 🙂
6. On Every Street 5. Communique 4. Love Over Gold 3. Dire Straits 2. Brothers in Arms 1. Making Movies Shout out to Twisting By the Pool EP Sultans of Swing original and early versions.
I'm not a huge Dire Straits fan, but one thing always amused me. Back in the day when David Letterman was on NBC, the band played *"Espresso Love."* Good song, & it's the only time I ever saw Mark Knopfler use a guitar pick.
I would love to hear "Private Dancer" as done by Dire Straits. It was recorded for Love Over Gold, but got scrapped. Tina Turners version definitely has that "Telegraph Road" vibe
Making Movies for me is a stone cold masterpiece. Mark is a world class player with an immediately identifiable sound. Check out his playing on Dylan’s Slow Train Coming album just incredible on a stunning Dylan masterwork.
Pub Rock referred to a movement of bands who gained a reputation for (successfully) playing pubs primarily in and around London/SE England - Brinsley Schwartz, Rockpile etc
Also check out the late Chet Atkins/Mark Knopfler "Neck And Neck" (1990) & "Local Hero" (movie soundtrack from 1983) which also has the late Gerry Rafferty singing on 1 song. The song "Cosmic Square Dance" by Atkins/Knopfler (from Chet's 1985 "Stay Tuned") is a great song that also won for "Best Instrumental" at the Grammy Awards. My rankings: 1. Debut self - titled 2. Brothers In Arms 3. Love Over Gold 4. Communique 5. Making Movies 6. On Every Street
Ranking the Dire Straits Albums, Worst to Best. I thought I already did this. 6. On every Street 5. Brothers in Arms 4. Communique 3. Dire Straits 2. Making Movies 1. Love over Gold I don't really have to Explain about Telegraph Road.
Great edition of ranking the albums. Dire Straits, along with Pink Floyd are probably the first bands I heard in my life (thanks to my father) , back in 1985 or 1986. I was only 2 or 3 years old, and obviously I still did not have any interest in music, but I can't recall hearing at home everyday songs like Brothers in Arms, Shine on You Crazy Diamond or Walk of Life, which I loved because of the famous keyboard rythym. So Dire Straits is part of my childhood, and as an adult I keep listening to them and enjoying this great music.
Not many truly great bands can say they never made a bad album. Dire Straits is one of them. I was a massive fan as a teenager and listened to all their albums a ton. Their music also stands the test of time and still sounds amazing. Listing your favourite DS album is like ranking your favourite child. But I digress. Here is my list. 1. Making Movies. One of my favourite albums of all time. Six incredibly strong songs..and then the bizarre Les Boys. That one hiccup can't detract from the brilliance of the other six. Tunnel of Love, Romeo and Juliet and Skateaway are three of their very best songs. 2. Communique. Such a great sounding record with so many great songs. Lady Writer is a classic. 3. Self titled debut. This album sent shivers up the spine first time I heard it as a teenager. Sultans of Swing gets all the accolades, but just one of many amazing tunes. 4. Love Over Gold. Used to put this album on when stressed out studying in university..and it would calm everything down. Knopflers guitar playing on this album is astounding. 5. Brother in Arms. The title track is a masterpiece and arguably their greatest song. But the only album of theirs where there are more than one song that I skip. Still a grea great album. 6. On Every Street. By far the album I listened to the least. Still has some great songs..and better than almost anything being put out today. They remain and always will be one of my favourite bands...and MK solo stuff is superb. A true legend.
'Pub rock' because all those bands played extensively in pubs (small and larger) in the UK largely in the early 70's to early 80's ( when it was a popular and extensive scene - there were so many pubs with music that you could play 7 nights a week if you wanted. And it was great for the public with cheap entrance fees and cheap beer - in intimate spaces (e.g. Roxy Music in the Fishmongers Arms in Wood Green! Genesis - The Red Lion, Leytonstone) to make a living and many were rough and ready rock bands but also any up and coming band of any genre. Iron Maiden found their mojo in playing in pubs for a couple of years.Wonderful.
Always loved the Straits since my early teens and now I love these albums more and more as the years pass. Actually too hard to rank them for me! They are all almost equal. Great show guys and I know I would be interested in a Top 10 songs. 👍
Love your channel Pete and as a sidenote to your discussion here, "pub rock" was a scene rather than a genre - that's why it encompasses so maany different bands. it was almost a precursor to indie music in the 80s and 90s and was definitely a forerunner of punk in Britain - a DIY aesthetic; bottom up popularity; often masquerading incredible talent. Mark Knopfler is from the North East, like me, and in the mid/late 70s that wasn;t an easy environment to make a career. You had to make a go of it, and as alwasy the music industry rushes in and labels things. Hence pub rock. Originally, it was very much about live performances, but not a style of music. Hope none of this sounds preachy. All power to you mate.
Pub rock was proto-punk; getting back to three minute basics and paint-stripped production. There were some great bands who fell under that umbrella. They were also musically more interesting and accomplished than most of the punk bands that followed. The new-wave movement of the late '70s also came directly out of that pub-rock lineage.
Brothers In Arms was the album used to promote the new CD medium.As a life long Straits fan from before they hit the big time here's my list. 6,On Every Street. 5,Communique. 4,Brothers In Arms. 3,Making Movies. 2,Love Over Gold. 1,Dire Straits.
1. Dire Straits 2. Communiqué 3. Brothers in Arms 4. Love over Gold 5. Making Movies 6. On Every Street But my favourite thing from the band is Alchemy: Dire Straits Live
Funny thing - I got "On Every Street" as a Columbia House freebie in the 90's and as it turns out I really liked it! From there I bought a solid compilation and haven't heard the albums in full as of yet. But planning to check them out. I really have a thing for those more brooding Dire Straits songs like Where Do You Think You're Going, On Every Street, Brothers in Arms and especially the sheer noir of Private Investigations. Something about Knopfler's vocal style on the spacey numbers really works.
1. Love over gold 2. Making movies 3. Communique 4. Dire Straits 5. Brothers in Arms 6. On every street The „ExtendeDancEP“ would be ranked 5 1/2, Alchemy is their best release overall imo and my favourite live album.
