1. Communiqué. 2. Dire Straits. 3. Making Movies. 4. Love over Gold. 5. Brothers in Arms. Because of a class tour to London I got The Alchemy: Dire Straits Live on beta in 84’ and me and my brother played it to bits and pieces. :)
I agree and it was hard to put it dead last. On it's own merits it's good. But when held up to the standards of the other DS albums it cant' hold up....sadly. It does have some GREAT tunes on it though.
Hi Steve, You have some great lessons and other videos on your channel so I think you should plug them more often! I think I would agree with your album ranking, and you are right about the volume of work Knopfler has done since leaving DS it is just amazing. Dire Straits or probably more accurately Mark Knopfler is what got me interested in playing guitar, But I think his song writing/lyrics + unbelievably amazing guitar work are why he is higher on my list than any other guitarist, for me he is the Bob Dylan of the 80s/90s and beyond.I look forward to you next video, Cheers! PS, is he still touring, I read somewhere that 2019 Tour was to be his last, and unfortunately, he never came to Australia. I did get to see DS when I was a kid, Well young teen, back in 92, so I guess at least I got to see them. Thanks for the videos, they are appreciated!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I'm not sure if he'll do any more tours. He started the 2019 tour stating, on stage, that he was done with touring and it was time to retire. However, by the time he got to London he'd changed his speech to something about time to slow down and not work so much. So I could imagine him releasing an album and then doing a few nights at the Royal Albert Hall and a few other locations, but not so much actual touring.
Lists are so subjective and great fun. I agree with your first and last places, but I think that Dire Straits' commercial success doesn't always reflect my favourites. My list is 1. Love Over Gold 2. Communique. 3 Dire Straits. 4. Making Movies. 5. Brother's in Arms. 6. On Every Street. A list of favourite songs would be completely different with Tunnel of Love and Brother's in Arms in the top 3. Thanks for the list. Good Fun.
For me its a toss up between 'Dire Straits' and 'On Every Street' for No.1 position then 'Love over Gold' a very close second place. 'Making Movies' would be last place
Okay, Steve, I have a ranking for Dire Straits, but it is somewhat different from yours, so do not get all bent out of joint, just because I didn't place your favourite album as first or anything like that. I have seen them perform in a colosseum twice, and was totally moved by what they’ve brought up to the plate. Especially Mark Knopfler with his extra ad libs!!! I found this group to be totally entertaining when they are not bottled up in the recording studio or making music videos for MTV. Well anyways, I will stop rambling now, and Here is my ranking of Dire Straits albums: #1. Brothers In Arms - Mark and boys at their peak here in 1985. The strongest song for me is “Man’s Too Strong”. A song that talks about a soldier’s regrets for all of his evildoings, and is to be executed while being escorted from his prison cell. Excellent story telling and dobro work from Knopfler. The weakest song for me is “Your Latest Trick”. This song is too jazzy and has too much sax in it. Overall still a solid album. #2. Dire Straits - A great introduction to Mark and gang, includes a short version of “Sultans Of Swing”. #3. Alchemy - This live 1983 recording captures what the Straits do best which is put on extended concert performances!!! Highlights include an extended version of “Sultans Of Swing”, a rousing rendition of “Tunnel Of Love” and an instrumental closing piece titled “Going Home” from Mark Knopfler’s Local Hero soundtrack. The weakest song on it is “Two Young Lovers”. #4. Love Over Gold - Knopfler is on fire here with his story song “Telegraph Road” which talks about the changing land developments, and struggles with unemployment!!! His guitar playing is at it’s peak here!!! Highlights include “Industrial Disease”, “Private Investigations”, and “Love Over Gold”. Knopfler makes his debut as classical guitarist on the latter two. The weakest track is “It Never Rains”. That song drags on and on. #5. Money For Nothing - This greatest hits album features edited cuts and live versions of songs from previous albums. Highlights include “Portobello Belle: live”, “Twisting By The Pool”, and an alternate take on “Where Do You Think You’re Going”. #6. Communique - This album is a continuation of the first album and the last to feature Mark’s brother David. Though you get tired of hearing Mark play that same old red Stratocaster, and are looking forward to hearing him bend and pluck strings on a Les Paul or a Pensa Suhr, his playing is still superb on this album. Highlights include “Once Upon A Time In The West”, “News”, and the “Sultans Of Swing” cloned “Lady Writer”. An okay album. #7. Making Movies - Many people will hate me for for this, but I ranked this album toward the bottom for several reasons. I have never owned a copy of this album, at least not yet, but I have heard some of the songs, on the Alchemy live album , and Money For Nothing compilation. I have even seen the videos to these songs, but never really warmed to them. That being said. The highlights for me on this album include “Solid Rock”: their best version, “Tunnel Of Love”, and “Skateaway”. The weakest song on this was “Les Boys”!!! #8. On Every Street - Yes this is the weakest Dire Straits studio album ever, and while Knopfler put away his red Stratocaster and picked up the Pensa Suhr for this album, he churns out some of the worst material for this band ever. After a 6 year hiatus, Knopfler forays into country and western music which he picks up from his buddies Chet Atkins and the Notting Hillbillies, blues, and easy listening. Yuck! He should’ve stayed with pop/rock throughout this album!!! Only half of his original band members are with him: bassist John Illsley, and keyboardists Alan Clark, and Guy Fletcher (are you any relation to him???). Drummer Terry Williams, and guitarists Hal Lindes, and Jack Sonni disappear, and are replaced by second rate amateur musicians. There is too much pedal steel on this, jazzy woodwinds on this to make this a standout rocker. The only saving grace is that there are 12 songs instead of 9. Highlights include “Calling Elvis”, “My Parties”, and “Iron Hand”. The weakest song on this is “You And Your Friend”. So this is my ranking and I hope it gave new insights on how Mark and the boys are viewed from a different perspective!!! Be looking forward to the next one!! Cheers
Trying to figure out which Album is the best, is worse than asking more than one doctor. Everyone has it’s own list. Maybe I should just collect them chronologically.
