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Post by greendemon on Oct 15, 2020 13:10:53 GMT 1
4. Why Worry (Brothers In Arms, 1985)
My highest-ranking Dire Straits album track is this beautiful, stripped-back ballad. It has this soothing, almost lullaby-like quality that I think comes from the almost total absence of percussion: for over half the song, there is nothing but vocals, guitar and the synth refrain that repeats throughout the song. The second half of the song is a long instrumental sequence that underlays light percussion beneath the guitars and synth. Knopfler has since derided the instrumental outro as 'pointless faffing around with pretty sounds' but I find it so atmospheric: when I spoke earlier of Dire Straits' ability to evoke the sense of being in a wide open space, it is similar instrumental outros and the 'Why Worry' instrumental in particular I have in mind.
The guitar riff was also famously sampled in 1999 by Chilean-Swedish rapper, Deetah, for her number 11 hit 'Relax', which I include below for completeness' sake but somewhat against my better judgement. Admittedly, there are far worse instances of samples from classic songs getting butchered...
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vastar iner
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Post by vastar iner on Oct 15, 2020 14:03:12 GMT 1
There's one Dire Straits song which hasn't come up yet that was a big hit, but I've never understood why as it is one of the most boring songs of all-time. I like the ones mentioned so far though. You have to listen to it the whole way through, it's one of those where you have to go through the dull bit to get the contrast of the end bit.
Bit like supporting Birmingham City. A lifetime of sh*te and then suddenly we win the League Cup.
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Post by greendemon on Oct 17, 2020 15:18:57 GMT 1
I'm still not sure we're all talking about the same song!
I am pretty certain it's not this one, though...
3. Sultans of Swing (Dire Straits, 1978)
This one needs no introduction: it was Dire Straits' first single, the one that got them their record deal and made their name, and I'm pretty sure some would still consider it their best. Without a doubt, it has aged better than a lot of their more recent material (not that 'recent' is the right word to use of a band that has been dormant since the early 90s, but you know what I mean) - over forty years after it was recorded, it remains a timeless classic, with little beyond the reference to 'brown baggies and platform soles' to give away its age. It has two features common to all of their best early songs: the peerless craftsmanship of the guitar work, and evocative, storytelling lyrics, in this case painting a picture of the eponymous third-rate jazz band whose underwhelming pub gig inspired Knopfler to write the song. It's a scene anyone who's ever been to a mediocre live music pub night can call to mind, though the gently mocking tone is something I only picked up on when I was older. I occasionally wonder what became of that band and whether they enjoyed any success off the back of it - I expect not, but it probably has got them more than a few drinks bought over the years!
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Post by greendemon on Oct 17, 2020 15:33:24 GMT 1
We come at last to the second and highest entry from their final album... 2. On Every Street (On Every Street, 1992)If I had posted this top 10 all at once with a clickbait title, it would have been 'Number 2 Will Underwhelm You!' I'm not expecting anyone else to share my very high opinion of this song. It is, of course, the song I alluded to in the Crowded House top 10 when I mentioned having a weakness for songs with powerful outros. Dire Straits do have a fine line in long instrumental outros, as I've shown in several of the songs I've highlighted already - it's a big part of why I love 'Why Worry' and 'Tunnel of Love' so much - but this one is my favourite. Part of it is the contrast between the stripped-back, piano-driven first half of the song and the final two minutes. But actually the real reason I have such a massive soft spot for this one is because it's one of the first songs I can ever remember hearing. I would have been about 5 years old when the album came out, and my dad must have bought it pretty close to release because I can remember listening to the guitar hook of the instrumental before I knew who or what it was. I guess he wasn't a big fan of the album as Brothers in Arms got more plays. It wasn't until years later when I heard the Sultans of Swing best of that I worked out what this song was called! I can't remember the last time before this top 10 when I played the album in full, but I still love listening to 'On Every Street'. That moment about 3 minutes in when the instrumental kicks off is just glorious.
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Post by greendemon on Oct 17, 2020 16:09:22 GMT 1
Obvious number 1 is obvious...
1. Brothers in Arms (Brothers in Arms, 1985)
Apart from 'On Every Street', this was the only entry whose position in the top 10 was never in question. It has always been my favourite Dire Straits song - not to say one of my favourite songs ever - and I can't see that ever changing. It was also my dad's favourite song and holds a bittersweet meaning for me now, as we played it at his funeral ten years ago. There's no doubt it's more difficult to listen to than it was when he was still around, but even long before his illness, I've always found the lyrics - about solidarity between soldiers on both sides, death and the futility of war - more moving than any of Knopfler's other songs. 'We're fools to make war on our brothers in arms' - some may find the directness of the anti-war imagery a bit cheesy but if that's not a timeless message, I don't know what is. I can't deny it's here more for the lyrics (and the personal significance) than the music itself, but I love way the use of synth, thunder effects and organ at various points in the song create an atmospheric backdrop for that epic guitar, especially at the end.
'Brothers in Arms' is one of Dire Straits' most iconic songs. It still turns up from time to time in cover versions and on TV shows - most recently in the series finale of The Americans (great show, with excellent 80s classics throughout - though the one-two punch of this one and 'With Or Without You' in the final pretty much broke me!)
Honourable mentions coming later on...
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Oct 17, 2020 16:22:11 GMT 1
Not sure everyone was talking about the same song, I suspect it was ‘Private Investigations’. I’m not the biggest fan of your number one, it works on the album but it was a terrible choice for a single. It is just a bit too long and depressing but there is no doubt about the quality and talent behind it.