I liked them as a teenager when they debuted although a lot of their stuff was simply over my head or just too sophisticated for a 14 yr old such as myself. Now as an old man I think they're just fantastic from top to bottom. "Lady Writer" is my favorite DS song. "Once Upon a Time in the West" is my 2nd favorite. Thanks, Pete. 6. Brothers In Arms. It's overplayed and I don't really need to hear it anymore. Not the band's fault. A great disc and not bad for a bottom-ranked album. 5. On Every Street. 4. Love Over Gold 3. Making Movies 2. Debut 1. Communique
I don't think there's a bad song in the lot and not much separates any of these. I decided to include a live album and an EP in my list since it's a short catalog. 8) ExtendedancEPlay EP 7) On Every Street 6) Communiqué 5) Alchemy (Live) 4) Brothers In Arms 3) Dire Straits 2) Love Over Gold 1) Making Movies Thanks, Pete & Steve!
Pub Rock was a period around 74/75 in the UK, particularly in London, which was almost a reaction to the big stadium rock bands at the time and laid the ground for the gig circuit that would provide a lifeline for the punk rock bands that followed. It was less to do with musical similarities between the bands and more to do with a back to basics approach where the only way that these groups could start out and gain a following was by playing in pubs.
They are all great albums. 1. Brothers in Arms (1985) 2. Self Titled Debut Album (1978) 3. Communique (1979) 4. Making Movies (1980) 5. On Every Street (1991) 6. Love Over Gold (1982)
one of my favorite bands. One of the few bands that I can't get enough of that I didn't see live. So here is my order: 1) Making movies (not a bad note on this album. Great songs. Heavy. Love it.). 2) Dire Straits (What a statement: Water of love, Down to the Waterline, Wild West End and the classic Sultans of Swing) 3) Love over Gold (Telegraph Road is on my top 10 songs of all time, title track is awesome, Industrial Disease is fun and It never rains is a classic deep track) 4) Brothers in Arms (fun pop album. Maybe the hits on this album have been overplayed. There are some tracks I get excited every time I hear them: The Man's Too Strong, One World and Ride Across the River) 5) On every street (MK's playing peaks on this CD. The title track is incredible. Also some fun songs like Heavy heavy fuel, Calling Elvis and The Bug, and some snoozers in my opinion. 6) Communique (never got into this maybe because I went straight from the first album to Making Movies. For me Communique sounds too much like the first album.)
Not a bad album in the catalog as you both said but for me 1. Love Over Gold 2. Making Movies 3. Brothers In Arms 4. Dire Straits 5. On Every Street 7. Communique Fav song is Telegraph Road
Pub Rock is pretty much what it says. In the early 1970's a number of London public houses (bars/taverns for the US viewer) started to host stripped down rock and roll nights. Many of these pubs formally put on jazz or folk but an American band Eggs over Easy became very popular because of their musicianship and vast repertoire. Soon, bands such as Brinsley Schwarz (Nick Lowe), Ducks Deluxe, Kursaal Flyers, Kilburn and the High Roads (Ian Dury), Doctor Feelgood and solo artists like Elvis Costello were getting regular slots and pubs were selling a lot of beer. By 1975/6 many foresaw that punk was coming but were able to cross over like Doctor Feelgood, Nick Lowe, Ian Dury and Elvis Costello. Others were unable to sustain a career when Pub Rock wound down. The best book on the subject, and a must read for those who profess to love rock music, is No Sleep Till Canvey Island by Will Birch (drummer of the Kursaal Flyers). The section with The Band rehearsing in Brinsley Schwarz's shed always gives me a chuckle.
This is one of the toughest group of albums to rank. They are all good and all have outstanding tracks. I change my mind all the time. Today this is my opinion: 1. Love over gold 2. Communique 3. Dire Straits 4. Making Movies 5. Brothers in arms 6. On every street
After 1982 I tuned out. You are very correct from 79 to 82 it was a perfect rock and roll world then it hit the wall. Ace of Spades, Uprising then the end. But Alchemy was a breath of fresh air a few years later. And then it hit the wall. Am I repeating myself. There's a lot of walls out there.
i was born in 1951. Before I turned thirty, two songs stood out above all others as having burst on the scene and completely overwhelmed the airways. Both were the opening salvos of legendary, first ballot Hall of Fame bands. Now the pop up regularly on satellite radio. One was the Doors, "Light My Fire ." The other is Dire Straits, "Sultans of Swing." I was surprised to hear that your choice for favorite Dire Strait's album is the one I've only known one other person choose...me. Favorite album is probably "Making Movies," slightly edging "Brothers in Arms." Brilliant! "Romeo and Juliet!!!" Are there any better lyrics than "Solid Rock's": "Because the heart that you break That's the one that you rely on The bed that you make That's the one you got to lie on When you point your finger because your plan fell through You got three more fingers pointing back at you: But favorite song : On any given day it is a toss up of two that appear on "Love Over Gold. In general I love Magnus Opi(sp?) " Like "Layla", "You Can' Always Get What You Want," and "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding.," "Like a Rolling Stone," or Steppenwolf's "Monster." "Telegraph Road" more than holds its own. As far as lyric's equal to the one's from "Solid Rock" quoted above, There are two, one is from "Telegraph Road:" "Cause I've run every red light on memory lane I've seen desperation explode into flames And I don't want to see it again." But there is no greater song to explain the general malaise of my life time than, "Industrial Disease." Because I was raise raised Jewish like Mark Knopfler, these lyrics are as good as any I've heard by anybody... "I go down to Speaker's Corner I'm thunderstruck They got free speech, tourists, police in trucks Two men say they're Jesus one of them must be wrong There's a protest singer singing a protest song - he says 'they want to have a war to keep us on our knees They want to have a war to keep their factories They want to have a war to stop us buying Japanese They want to have a war to stop Industrial Disease They're pointing out the enemy to keep you deaf and blind They want to sap your energy incarcerate your mind They give you Rule Brittania, gassy beer, page three Two weeks in Espana and Sunday striptease' Meanwhile the first Jesus says 'I'd cure it soon Abolish Monday mornings and Friday afternoons' The other one's on a hunger strike he's dying by degrees How come Jesus gets Industrial Disease
Another favorite band of mine, never heard you mention their name on the channel, and was kinda hoping you like them, so great for me! My rankings would go: 1. Love over gold 2. Brothers in arms 3. On every street 4. Dire Straits 5. Making movies 6. Communique P.S. the keyboardist on love over gold (and everything that came afterwards) is Alan Clarke, not Roy Bittan Who is a huge part of the band for me and the main reason Love over gold is in my eyes their masterpiece, amazing keyboard/piano player.
