Dire Straits

 

Artist:  Dire Straits  
Origin:  Deptford, London, England
Genre:  Rock, Roots Rock, Rock & Roll, Contemporary Pop, Album Rock, Pop Rock, Pub Rock, Blues Rock

Original line-up:

Mark Knopfler:  Lead Vocals, Guitar
David Knopfler:  Guitar, Keyboards
John Illsley:  Bass, Vocals, Guitar
Pick Withers:  Drums

Dire Straits were a British Rock Band from Deptford, London, formed in 1971 by Mark Knopfler (Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar), David Knopfler (Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals), John Illsley (Bass, Backing Vocals), and Pick Withers (Drums, Percussion).  The band's sound from a variety of musical influences including from Rock, Folk, Country, Blues, Jazz and Punk Rock.  The band's biggest selling album Brothers In Arms in 1985, has sold over 30 million copies.  They also became one of the world's most commercially successful bands, with the world wide record sales of over 100 million.  They won four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, - winning Best British Group Twice, two MTV Video Music Awards and various other music awards.  The band's songs hit include "Money For Nothing", "Sultans Of Swing", "So Far Away", "Walk Of Life", "Brothers In Arms", "Private Investigations", "Romeo And Juliet", "Tunnel Of Love", "Telegraph Road", and "Lady Writer".

Title:   The Studio Albums 1978-1991 (Limited Edition CD Box Set)  (2020)

Genre:  Rock, Roots Rock, Rock & Roll, Contemporary Pop, Album Rock, Pop Rock, Pub Rock, Blues Rock

Label:   Mercury/Vertigo

Rating:    *****

Format:   CD

Tracks:

Disc 1:  Dire Straits:  (1978)

 1.  Down To The Waterline  (4:02)

 2.  Water Of Love  (5:26)

 3.  Setting Me Up  (3:19)

 4.  Six Blade Knife  (4:13)

 5.  Southbound Again  (2:59)

 6.  Sultans Of Swing  (5:48)

 7.  In The Gallery  (6:16)

 8.  Wild West End  (4:41)

 9.  Lions  (5:03)

Personnel:

Mark Knopfler:  Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar
David Knopfler:  Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
John Illsley:  Bass, Backing Vocals
Pick Withers:  Drums

Disc 2:  Communique:   (1979)

 1.  Once Upon A Time In The West  (5:25)

 2.  News  (4:14)

 3.  Where Do You Think You're Going?  (3:49)

 4.  Communique  (5:49)

 5.  Lady Writer  (3:45)

 6.  Angel Of Mercy  (4:36)

 7.  Portobello Belle  (4:29)

 8.  Single-Handed Sailor  (4:42)

 9.  Follow Me Home  (5:50)

Personnel:

Mark Knopfler:  Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar
David Knopfler:  Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
John Illsley:  Bass, Backing Vocals
Pick Withers:  Drums

Disc 3:  Making Movies:  (1980)

 1.  Tunnel Of Love  (8:11)

 2.  Romeo And Juliet  (6:01:

 3.  Skateaway  (6:40)

 4.  Expresso Love  (5:12)

 5.  Hand In Hand  (4:48)

 6.  Solid Rock  (3:27)

 7.  Les Boys  (4:08)

Personnel:

Mark Knopfler:  Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar
John Illsley:  Bass, Backing Vocals
Pick Withers:  Drums, Vocals

Additional Musicians:

Roy Bittan:  Keyboards

Sid McGinnis:  Guitar

Disc 4:  Love Over Gold:  (1982)

 1.  Telegraph Road  (14:18)

 2.  Private Investigations  (6:46)

 3.   Industrial Disease  (5:50)

 4.  Love Over Gold  (6:17)

 5.  It Never Rains  (7:58)

Personnel:

Mark Knopfler:  Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar
John Illsley:  Bass, Backing Vocals

Hal Lindes:   Guitar

Alan Clark:  Piano, Organ, Synthesizers
Pick Withers:  Drums

Additional Musicians:

Mike Mainieri:  Vibes, Marimba on Tracks:  2, 4

Ed Walsh:  Synthesizer Programming

Disc 5:  Brothers In Arms:  (1985)

 1.  So Far Away  (5:11)

 2.  Money For Nothing  (8:26)

 3.  Walk Of Life  (4:12)

 4.  Your Latest Trick  (6:33)

 5.  Why Worry   (8:31)

 6.  Ride Across The River  (6:56)

 7.  The Man's Too Strong  (4:40)

 8.  One World  (3:40)

 9.  Brothers In Arms  (7:00)

Personnel:

Mark Knopfler:  Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar
John Illsley:  Bass,  Vocals

Alan Clark:  Keyboards

Guy Fletcher:  Keyboards, Vocals
Omar Hakim:  Drums

Terry Williams:  Drums

Additional Musicians:

Michael Brecker:  Saxophone on Track 4

Randy Brecker:

Malcolm Duncan:

Neil Jason:   

Tony Levin:  Bass on Track 8

Jimmy Maelen:

Mike Mainieri:

Dave Plews:

Jack Sonni:  Guitar Synthesizer on Track 7

Sting:  Vocals on Track 2

Disc 6:  On Every Street:  (1991)

 1.  Calling Elvis  (6:26)

 2.  On Every Street  (5:04)

 3.  When It Comes To You  (5:01)

 4.  Fade To Black  (3:50)

 5.  The Bug  (4:16)

 6.  You And Your Friend  (5:59)

 7.  Heavy Fuel  (5:10)

 8.  Iron Hand  (3:09)

 9.  Ticket To Heaven  (4:25)

10. My Parties  (5:33)

11. Planet Of New Orleans  (7:48)

12. How Long  (3:49)

Personnel:

Mark Knopfler:  Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar
John Illsley:  Bass,  Vocals

Alan Clark:  Organ, Piano, Synthesizer

Guy Fletcher:  Synthesizer, Backing Vocals

Additional Musicians:

Danny Cummings:  Percussion

Paul Franklin:  Pedal Steel Guitar, Acoustic Lap Steel Mark Knopfler:  Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar

John Illsley:  Bass,  Vocals

Alan Clark:  Keyboards

Guy Fletcher:  Keyboards, Vocals on Track  6

Vince Gill:  Guitar Backing Vocals on Track 5

Manu Katche:  Percussion, Drums on Tracks:  7, 11

George Martin;   Conductor, String Managements on Track 9

Phil Palmer:  Guitar

Jeff Porcaro:  Drums, Percussion

Chris White:  Flute, Saxophone

The Studio Albums 1978-1991 is the Limited Edition Box Set Collection by Dire Straits, released on October 9, 2020 by Mercury/Vertigo.  All 6 Multi-Platinum Studio Albums.