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Dire Straits Wagon

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Dire Straits was an English rock band. It was formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler and his brother David. Also featuring in the band was John Illsley and Pick Withers. The roles each band member played was as follows:

Mark Knopfler - Lead Vocals, Lead and Rhythm Guitar
John Illsley - Bass Guitar
David Knopfler - Rhythm Guitar
Pick Withers - Drums

If you're wondering how the band got its name, it's because Mark Knopfler was going through serious financial hardship in the late 1970s. Fortunately the success of their first album turned things around. 1978 was the year in which their first album was released, with their 2nd album 'Communique' following suit in 1979. After the release of the 2nd album, David Knopfler left the band, reducing it to a trio. It was in this form that they released their 3rd album - Making Movies - in 1980.

Two years later - in 1982 - the band released their 4th album, which was called Love Over Gold. This one was unusual in that it only featured five songs, with the previous three featuring 9, another 9 and 7 songs respectively. Two musicians - Alan Clark (keyboard) and Hal Lindes (guitar) - had joined in after playing with the band on their 'On Location Tour' in 1980 and 1981. This tour involved visiting North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

It would be another three years before Dire Straits released their 5th and most successful album - Brothers in Arms - in 1985. By this time, drummer Pick Withers had left the band, being replaced by Terry Williams and Omar Hakim. Guy Fletcher also played keyboards on the album.

Despite the massive worldwide success of Brothers in Arms, Dire Straits did not release another album until 1991. This was their 6th and final album, and it's name was On Every Street. It had the highest number of songs on any DS album - a staggering 12. I'm tempted to call On Every Street their best work, although - to here my Dad talk - you would think their 1st album from 1978 is their best work. After the release of their last album, the band embarked on a series of concerts in Europe before disbanding in 1992.

Mark Knopfler had at least one notable side project other than Dire Straits. He wrote the soundtrack for the 1983 film 'Local Hero'. The theme song from that film is a 5-minute instrumental named 'Going Home', which I feel can only be described as a true work of art.

As of 2019, Mark Knopfler is still going strong at 70 years old and is still performing concerts from time to time. John Illsley - the bass player - is still going strong at 70 as well. Coincidentally, both musicians were born in 1949. Illsley was born in Leicester, while Knopfler was born in Glasgow. Mark ended up moving to Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1951, and the city has since become inextricably linked with his life.

On a side-note, I can't help thinking that John Illsley looks an awful lot like Brian May, who was the lead guitarist in Queen.

The track listings on the six Dire Straits albums is as follows:

1) Dire Straits (released in October 1978)

1 - Down to the Waterline
2 - Water of Love
3 - Setting Me Up
4 - Six Blade Knife
5 - Southhbound Again
6 - Sultans of Swing
7 - In The Gallery
8 - Wild West End
9 - Lions


2) Communique (released in June 1979)

1 - Once Upon a Time in the West
2 - News
3 - Where Do You Think You're Going?
4 - Communique
5 - Lady Writer
6 - Angel of Mercy
7 - Portobello Belle
8 - Single Handed Sailor
9 - Follow Me Home


3) Making Movies (released in October 1980)

1 - Tunnel of Love
2 - Romeo and Juliet
3 - Skateaway
4 - Expresso Love
5 - Hand in Hand
6 - Solid Rock
7 - Les Boys


4) Love Over Gold (released in September 1982)

1 - Telegraph Road
2 - Private Investigations
3 - Industrial Disease
4 - Love Over Gold
5 - It Never Rains


5) Brothers in Arms (released in May 1985)

1 - So Far Away
2 - Money for Nothing
3 - Walk of Live
4 - Your Latest Trick
5 - Why Worry?
6 - Ride Across The River
7 - The Man's Too Strong
8 - One World
9 - Brothers in Arms


6) On Every Street (released in September 1991)

1 - Calling Elvis
2 - On Every Street
3 - When It Comes To You
4 - Fade to Black
5 - The Bug
6 - You and Your Friend
7 - Heavy Fuel
8 - Iron Hand
9 - Ticket to Heaven
10 - My Parties
11 - Planet of New Orleans
12 - How Long?