I really love the Straits. And there isn't any Straits album I don't like. And hard to rank. But, if I have to rank them, I guess I would go with this: 6. On Every Street 5. Love Over Gold 4. Bothers in Arms 3. Communique 2. Dire Straits 1. Making Movies.
6 - Communique
5 - On Every Street
4 - Love Over Gold
3 - Dire Straits (S/T 1978)
2 - Making Movies
1 - Brothers In Arms
The Dire Straits debut album has to be one of my top 10 albums of all time.
me too, a desert island no doubt...not a clunker in the bunch
I have to agree that it is their best. The production is so clean and it sounds really good played loud on a good stereo.
Great first album then gradually downhill from there. I hate all that stadium rock that they got into. Awful. Mark lost his way for me. He's a fantastic rock and roll guitarist and his best work is often on other people's albums.
@@PhilBaird1 Like it or not they never made a bad album even Mark's solo career.
@@PhilBaird1 I don't get this hatred for "stadium rock". Lots of bands do that, Queen, Wings, ELO, U2, Eric Clapton etc. The band has hits and starts playing to bigger crowds so they play stadiums, maybe their music reflects that, but so what?
My favorite lyricist is Roger Waters but 'Telegraph Road' by Mark Knopfler is breathtaking.
1- Brothers In Arms
2- Love Over Gold
3- Dire Straits
4- Making Movies
5- On Every Street
6- Communique
Nice topic! I have already given my ranking earlier, but it still stands for me
1. Love Over Gold
2. Brothers In Arms
3. Making Movies
4. Communique
5. Dire Straits
6. On Every Street
None of them are bad in any way!
Love Over Gold and Making Movies are my favorites. Just flawless records, in my opinion.
I totally agree!
Yeah of course i dont know how any can put the debut or communique over them i think its crazy
Making movies on top
I started listening to Dire Straits again after a gap of many years. Their best records sound better than ever.
1. Love Over Gold
2. Dire Straits
3. Making Movies
4. Communiqué
5. Brothers In Arms
6. On Every Street
Honestly a fair list, but I think Brother In Arms is just barely better than communique
What a great band.
1: Making Movies
2: Debut Album
3: Love Over Gold
4: Brothers In Arms
5: Communique
6: On Every Street
1 Communique
2 Dire Straits
3 Making Movies
4 Love Over Gold
5 Brothers In Arms
6 On Every Street
Communiqué for the win, unfairly unappreciated jewel.
@@hellojimmypage SHUT UP
On Every Street isn't bad either!! There is no bad Dire Straits album
Yeah yeah yeah thanks Pete for Dire Straits. My rank:
1. Love Over Gold - Masterpiece. Brilliant music. Great mood from start to finish.
2. Communique - Great, fuller, clear sound. There is no weak track on this album, maybe the title track is missing the musical action
3. Debut - A captivating, melancholic album with an intimate atmosphere. Traditional production minimalism but with its unique style of the band and leader Mark Knopfler took me all the way
4.Making Movies - Great start to the album. Unfortunately later it's a bit worse. A very good album, but in my opinion weaker than the first two. The band keeps the level, but it does not impress so much.
5. Brothers In Arms - The band's most popular album for a reason. Brilliant production, catchy songs. I prefer to listen to the second part of the album. The Man's Too Strong my favorite song from the album. The final title ballad is amazing. Knopfler's beautiful dialogue and fantastic guitar always knocks me out
6. On Every Street - This album is just a collection of good songs. The title track and You and Your Friend are outstanding
The live albums Alchemy and On The Night are phenomenal showing what a fantastic band Dire Straits was in the first and second stages of their activity and how a brilliant musician Mark Knopfler is
Exactly the same as my list.
I'd say The Debut beats Communique.
I’ve been anticipating this show for what feels like forever. Dire Straits has been one of my top 10 favorite bands of all time since I was a little kid and I love most everything they did. Here’s my list:
6. On Every Street
Rating: 7.0/10
Favorite Song: On Every Street
Comments: It’s a fine album for what it is. Love a few songs, but for the most part it’s bloated and doesn’t need to be as long as it is.
5. Communiqué
Rating: 8.0/10
Favorite Song: Lady Writer
Comments: I used to think this album was mediocre until I re-listened to it just a few months ago. It’s still my least favorite album of Dire Straits’ perfect era, but it’s far from a weak album. Side one of the album is close to the sound of the debut and side two is a bit more active and where they were headed with Making Movies. I love a lot of the songs on Communiqué, and I often consider “Lady Writer” to be my favorite song of all time. It’s so good and I kind of hate that I rarely rank it any higher than this.
4. Dire Straits
Rating: 8.0/10
Favorite Song: Sultans of Swing
Comments: Yeah, I gave this the same rating as Communiqué, and I could honestly put it in the number 5 slot, but I think I like some songs on here more than some others on Communiqué. Aside from the obvious big hit from this album, I love “Down to the Waterline,” “Southbound Again,” “In the Gallery,” and “Wild West End.” Those songs give the album a leg up on Communiqué most of the time to me.
3. Love Over Gold
Rating: 8.4/10
Favorite Song: Industrial Disease
Comments: Yeah, I know an 8.4/10 for an album like Love Over Gold is kind of low. How could I not give it at least a 9 when it has songs like “Telegraph Road,” the title track, and “It Never Rains?” To be honest, I just haven’t heard the album enough yet. I know it’s a truly fantastic album and I reeeeally want to give it a much higher rating, but I need more exposure to it.
