Dire Straits

[Marco]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XVVZPefbR4

[Freypower]

WHOAH Marco you don't know what you've started. :blush:

That was wonderful. That black suit & white shirt.... :inlove:

Not the best vocal performance of it he's ever done, I must say.

Now those of you from England may enjoy this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqeQRuIZYOA&mode=related&search=

I think we have another Keith Urban topic here, folks. But this one is for me. :twisted:

NEW ALBUM is called Kill To Get Crimson and is out next month.

See Marco - I told you you'd regret it. :D

[tbs fanatic]

Oh FP that was fun :D Mark is looking his age a bit, I thought. Nice to see Bill Oddie. Thanks. :D

[EasyFeeling]

WHOAH Marco you don't know what you've started. :blush:

I think we have another Keith Urban topic here, folks. But this one is for me. :twisted:

See Marco - I told you you'd regret it. :D

http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/g020.gif http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/g020.gif http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/g020.gif
I've expected your reaction, FP. :wink: Very cool video.

[Freypower]

I don't want to go overboard here, but now the topic exists....

I don't know why Brothers In Arms is such a great song. I suppose the 'anti-war' message could be regarded as cliched. But from the beginning when he talks about the soldiers' lives in the 'mist covered mountains' but remembering the lowlands, it just enthrals me from start to finish. This is one of MK's guitar performances which can make me cry (the other is the ultimate, Romeo & Juliet).

Um. :blush:

[Marco]

I also love Your latest Trick, Love Over Gold.

Money For Nothing, Walk of Life, Tunnel Of Love, Sultan Of Swing & Telegraph Road are more rock

[glenneaglesfan]

Dang, that was amazing. Superb guitar playing from Mr Knopfler and an awesome song.

I'm probably repeating myself, but this was the song of our year in Hong Kong, being our first ever cd purchased. 20 years ago, sigh!

[Freypower]

I'm looking forward to the new album in a couple of weeks.

There is a great deal I could write about here but I would just repeat myself.

[glenneaglesfan]

You may have already seen this, Julie, an article from Total Guitar, Oct 2004. My scanner isn't great, but if you save it to my pictures, then zoom in, it is legible.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c96/Glenneaglesfan/scan0008.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c96/Glenneaglesfan/scan0007-1.jpg

[Freypower]

Awww, thanks Kate, it's nice to know 'I am not alone'. I love it when he plays that Gibson Sunburst which is the same as Glenn's. As for the National (sigh)....

Re the 'grumpy old man' thing - I read similar stuff about Henley from time to time. I've never heard anything about MK other than that he's a really nice person.

[glenneaglesfan]

You're welcome, Julie.

I liked that interview, and I agree with you, he comes over as a great person.

[Freypower]

Amazon has let me know that my copy of K2GC (Kill To Get Crimson) is on its way so I've got something to think about before LROOE.

On MK's tour of Europe next year he is playing Sofia, Bulgaria! This made someone from the MK forum who lives there very happy, as you can imagine.

[EasyFeeling]

This might be interesting for you, FP. Tomorrow on 9 pm our local radio station will air a special concert which was recorded this year on September 10 in Berlin. You can listen to it online. If I don' forget I will record it.

http://www.ndr2.de/pages_std_lib/0,3325,OID4358034_REF6962,00.html

Live stream:

http://www1.ndr2.de/pages_special_lib/0,,SPM7454_CONndr2,00.html

[Freypower]

I knew about that Berlin show. Sad to say I'm disappointed with the new album.

[EasyFeeling]

Oooh... sorry FP.

[Marco]

I bring You something

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=GkrWqpymXLY

[Freypower]

Welcome back Marco!

I've seen that many times. Great performance.

[Freypower]

I am reviving this ancient topic because I just got the shock of my life.

I was on Amazon and noted that John Fogerty's new album (which features Don and Tim doing backup vocals on Garden Party) is released this week. So I can order that.

Then something else appeared when I clicked 'new releases'.

