Was in the audience at Hammersmith Oden London this night for Alchemy concert aged 29 in 1983. Now 68 and this along with Zepplin Earls Court London 1975 and Queen Wembley Stadium London 1986 will remain with me for life as the three greatest musical experiences of my life
The whole point of Dire Straights is that they had world class musicians backing up a once in a generation talent....and mark Knopfler Always recognised this. He has absolutely no ego
The thing that needs to be remembered when watching/listening to dire straits is that Mark Knopfler is not just a front man, he is also the songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, entertainer... oh and he also is one of the most influential guitarists of a generation. Most of his lyrics tell stories and have deep and often powerful meanings behind them.
Telegraph Road runs for 79.828 miles (128.471 km) as a major north-south state trunkline highway from Bedford Township at the Ohio state line through Metro Detroit. The highway runs through three counties in southeastern Michigan, Monroe, Wayne and Oakland, as it parallels the Lake Erie shoreline and bypasses Metro Detroit on the west. Telegraph Road connects several suburbs together and passes through the western edge of Detroit before it terminates northwest of Clarkston at an interchange with Interstate 75. The northern part of the highway follows a section of an old Indian trail called the Saginaw Trail that connected Detroit with points further north. The southern sections in the Downriver area south to Monroe parallel telegraph lines from the mid-19th century. These lines gave the road its name. When young, Mark travelled there using Greyhound service, and was inspired by all the situation when years later wrote this song..
Douglas Adams said it best in the book So Long And Thanks For All The Fish when he wrote “Mark Knopfler has an extraordinary ability to make a Schecter Custom Stratocaster hoot and sing like angels on a Saturday night, exhausted from being good all week and needing a stiff drink.”
Telegraph Road runs along the western edge of Detroit and that's what the song is about. For instance he sings, "I've seen desperation explode into flames" which is a reference to the '67 riots. The pianist is Alan Clark who joined the band around 1980ish. Dire Straits needed a pianist, asked around for recommendations, and were advised to give Clark (who is indeed classically trained) a try as he had a good reputation throughout London. That's how great, crack musicians often got their jobs back in the day. I've been looking forward to this one since you said you'd do it. I saw Dire Straits live twice and and grateful for the experience.
The earlier song you covered, Sultans of Swing, was written before Alan Clarke (keyboards), however this song was the first song on the Album Love Over Gold written with Clarke and Keyboards in mind.
It was written when Mark was travelling along Telegraph road and reading a book called “Growth of the Soil” by Knut Hamsun who was I think one if not the earliest winner of the Nobel prize for Literature. The song has imo is one of the greats and being old and soft is one of three Dire Straits songs that has me crying- alongside Brothers in Arms and Romeo and Juliet :)
he is one of the best finger pickers ever ! No doubt his fingernails come into play but whatever, the man is a genius and still is even in his seventies ! I'm 75 years old and back in the 1970's I was in a pub in my home town in Scotland and this " sound " came out of the Juke Box !!! - it was Sultans of Swing and the rest is history, and I'm still a devotee of the man ! It doesn't seem to matter what guitar he plays, he always gets that unique Knopfler sound. This album is probably one of the best, if not the best live album performance ever ! - In my opinion of course. Keep digging into their work as you will not be disappointed. Have a listen to Romeo and Juliet !!!! Dire Straits as a band are up there in the top echelon of rock groups ever.
He’s #1 on my list (crowded list with Tommy Emmanuel, John Williams [classical guitarist], Angus Young, Alex Lifeson, few others). Left handed, plays right handed.
Yeah, Mark is truly a legendary musician and guitar player. Same for the rest of the band: pure greatness. Top lists are subjective, but I can say Mark is my favorite guitar player ever. I'm grateful for being alive after the Dire Straits and Queen existed. We are spoiled with the musical masterpieces of so many aartists! It makes me so happy :)
I don't think he has long nails like a flamenco player on nylon strings, think he keeps them very short. I remember one time a gushing interviewer asked him what was going through his mind while playing on stage and he said 'not much, thinking i should cut my nails' lol
What I love about time passing, it's that the incredible bands and musicians do not fall by the wayside. In fact they come crashing through the barriers and walls and reign supreme against all wannabes. Mark Knopfler is a virtuoso who knocked it out the park from the very first song sultans of swing in 1978. Mark primarily picks with his fingers, sometimes against skin, sometimes on the nail. The man is a living genius. The writer, arranger, guitarist and singer. The real deal. Surrounded as always by other incredible musicians. John illsley on bass, Terry Williams on drums, Hal Lindes on rhythm, Alan Clark on Keys, (left). Tommy Mandel on keys (right). Next year this performance will be 40 years old and few other bands get close to the genius of Dire Straits. Check out Knopflers solo work. The man is on his 9th studio album and his portfolio is incredible. Honestly, there are not many Mark Knopflers on this planet. Band, solo, film work, stage work and producing, he's a beast. Very much the musician's musician. Played and recorded with best in the world. Unique and full of so much creativity. Folks like Chet Atkins and Eric Clapton know of Knopfler's credence to the guitar, storytelling and music world and rightly so sold over 120million albums, was in one of the biggest and adored bands of all time and of course, a guitar god and hero. Oh and he does use a pick every so often too. My favourite musician obviously lol. Lastly, what a brilliant reaction. Love watching your reactions. Thanks very much. 👍
Been listening to Dire Straits for about 40 years, they were the first band i played air guitar too lol. Still get goosebumps listening to so many of their songs.
Love how this song moves from nostalgic story telling, to a sense of wonder of how big everything's growing, to despair about the employment situation, then envy about how easy the birds can just up and leave, and then a real ray of hope as he meets his girl and takes her out of the darkness and into the day. You can't go wrong with any of the longer Mark Knopfler songs - yes they can do the 3 minute 'single' type songs, but the longer format gives the story chance to evolve and the music chance to develop this way and that. It's almost symphonic how it ebbs and flows and builds up to a crescendo.
If you know ANYTHING better than this: the tune, the talent, the beauty, the excitement, the social comment, the absolute class, gimme a call....(deathly silence).
