Dire Straits (album)

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Dire Straits
DS Dire Straits.jpg
Studio album by
Dire Straits
Released9 June 1978 (1978-06-09) (UK) [1]
Recorded13 February – 5 March 1978
Studio Basing Street, Notting Hill, London
Genre
Length41:34
Label
Producer Muff Winwood
Dire Straits chronology
Dire Straits
(1978)		 Communiqué
(1979)
Singles from Dire Straits
  1. "Sultans of Swing"
    Released: May 1978 (UK)
  2. "Water of Love"
    Released: October 1978 (NL) [3]

Dire Straits is the debut studio album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 9 June 1978 by Vertigo Records internationally, Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Mercury Records in Canada. [4] The album features the hit single "Sultans of Swing", which reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached the top of the album charts in Germany, Australia and France, number 2 in the United States and number 5 in the United Kingdom. Dire Straits was later certified double platinum in both the United States and the United Kingdom by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) respectively.

Contents

Recording

Dire Straits was recorded at Basing Street Studios in London from 13 February to 5 March 1978. Knopfler used a few guitars for the recording, including a pair of red Fender Stratocasters—one from 1961 (serial number 68354) and one from 1962 (serial number 80470). He played his 1938 National Style O 14 fret guitar (serial number B1844) [nb 1] on "Water of Love" and "Wild West End". He also used a black Telecaster Thinline (serial number 226254) on "Setting Me Up". David played a black Fender Stratocaster and a Harmony Sovereign acoustic guitar. The album was produced by Muff Winwood, and engineered by Rhett Davies, assisted by Greg Cobb.

Release

The album was released in the US on 20 October 1978. [6] The first single released was "Sultans of Swing" which first broke into the United States top five early in the spring of 1979, becoming a hit a full five months after the album was released there, and then reached number eight in the UK Singles Chart. "Water of Love" was also released as a single in some countries, and charted in Australia, reaching number 54, and in the Netherlands, reaching number 28. [7]

"Sultans of Swing" was re-released as a single in the UK in November 1988 to promote the greatest hits compilation Money for Nothing , released in October that year. [8]

The album was remastered and reissued with the rest of the Dire Straits catalogue in 1996 to most of the world excluding the U.S. and on 19 September 2000 in the United States. [9]

Artwork

The album cover artwork is designed by Hothouse, who commissioned the cover painting from Chuck Loyola. The Dire Straits Fender logo, which appears on the back cover, was designed by Geoff Halpern.

Touring

Dire Straits promoted the release of their first single and album with the Dire Straits Tour, which started on 6 June 1978 at the Lafayette Club in Wolverhampton, included 55 shows, ending on 18 November 1978 at the College of Education in Hitchin. [10] The European tour included concerts in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. These concerts presented Dire Straits with their largest audiences to that date. The first leg of the tour promoted their first single, "Sultans of Swing". This first leg took the band around Great Britain in June and July 1978, performing in England, Scotland and Wales. The band typically performed in small halls with a maximum capacity of 1,000. The second leg of the tour promoted the band's debut album. This leg took the band to several European countries, where they met journalists and performed on television programmes. [10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Christgau's Record Guide B [12]
Pitchfork 8.2/10 [13]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album "remarkably accomplished for a debut". [11] Erlewine praised Knopfler's "spare, tasteful guitar lines and his husky warbling" and his "inclination toward Dylanesque imagery, which enhances the smoky, low-key atmosphere of the album". [11]

In his review for Rolling Stone , Ken Tucker wrote that the band "plays tight, spare mixtures of rock, folk and country music with a serene spirit and witty irony. It's almost as if they were aware that their forte has nothing to do with what's currently happening in the industry, but couldn't care less." [14] Tucker singled out "Sultans of Swing" for its "inescapable hook" and "Bob Dylan-like snarl in its vocal". [14] He also praised "Setting Me Up" as a "heavenly number, funny and bitter". [14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mark Knopfler