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TheThorne
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Post by TheThorne on Oct 17, 2020 16:28:50 GMT 1
Your E act is such a no brainer, not sure if it’s with guessing but I will try and guess your short list
elbow Eagles Editors
For me it would be Eddie Money and Elastica, also maybe Echo & the Bunnynen
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Post by Shireblogger on Oct 17, 2020 17:41:59 GMT 1
Hang on a minute. Nothing from Love Over Gold ? And the pretty diabolical "On Every Street" at #2.
Having praised your decision to put Dire Straits on top of the D's, I'm now thinking that a D grade is what I'd have awarded you for your judgement. But one of the beauties of music is we all like different things, and so while I'd be popping out to the bar during the Dire Straits reunion tour (we can only wish), you'd be on your feet singing along to the second rate songs. And then, when the atmospheric brilliant tracks come out, you'd pull out your phone to update your ArseBook.
Sorry. Unnecessarily rude. But really. "On Every Street" and no "Industrial Disease", "Private Investigations" or "Telegraph Road".
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Post by greendemon on Oct 17, 2020 17:48:17 GMT 1
Unnecessarily rude is about the only thing in there I agree with 'Telegraph Road' was on my shortlist; it's magnificent, but even by the standards of their other songs I think it's too long and that was why it missed out. The other two weren't really in with a shot - I assumed 'Private Investigations' was the song that was being talked about earlier and I find it kind of dull if I'm honest.
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vastar iner
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Post by vastar iner on Oct 17, 2020 18:21:12 GMT 1
I remember when they had "Private Investigations" playing in the top 40 rundown on Radio 1 they only bothered with the first bit. It was years before I heard the full version and sussed out that something actually happened.
Dire Straits are emphatically not my bag, but PI actually works over the full piece.
Although I'm not sure how seriously I can take it after the Harry Batt version.
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vastar iner
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Post by vastar iner on Oct 17, 2020 18:28:33 GMT 1
Actually, thinking about it...
...Dire Straits' career sales seemed to kick off when CDs took off. I doubt that's a coincidence, people could best show off the improvement of quality with instrumental virtuosos like Knopfler.
Also, "Private Investigations" was kept off no. 1 by "Eye Of The Tiger". Also losing out on top spot because of the Survivor sh*te were "Save A Prayer" and the peerless "The Bitterest Pill".
Has any song kept three records off the top that were so so so much better than it was? Even Bryan Adams and Wet Wet Wet mostly kept dross off no. 1.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Oct 18, 2020 9:25:54 GMT 1
Not sure everyone was talking about the same song, I suspect it was ‘Private Investigations’. I’m not the biggest fan of your number one, it works on the album but it was a terrible choice for a single. It is just a bit too long and depressing but there is no doubt about the quality and talent behind it. Yes that's the one. I heard it again the other day and there's just no tune in there at all that I can pick out. I don't get it at all, it bores me to tears!
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Post by Earl Purple on Oct 18, 2020 10:08:36 GMT 1
Actually, thinking about it... ...Dire Straits' career sales seemed to kick off when CDs took off. I doubt that's a coincidence, people could best show off the improvement of quality with instrumental virtuosos like Knopfler. Also, "Private Investigations" was kept off no. 1 by "Eye Of The Tiger". Also losing out on top spot because of the Survivor sh*te were "Save A Prayer" and the peerless "The Bitterest Pill". Has any song kept three records off the top that were so so so much better than it was? Even Bryan Adams and Wet Wet Wet mostly kept dross off no. 1. Not sure if you care that much for "Old Before I Die" by Robbie Williams, but "Richard III" by Supergrass and "Song 2" by Blur were the other two kept off the top by "I Believe I Can Fly". However "Eye Of The Tiger" is a good song, not sure what you hate about it. I think "Save A Prayer" and "The Bitterest Pill" are better than it though. Not sure about "Private Investigations", particularly if the single version was an edit of the full song.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Oct 18, 2020 10:49:37 GMT 1
My #1 would probably be 'So Far Away'. I love that one.
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Post by Earl Purple on Oct 18, 2020 11:40:39 GMT 1
Maybe greendemon is a big Erasure fan and they will come up for the letter E?
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Oct 18, 2020 12:06:03 GMT 1
My top 10 choices for E are probably the most niche of any letter so far, so I don't expect to see any of them ha, maybe Editors or ELO Electric Six Electric Light Orchestra Elliott Smith Eels Editors Elliot Minor Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster Earth, Wind & Fire Electric Soft Parade Eliza and the Bear
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vastar iner
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Post by vastar iner on Oct 18, 2020 12:06:16 GMT 1
"Song 2" is bobbins.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Oct 18, 2020 12:14:38 GMT 1
Actually, thinking about it... ...Dire Straits' career sales seemed to kick off when CDs took off. I doubt that's a coincidence, people could best show off the improvement of quality with instrumental virtuosos like Knopfler. Also, "Private Investigations" was kept off no. 1 by "Eye Of The Tiger". Also losing out on top spot because of the Survivor sh*te were "Save A Prayer" and the peerless "The Bitterest Pill". Has any song kept three records off the top that were so so so much better than it was? Even Bryan Adams and Wet Wet Wet mostly kept dross off no. 1. 'Eye of the tiger' is about 5 million times better than 'Private investigations'
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Post by greendemon on Oct 18, 2020 13:00:54 GMT 1
My top 10 choices for E are probably the most niche of any letter so far, so I don't expect to see any of them ha, maybe Editors or ELO Electric Six Electric Light Orchestra Elliott Smith Eels Editors Elliot Minor Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster Earth, Wind & Fire Electric Soft Parade Eliza and the Bear If you were doing a thread like this my guess would be either Electric Six or Eels!
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Post by Whitneyfan on Oct 18, 2020 13:12:12 GMT 1
I'm guessing it's not Erasure or Eurythmics then.
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