Hi! The Telegraph Road is a major north-south 70 mile thoroughfare in Michigan. Mark Knopfler was inspired to write this song, while riding in the front of the tour bus, which made the journey down "Telegraph Road". My Top 10 song by Dire Straits.🎸🙂
It runs through three counties along the western edge of the city of Detroit. Lots of traffic, always congested and when it rains, it floods. Technically, Telegraph Road is US Highway 24.
I was a singer in a rock band so many years ago. We got together for a 35th reunion in 2008. It was like we had neve been apart. You just look at each other and know what to do.There is a togetherness that can't be replicated anywhere else. It is almost magical. It brings tears to my eyes at age 72.
I always say to people when mentioning Dire Straits. Don't just listen to the songs on the radio their best songs and the ones you'll appreciate are not on the radio but on their albums. Been a Dire Straits fan since 85. I still love listening to them
I listened Dire Straits since i was 11, and i am 46 today. It's always a pleasure to see people who discovered the band. You are both very expressive :)
Mark Knopfler is the best guitarr player Ever! I Think. He can play everything. He got magic fingers. He can play beautyful, hard, soft and he can let the guitarr cry. There are many more great guitarrist as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Back and many more but M.K is the best, I think. And Yes, He pick the strings with his fingers. Take care!❤👍🎸🇸🇪
A long time ago came a man on a track Walking thirty miles with a sack on his back And he put down his load where he thought it was the best Made a home in the wilderness He built a cabin and a winter store And he plowed up the ground by the cold lake shore And the other travelers came walking down the track And they never went further, no, they never went back Then came the churches then came the schools Then came the lawyers then came the rules Then came the trains and the trucks with their loads And the dirty old track was the telegraph road Then came the mines - then came the ore Then there was the hard times then there was a war Telegraph sang a song about the world outside Telegraph road got so deep and so wide Like a rolling river... And my radio says tonight it's gonna freeze People driving home from the factories There's six lanes of traffic Three lanes moving slow... I used to like to go to work but they shut it down I got a right to go to work but there's no work here to be found Yes and they say we're gonna have to pay what's owed We're gonna have to reap from some seed that's been sowed And the birds up on the wires and the telegraph poles They can always fly away from this rain and this cold You can hear them singing out their telegraph code All the way down the telegraph road You know I'd sooner forget but I remember those nights When life was just a bet on a race between the lights You had your head on my shoulder you had your hand in my hair Now you act a little colder like you don't seem to care But believe in me baby and I'll take you away From out of this darkness and into the day From these rivers of headlights these rivers of rain From the anger that lives on the streets with these names 'Cos 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... From all of these signs saying sorry but we're closed All the way down the telegraph road
Perfect history of Detroit and the rise and fall of the auto industry. I used to drive Telegraph every day to get to my accounting job in Dearborn, MI. That drive was more stressful than my job. I am so glad I don't have to go that route any longer. My job went to Hungary in 2008.
This is amusical masterpiece. It is so brilluant on so many levels. The band is so inredibly talented and tight. And of course the stry telling and that fucking guitar work. So unique so original. Brilliant. Check out the lyrics. It is a crystaluzed history of America.
Mama G, get on that piano 🎹, Baby G, really getting her groove on😎. From one of the ultimate 80s UK concerts pure entertainment brilliance exquisite musicianship to back the most poetic of lyrics a story telling masterpiece. The keyboards are all setup differently so he doesn't have to change settings during the performance. Mark, is a fingerpicker but also uses his nails and finger pads. You are Spot on about the smirks, "yeah, we go this, killing it bro'❕"
Yet another masterpiece from the genius that is Mark Knopfler. Dire Straits were by far the finest technical band ever in my opinion, piano was immaculate and beautiful, guitar playing fantastic, and what Mark can do with a guitar is just Godlike
You need to do every track on the Alchemy Live Album/tour 🤣 pls can you do Tunnel Of Love next. Every song on this album is just astonishing, all masterpieces…probably one of the best albums ever 🔥🔥🔥
yes indeed..the Live Alchemy performance..I had this awesome album in the 80's..please check "Tunnel of Love"..and don't forget..they are really Top of the Top-Musicians..thanx
Yes. I always remember seeing the cover because my older brother had it on cassette when I was young and I never explored it myself until I was older. Brilliant stuff. Peak Dire Straits.
For your next Dire Straits song, strong vote for Tunnel of Love. The live version from Wembley 1985 is excellent but the album version is even better. You can make out the lyrics which tell a true story from Mark Knopfler‘s teenage years hanging out at the local amusement park, the Spanish City. It’s a poignant story. However; the best part is the solo at the end. Truly one of, if not the greatest guitar solos in rock!
All studio versions are better than live, this song included! I can't watch more than the first verse and I'm going to slink off and listen to the studio version instead.
"Tunnel of Love" in the '85 "Wembley Does The Walk" concert has - if I absolutely had to choose only one - highlights Mark's solos - particularly the outro - as my personal favorite - by a shaved hair because the Studio lyrics are clearer, but Mark plays like a man possessed in Tunnel of Love at Wembley Arena. It's too bad that concert was filmed in a format for television, rather than full wide-screen. It would be a killer recording to see full-screen. I can't recall his exact quote, but the late Douglas Adams, author of "The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" wrote a very quotable quote about just how good Mark's playing in the 85 live Tunnel of Love is. I know it's in Wikipedia, among many other places. And he was absolutely spot on right. There are not enough words, in any language, to describe the scope of Mark's talents.
@@flyingbeaver57 I could not agree more. Here’s the quote you were referencing: The song is referred to in the novel So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams.: "Mark Knopfler has an extraordinary ability to make a Schecter Custom Stratocaster hoot and sing like angels on a Saturday night, exhausted from being good all week and needing a stiff drink." It was also used during the film An Officer and a Gentleman.