Mark Knopfler - Get Lucky. It's new. I had no idea. This is the track listing:

1. Border Reiver 2. Hard Shoulder 3. You Can't Beat The House 4. Before Gas & TV 5. Monteleone 6. Cleaning My Gun 7. The Car Was The One 8. Remembrance Day 9. Get Lucky 10. So Far From The Clyde

I just feel embarrassed that I didn't know. I wasn't that impressed with the last album Kill To Get Crimson. Let's see! :guitar:

[sodascouts]

I bet a lot of people don't know when their favorite classic acts make new albums. It's a shame! Hope you like this one.

[Freypower]

The thing is I should have remembered that MK dutifully puts out an album every two years, unlike some people I can think of. It didn't occur to me that it had been two years since K2GC. I also hope there might be a tour in the offing because he hasn't been down here since the release of Shangri-La back in 2005.

I suppose he is a 'classic act' in that his solo career hasn't been as massive as Dire Straits but he's always been busy.

[EasyFeeling]

Julie, I just saw that MK is doing a live concert tonight in Germany with only 200 people at a radio station. It will be streamed via internet, just klick on the little speaker in the upper right corner to select mp3 or whatever.

It starts at 9 pm our time...guess it's in the middle of the night for you, but I thought you should know :)

http://www.wdr.de/radio/wdr2/

[Freypower]

Thanks for the link, EF. It was too late for me but I listened to the interrview. I should have the album in a few weeks.

[Freypower]

This is funny:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/neilmccormick/100008357/mark-knopfler-solves-bonos-back-problems/

At first I thought 'I don't want Knopfler going anywhere near Bono' before I read it.

So much for 'we're not ready for the rocking chair'. As well as Sultans of Sitting and Brothers In Armchairs other relevant titles might be:

On Every Seat
Down To The Sofa Line
Sitting In Philadelphia
Twisting By The Stool
Heavy Stool etc, etc.

[Freypower]

I linked to a story in my last post that MK now has to sit down when he plays. Some photos of him in Amsterdam the other night came up. They are very nice but I will restrict myself to one:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/ozeagle/Wallpaper/Miscellaneous/MKAmsterdam.jpg

Try as I might I can't imagine Money For Nothing or Sultans of Swing being performed from a chair.

[Prettymaid]

I'm confused - does he have to sit or does he choose to sit? :headscratch:

[Freypower]

Reading the story again I think it's choice:


'Sixty year old Mark Knopfler, currently in the middle of a series of dates at the Albert Hall, has been performing from the comfort of an ergonomically-enhanced swivel chair. The former Dire Straits frontman explained to audiences that he had been having treatment for a trapped nerve in the back, and acquired the chair to aid his recovery. His doctor has apparently given him a clean bill of health, but Knopfler likes the chair and he’s decided to stick with it'.

[Prettymaid]

Well, good for him. But I agree with you FP, I can't imaging seeing him perform in a chair all night. I mean, talk about stoic!

[sodascouts]

Y'know, rock has never been PC... sheesh.

Canada bans Dire Straits classic song (http://www.undercover.fm/news/13357-canada-bans-dire-straits-classic)

[Prettymaid]

Boooooooo!!! :thumbsdown:

[Brooke]

That's ridiculous!

[TimothyBFan]

I just saw this on Facebook. A Canadian friend of mine just posted Money For Nothing on there and made the comment about it no longer being on the airwaves up there. Are you kidding me? After almost 30 years? Ridiculous!! I absolutely HATE censorship!!!!

[Prettymaid]

There is such a thing as being too politically correct. People need to learn to Get Over It!

*searching for smiley giving "one of these" * ;-)

[TimothyBFan]

You got that right!!! I was trying to find a smiley giving something else but then realized that wouldn't be politically correct! :D

BTW--Cathy-I am LOVING the new sig!!! :heybaby:

[Prettymaid]

Why thank you, thank you very much! And to think I changed to it before I read about the two Joe mentions in the 50 Greatest Rock Riffs!

I'm psychic like that. :D

[Freypower]

For God's sake. The song is a SEND UP. Just like Short People is a send up. I mean it only came out in 1985... what took them so long!!!