2. Making Movies
Rating: 9.2/10
Favorite Song: Expresso Love
Comments: This album is so close to perfection for me. I mean, when an album’s got “Tunnel of Love,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Skateaway,” “Expresso Love,” and “Solid Rock,” it really is one of the greatest albums of all time. But “Hand in Hand” and “Les Boys” kind of get in the way of it being a 10/10 because they are such drop offs in the energy department. Still, it’s an amazing album and my second favorite from Dire Straits
1. Brothers in Arms
Rating: 10/10
Favorite Song: Brothers in Arms
Comments: Honestly, I know a couple other Dire Straits albums are probably better than this one, but I have so much nostalgia for Brothers in Arms that I just can’t put another one above it. I’ve been listening to this album for as long as I can remember and I’ve somehow never burnt out on a single song on it. Every song on it is a masterpiece in my eyes and the album as a whole has always been around my top 10 favorites of all time.
First 3 for me with prob 1 and 3 swapping places. Brothers In Arms had lovely production but too much equipment as someone once said. ßaw them as a support band with their first album and the usual heckles and laughter when they came on. They started playing and the laughter stopped. By the time that guitar run came in on Sultans jaws were dropping at what we were watching. Supposedly a bar band.
Tunnel of Love came on in a little basement record store in London’s Soho district in the fall of 1980. When I first heard that solo I thought it was the most beautifully lyrical electric guitar playing I had ever heard. No bullshit, just pure music. I travelled through Europe for three months with my childhood sweetheart and when we finally broke up on the trip, that bloody song followed me around Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands like a ghost. The last time I heard it before returning to Canada was in an Amsterdam weed bar, and the very gorgeous waitress was dancing around to it, almost as possessed by it as I was. The final solo is followed by my favourite closing lick in all of music, that little B flat winding down to F 13 note phrase to say goodbye forever❤️ My sentimental favourite Dire Straits song. Brothers in Arms title track is right there but for very different reasons. Greatest anti-war song ever written IMO.
What a band Dire Straits were - so powerful and unique. I really loved the band as a youngster and have developed a different relationship with the music as an oldie (but goodie). Brothers in Arms is especially powerful but Movies takes me to my youth faster than any other album. I really love all the earlier albums and if I ever hear "mtv" again I will jump off a bridge. THANKS PETE PARDO!
1978/ as a Junior in high school. / left school walked directly to my job in a deli / bakery till 10 pm. Sultans of SWING 1978 reminds me so much of that job. Certain songs / certain times ! Cut a TON of cold cuts to that song & filled a ton of jelly / and cream donuts 🍩 as well. Great 👍 memories
Alchemy is one of the best live album of all time.
Agreed. But it doesn't get the recognition it deserves. I still have it on vinyl and play it regularly.
Ezio Auditore totally agree! Completely underrated live album. Definitive versions of “Telegraph Road” and “Tunnel of Love”!
@@toddhowe427 Agree. But they were great songs already. For me, the miracle of Alchemy is making Once Upon A Time In The West interesting - and stretched out to boot.
Jasper de Vries Truth! I love that version too.
Yes. Yes it is!
1-Making Movies
2-Dire Straits
3-Brothers In Arms
4-Love Over Gold
5-Communique
6-On Every Street
Telegraph road blows my mind ..
Have you heard the version On Alchemy Live? That whole album must rank as one of the greatest ever Live albums but I don't see it getting much recognition.
On you tube I've seen the live version.ill make a note of your recommendation.thank you.
@@michaelmarino3013 👍 Enjoy!
6. On Every Street
5. Communique
4. Making Movies
3. Love Over Gold
2. Dire Straits
1. Brothers In Arms
There’s a new box set coming in October that has all 6 of their studio albums . Excited to pick this up I only have Brothers in Arms
Thanks for doing Dire Straits. Some really great music here, just incredible song writing with amazing leads.
1. Communique
2. Making movies
3. Brothers in arms
4. Love over gold
5. Dire Straits
6. On every street
1. Love Over Gold ( Epic masterpiece of an album with solid production and great songwriting and structure throughout and some Prog Rock)
2. Communique ( Great album especially the first half, second half good songs with some flow to them, this was my first album experience so guilty pleasure of an album)
3. Making Movies ( Another Great album great songwriting melodies and hints of Prog)
4. Dire Straits ( Excellent Debut similar to Communique but second half of album kind of loses steam)
5. Brother In Arms ( Good album with peaks and valleys with 80s production and a couple of big hits)
6. On Every Street ( Good album with a few good tracks but the rest is just ok)
Alchemy is not only my favourite Dire Straits album but my favourite live album of all time.
There are so many masterpieces on that album and it makes album even better than almost all live albums, might be the best setlist for a live concert ever.
It’s my favorite everything album. It changed my life. I wasn’t big on music until hearing alchemy for the first time
@@nathanhull8302 I hear the Blu-ray mix is something else in surround sound.
Been waiting on this one for ages!! Thanks Pete! My favourite would by far be alchemy live; everything sounds better on that album - a band at its creative and artistic peak. Studio wise, making movies and love over gold are tight 1 & 2
Finally the Ranking albums of Dire Straits. I love all of them, but the first two are amazing. Regards from Argentina
I still remember '78, in the midst of the Punk explosion, Sultans of Swing burst onto my car radio.... I was in... Hook, line & sinker! Got the album soon after. Been a fan through the years, but at the time was struggling with Love Over Gold, was cemented with Brothers in Arms, but despite an affinity due to seeing them tour On Every Street, the foundations were becoming unstable. Anyway, a really tough one to separate these ...