Great reaction, love your open, creative and respectful relation. I saw this tour in 1982 when I was 14 and it was very important for my development. Telegraph Road was sort of a passage ritual for me, the first time I could appreciate a grown up song, it felt like a discovery and when I got out at the end of the 14 minute song I was a slightly different person. Mark Knopfler is singing in a conversational style while his guitar is doing the actual singing. The break of this song between the singing and instrumental part was astonishing live; when society has been corrupted and broken down (interestingly Telegraph Road is going through Detroit, a city with certain parts that experienced a collapse not too long ago), all that remains is this wild post-industrial chaos, which they kind of try to depict in the last five minutes, but it almost has to be experienced live to take effect. Great song. Thanks again for your reaction!
Hello there. I think you’d love the whole Alchemy live concert. There is plenty of footage of Terry Williams, the drummer, or Alan Clark, the pianist. If you liked Telegraph Road you’ll like Tunnel of Love too. Another 14-minute masterpiece. You’ll love Once upon A time in the West too, the rocking energy of Expresso Love and the brilliant songwriting in songs like Private investigations or Romeo And Juliet. The whole DVD set is outstanding. And all contributors have their share and footage! That’s how it goes with Dire Straits!
The Real Shame with this It's Not the whole Concert Many People that have brought the dvd or Blu ray, Cd /Album think it is (the set list is Below;) it was Filmed & Recorded For some Reason it's never been Explained Why They are on fire it's one of the best Dire Straits Concerts Ever. You can only hope One day its Released the Whole concert that is. Once Upon a Time in the West Industrial Disease Expresso Love Romeo and Juliet Love Over Gold Private Investigation Sultans of Swing Twisting by the Pool Two Young Lovers Portobello Belle Tunnel of Love Telegraph Road Encore: Solid Rock The Rocks and the Thunder (Mark Knopfler song) Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero (Mark Knopfler song)
@@paulfrancis764 Yes we are quite a few to hope for a complete show release someday. There must have been commercial reasons considered at the time to avoid making it a non affordable 3 cd, 4 LP release.
@@TollGateAB Many thanks for your reply. The dvd and Blu ray were released a while ago. Why on Earth would you not put the whole concert on there is beyond me. What a treat it would be to enjoy the concert as the crowd did back in the day. Just as side note the recent dvd and Blu ray were done by mark’s producer chuck ainlay
Yeeeesssss! So happy you reacted to this. I think the thing that makes Alchemy Live so special is the building work. Layering, mirroring, filling... Every element is a building block that builds upon the previous note and supports the coming one. It's so impressive.
True work of ar! Poetry, story telling,history, evocative and emotional and that insane guitar work and a phenomenal band to pull it all together is fresking genius.
Its the story of Detroit. As I said after Sultans, I was there and we didn't think they would be able to play Telegraph Road life, its such a massive piece. As you saw, they smashed it! I agree, they should have filmed more of Terry Williams on the drums, amazing Alan Clark was the pianist, according to Wikipedia he had piano lessons from age 6 to 9, then he taught himself, natural talent! Something the whole band had. So glad you reacted to Telegraph Road, brings back memories....
Hopefully on the back of this they will look to react to some more longer songs not just by Dire Straits, there are so many amazing pieces of rock music that,like telegraph road, build, evolve tell stories and take you on an emotional and musical journey. Whether it is Pink Floyd, or Yes, or early Genesis or Camel or Porcupine Tree or Dream Theater or Nightwish or any of a hundred bands that eschew the 3minute single in favour of providing a musical listening experience.
A long time fan of Dire Straits, I bought their first Album in LP when I heard their first song on the radio. And everything since. They are my favorite, among the top in my library. And Telegraph Road is one of the top DS songs. Telegraph Road, Brothers in Arms, Romeo and Juliet, Private Investigations, Sultans of Swing, and many more. I never tire of them.
Knopfler was also reading "The Growth Of the Soil" by Knut Hamsun, while writing Telegraph Road - so that was one of the influences for this brilliant song.
What a delightful discovery on UA-cam, you Ladies are. Just a couple of well-timed pauses and the main reaction at the end is ideal. Your observations are wise and accurate and you are, clearly, enjoying each other Company and the song and video. Excellent😀
I think watching this again ( love this performance!), that Mark Knopler as he dances around, is cuing the other guitar players about things like movement on the stage; they are that tuned in. If you watch it again watch for how he's slightly tilting his head, or moves on the stage and the other two guitarists reposition themselves. I never get tired of watching it, a stellar performance!
😍🇫🇮❤️🎼✨💙🤘 I was about 14y old, when bought my first LP...Dire Straits Love Over Gold. My favorite, Telegraph road, what a story!!! Because of telegraph road, we have internet now ❤️🇫🇮🎶👍
From the unbelievable album "Love Over Gold", which I have always loved the best of all their remarkable albums. Not really suited to airplay, but musical genius. For a change of pace, check out Knopfler's score to the movie The Princess Bride. He's a multi-dimensional genius.
The story for the song came about when marks tour bus was driving down telegraph Rd in Detroit reading a book called Growth of the Soil,( which i just bought ) some say he wrote the song as they were driving to their next concert. Ive just bought the book but waiting for it to arrive because i have a real telegraph Rd, true nane, that followed similar growth over my 57 years
Frog pads. that's what the fingers look like after awhile. I love how all their music features all the musicians!! Remarkable sound and enjoyment. It's a journey. Try Romeo and Juliet next,
Thanks for your wonderful comments ladies. you put a group of great musicians together and you get Dire Straits. The fantastic drummer is Terry Williams, the most amazing piano player Alan Clark and top guitarist Mark Knopfler are the best musicians in the world.
This is a history lesson. The song make no moral judgements it just tells the story. It provokes discussion. Some of Marks songs tells factual stories like one of his solo works Sailing to Philadelphia.
I’ve been listening to Dire Straits for the past 57 years. The band has gotten better over time, and their new album released in 2022 is their best yet.
This may be my all-time favorite Dire Straits song (another one, also the live version from this same album, the song "Romeo and Juliet" is one of my other favorite songs. I'm writing this during your first pause, so you probably already figured this out, but this song is the story of the beginnings/founding of a town it's growth into a city and its decline. Mark Knopfler's guitar playing is so subtle yet awesome in this song. It was inspired by a real road that runs north and south in Michigan for 70 miles that the band was on a bus riding on when Knopfler got the inspiration for the song.