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Down to the Waterline"3:55
2."Water of Love"5:23
3."Setting Me Up"3:18
4."Six Blade Knife"4:10
5."Southbound Again"2:58
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Sultans of Swing"5:47
2."In the Gallery"6:16
3."Wild West End"4:42
4."Lions"5:05
Total length:41:34

Personnel

Dire Straits

Production

Charts

Dire Straits spent 132 weeks on the UK Albums Chart. [17]

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia—47,000 [35]
Austria (IFPI Austria) [36] Gold25,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [37] Gold150,000 [37]
Canada (Music Canada) [38] 4× Platinum400,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [39] Gold10,000‡
France (SNEP) [40] Platinum400,000*
Germany (BVMI) [41] Platinum540,000 [42]
Greece (IFPI Greece) [43] Gold50,000 [44]
Italy (FIMI) [45]
sales since 2009 		Platinum50,000‡
Netherlands (NVPI) [46] Platinum407,633 [47]
New Zealand (RMNZ) [48] Platinum15,000^
Sweden (GLF) [49] Silver 
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [50] 2× Platinum100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [51] 2× Platinum600,000^
United States (RIAA) [52] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. ↑ Knopfler's 1938 National Style O 14 fret guitar — legendary guitar used for the Brothers in Arms cover artwork — is a 1937 model and was purchased in the early 1970s from Steve Phillips. Knopfler has used it on all Dire Straits albums and on all of his solo albums. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dire Straits</span> British rock band

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<i>Communiqué</i> (Dire Straits album) 1979 studio album by Dire Straits

Communiqué is the second studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 5 June 1979 by Vertigo Records internationally, Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Mercury Records in Canada. The album featured the single "Lady Writer," which reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 51 on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached number one on album charts in Germany, Spain, New Zealand, and Sweden, number 11 in the United States and number 5 in the United Kingdom. Communiqué was later certified gold in the United States, platinum in the United Kingdom and double-platinum in France.

<i>Brothers in Arms</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Dire Straits

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<i>Making Movies</i> 1980 studio album by Dire Straits

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<i>On Every Street</i> 1991 studio album by Dire Straits

On Every Street is the sixth and final studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 9 September 1991 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The follow-up to the band's massively successful album Brothers in Arms, On Every Street reached the top of the UK Albums Chart and was also certified platinum by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sultans of Swing</span> 1978 single by Dire Straits

"Sultans of Swing" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, written by lead vocalist and guitarist Mark Knopfler. The demo of the song was recorded at Pathway Studios, North London, in July 1977 and quickly acquired a following after it was put in rotation on BBC Radio London. Its popularity soon reached record executives, and Dire Straits were offered a contract with Phonogram Records. The song was then re-recorded in February 1978 at Basing Street Studios for the band's eponymous debut album.

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<i>Love over Gold</i> 1982 studio album by Dire Straits

Love over Gold is the fourth studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 24 September 1982 by Vertigo Records internationally and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album featured two singles: "Private Investigations," which reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Industrial Disease," which reached No. 9 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the United States. The title track was never released as a single, but two years later a live version from Alchemy: Dire Straits Live reached #15 in France, #29 in New Zealand, #43 in the Netherlands and #50 in the band's native United Kingdom. The album reached number one on album charts in Australia, Austria, Italy, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom, as well as number 19 in the United States. Love over Gold was later certified gold in the United States, platinum in France and Germany and double-platinum in Canada and the United Kingdom.

<i>Alchemy: Dire Straits Live</i> 1984 live album by Dire Straits

Alchemy: Dire Straits Live is the first live album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released in March 1984 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. Recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on 22–23 July 1983, the double album features songs from the band's first four albums, the ExtendedancEPlay EP and Mark Knopfler's Local Hero soundtrack. Many of the songs have reworked arrangements and extended instrumental segments. The album cover is taken from a painting by Brett Whiteley.