@@Visual_Writer I agree. All music is subjective as is all art. That's why this is MY list: it's not right or wrong. It's mine. But yes, you should definitely collect them all!
Possibly the EP but I did say studio albums. The only new track on Money For Nothing is Portobello Belle and that's not new it's a live off cut from Alchemy
@@TheBreadedChurchman Money For Nothing: I was thinking about the alternate take of the track from Communique and (again) Twisting By The Pool (which is a remix) but you're probably right, it's not much and it's not completely new. They could release more material from DS. I know there are some outtakes and a lot of alernate takes with different instrumentation.
1. Communiqué. 2. Dire Straits. 3. Making Movies. 4. Love over Gold. 5. Brothers in Arms. Because of a class tour to London I got The Alchemy: Dire Straits Live on beta in 84’ and me and my brother played it to bits and pieces. :)
"On Every Street" is really underated.
I agree and it was hard to put it dead last. On it's own merits it's good. But when held up to the standards of the other DS albums it cant' hold up....sadly. It does have some GREAT tunes on it though.
Hi Steve,
You have some great lessons and other videos on your channel so I think you should plug them more often! I think I would agree with your album ranking, and you are right about the volume of work Knopfler has done since leaving DS it is just amazing.
Dire Straits or probably more accurately Mark Knopfler is what got me interested in playing guitar, But I think his song writing/lyrics + unbelievably amazing guitar work are why he is higher on my list than any other guitarist, for me he is the Bob Dylan of the 80s/90s and beyond.I look forward to you next video, Cheers!
PS, is he still touring, I read somewhere that 2019 Tour was to be his last, and unfortunately, he never came to Australia. I did get to see DS when I was a kid, Well young teen, back in 92, so I guess at least I got to see them. Thanks for the videos, they are appreciated!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I'm not sure if he'll do any more tours. He started the 2019 tour stating, on stage, that he was done with touring and it was time to retire. However, by the time he got to London he'd changed his speech to something about time to slow down and not work so much. So I could imagine him releasing an album and then doing a few nights at the Royal Albert Hall and a few other locations, but not so much actual touring.
Lists are so subjective and great fun. I agree with your first and last places, but I think that Dire Straits' commercial success doesn't always reflect my favourites. My list is 1. Love Over Gold 2. Communique. 3 Dire Straits. 4. Making Movies. 5. Brother's in Arms. 6. On Every Street. A list of favourite songs would be completely different with Tunnel of Love and Brother's in Arms in the top 3. Thanks for the list. Good Fun.
For me its a toss up between 'Dire Straits' and 'On Every Street' for No.1 position then 'Love over Gold' a very close second place. 'Making Movies' would be last place
Okay, Steve, I have a ranking for Dire Straits, but it is somewhat different from yours, so do not get all bent out of joint, just because I didn't place your favourite album as first or anything like that. I have seen them perform in a colosseum twice, and was totally moved by what they’ve brought up to the plate. Especially Mark Knopfler with his extra ad libs!!! I found this group to be totally entertaining when they are not bottled up in the recording studio or making music videos for MTV. Well anyways, I will stop rambling now, and Here is my ranking of Dire Straits albums:
#1. Brothers In Arms - Mark and boys at their peak here in 1985. The strongest song for me is “Man’s Too Strong”. A song that talks about a soldier’s regrets for all of his evildoings, and is to be executed while being escorted from his prison cell. Excellent story telling and dobro work from Knopfler. The weakest song for me is “Your Latest Trick”. This song is too jazzy and has too much sax in it. Overall still a solid album.