You both are so cute together. Grew up listening to Dire Straits! Mark is a top guitar player which certainly is highlighted in all Alchemy Live songs! Thank you.
i must have been 13 or 14.... and i listened to this...and i knew this is what music was, the true essence....my friends loved rap and metal....and i just shook my head "no".... to this day...40 years later... this is the music, this is what sound....should sound like
Mark's great for telling stories with his songs. He does a lot of solo stuff. Ragpicker's Dream is my favorite CCD of his. Marbletown has one of my favorite guitar riffs . It tells the story of the bums who rode the rails and slept in and hung out in graveyards to keep from getting caught.
This was at Wembley Arena I think. I went to the Hammersmith odeon shows,3 of them! They are fantastic live,and for about 2years,they shifted more units than any other band at that time. Brilliant.
@@jennywren7822 I went to so many shows all through the 70’s and 80’s,worked a lot of them too (stage security) and I was present when many live shows were filmed,I remember the gig,just can’t remember if the cameras were there.
Thank You for doing Telegraph Road. I had forgotten all about it and it has been one of my top four from Dire Straits. The other three are - Sultans of Swing, - Walk Of Life, & - Money for Nothing. I would suggest the others and I think other people will too.
Good analysis. The lyrics were written by Mark Knopfler on a drive down an actual Telegraph Rd heading to Chicago. The scene and a book he was reading on the tour gave him the inspiration for the song. The rise and fall of a settlement growing into a city that slowly falls into desolation. The playing around on stage is great and best seen on the Sultans video. The drummer was new with the band at the time and threw in a good few extra fills of his own. You see Mark looking back at him with a ‘questioning grin’ a few times!.
Their all incredibly talented mark is an absolute genius I have been a dire straits fan from the early days when they first formed a band their style is unique and they have created some really beautiful thought provoking tracks brothers in arms tunnel of love sultans of swing the list goes on and on fabulous band great music never can get enough great reaction from mom and daughter from the start never expected any less rock on girls enjoy
The song is about the system of control through organized commerce and governmental authority destroying real freedom. 😊 Mark is by far...my favorite musician of all time with Robert Cray and Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Jeff Beck all closely behind. As a blues/rock/roots guitar player, I had a couple of chances to really 'make it' with my talent, singing and playing guitar, but I screwed up those opportunities and now I just lament the past decisions I made. At least I still get compfort from my heroes.
Outstanding. Really, full of thoughtful insights making this show very enjoyable. You could save some of the adverbs for Rhiannon Fleetwood Mac on the T.V show Midnight Special 1976....unbelievable
![Dire Straits - Telegraph Road (Live, 1983) [REACTION VIDEO] | Rebeka Luize Budlevska](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/NYHvImpx8bA/mqdefault.jpg)
The music is so beautiful it makes a grown man cry.
It's his fingetips. And that's what is absolutley amazing.
Not played with any distortion, either!
Was in the audience at Hammersmith Oden London this night for Alchemy concert aged 29 in 1983.
Now 68 and this along with Zepplin Earls Court London 1975 and Queen Wembley Stadium London 1986 will remain with me for life as the three greatest musical experiences of my life
Respect sir. I mean damn, wow. Git. lol....
I'm jealous!!
@@edboulter1705
Wow you picked some concerts to go to, if I had a Time Machine the Alchemy would be the one id visit daily and never get bored
You lucky barstool!!! 🤣👍
The whole point of Dire Straights is that they had world class musicians backing up a once in a generation talent....and mark Knopfler Always recognised this. He has absolutely no ego
The thing that needs to be remembered when watching/listening to dire straits is that Mark Knopfler is not just a front man, he is also the songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, entertainer... oh and he also is one of the most influential guitarists of a generation.
Most of his lyrics tell stories and have deep and often powerful meanings behind them.
Mark also let Hal come up with his own parts.
Telegraph Road runs for 79.828 miles (128.471 km) as a major north-south state trunkline highway from Bedford Township at the Ohio state line through Metro Detroit. The highway runs through three counties in southeastern Michigan, Monroe, Wayne and Oakland, as it parallels the Lake Erie shoreline and bypasses Metro Detroit on the west. Telegraph Road connects several suburbs together and passes through the western edge of Detroit before it terminates northwest of Clarkston at an interchange with Interstate 75. The northern part of the highway follows a section of an old Indian trail called the Saginaw Trail that connected Detroit with points further north. The southern sections in the Downriver area south to Monroe parallel telegraph lines from the mid-19th century. These lines gave the road its name. When young, Mark travelled there using Greyhound service, and was inspired by all the situation when years later wrote this song..
Again Mr Knopfler wrote the words, music, arranged it, sang it and played his guitar as only he can.
A masterpiece from a genius.
Long may he reign ❤️
Yes but other than that, I ask you, what did he do? 😀
@@Isleofskye
Oh a wit hahahahahahaha
and he is the real conductor as well.
Mark doesn't just play the guitar.....he truly makes it cry and sing. Awesome talent and that guitar is a one of a kind sound as well.
totally correct!
Douglas Adams said it best in the book So Long And Thanks For All The Fish when he wrote “Mark Knopfler has an extraordinary ability to make a Schecter Custom Stratocaster hoot and sing like angels on a Saturday night, exhausted from being good all week and needing a stiff drink.”
Agreed. MK is one of the greatest guitarist of our time. So unique and so nonchalant. Freaking amazing.
Hal back there really powers in with those slash-and-jangle fills.
Telegraph Road runs along the western edge of Detroit and that's what the song is about. For instance he sings, "I've seen desperation explode into flames" which is a reference to the '67 riots. The pianist is Alan Clark who joined the band around 1980ish. Dire Straits needed a pianist, asked around for recommendations, and were advised to give Clark (who is indeed classically trained) a try as he had a good reputation throughout London. That's how great, crack musicians often got their jobs back in the day. I've been looking forward to this one since you said you'd do it. I saw Dire Straits live twice and and grateful for the experience.