<i>The Ragpickers Dream</i> 2002 studio album by Mark Knopfler

The Ragpicker's Dream is the third solo studio album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 30 September 2002 by Mercury Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album received generally favorable reviews upon its release.

<i>Golden Heart</i> 1996 studio album by Mark Knopfler

Golden Heart is the debut solo studio album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 25 March 1996 by Vertigo Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. Following a successful career leading British rock band Dire Straits and composing a string of critically acclaimed film soundtrack albums, Knopfler recorded his first solo album, drawing upon the various musical influences he'd engaged since emerging as a major recording artist in 1978. The album reached the top-10 position on charts in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The album peaked at 105 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money for Nothing (song)</span> 1985 single by Dire Straits

"Money for Nothing" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, being the second track on their fifth studio album, Brothers in Arms (1985). It was released as the album's second single on 28 June 1985 through Vertigo Records. The song's lyrics are written from the point of view of two working-class men watching music videos and commenting on what they see. The song features a guest appearance by Sting who sings the signature falsetto introduction, background vocals and a backing chorus of "I want my MTV". The groundbreaking video was the first to be aired on MTV Europe when the network launched on 1 August 1987.

<i>On the Night</i> 1993 live album by Dire Straits

On the Night is the second live album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 10 May 1993 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album features many of the band's later hits, including the singles "Walk of Life" and "Money for Nothing". The cover art of the album features dishes of the Very Large Array in central New Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk of Life</span> 1985 single by Dire Straits

"Walk of Life" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits, being the third track on their fifth studio album Brothers in Arms (1985). It was released as a single, but had first been available as the B-side of "So Far Away" released several months earlier in advance of the album.

<i>Money for Nothing</i> (album) 1988 greatest hits album by Dire Straits

Money for Nothing is a greatest hits album by British rock band Dire Straits released on 17 October 1988, featuring highlights from the band's first five albums. The vinyl edition omits the song "Telegraph Road" and has a different running order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Writer</span> 1979 single by Dire Straits

"Lady Writer" is a 1979 song by Dire Straits, which appears on the band's second album Communiqué. It was written by the band's lead singer, Mark Knopfler.

<i>Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits</i> 1998 greatest hits album by Dire Straits

Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits is the second greatest hits compilation by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 19 October 1998 by Mercury Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album was originally released, featuring liner notes by Robert Sandall, as both a single CD and a limited edition double CD, with the second CD containing live recordings from Mark Knopfler's first solo tour in 1996. A DVD of the same name was also released, featuring the music videos of all the songs on the single CD version, in addition to short interviews with Mark Knopfler about each song. The album is named after the band's 1978 hit single of the same name. In 2002, a limited edition box set, comprising the two CDs and the DVD, was released as part of Universal's "Sight and Sound" series.

<i>Private Investigations</i> (album) 2005 compilation album by Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler

Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler is the third compilation album by Dire Straits and Scottish-born British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released in 2005 by Mercury and Vertigo internationally, and Warner Bros. in the United States. Named after their 1982 hit single, the album consists of material by Dire Straits, with songs selected from the group's six studio albums from 1978 up through the group's dissolution in 1995. It also features work from the solo career of the group's singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mark Knopfler, including some of his soundtrack material.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dire Straits discography</span>

The discography of English rock band Dire Straits consists of six studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums, two extended plays and 31 singles. Dire Straits also have sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists in the world.

<i>Tracker</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Mark Knopfler

Tracker is the eighth solo studio album by the British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 16 March 2015.

