Dire Straits Hits One Chart For The First Time, Decades After Splitting Up

Forbes

02-04-2025

'Sultans of Swing' gives Dire Straits its first streaming hit in the U.K., as renewed interest in ... More Mark Knopfler's work seems to lift the band's music. ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - NOVEMBER 01: Mark Knopfler and David Knopfler from Dire Straits performs live on stage at Ahoy, Rotterdam, Holland on November 01 1979 (Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns)
Dire Straits hasn't released a new album in decades, but the band seems to be returning to the minds of listeners in the United Kingdom. The rock outfit, fronted by legendary guitarist and singer-songwriter Mark Knopfler, returns to a ranking in that nation this week, and for the first time ever, the band lands on one particular tally – something that few could have predicted would happen in the year 2025, especially the outfit's own members.
'Sultans of Swing' opens at No. 83 on this week's Official Streaming chart, a ranking of the most-played songs on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music (to name the most popular options) in the U.K. Somehow, this is the first time the band has ever appeared on the streaming-only tally. Even though the group's output predates the shift to these sites, some listeners may still be surprised to find out that the group has never before landed a win on this roster.
'Sultans of Swing' isn't just another song in Dire Straits' catalog, it's the cut that introduced the band to the world. The tune helped the group land a record deal in the late 1970s, and it fronted the act's self-titled debut album, which later became a major success in the U.K. and abroad.
The last time 'Sultans of Swing' could be found on the main U.K. songs chart was in 1979, when it debuted at No. 45 on the Official Singles chart, the country's all-genre ranking of the most-consumed tunes. It didn't take long to catch on, and within a month, it cracked the top 10, where it held for two weeks at No. 8.
The arrival of 'Sultans of Swing' on the Official Streaming chart may be fueled by renewed attention to both Dire Straits and Knopfler. The solo musician and band's frontman recently returned to the U.K. charts with a very different composition, 'Going Home (Theme of the Local Hero).'
Originally created for the 1983 film Local Hero, the instrumental cut became a minor hit decades ago and was later adopted as the walkout song for a U.K. football team. After the athletes won a major game and superstar Sam Fender covered the cut, it surged back onto the charts.
Last year, Knopfler re-recorded the tune as a charity single with a staggering list of collaborators, including Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crow, Jeff Beck, and many more. The updated version charted under a slightly different name and brought the song back into public consciousness once more.
As 'Sultans of Swing' debuts, another Dire Straits release is also on the rise. Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler moves up on the Official Album Downloads chart, stepping to No. 43 and inching closer to the top 40. Meanwhile, it remains at No. 91 on the Official Albums Streaming chart.