'Banging on the bongos like a chimpanzee' means literally what it says. It is not 'racist'. As for 'chicks for free' being sexist good grief.

'Look at them yo-yos' indeed. I will stop now or I will start getting annoyed. :tonguewag::enraged::cuss:


(Having said that it's nice to see this topic revived, not that I have anything to say in it, although I could....) :-)

[sodascouts]

On Wednesday the CBSC issued a ruling saying that airing the song breaches the human rights clauses of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' Code of Ethics and Equitable Portrayal Code, as it “refers to sexual orientation in a derogatory way”.Bet they still air songs calling women sluts, b*tches, and hos though...

[Freypower]

We just downloaded a programme called Mark Knopfler - A Life In Songs. I'm a happy person. I just thought I'd mention it, even before I see it! :shy:

[tequila girl]

That was on BBC4 here in the UK last night FB.....Very Good! there was a whole evening of Mr Knopfler

[tequila girl]

Just had a look at Next Friday's scehdule :rockon:

21:00–22:30

Peter Green: Man of the World (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k92x1)
After battling mental illness, ex-Fleetwood Mac frontman Peter Green is recording again. (R)

22:30–23:30

Fleetwood Mac: Don't Stop (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nq7q9)
The story of one of the biggest-selling bands of all time, told in their own words. (R)

23:30–00:30

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood Live at Madison Square Garden (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k9cbz)

[Annabel]

That was on BBC4 here in the UK last night FB.....Very Good! there was a whole evening of Mr Knopfler

I watched some of the first programme and recorded the rest to watch in the week. I also recorded the 3 programmes about the guitar on after Mr K. :hmm: Now to find time to watch them all. ;-)

[Annabel]

My DD2 tried to watch Vampire Diaries on Friday night via the American site and was gutted to find it was ' not available to your location' She went on that well known site and found it uploaded in 4 parts so watched it that way. She couldn't wait until it airs here next Tuesday. :laugh:

[Freypower]

In order of preference the Dire Straits albums are:

Making Movies (contains Romeo & Juliet)
Brothers In Arms (contains Money For Nothing, Walk Of Life)
Dire Straits (contains Sultans Of Swing)
Communique (contains Lady Writer)
On Every Street (contains Calling Elvis)
Love Over Gold (contains Telegraph Road)

In order of release the solo albums are:

Golden Heart
Sailing To Philadelphia
The Ragpicker's Dream
Shangri-La
Kill To Get Crimson
Get Lucky

My favourite of those is Shangri-La closely followed by Sailing To Philadelphia. There is also the album All The Roadrunning which consists of duets with Emmylou Harris & a compilation of film music called Screenplaying (contains the theme from Local Hero)

The show was wonderful. It went right through his life & showed us how he wrote some of those memorable guitar riffs. It was so good I might even do some screen shots of it & create a collage.

All I can say if you want to hear genius guitar playing & songwriting this man fits the bill (his voice is not for everyone but I love the way he sings).:guitar: Don't ask me to start quoting lyrics or I will be here all day.

[AzEaglesFan]

The only Dire Straits song I had ever heard was Walk of Life and the only reason I heard it was, it was part of a CD that Mark Knopfler made with Chet Atkins. Loved the song so I did buy a Dire Straits CD. I think Mark K is a great guitarist and I acutally liked his voice.

[Prettymaid]

Wow, I thoughteveryone had heard Money for Nothing! I've always liked the hits. I don't think I've ever bought an album. I can certainly see that if someone likes Dylan's voice they would probably like MK's.

[sodascouts]

"Sultans of Swing" was one of the first rock songs I have a memory of. My older sister had a record called 70s Gold that she got when I was about 5, and it had that song on it. I think the reason I remember the title so well was that I was learning to read and we had a Star Wars read-along record. Right next to it were the music records, and I tried to "read" them too by looking at the titles. I could easily read titles like "We Are Family" and "Gold", but I had to ask about "sultans." Once I got an explanation for "sultan," I tried to picture sultans on swings on the playground, and didn't understand. I asked it I could listen to the song even though it was my sister's LP. My mom, presumably trying to encourage me in my efforts to read, said yes... only to discover while listening to it with me that it had a cuss word in it. Horrified, she got rid of the album. When she told my sister that her LP was gone forever... well, it was an ugly scene, almost as ugly as when my little sister accidentally ruined my older sister's Leif Garrett 8-track when attempting to play it without supervision. Yes, I remember it well. :lol:

[Freypower]

"Sultans of Swing" was one of the first rock songs I have a memory of. My older sister had a record called 70s Gold that she got when I was about 5, and it had that song on it. I think the reason I remember the title so well was that I was learning to read and we had a Star Wars read-along record. Right next to it were the music records, and I tried to "read" them too by looking at the titles. I could easily read titles like "We Are Family" and "Gold", but I had to ask about "sultans." Once I got an explanation for "sultan," I tried to picture sultans on swings on the playground, and didn't understand. I asked it I could listen to the song even though it was my sister's LP. My mom, presumably trying to encourage me in my efforts to read, said yes... only to discover while listening to it with me that it had a cuss word in it. Horrified, she got rid of the album. When she told my sister that her LP was gone forever... well, it was an ugly scene, almost as ugly as when my little sister accidentally ruined my older sister's Leif Garrett 8-track when attempting to play it without supervision. Yes, I remember it well. :lol:

I actually had to look up the lyrics. Of course it's 'they don't give a damn/about any trumpet playing band'.

If people like the hit songs they remember they would be better to buy a compilation & then try the albums.

[WalshFan88]

Mark Knopfler is great. Unique guitar player in the way he picks the guitar with his right hand. He has an almost country thing going where he uses his fingers, sometimes pick and fingers together (hybrid), to get a popping sound. Just listen to 'Walk of Life'. After the main synth intro, you hear his guitar come in playing a little "boogie"/shuffle style riff in the key of A Major. Very complex stuff Knopfler did. His right hand technique was almost more important than the left hand. Can't say that about too many players. Stevie Ray Vaughan is another, he had that fast shuffle thing, but completely different than Knopfler's style but its just an example of a player who's picking/strumming hand technique is somewhat more important/complex than the fretting hand technique. Mark is underrated in my opinion. Cool dude.

[Freypower]

Thank you Austin! I knew I could rely on you for some technical analysis of why MK is so great. Interestingly in the documentary he talks about how in the famous Money For Nothing riff he is blocking out a lot of notes and only using two strings.

I can't describe his playing on a technical level but I love how he makes the guitar 'talk' and 'comment' on the lyrics; examples being Sultans, Brothers In Arms & What It Is.

[Freypower]

I said I wouldn't start doing this.... but here's the red Strat...

http://www.markknopfler.com/images/gallery/GetLucky_Guitar_05_bg.jpg

[WalshFan88]

I said I wouldn't start doing this.... but here's the red Strat...

http://www.markknopfler.com/images/gallery/GetLucky_Guitar_05_bg.jpg

That Red Strat is his "main" guitar. He plays a Tele (made by the same company that makes Strats, but sounds twangier) on "Walk of Life". Here recently he's been playing a Les Paul Standard in Sunburst (made by Gibson) on songs like "Brothers in Arms". My personal favorite Knopfler/DS song is "Sultans Of Swing". It's a classic "Strat" sound. The lyrics are my favorite as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKovMuzox3Y&feature=related

[Annabel]

I managed to watch Later with Mark Knopfler last night that I recorded last Friday from BBC4. Great show. Even my DH watched some of it. Couldn't recognise the songs from the intros but never mind. :laugh:

[WalshFan88]

It's just my nature to share information and give details. I can't help being knowledgeable on certain things. :nahnah:

[Freypower]

I managed to watch Later with Mark Knopfler last night that I recorded last Friday from BBC4. Great show. Even my DH watched some of it. Couldn't recognise the songs from the intros but never mind. :laugh:

That show eventually became the video/DVD A Night In London. The track listing is as follows:

Darling Pretty
Walk Of Life
Imelda
Father & Son
Golden Heart
Rudiger
Cannibals
Je Suis Desole
Last Exit To Brooklyn
Romeo & Juliet
Done With Bonaparte
A Night In Summer Long Ago
Brothers In Arms
Going Home
Are We In Trouble Now

Much of this is from the first solo album, Golden Heart.