6. Communique (a very good album, favs - Once Upon a time in the West, Lady Writer & Where d'ya think You're Going?)
5. Dire Straits (really solid debut, favs - Down to the Waterline, In the Gallery, Sultans of Swing & Wild West End)
4. On Every Street (only shaded as this one always transports me back to the NEC in Birmingham. Favs - Calling Elvis, On Every Street, Heavy Fuel, My Parties)
3. Brothers in Arms (if the CD followed the original album, without extended songs it may have been No. 1. Favs - Money for Nothing, Your Latest Trick, Ride Across the River & Brothers in Arms)
2. Making Movies (this should have been one of the greatest albums of all time... 6 exceptional songs... then Les Boys... WTF! If this had to be included, at least hide it in the middle of the album, it's dire, literally)
1. Love Over Gold (can't believe I've just done this, but all 5 tracks are varying degrees of pure class. Has never been a favourite, but not a bad song = best album) Really enjoyed this one, especially as I've just surprised myself with my top DS choice 🤔
Great review. I have been on a camping trip this past week - which was wonderful. But I was looking forward to catching up with what you were doing here on Sea of Tranquility. I love these Dire Straits albums. For me, I would rank them as follows (I tend to favor their earlier sound):
1. Dire Straits
2. Brothers In Arms
3. Communique
4. Making Movies
5. Love Over Gold
6. On Every Street
6. On Every Street
5. Brothers In Arms
4. Communique
3. Lover Over Gold
2. Dire Straits
1.Making Movies
Pete, since you brought him up, how about a show of some kind on Springsteen?
Hey Pete! I think making movies should not be considered not only as a great classic album but also a historical document! There will never be another it’s almost perfect. Thanks for doing what you do.
Totally understand and respect where Steve is coming from. He makes a lot of obvious sense and put the ranking of the DS albums more into prospective for me. Love DS and was totally into this video!! Thanks for doing this gentlemen!! Now time to go listen to MY favorite DS album!! :)
6. On Every Street
Their last album and it took quite a while after the huge succcess of Brothers in Arms. I don't know how much "new" it brings to sound of the band but it is well done and a solid album. Perhaps more for the bigger fan of the band or Mark Knopfler than a casual listener though.
5. Communiqué
The second album which like Van Halen II is more of the same thing as the debut of each band. I love the playing on this album and the production but the songs aren't always that memorable. Still a good album I return to as often as any of the others.
4. Making Movies
Has some of the bands best songs and took the band one step forward from their initial sound. A good one that get a bit less memorable for each track. Had every song been as great as the first two it could revival for the bands best album. For me.
3. Dire Straits
Strong debut with great taste and groove. Could perhaps been a bit more diverse.
2. Brothers in Arms
The big hit machine. Amazing production and from what I've seen many seem to think they sort did sell out with this one and yeah, it sold plenty and was more "pop" than the earlier records. Still a great listen though.
1. Love Over Gold
NOT the first album to get if you only heard the biggest hits and want more of that but in the right mood this is a terrific album. Longer songs and perhaps a bit progressive but much more safe than something like Gentle Giant, King Crimson or Pink Floyd.
I would have to agree with your ranking. And as much as I love Mark and Dire Straits, On Every Street was something I'd never even buy. Mark sounds like he is mumbling over the whole record and the songs just aren't involving. He seems to have lost his fire and energy after the Brothers in Arms record. And his solo records for me, are also not very compelling.
Great discussion. I am a huge Straits and Knopfler fan and this was a very thoughtful, knowledgeable and entertaining chat about the DS catalogue. Thank you for posting. My album rankings (favorite to least): Making Movies, Communique, Love Over Gold, Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms, On Every Street. Incidentally, my favorite six DS songs, in order (favorite to least): Tunnel of Love, So Far Away, Angel of Mercy, When it Comes To You, Hand in Hand, Once Upon A Time in the West (special mention to B-side Millionaire Blues).
Me when “Sultans of Swing “ comes on : “ Damn! I have heard that a million times!
ALSO ME: “ turn that shit up!”
Awesome album
We've all heard it a zillion times but to me it's the best thing they ever did. It had all the ingredients that made the Straits really special before they wandered off into stadium indulgence. I think fame buggered up Mark Knopfler.
Phil Baird I like most of his solo stuff, he seems to be dedicated to getting back to roots type stuff. It seems to suit his vocals better than the “ radio hits “ that the record executives seemed to like .
Dire straits - very good band ! My favorite album is Brother In Arms
The last show I saw live before concerts stopped was Mark Knopfler, so if I never go to another one, I still have that great memory.
1. Dire Straits (by a long shot!)
2. Communique
3. Making Movies
4. Love Over Gold
5. On Every Street
6. Brothers In Arms
Check out Bob Dylan´s "Long Train Coming" (1979). Lead guitar: Mark Knopfler, Drums: Pick Withers.
I totally agree “making movies” is by far their best album and tunnel of love is actually my all time fave song!
Same the last part gets me everytime.
Ezio Auditore those last 2 minutes is probably the best piece of music ever made 👌🏻
What an enjoyable listen, loved hearing your view on 'meaty analogue' versus 'over-studio'd digital' - so right, as a vinyl nut, seeking out 1st presses and 're-mastered from the analogue tapes' records is a fun aspect of collecting music, long live real music, real analogue.
This is a no brainer for me. I’ve followed the band from their debut. So here we go top to bottom:
Making Movies
S/T
Communique
Love Over Gold
Brothers In Arms
On Every Street
My List:
1) Communique
2) Making Movies
3) Love Over Gold
4) Brothers In Arms
5) Dire Straits
6) On Every Street
1. Brothers in Arms
2. Dire Straits
3. On every street
4. Communique
5. Love over gold
6. Making movies
Thank you guys for Ranking the Studio Albums: Dire Straits🎤🎸🎵🥁
Appreciate the love being shown DS.....One of my favorite bands ever.......As a sidenote, to what y'all discussed regarding sales in the vid, DS was never THAT huge in the US, but worldwide they are literally one of the biggest bands ever......Not as big as Queen, but somewhat similar in how their worldwide following dwarfs their US following....Anyway, here's my ranking 1. Making Moves 2. Dire Straits 3. Brothers In Arms 4. Communique 5. Love Over Gold. 6. On Every Street.....Love them all though.....
I liked all of them, and here is my ranking.
1. Love Over Gold
2. First
3. Making Movies
4. Communique
5. On Every Street
6. Brothers in Arms
The first 4 or 5 are pretty close. I do not own On Every Street as I kind of lost interest in them after Brothers in Arms. That album was a smash hit I know, but it was more song oriented, and did not have enough lead guitar on it for my tastes. The title track, however, I thought was one of their better songs. I know my choice as Brothers In Arms as their worst album, will surprise a lot of people, it is just my opinion, of course.