Would those 1967 riots be what Gordon Lightfoot sang about in his song Black Day In July?
@@festidious2644 One in the same, yes.
Lions, Single handed sailor, in the gallery , Water of Love , I think I love u too much
The earlier song you covered, Sultans of Swing, was written before Alan Clarke (keyboards), however this song was the first song on the Album Love Over Gold written with Clarke and Keyboards in mind.
It was written when Mark was travelling along Telegraph road and reading a book called “Growth of the Soil” by Knut Hamsun who was I think one if not the earliest winner of the Nobel prize for Literature. The song has imo is one of the greats and being old and soft is one of three Dire Straits songs that has me crying- alongside Brothers in Arms and Romeo and Juliet :)
Mark plays with his fingers no pick very unusual this is my all time favourite song by dire straits
Best living guitarist!
Just a moment of praise for Terry Williams , the drummer. Outstanding ! Such a brilliant tight band .
Still with Knopfler today. Played on stage with Mark and Amylou Harris on their Roadrunner live tour.
@@SISU889 I had this whole concert on VHS when it came out. I wanted to be Terry Williams.
he is one of the best finger pickers ever ! No doubt his fingernails come into play but whatever, the man is a genius and still is even in his seventies ! I'm 75 years old and back in the 1970's I was in a pub in my home town in Scotland and this " sound " came out of the Juke Box !!! - it was Sultans of Swing and the rest is history, and I'm still a devotee of the man ! It doesn't seem to matter what guitar he plays, he always gets that unique Knopfler sound. This album is probably one of the best, if not the best live album performance ever ! - In my opinion of course. Keep digging into their work as you will not be disappointed. Have a listen to Romeo and Juliet !!!! Dire Straits as a band are up there in the top echelon of rock groups ever.
He’s #1 on my list (crowded list with Tommy Emmanuel, John Williams [classical guitarist], Angus Young, Alex Lifeson, few others). Left handed, plays right handed.
@@vinsgraphics Tommy's a much cleaner player, but Tommy don't sing
@@PjRjHj Tommy does sing now and then. He admits he's not a singer as much as a guitarist, but he's not terrible.
Yeah, Mark is truly a legendary musician and guitar player. Same for the rest of the band: pure greatness.
Top lists are subjective, but I can say Mark is my favorite guitar player ever. I'm grateful for being alive after the Dire Straits and Queen existed.
We are spoiled with the musical masterpieces of so many aartists! It makes me so happy :)
I don't think he has long nails like a flamenco player on nylon strings, think he keeps them very short. I remember one time a gushing interviewer asked him what was going through his mind while playing on stage and he said 'not much, thinking i should cut my nails' lol
I wish I could travel back in time to then and catch all of these live performances.
I'm so glad I saw DS two nights in 1992.
What I love about time passing, it's that the incredible bands and musicians do not fall by the wayside. In fact they come crashing through the barriers and walls and reign supreme against all wannabes. Mark Knopfler is a virtuoso who knocked it out the park from the very first song sultans of swing in 1978. Mark primarily picks with his fingers, sometimes against skin, sometimes on the nail. The man is a living genius. The writer, arranger, guitarist and singer. The real deal. Surrounded as always by other incredible musicians. John illsley on bass, Terry Williams on drums, Hal Lindes on rhythm, Alan Clark on Keys, (left). Tommy Mandel on keys (right). Next year this performance will be 40 years old and few other bands get close to the genius of Dire Straits. Check out Knopflers solo work. The man is on his 9th studio album and his portfolio is incredible. Honestly, there are not many Mark Knopflers on this planet. Band, solo, film work, stage work and producing, he's a beast. Very much the musician's musician. Played and recorded with best in the world. Unique and full of so much creativity. Folks like Chet Atkins and Eric Clapton know of Knopfler's credence to the guitar, storytelling and music world and rightly so sold over 120million albums, was in one of the biggest and adored bands of all time and of course, a guitar god and hero. Oh and he does use a pick every so often too. My favourite musician obviously lol. Lastly, what a brilliant reaction. Love watching your reactions. Thanks very much. 👍
Absolutely spot on with your comment ! Chris Rea also great slide guitarist , very much in the same style as the brilliant MK 👏
The finest musicians on the planet.
This song really takes you on a musical journey. Such talented musicianship. Dire straits are great live performers.
Those have to be symbolic nukes going off at the end!
I think Mark could play the guitar with any part of his anatomy, he is that talented.
Been listening to Dire Straits for about 40 years, they were the first band i played air guitar too lol. Still get goosebumps listening to so many of their songs.
Love how this song moves from nostalgic story telling, to a sense of wonder of how big everything's growing, to despair about the employment situation, then envy about how easy the birds can just up and leave, and then a real ray of hope as he meets his girl and takes her out of the darkness and into the day. You can't go wrong with any of the longer Mark Knopfler songs - yes they can do the 3 minute 'single' type songs, but the longer format gives the story chance to evolve and the music chance to develop this way and that. It's almost symphonic how it ebbs and flows and builds up to a crescendo.
He can tell a story without singing.that guitar is mind-blowing
If you know ANYTHING better than this: the tune, the talent, the beauty, the excitement, the social comment, the absolute class, gimme a call....(deathly silence).
"His voice is sexy" - Mom needs to hear Private Investigations.
Really like these reactions.
Hi! The Telegraph Road is a major north-south 70 mile thoroughfare in Michigan.
Mark Knopfler was inspired to write this song, while riding in the front of the tour bus,
which made the journey down "Telegraph Road". My Top 10 song by Dire Straits.🎸🙂
It runs through three counties along the western edge of the city of Detroit. Lots of traffic, always congested and when it rains, it floods. Technically, Telegraph Road is US Highway 24.
I was a singer in a rock band so many years ago. We got together for a 35th reunion in 2008. It was like we had neve been apart. You just look at each other and know what to do.There is a togetherness that can't be replicated anywhere else. It is almost magical. It brings tears to my eyes at age 72.