[Annabel]

:thumbsup: Thanks for that.

[Freypower]

I'm only doing this because other members have posted photos of their other favourite musicians & also because although the avatar has been nice it will be gone in two days.

Dire Straits era (now you know why I got excited when I saw the photo of Joe in the same shirt):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/ozeagle/Wallpaper/Miscellaneous/MK14.jpg

'Right Now' (er... before he had to sit down to perform)!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/ozeagle/Wallpaper/Miscellaneous/MK5.jpg

I just like this one a lot:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/ozeagle/Wallpaper/Miscellaneous/MK9.jpg

Songs I am really enjoying at the moment: Silvertown Blues, Marbletown, So Far From The Clyde, Hill Farmers Blues, Why Worry (as always).

[sodascouts]

Well, I have to say I'll be happy to once again see Glenn's face next to your posts. Mark Knopfler is not exactly a looker (although very talented, of course).

[Freypower]

Well, I have to say I'll be happy to once again see Glenn's face next to your posts. Mark Knopfler is not exactly a looker (although very talented, of course).

Well, it was only one week and only because both Troubadour & Prettymaid had other people as avs & I thought 'why shouldn't I'? As to 'not exactly a looker' I guess not in the conventional sense but that doesn't bother me. :neutral:

[sodascouts]

No need to defend your choice, FP. I wasn't trying to chastise you and I'm sorry you took it that way. You can have whoever you want as your avatar, of course, for however long you like.

Still, I can't be blamed for preferring to look at Glenn, can I? Ah well, perhaps such things are better left unsaid. ;)

Let me do penance by posting a video for my favorite Dire Straits song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZxVC0GB838

[Freypower]

No need to defend your choice, FP. I wasn't trying to chastise you and I'm sorry you took it that way. You can have whoever you want as your avatar, of course, for however long you like.

Still, I can't be blamed for preferring to look at Glenn, can I? Ah well, perhaps such things are better left unsaid. ;)

Let me do penance by posting a video for my favorite Dire Straits song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZxVC0GB838

Of course not; most of the time I prefer to look at Glenn too; but I wanted a minor variation for a week.

Walk of Life- great video!!!

[Freypower]

I found this photo yesterday but it's copyright so I will take it down soon, of Mark with a guitar made by a man called John Monteleone who works in the tradition of the great Italan violin makers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/ozeagle/Miscellaneous/Monteleone.jpg

There is a song on Get Lucky called Monteleone which is about these guitars (Monteleone means 'Lion Mountain'.

Off the top of my head at the moment my top 20 Dire Straits songs are as follows:

1. Romeo & Juliet
2. Brothers In Arms
3. Tunnel Of Love
4. Sultans Of Swing
5. Skateaway
6. Why Worry
7. Industrial Disease
8. Wild West End
9. Ride Across The River
10. Money For Nothing
11. Solid Rock
12. Theme From Local Hero (Going Home)
13. Expresso Love
14. The Man's Too Strong
15. Your Latest Trick
16. Walk Of Life
17. On Every Street
18. In The Gallery
19. So Far Away
20. Water Of Love

Most of those are either from Making Movies or Brothers In Arms.

Now for solo songs. I've never done this or even thought about it much.

1. Why Aye Man
2. Sailing To Philadelphia
3. What It Is
4. Silvertown Blues
5. The Trawlerman's Song
6. 5.15 A.M.
7. Song For Sonny Liston
8. Prairie Wedding
9. Done With Bonaparte
10. In The Sky
11. Boom, Like That
12. Donegan's Gone
13. Raglan Road (this is not an official release)
14. So Far From The Clyde
15. Fare Thee Well Northumberland
16. Marbletown
17. El Macho
18.The Last Laugh
19. Heart Full Of Holes
20. Postcards From Paraguay

Those are mostly from Sailing To Philadelphia & Shangri-La.