References

  1. ↑ "Dire Straits: The Timeline". Dire Straits. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide to Popular Music (4th ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. 2001. p. 120. ISBN   0879309237.
  3. ↑ "Dire straits singles".
  4. ↑ "Dire Straits". Discogs. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  5. ↑ "National Style O". Mark Knopfler Info. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  6. ↑ "RIAA certifications". Recording Industry Association of America .
  7. ↑ "Dire Straits". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  8. ↑ "Dire Straits | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  9. ↑ "30 years of Dire Straits!". 16 January 2010. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2010.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. 1 2 "Dire Straits tour 1978". Mark Knopfler Info. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  11. 1 2 3 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Dire Straits". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  12. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: D". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved 24 February 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  13. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (23 September 2020). "Dire Straits: Dire Straits Album Review". Pitchfork . Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 Tucker, Ken (25 January 1979). "Dire Straits". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  15. ↑ Dire Straits (booklet). Dire Straits. Burbank, California: Warner Bros. Records. 1978. pp. 11–12. 947769-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ "How a Slow-Building Debut Eventually Vindicated Dire Straits". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  17. ↑ "Dire Straits - Albums". Official Charts. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  18. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Dire Straits – Dire Straits" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Dire Straits – Dire Straits" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  20. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Dire Straits – Dire Straits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Dire Straits – Dire Straits" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  22. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Dire Straits – Dire Straits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Charts.nz – Dire Straits – Dire Straits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  24. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Dire Straits – Dire Straits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  25. ↑ "Hits of the World - Spain". Billboard . Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 21 July 1979. p. 69.
  26. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Dire Straits – Dire Straits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  27. ↑ "Dire Straits | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  28. ↑ "Dire Straits Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  29. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1978". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  30. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1979". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  31. ↑ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  32. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1979". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  33. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1979". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  34. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1981". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  35. ↑ Baker, Glenn (17 March 1979). "Australia - Down Under in Oz" (PDF). Billboard. p. SA-4. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  36. ↑ "Gold & Platinum Awards 1987" (PDF). Music & Media . 26 December 1987. pp. 42–46. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  37. 1 2 Tarik de Souza (12 September 1991). "Volta os campeões de audiência". Jornal do Brasil (in Portuguese). p. 38. Retrieved 23 October 2023– via National Library of Brazil. Alam da platina tripla pelos 750 mil copias de Brothers in Arms, a banda de Mark Knopfler garimpou entre nos duas platina dimples de 250 mil cada (Alchemy, o primeiro que estourou, em 84, e coletânea Money for Nothing, de 8) e um disco de ouro (no LP de estreia Dire Straits, de 79)
  38. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Dire Straits – Dire Straits". Music Canada.
  39. ↑ "Danish album certifications – Dire Straits – Dire Straits". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  40. ↑ "Les Certifications depuis 1973: Albums". Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 19 October 2020. (select "Dire Straits" from drop-down list)
  41. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Dire Straits; 'Dire Straits')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  42. ↑ "Resilient Year". Billboard . 8 December 1979. p. G-6. Retrieved 24 June 2023– via Google Books.
  43. ↑ "Dire Straits in Greece" (PDF). Cash Box. 5 January 1980. p. 21 – via American Radio History.
  44. ↑ Carr, John (3 November 1979). "Greece: Rock and Roll Is The Word" (PDF). Billboard. p. 77. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  45. ↑ "Italian album certifications – Dire Straits – Dire Straits" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.
  46. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Dire Straits – Dire Straits" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.Enter Dire Straits in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1978 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  47. ↑ Hoos, Willem (16 December 1989). "Group Has Sold More Than 2 Mil Disks - Dutch Delight In Dire Straits - Dutch Delight in Dire Straits" (PDF). Billboard. p. 67. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  48. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – Dire Straits – Dire Straits". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  49. ↑ "Swedish Gold For Straits" (PDF). Cash Box. 12 January 1980. p. 26. Retrieved 17 February 2020– via American Radio History.
  50. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Dire Straits')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  51. ↑ "British album certifications – Dire Straits – Dire Straits". British Phonographic Industry.
  52. ↑ "American album certifications – Dire Straits – Dire Straits". Recording Industry Association of America.
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