That's great you guys have that connection.
I always say to people when mentioning Dire Straits. Don't just listen to the songs on the radio their best songs and the ones you'll appreciate are not on the radio but on their albums. Been a Dire Straits fan since 85. I still love listening to them
Agree 100%, Mark is the master🎸🔥😍
Been a fan for one or two years longer than you 😄.
@@aksuli1 congratulations
I listened Dire Straits since i was 11, and i am 46 today. It's always a pleasure to see people who discovered the band. You are both very expressive :)
Brilliant. Brilliant song. Brilliant performance. Brilliant reaction.
Mark Knopfler is the best guitarr player Ever!
I Think. He can play everything. He got magic fingers. He can play beautyful, hard,
soft and he can let the guitarr cry. There are many more great guitarrist as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Back and many more but M.K is the best, I think. And Yes, He pick the strings with his fingers. Take care!❤👍🎸🇸🇪
A long time ago came a man on a track
Walking thirty miles with a sack on his back
And he put down his load where he thought it was the best
Made a home in the wilderness
He built a cabin and a winter store
And he plowed up the ground by the cold lake shore
And the other travelers came walking down the track
And they never went further, no, they never went back
Then came the churches then came the schools
Then came the lawyers then came the rules
Then came the trains and the trucks with their loads
And the dirty old track was the telegraph road
Then came the mines - then came the ore
Then there was the hard times then there was a war
Telegraph sang a song about the world outside
Telegraph road got so deep and so wide
Like a rolling river...
And my radio says tonight it's gonna freeze
People driving home from the factories
There's six lanes of traffic
Three lanes moving slow...
I used to like to go to work but they shut it down
I got a right to go to work but there's no work here to be found
Yes and they say we're gonna have to pay what's owed
We're gonna have to reap from some seed that's been sowed
And the birds up on the wires and the telegraph poles
They can always fly away from this rain and this cold
You can hear them singing out their telegraph code
All the way down the telegraph road
You know I'd sooner forget but I remember those nights
When life was just a bet on a race between the lights
You had your head on my shoulder you had your hand in my hair
Now you act a little colder like you don't seem to care
But believe in me baby and I'll take you away
From out of this darkness and into the day
From these rivers of headlights these rivers of rain
From the anger that lives on the streets with these names
'Cos 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...
From all of these signs saying sorry but we're closed
All the way down the telegraph road
Perfect history of Detroit and the rise and fall of the auto industry. I used to drive Telegraph every day to get to my accounting job in Dearborn, MI. That drive was more stressful than my job. I am so glad I don't have to go that route any longer. My job went to Hungary in 2008.
My favourite guitarist and possibly favourite band. I've seen them 5 or 6 times and they never disappoint.
This is amusical masterpiece. It is so brilluant on so many levels. The band is so inredibly talented and tight. And of course the stry telling and that fucking guitar work. So unique so original. Brilliant. Check out the lyrics. It is a crystaluzed history of America.
Mama G, get on that piano 🎹,
Baby G, really getting her groove on😎.
From one of the ultimate 80s UK concerts pure entertainment brilliance exquisite musicianship to back the most poetic of lyrics a story telling masterpiece.
The keyboards are all setup differently so he doesn't have to change settings during the performance. Mark, is a fingerpicker but also uses his nails and finger pads.
You are Spot on about the smirks, "yeah, we go this, killing it bro'❕"
Yet another masterpiece from the genius that is Mark Knopfler. Dire Straits were by far the finest technical band ever in my opinion, piano was immaculate and beautiful, guitar playing fantastic, and what Mark can do with a guitar is just Godlike
I had never seen this live version. Thank you for doing this reaction. It reminded me of how much I love Dire Straits.
It's only their most famous recording!
One of the best albums ever made; Love over gold.
Wow, this really took me in a journey! These are amazing musicians!
Thank you for the video and great reaction. We were all taken down a journey of musical brilliance.
You need to do every track on the Alchemy Live Album/tour 🤣 pls can you do Tunnel Of Love next. Every song on this album is just astonishing, all masterpieces…probably one of the best albums ever 🔥🔥🔥
yes indeed..the Live Alchemy performance..I had this awesome album in the 80's..please check "Tunnel of Love"..and don't forget..they are really Top of the Top-Musicians..thanx
Yes. I always remember seeing the cover because my older brother had it on cassette when I was young and I never explored it myself until I was older. Brilliant stuff. Peak Dire Straits.
I've seen 100's of concerts and this is one of a couple handfuls of examples of a live performance of a band totally in sync and tight!! Outstanding!!
Creedence doing "Keep On Chooglin'" live 1970.
For your next Dire Straits song, strong vote for Tunnel of Love. The live version from Wembley 1985 is excellent but the album version is even better. You can make out the lyrics which tell a true story from Mark Knopfler‘s teenage years hanging out at the local amusement park, the Spanish City. It’s a poignant story. However; the best part is the solo at the end. Truly one of, if not the greatest guitar solos in rock!
My favourite DS song. Oh, with my usual warning not to watch the official video.
Absolutely one of the best Solos ever
All studio versions are better than live, this song included! I can't watch more than the first verse and I'm going to slink off and listen to the studio version instead.
"Tunnel of Love" in the '85 "Wembley Does The Walk" concert has - if I absolutely had to choose only one - highlights Mark's solos - particularly the outro - as my personal favorite - by a shaved hair because the Studio lyrics are clearer, but Mark plays like a man possessed in Tunnel of Love at Wembley Arena. It's too bad that concert was filmed in a format for television, rather than full wide-screen. It would be a killer recording to see full-screen. I can't recall his exact quote, but the late Douglas Adams, author of "The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" wrote a very quotable quote about just how good Mark's playing in the 85 live Tunnel of Love is. I know it's in Wikipedia, among many other places. And he was absolutely spot on right. There are not enough words, in any language, to describe the scope of Mark's talents.
@@flyingbeaver57 I could not agree more. Here’s the quote you were referencing:
The song is referred to in the novel So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams.: "Mark Knopfler has an extraordinary ability to make a Schecter Custom Stratocaster hoot and sing like angels on a Saturday night, exhausted from being good all week and needing a stiff drink."