I stumbled across Raglan Road having already been familiar with Van Morrison's version, but this is just gorgeous (if you love MK that is).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zftcuVQDcNM

[Koala]

WOW, those photo looks great!

Your favorites Dire Straits list, for the moment, is very similar to my.

[EaglesKiwi]

Wow, that's a cool photo.

Thanks for posting your list of faves. I'm going to hunt some of those down to see what I've been missing :thumbsup:

[TimothyBFan]

Thanks for the list FP--it will help me track down the stuff I want to listen to on the albums. Gotta tell you, LOVING Brothers In Arms!!!!

[Troubadour]

That's a great photo, FP.

Here's a song I love that didn't make your list. (Funnily enough, my Mum calls me Belle. The nickname started as Lulabelle, then I guess she got lazy. :lol:)

Willie - I'm sure you will continue to enjoy delving into the Dire Straits catalogue!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOCikp4GG18

[Freypower]

I have been worrying since yesterday that I didn't include any songs from Communique in the list. Portobello Belle is a favourite as you can imagine, because it's about London; if you look at both lists you will see a heavy sprinkling of songs about England.

[Freypower]

Mark is going to tour with Bob Dylan. I suppose that means opening for him. :eyebrow:

http://www.markknopfler.com/blogs/news/archive/2011/07/14/35490.aspx

This is not a move that I can endorse. I saw Dylan in April and to put it mildly he has lost a great deal that made him what he was as a performer. Mark on the other hand is still at the top of his game. I'm pleased for the people in Europe but I want him back here!

It also says he has recorded one of Dylan's songs for a 70th birthday tribute album. Now that I can deal with.

[Freypower]

Sanity prevails. I was in Canada last week. They must have known. :hilarious: :partytime:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/canada-lifts-ban-on-dire-straits-money-for-nothing-20110901

[TimothyBFan]

:hilarious: Pretty ironic that it happened while you were there. Did you have a secret meeting with someone there?

Seriously happy to hear this! That was one of the dumbest things I had ever seen when they did that, especially considering it was a 30 year old song! :brickwall:

[sodascouts]

Exactly! I'm just glad they came to their senses.

Otherwise, it would be one more example of well-intentioned government censorship backfiring.

[EaglesKiwi]

I have just bought Brothers In Arms from itunes, sitting here listening to it play through. Loving it all so far, in particular "Your Latest Trick" which I haven't heard so much (compared to Money For Nothing and Walk of Life which were EVERYWHERE at one time).

[Freypower]

Tell me more, EK. Tell me more..... :partytime:

Have those prehistoric garbage trucks got the city to themselves? (Heh, heh).

The message of the title track still resonates at the time of September 11, in my opinion.

[EaglesKiwi]

It's absolutely timeless, isn't it.

As I'm listening to the album, the standouts for me are Brothers In Arms, Ride Across The River, Your Latest Trick and Why Worry.

[Freypower]

I could do this all day but Why Worry is one of the most beautiful & uplifting songs ever written. If I'm not feeling so good it always lifts my spirits.

[EaglesKiwi]

Indeed.

Thanks for the info on the flute in RATR.

Have just bought/downloaded Making Movies. I'll give it a few days though before I post any thoughts :)

[Freypower]

I won't pre-empt you by writing an entire screed about Making Movies then, which is probably one of my top 5 favourite albums.

[EaglesKiwi]

Haven't had a lot of chance to listen to Making Movies yet, but am liking Expresso Love.

And of course I can't listen to the album without getting all melty at "all I do is kiss you through the bars of a rhyme". Sigh. :smitten:

[Freypower]

Nice to see this, allthough some analysis of the solo work would have been good. I can tell the Guardian that I don't need to 'learn to love Mark Knopfler'. I also don't care if Dire Straits were 'uncool'.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2011/oct/09/mark-knopfler

[Freypower]

Here is Mark singing Forever Young with Bob:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/bob-dylan-and-mark-knopfler-duet-on-forever-young-20111122

It's better than I expected & Mark got most of the applause anyway. The man is all class. Now the tour is over he can resume his own career. I love Bob, don't get me wrong, but I thought this tour was wrong.