Although they broke up after the BIA tour, they did get back together twice to play live. I was at both concerts. The first was headlining the Mandela 70th birthday Concert at Wembley Stadium. The guest guitarist was one Eric Clapton. The second was a short set at the Knebworth '90 charity concert.
The Pub Rock tag is really any London based band that did the pub gigs in the 1970's. Two pubs in particular were at the forefront of this music. The Hope & Anchor in Islington and the Tally Ho in Kentish Town but there were many others in and around London
"Love Over Gold" is a masterwork! I love this album! And then...
...he played the guitar on the MTV...
For a great live Dire Straits album, I'm crazy about "Live At The BBC" because it sounds really good and it has many of the songs from their self-titled first album - my favorite. Mark's guitar is just crying and his voice fits perfectly.
1. Communique
2. Dire Straits
2. Love Over Gold
3. Brothers In Arms
4. Making Movies
5. On Every Street
Top 10 songs:
1. Sultans of Swing
2. Telegraph Road
3. Once Upon a Time In the West
4. Where Do You Think You're Going?
5. Water of Love
6. Private Investigations
7. Tunnel of Love
8. Brothers In Arms
9. So Far Away
10. Calling Elvis
Most people stopped talking about Ritchie Blackmore about 27 years ago, Deep Purple on the other hand have released 7 epic albums since then, the last 3 have all sold incredibly well, this current (2002 - 2020) line up of DP is actually the second most successful line up of this iconic band after the "classic" M2 line up and for alot of younger fans Steve Morse is the only DP guitarist they've ever known 🙂
6. On Every Street
5. Communique
4. Love Over Gold
3. Dire Straits
2. Brothers in Arms
1. Making Movies
Shout out to
Twisting By the Pool EP
Sultans of Swing original and early versions.
1. Communique
2. Dire Straits
3. Love Over Gold
4. On Every Street
5. Brothers In Arms
6. Making Movies
I'm not a huge Dire Straits fan, but one thing always amused me. Back in the day when David Letterman was on NBC, the band played *"Espresso Love."* Good song, & it's the only time I ever saw Mark Knopfler use a guitar pick.
I would love to hear "Private Dancer" as done by Dire Straits. It was recorded for Love Over Gold, but got scrapped. Tina Turners version definitely has that "Telegraph Road" vibe
Wow. Really? I didn't know o. Let me imagine the version with MK and dire straits... Thanks for the info.
Making Movies for me is a stone cold masterpiece. Mark is a world class player with an immediately identifiable sound. Check out his playing on Dylan’s Slow Train Coming album just incredible on a stunning Dylan masterwork.
Yea making movies is by far their best and tunnel of love is my all time fave song...those last 2 min is f AMAZING...
6.Communique
5.On Every Street
4.Love Over Gold
3.Brothers in Arms
2.Making Movies
1.Dire Straits
I love Dire Straits so much
Pub Rock referred to a movement of bands who gained a reputation for (successfully) playing pubs primarily in and around London/SE England - Brinsley Schwartz, Rockpile etc
Also check out the late Chet Atkins/Mark Knopfler "Neck And Neck" (1990) & "Local Hero" (movie soundtrack from 1983) which also has the late Gerry Rafferty singing on 1 song. The song "Cosmic Square Dance" by Atkins/Knopfler (from Chet's 1985 "Stay Tuned") is a great song that also won for "Best Instrumental" at the Grammy Awards. My rankings:
1. Debut self - titled
2. Brothers In Arms
3. Love Over Gold
4. Communique
5. Making Movies
6. On Every Street
don't forget the sweet sailing to Philadelphia with Sweet Baby James Taylor duetting
Ranking Dire Straits albums for me is as impossible as ranking types of beers. Depending on the day/mood any one can be my favorite.
Im agree with you. One of the few bands that I find difficult to make a rank of their albums
My list : 1.Love over Gold 2.Brothers in Arms 3.Dire Straits 4.Making Movies 5.Communiqué 6.On Every Street..😊
Ranking the Dire Straits Albums, Worst to Best.
I thought I already did this.
6. On every Street
5. Brothers in Arms
4. Communique
3. Dire Straits
2. Making Movies
1. Love over Gold
I don't really have to Explain about Telegraph Road.
Great edition of ranking the albums. Dire Straits, along with Pink Floyd are probably the first bands I heard in my life (thanks to my father)
, back in 1985 or 1986. I was only 2 or 3 years old, and obviously I still did not have any interest in music, but I can't recall hearing at home everyday songs like Brothers in Arms, Shine on You Crazy Diamond or Walk of Life, which I loved because of the famous keyboard rythym. So Dire Straits is part of my childhood, and as an adult I keep listening to them and enjoying this great music.
Not many truly great bands can say they never made a bad album. Dire Straits is one of them. I was a massive fan as a teenager and listened to all their albums a ton. Their music also stands the test of time and still sounds amazing. Listing your favourite DS album is like ranking your favourite child.
But I digress.
Here is my list.
1. Making Movies. One of my favourite albums of all time. Six incredibly strong songs..and then the bizarre Les Boys. That one hiccup can't detract from the brilliance of the other six. Tunnel of Love, Romeo and Juliet and Skateaway are three of their very best songs.
2. Communique. Such a great sounding record with so many great songs. Lady Writer is a classic.
3. Self titled debut. This album sent shivers up the spine first time I heard it as a teenager. Sultans of Swing gets all the accolades, but just one of many amazing tunes.
4. Love Over Gold. Used to put this album on when stressed out studying in university..and it would calm everything down. Knopflers guitar playing on this album is astounding.
5. Brother in Arms. The title track is a masterpiece and arguably their greatest song. But the only album of theirs where there are more than one song that I skip. Still a grea great album.
6. On Every Street. By far the album I listened to the least. Still has some great songs..and better than almost anything being put out today.
They remain and always will be one of my favourite bands...and MK solo stuff is superb. A true legend.