It was also used during the film An Officer and a Gentleman.
Great reaction, love your open, creative and respectful relation. I saw this tour in 1982 when I was 14 and it was very important for my development. Telegraph Road was sort of a passage ritual for me, the first time I could appreciate a grown up song, it felt like a discovery and when I got out at the end of the 14 minute song I was a slightly different person. Mark Knopfler is singing in a conversational style while his guitar is doing the actual singing. The break of this song between the singing and instrumental part was astonishing live; when society has been corrupted and broken down (interestingly Telegraph Road is going through Detroit, a city with certain parts that experienced a collapse not too long ago), all that remains is this wild post-industrial chaos, which they kind of try to depict in the last five minutes, but it almost has to be experienced live to take effect. Great song. Thanks again for your reaction!
Dire Straits was a brilliant ban to watch live. I saw them at Wembley in 1985.
Aaand THAT was the encore!
This is such a long song that I didn't think you'd go for it! It's a wonderful track. Perfect for long drives.
Long song,yeah; more like a well- constructed symphony. Mark Knopfler has such a firm grip on everything musical.
Tunnel of Love, also off the Alchemy album - more pure genius storytelling and magnificent guitar solos
Hello there.
I think you’d love the whole Alchemy live concert.
There is plenty of footage of Terry Williams, the drummer, or Alan Clark, the pianist.
If you liked Telegraph Road you’ll like Tunnel of Love too. Another 14-minute masterpiece.
You’ll love Once upon A time in the West too, the rocking energy of Expresso Love and the brilliant songwriting in songs like Private investigations or Romeo And Juliet.
The whole DVD set is outstanding.
And all contributors have their share and footage!
That’s how it goes with Dire Straits!
The Real Shame with this It's Not the whole Concert Many People that have brought the dvd or Blu ray, Cd /Album think it is (the set list is Below;) it was Filmed & Recorded For some Reason it's never been Explained Why They are on fire it's one of the best Dire Straits Concerts Ever. You can only hope One day its Released the Whole concert that is.
Once Upon a Time in the West
Industrial Disease
Expresso Love
Romeo and Juliet
Love Over Gold
Private Investigation
Sultans of Swing
Twisting by the Pool
Two Young Lovers
Portobello Belle
Tunnel of Love
Telegraph Road
Encore:
Solid Rock
The Rocks and the Thunder
(Mark Knopfler song)
Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero
(Mark Knopfler song)
@@paulfrancis764 Yes we are quite a few to hope for a complete show release someday.
There must have been commercial reasons considered at the time to avoid making it a non affordable 3 cd, 4 LP release.
@@TollGateAB Many thanks for your reply. The dvd and Blu ray were released a while ago. Why on Earth would you not put the whole concert on there is beyond me. What a treat it would be to enjoy the concert as the crowd did back in the day. Just as side note the recent dvd and Blu ray were done by mark’s producer chuck ainlay
Hi glad you enjoyed the song you really must hear alchemy live Tunnel Of Love
Yeeeesssss! So happy you reacted to this. I think the thing that makes Alchemy Live so special is the building work. Layering, mirroring, filling... Every element is a building block that builds upon the previous note and supports the coming one. It's so impressive.
Mark Knopfler plays with his fingertips and that pretty much explains his distinct sound. He's a guitar wizard.. great song
My first album 50yrs ago was this double cassette tape.
True work of ar! Poetry, story telling,history, evocative and emotional and that insane guitar work and a phenomenal band to pull it all together is fresking genius.
It was a great concert and they were so animated and energetic. Quite possibly the best gig I've been to.
Its the story of Detroit.
As I said after Sultans, I was there and we didn't think they would be able to play Telegraph Road life, its such a massive piece.
As you saw, they smashed it!
I agree, they should have filmed more of Terry Williams on the drums, amazing
Alan Clark was the pianist, according to Wikipedia he had piano lessons from age 6 to 9, then he taught himself, natural talent! Something the whole band had.
So glad you reacted to Telegraph Road, brings back memories....
Hopefully on the back of this they will look to react to some more longer songs not just by Dire Straits, there are so many amazing pieces of rock music that,like telegraph road, build, evolve tell stories and take you on an emotional and musical journey. Whether it is Pink Floyd, or Yes, or early Genesis or Camel or Porcupine Tree or Dream Theater or Nightwish or any of a hundred bands that eschew the 3minute single in favour of providing a musical listening experience.
A long time fan of Dire Straits, I bought their first Album in LP when I heard their first song on the radio.
And everything since. They are my favorite, among the top in my library.
And Telegraph Road is one of the top DS songs.
Telegraph Road, Brothers in Arms, Romeo and Juliet, Private Investigations, Sultans of Swing, and many more. I never tire of them.
Knopfler was also reading "The Growth Of the Soil" by Knut Hamsun, while writing Telegraph Road - so that was one of the influences for this brilliant song.
As a person who lives 20 mins away from Detroit this is awesome lol
What a delightful discovery on UA-cam, you Ladies are.
Just a couple of well-timed pauses and the main reaction at the end is ideal. Your observations are wise and accurate and you are, clearly, enjoying each other Company and the song and video.
Excellent😀
Thank you so much, that was such a nice comment to read :) thanks for watching
i aint knocking any of the instrumentalists but (Terry Williams) the drummer was just a knockout. (a welsh guy)
I think watching this again ( love this performance!), that Mark Knopler as he dances around, is cuing the other guitar players about things like movement on the stage; they are that tuned in. If you watch it again watch for how he's slightly tilting his head, or moves on the stage and the other two guitarists reposition themselves. I never get tired of watching it, a stellar performance!
😍🇫🇮❤️🎼✨💙🤘
I was about 14y old, when bought my first LP...Dire Straits Love Over Gold. My favorite, Telegraph road, what a story!!! Because of telegraph road, we have internet now ❤️🇫🇮🎶👍
From the unbelievable album "Love Over Gold", which I have always loved the best of all their remarkable albums. Not really suited to airplay, but musical genius. For a change of pace, check out Knopfler's score to the movie The Princess Bride. He's a multi-dimensional genius.
