Latest news with #Knopfler
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The 5 classic Dire Straits songs that aren't on their No. 1 album 'Brothers in Arms'
Along with U2 and The Police, Dire Straits were among the most successful bands from the British Isles in the 1980s. Their fifth studio album, 1985's Brothers in Arms sold in staggering numbers, earning Platinum or Diamond status in 10 countries, storming to the No. 1 spot on album charts each and every time. Yet, in many ways, it was a last gasp for the beloved band; they'd take six years to record and release a followup, and by that time, popular tastes had changed, with grunge all the rage. (1991's On Every Street still made it to No. 1 in eight countries, no mean feat.) The overwhelming success of Brothers in Arms tends to overshadow the catalog of fine work Dire Straits had already created. So on the 40th anniversary of the release of Brothers in Arms, here are five great Dire Straits tunes from the records that came before it. 'Once Upon a Time in the West' from (1979) After the slow-burn success of Dire Straits' self-titled debut LP, Communiqué was met with a more modest reception. But the album arguably built on the first record's strengths. The understated 'Once Upon a Time in the West' added some reggae textures to the band's rootsy approach. The song would remain a staple of Dire Straits' live set; it featured prominently in an epic version, opening their 1984 live album (see below). 'Tunnel of Love' from (1980) Opening with the strains of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Carousel Waltz,' Dire Straits' 'Tunnel of Love' signaled Mark Knopfler's move toward grand, sweeping musical works. The evocative song showcases emotional depth, exceptional instrumental work and some of Knopfler's finest lyrics, rivaling Bruce Springsteen (who would write a 'Tunnel of Love' of his own a few years later). 'Telegraph Road' from (1982) Mark Knopfler's gift for creating wide-screen, epic songs continued on Dire Straits' fourth studio LP. The album's single, 'Industrial Disease' would be the only tune on the five-song album to come in under six minutes. Yet at fourteen minutes plus, 'Telegraph Road' never wastes a second. Knopfler's lyrics were inspired in part by the Nobel Prize winning novel Growth of the Soil by Norwegian author Knut Hamsun. 'Twisting by the Pool' from (1983) Brothers in Arms displayed some playful humor in songs like 'Money for Nothing,' but the MTV hit wasn't Dire Straits' first tune with a bit of whimsy. A three-day recording session in Fall 1982 yielded four new songs for the group, including this fun and uptempo track. The uncharacteristic 'Twisting by the Pool' made it onto the singles charts in the U.S., UK and New Zealand; it reached the No. 1 spot in the latter. 'Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero' from (1984) While guitarist and songwriter Mark Knopfler formally launched his solo career after Dire Straits broke up in 1995, he had already been active outside the band for more than a decade. His first recorded work outside the group was composing, recording and producing the soundtrack for the well-received 1983 film Local Hero. On tour, Dire Straits featured the movie's stirring instrumental theme song in a full-band version; it's a highlight of the Alchemy album. Visit the Goldmine store for vinyl, CDs, box sets, collectibles, music history books and limited-edition, Goldmine-only exclusives. An online store specifically for music collectors. Click HERE!
Forbes
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Dire Straits Hits One Chart For The First Time, Decades After Splitting Up
'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.
Forbes
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Mark Knopfler's Classic Is A Hit — For The First Time
Mark Knopfler hasn't been a regular on the charts in recent years, but that hasn't stopped fans both new and old from keeping his music alive. This week, the legendary guitarist and former Dire Straits frontman finds himself back on two U.K.-based tallies, thanks to one of the most beloved cuts from his solo discography, which continues to resonate and take on new meaning. 'Going Home' opens at No. 62 on the Official Singles Downloads chart in the U.K. It enters just two rungs below that on the Official Singles Sales chart. Both placements mark a debut for the instrumental rock track, which has quietly remained in the public consciousness for decades — especially in one particular corner of the country. Looking solely at his solo efforts, Knopfler has now landed three bestselling tunes on the downloads-only tally and four on the wider singles sales chart. What's especially noteworthy is that all of these wins have landed on those rankings in just the past year. 'Going Home' isn't a brand new viral smash, nor is it a random rediscovery. It has always had a certain level of visibility, particularly in Newcastle. The track serves as the walkout song for the city's soccer team, so locals have heard it regularly for years. After Newcastle secured a Carabao Cup win, local hero Sam Fender performed 'Going Home' during a show in Berlin. That performance, paired with the team's success and hometown pride, reignited interest in the song and helped push it onto the charts. Originally titled 'Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero,' the tune was released back in 1983. It was featured in the film Local Hero and on its official soundtrack. The track is purely instrumental, a relative rarity among charting singles. Despite its lack of lyrics, 'Going Home' has long stood as a fan favorite and a standout in his solo discography. Adding to the excitement surrounding the song, Knopfler re-released 'Going Home' in 2024 as a charity effort under the name Mark Knopfler's Guitar Heroes. The updated version included contributions from dozens of music legends, and it was launched to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America. This version marked the final recording ever made by the late Jeff Beck, and it also features names like Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Tom Morello, Ringo Starr, and yes, Fender. That release has had its own success, too. This week, the supergroup edition climbs from No. 51 to No. 25 on the Official Physical Singles chart. That upward move also marks its fifty-second week on the ranking, marking a full year on the list.