My list:
1. On every street
2. Brothers in arms
3. Love over gold
4. Dire Straits
5. Communiqe
6. Making movies
'Pub rock' because all those bands played extensively in pubs (small and larger) in the UK largely in the early 70's to early 80's ( when it was a popular and extensive scene - there were so many pubs with music that you could play 7 nights a week if you wanted. And it was great for the public with cheap entrance fees and cheap beer - in intimate spaces (e.g. Roxy Music in the Fishmongers Arms in Wood Green! Genesis - The Red Lion, Leytonstone) to make a living and many were rough and ready rock bands but also any up and coming band of any genre. Iron Maiden found their mojo in playing in pubs for a couple of years.Wonderful.
Saw them on their first National tour as support band to, Talking Heads. At Leeds Polytechnic.
Excellent podcast!
Always loved the Straits since my early teens and now I love these albums more and more as the years pass. Actually too hard to rank them for me! They are all almost equal. Great show guys and I know I would be interested in a Top 10 songs. 👍
Love your channel Pete and as a sidenote to your discussion here, "pub rock" was a scene rather than a genre - that's why it encompasses so maany different bands. it was almost a precursor to indie music in the 80s and 90s and was definitely a forerunner of punk in Britain - a DIY aesthetic; bottom up popularity; often masquerading incredible talent. Mark Knopfler is from the North East, like me, and in the mid/late 70s that wasn;t an easy environment to make a career. You had to make a go of it, and as alwasy the music industry rushes in and labels things. Hence pub rock. Originally, it was very much about live performances, but not a style of music. Hope none of this sounds preachy. All power to you mate.
Pub rock was proto-punk; getting back to three minute basics and paint-stripped production. There were some great bands who fell under that umbrella. They were also musically more interesting and accomplished than most of the punk bands that followed. The new-wave movement of the late '70s also came directly out of that pub-rock lineage.
Brothers In Arms was the album used to promote the new CD medium.As a life long Straits fan from before they hit the big time here's my list.
6,On Every Street.
5,Communique.
4,Brothers In Arms.
3,Making Movies.
2,Love Over Gold.
1,Dire Straits.
OMG I WAS WAITING FOR THIS VIDEO FOR MONTHS
1. Dire Straits
2. Communiqué
3. Brothers in Arms
4. Love over Gold
5. Making Movies
6. On Every Street
But my favourite thing from the band is Alchemy: Dire Straits Live
Those top 2 kick ass
Funny thing - I got "On Every Street" as a Columbia House freebie in the 90's and as it turns out I really liked it! From there I bought a solid compilation and haven't heard the albums in full as of yet. But planning to check them out. I really have a thing for those more brooding Dire Straits songs like Where Do You Think You're Going, On Every Street, Brothers in Arms and especially the sheer noir of Private Investigations. Something about Knopfler's vocal style on the spacey numbers really works.
1. Love over gold
2. Making movies
3. Communique
4. Dire Straits
5. Brothers in Arms
6. On every street
The „ExtendeDancEP“ would be ranked 5 1/2, Alchemy is their best release overall imo and my favourite live album.
Trumps fav dire straits :
1 Gold over love
2 Communist
3 Making adult movies
4 Fire straights
5 brothers in arms deals
6 On every wall street
Good one.. 😄
1) Dire Straits
2) Communiqué
3) Love over gold
4) Brothers in arms
5) Making movies
6) On every street
I liked them as a teenager when they debuted although a lot of their stuff was simply over my head or just too sophisticated for a 14 yr old such as myself. Now as an old man I think they're just fantastic from top to bottom. "Lady Writer" is my favorite DS song. "Once Upon a Time in the West" is my 2nd favorite. Thanks, Pete.
6. Brothers In Arms. It's overplayed and I don't really need to hear it anymore. Not the band's fault. A great disc and not bad for a bottom-ranked album.
5. On Every Street.
4. Love Over Gold
3. Making Movies
2. Debut
1. Communique
Communique is a great sophomore album that is not as well known as their other stuff. Lady Writer is phenomenal
Definitely agree, it’s got to be Communique Number 1
Where Do You Think You're Going is one of the best track on the album.
@@ezioauditore7427 it's my 2nd favourite after Once Upon A Time In The West ☺️
@@lukethebody same
1. Brothers in Arms
2. Making Movies
3. Dire Straits
Haven't heard enough of the rest.
@@MrBiscuits2 lmao
@@MrBiscuits2 🤣👍
I don't think there's a bad song in the lot and not much separates any of these. I decided to include a live album and an EP in my list since it's a short catalog.
8) ExtendedancEPlay EP
7) On Every Street
6) Communiqué
5) Alchemy (Live)
4) Brothers In Arms
3) Dire Straits
2) Love Over Gold
1) Making Movies
Thanks, Pete & Steve!
I love the Dire Straits and every single album by them
Who is moving that picture behind the guy on the left???
Pub Rock was a period around 74/75 in the UK, particularly in London, which was almost a reaction to the big stadium rock bands at the time and laid the ground for the gig circuit that would provide a lifeline for the punk rock bands that followed. It was less to do with musical similarities between the bands and more to do with a back to basics approach where the only way that these groups could start out and gain a following was by playing in pubs.
They are all great albums.
1. Brothers in Arms (1985)
2. Self Titled Debut Album (1978)
3. Communique (1979)
4. Making Movies (1980)
5. On Every Street (1991)
6. Love Over Gold (1982)
"Self Titled Debut Album". Just say Dire Straits, we'll know what you mean.👍😉
one of my favorite bands. One of the few bands that I can't get enough of that I didn't see live. So here is my order: 1) Making movies (not a bad note on this album. Great songs. Heavy. Love it.). 2) Dire Straits (What a statement: Water of love, Down to the Waterline, Wild West End and the classic Sultans of Swing) 3) Love over Gold (Telegraph Road is on my top 10 songs of all time, title track is awesome, Industrial Disease is fun and It never rains is a classic deep track) 4) Brothers in Arms (fun pop album. Maybe the hits on this album have been overplayed. There are some tracks I get excited every time I hear them: The Man's Too Strong, One World and Ride Across the River) 5) On every street (MK's playing peaks on this CD. The title track is incredible. Also some fun songs like Heavy heavy fuel, Calling Elvis and The Bug, and some snoozers in my opinion. 6) Communique (never got into this maybe because I went straight from the first album to Making Movies. For me Communique sounds too much like the first album.)