Love to see reaction to private investigations and tunnel of love 1985 live
That was fantastic,not played that album for 30 years at least,Ty😁👍🤘
Very talented group of musicians. Alan Clarke’s piano along with Marks guitar rely shines in this one.
I like your reaction. This song has everything I love it.
makes me recall why they were my favorite band in the 80's........
The story for the song came about when marks tour bus was driving down telegraph Rd in Detroit reading a book called Growth of the Soil,( which i just bought ) some say he wrote the song as they were driving to their next concert.
Ive just bought the book but waiting for it to arrive because i have a real telegraph Rd, true nane, that followed similar growth over my 57 years
Frog pads. that's what the fingers look like after awhile. I love how all their music features all the musicians!! Remarkable sound and enjoyment. It's a journey. Try Romeo and Juliet next,
Thanks for your wonderful comments ladies. you put a group of great musicians together and you get Dire Straits. The fantastic drummer is Terry Williams, the most amazing piano player Alan Clark and top guitarist Mark Knopfler are the best musicians in the world.
A drummer who knows to open his damn hat when the guitar solos up!
Kinda of operaetic feel you must keep lisrening watching., and smiling.
Masterpiece !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ladies, please never stop these amazing reactions. You are both so entertaining, and beautiful to boot. ❤
Thank you.
This is a history lesson. The song make no moral judgements it just tells the story. It provokes discussion. Some of Marks songs tells factual stories like one of his solo works Sailing to Philadelphia.
The Drummer is from Wales ,Brilliant
One of the best bands musically ever !!!!!!!
I’ve been listening to Dire Straits for the past 57 years. The band has gotten better over time, and their new album released in 2022 is their best yet.
This may be my all-time favorite Dire Straits song (another one, also the live version from this same album, the song "Romeo and Juliet" is one of my other favorite songs. I'm writing this during your first pause, so you probably already figured this out, but this song is the story of the beginnings/founding of a town it's growth into a city and its decline. Mark Knopfler's guitar playing is so subtle yet awesome in this song. It was inspired by a real road that runs north and south in Michigan for 70 miles that the band was on a bus riding on when Knopfler got the inspiration for the song.
Telegraph road was on Love Over Gold. Romeo and Juliet was on Making Movies
@glengarry glenross as I said, they were both on the same live album (Alchemy) though they're from different studio albums.
"brothers in arms" nothing?! seriously?!
You both are so cute together. Grew up listening to Dire Straits! Mark is a top guitar player which certainly is highlighted in all Alchemy Live songs! Thank you.
It really helps to have lyrics set out to really unerstand the music.
Story tells that the drummer's parents were in the audience that night. That's why he/everyone played so well 😊.
I listened to Dire Straits in the radio in 1979 and I knew that a new music age has begun.
i must have been 13 or 14.... and i listened to this...and i knew this is what music was, the true essence....my friends loved rap and metal....and i just shook my head "no".... to this day...40 years later... this is the music, this is what sound....should sound like
A great British masterpeice performance
Thanks for the reaction, love it!
Mark's great for telling stories with his songs. He does a lot of solo stuff. Ragpicker's Dream is my favorite CCD of his. Marbletown has one of my favorite guitar riffs . It tells the story of the bums who rode the rails and slept in and hung out in graveyards to keep from getting caught.
This was at Wembley Arena I think.
I went to the Hammersmith odeon shows,3 of them!
They are fantastic live,and for about 2years,they shifted more units than any other band at that time.
Brilliant.
Hammersmith odeon, they didn't play this at Wembly, so you must have been there.
@@jennywren7822 I went to so many shows all through the 70’s and 80’s,worked a lot of them too (stage security) and I was present when many live shows were filmed,I remember the gig,just can’t remember if the cameras were there.
Check out tunnel of love live you will see keyboard playing at his best and the drummer Terry Williams
Thank You for doing Telegraph Road. I had forgotten all about it and it has been one of my top four from Dire Straits. The other three are - Sultans of Swing, - Walk Of Life, & - Money for Nothing. I would suggest the others and I think other people will too.
Good analysis. The lyrics were written by Mark Knopfler on a drive down an actual Telegraph Rd heading to Chicago. The scene and a book he was reading on the tour gave him the inspiration for the song. The rise and fall of a settlement growing into a city that slowly falls into desolation.
The playing around on stage is great and best seen on the Sultans video. The drummer was new with the band at the time and threw in a good few extra fills of his own. You see Mark looking back at him with a ‘questioning grin’ a few times!.
Their all incredibly talented mark is an absolute genius I have been a dire straits fan from the early days when they first formed a band their style is unique and they have created some really beautiful thought provoking tracks brothers in arms tunnel of love sultans of swing the list goes on and on fabulous band great music never can get enough great reaction from mom and daughter from the start never expected any less rock on girls enjoy
The song is about the system of control through organized commerce and governmental authority destroying real freedom. 😊 Mark is by far...my favorite musician of all time with Robert Cray and Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Jeff Beck all closely behind. As a blues/rock/roots guitar player, I had a couple of chances to really 'make it' with my talent, singing and playing guitar, but I screwed up those opportunities and now I just lament the past decisions I made. At least I still get compfort from my heroes.
So happy you two got this opportunity to experience this spectacular performance!
The song was written about Telegraph Road in Detroit, Michigan. The traffic inspired his words.
Next song; Brothers In Arms , one of Dire Straits greatest songs!
An incredible song by an incredible band It always was and it always will be, my favourite straits song.
Their best songs didn't get much if any airplay. Thanks for reacting to this one.
Knopfler is instantly recognizable with first strum of a string. Truly one of the best.
One of the first cds I ever bought still sounds great 38 years later
Outstanding. Really, full of thoughtful insights making this show very enjoyable. You could save some of the adverbs for Rhiannon Fleetwood Mac on the T.V show Midnight Special 1976....unbelievable
this is ART