#2. Dire Straits - A great introduction to Mark and gang, includes a short version of “Sultans Of Swing”.
#3. Alchemy - This live 1983 recording captures what the Straits do best which is put on extended concert performances!!! Highlights include an extended version of “Sultans Of Swing”, a rousing rendition of “Tunnel Of Love” and an instrumental closing piece titled “Going Home” from Mark Knopfler’s Local Hero soundtrack. The weakest song on it is “Two Young Lovers”.
#4. Love Over Gold - Knopfler is on fire here with his story song “Telegraph Road” which talks about the changing land developments, and struggles with unemployment!!! His guitar playing is at it’s peak here!!! Highlights include “Industrial Disease”, “Private Investigations”, and “Love Over Gold”. Knopfler makes his debut as classical guitarist on the latter two. The weakest track is “It Never Rains”. That song drags on and on.
#5. Money For Nothing - This greatest hits album features edited cuts and live versions of songs from previous albums. Highlights include “Portobello Belle: live”, “Twisting By The Pool”, and an alternate take on “Where Do You Think You’re Going”.
#6. Communique - This album is a continuation of the first album and the last to feature Mark’s brother David. Though you get tired of hearing Mark play that same old red Stratocaster, and are looking forward to hearing him bend and pluck strings on a Les Paul or a Pensa Suhr, his playing is still superb on this album. Highlights include “Once Upon A Time In The West”, “News”, and the “Sultans Of Swing” cloned “Lady Writer”. An okay album.
#7. Making Movies - Many people will hate me for for this, but I ranked this album toward the bottom for several reasons. I have never owned a copy of this album, at least not yet, but I have heard some of the songs, on the Alchemy live album , and Money For Nothing compilation. I have even seen the videos to these songs, but never really warmed to them. That being said. The highlights for me on this album include “Solid Rock”: their best version, “Tunnel Of Love”, and “Skateaway”. The weakest song on this was “Les Boys”!!!
#8. On Every Street - Yes this is the weakest Dire Straits studio album ever, and while Knopfler put away his red Stratocaster and picked up the Pensa Suhr for this album, he churns out some of the worst material for this band ever. After a 6 year hiatus, Knopfler forays into country and western music which he picks up from his buddies Chet Atkins and the Notting Hillbillies, blues, and easy listening. Yuck! He should’ve stayed with pop/rock throughout this album!!! Only half of his original band members are with him: bassist John Illsley, and keyboardists Alan Clark, and Guy Fletcher (are you any relation to him???). Drummer Terry Williams, and guitarists Hal Lindes, and Jack Sonni disappear, and are replaced by second rate amateur musicians. There is too much pedal steel on this, jazzy woodwinds on this to make this a standout rocker. The only saving grace is that there are 12 songs instead of 9. Highlights include “Calling Elvis”, “My Parties”, and “Iron Hand”. The weakest song on this is “You And Your Friend”.
So this is my ranking and I hope it gave new insights on how Mark and the boys are viewed from a different perspective!!! Be looking forward to the next one!! Cheers
I would never get bent out of shape over someone's differing opinion. Well listed my friend and thanks for taking the time to comment.
Trying to figure out which Album is the best, is worse than asking more than one doctor. Everyone has it’s own list. Maybe I should just collect them chronologically.
@@Visual_Writer I agree. All music is subjective as is all art. That's why this is MY list: it's not right or wrong. It's mine. But yes, you should definitely collect them all!
"Twisting by the pool" ep should be included, as well as the compilation "Money for nothing". Both have "new" tracks.
Possibly the EP but I did say studio albums. The only new track on Money For Nothing is Portobello Belle and that's not new it's a live off cut from Alchemy
@@TheBreadedChurchman Money For Nothing: I was thinking about the alternate take of the track from Communique and (again) Twisting By The Pool (which is a remix) but you're probably right, it's not much and it's not completely new.
They could release more material from DS. I know there are some outtakes and a lot of alernate takes with different instrumentation.
@@piotrlangtvedt very much looking forward to the new Live Boxset that's coming out in November. I'll certainly be doing a review of that!
Love over gold their true masterpiece 😁
1 first album
2 communiqué
3 love over gold
4 making movies
5 brothers in arms
6 on every street
Wow. Controversial! 🤣
Mostly agree with your list but I think your wrong on the first album it's a real find!
For a time dire Straits were as big as Pink Floyd
They certainly filled a gap when it was sorely needed