First time seeing this guest but I really like him because he talks about production a lot.
Not a bad album in the catalog as you both said but for me
1. Love Over Gold
2. Making Movies
3. Brothers In Arms
4. Dire Straits
5. On Every Street
7. Communique
Fav song is Telegraph Road
Pub Rock is pretty much what it says.
In the early 1970's a number of London public houses (bars/taverns for the US viewer) started to host stripped down rock and roll nights. Many of these pubs formally put on jazz or folk but an American band Eggs over Easy became very popular because of their musicianship and vast repertoire.
Soon, bands such as Brinsley Schwarz (Nick Lowe), Ducks Deluxe, Kursaal Flyers, Kilburn and the High Roads (Ian Dury), Doctor Feelgood and solo artists like Elvis Costello were getting regular slots and pubs were selling a lot of beer.
By 1975/6 many foresaw that punk was coming but were able to cross over like Doctor Feelgood, Nick Lowe, Ian Dury and Elvis Costello. Others were unable to sustain a career when Pub Rock wound down.
The best book on the subject, and a must read for those who profess to love rock music, is No Sleep Till Canvey Island by Will Birch (drummer of the Kursaal Flyers). The section with The Band rehearsing in Brinsley Schwarz's shed always gives me a chuckle.
This is one of the toughest group of albums to rank. They are all good and all have outstanding tracks. I change my mind all the time. Today this is my opinion:
1. Love over gold
2. Communique
3. Dire Straits
4. Making Movies
5. Brothers in arms
6. On every street
So funny! Steve's sofa is actually rocking but we have the impression that the picture on the wall is moving!!!
After 1982 I tuned out. You are very correct from 79 to 82 it was a perfect rock and roll world then it hit the wall. Ace of Spades, Uprising then the end. But Alchemy was a breath of fresh air a few years later. And then it hit the wall. Am I repeating myself. There's a lot of walls out there.
i was born in 1951. Before I turned thirty, two songs stood out above all others as having burst on the scene and completely overwhelmed the airways. Both were the opening salvos of legendary, first ballot Hall of Fame bands. Now the pop up regularly on satellite radio. One was the Doors, "Light My Fire ." The other is Dire Straits, "Sultans of Swing."
I was surprised to hear that your choice for favorite Dire Strait's album is the one I've only known one other person choose...me.
Favorite album is probably "Making Movies," slightly edging "Brothers in Arms." Brilliant! "Romeo and Juliet!!!"
Are there any better lyrics than "Solid Rock's":
"Because the heart that you break
That's the one that you rely on
The bed that you make
That's the one you got to lie on
When you point your finger because your plan fell through
You got three more fingers pointing back at you:
But favorite song : On any given day it is a toss up of two that appear on "Love Over Gold. In general I love Magnus Opi(sp?) " Like "Layla", "You Can' Always Get What You Want," and "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding.," "Like a Rolling Stone," or Steppenwolf's "Monster." "Telegraph Road" more than holds its own.
As far as lyric's equal to the one's from "Solid Rock" quoted above, There are two, one is from "Telegraph Road:"
"Cause I've run every red light on memory lane
I've seen desperation explode into flames
And I don't want to see it again."
But there is no greater song to explain the general malaise of my life time than, "Industrial Disease." Because I was raise raised Jewish like Mark Knopfler, these lyrics are as good as any I've heard by anybody...
"I go down to Speaker's Corner I'm thunderstruck
They got free speech, tourists, police in trucks
Two men say they're Jesus one of them must be wrong
There's a protest singer singing a protest song - he says
'they want to have a war to keep us on our knees
They want to have a war to keep their factories
They want to have a war to stop us buying Japanese
They want to have a war to stop Industrial Disease
They're pointing out the enemy to keep you deaf and blind
They want to sap your energy incarcerate your mind
They give you Rule Brittania, gassy beer, page three
Two weeks in Espana and Sunday striptease'
Meanwhile the first Jesus says 'I'd cure it soon
Abolish Monday mornings and Friday afternoons'
The other one's on a hunger strike he's dying by degrees
How come Jesus gets Industrial Disease
Pete! Perfect matchup. It's been a while, so I could flop Love Over Gold for the debut, but I would need a relisten.
Another favorite band of mine, never heard you mention their name on the channel, and was kinda hoping you like them, so great for me!
My rankings would go:
1. Love over gold
2. Brothers in arms
3. On every street
4. Dire Straits
5. Making movies
6. Communique
P.S. the keyboardist on love over gold (and everything that came afterwards) is Alan Clarke, not Roy Bittan
Who is a huge part of the band for me and the main reason Love over gold is in my eyes their masterpiece, amazing keyboard/piano player.
I will always be partial to the 1st album and Love over Gold. Saw them in 1985 on the Brothers tour. Great memories.
I just have Dire Straits 'Brothers In Arms ' 🎤🎸🎵🥁
Unpopular ranking (I still love them all):
6. Making Movies
5. Communique
4. Love Over Gold
3. Dire Straits
2. Brothers In Arms
1. On Every Street
You guys hit it out of the Park today like Amed Rosario :) the other night. Dire Straits & Marillion you made my weekend!
1) Love Over Gold
2) Brothers in Arms
3) Making Movies
4) On Every Street
5) Communique
6) S/T
6 - On Every Street
5 - Brother In Arms
4 - Dire Straits
3 - Communique
2 - Love Over Gold
1 - Making Movies
I really love the Straits. And there isn't any Straits album I don't like. And hard to rank. But, if I have to rank them, I guess I would go with this:
6. On Every Street
5. Love Over Gold
4. Bothers in Arms
3. Communique
2. Dire Straits
1. Making Movies.
My ranking of Dire Straits albums:
1. Love Over Gold
2. Dire Straits
3. Brothers in Arm
4. On Every Street
5. Making Movies
6. Communique
My ranking
1. Dire Straits
2. Making Movies
3. Love Over Gold
4. Communique
5. Brothers In Arms
6. On Every Street
Alchemy tops the lot of them though