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This 22-cut double-disc set finally gets at it. Issuing a single disc of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler would be a silly thing at best and a hopelessly frustrating one at worst. When the band burst on the scene with "Sultans of Swing," there was a lot happening in rock music, but most of it was under the radar and remains forgotten except in the historic annals of music fanatics. Knopfler and his band were full of rock & roll romance and proved it through their first four recordings time and again. They couldn't help but become superstars and mainstays of MTV. But there is another story told on this best-of, which begins with "Telegraph Road." The story-songs Knopfler wrote were always the best anyway, and this set is full of them, from "Sultans" to "Romeo & Juliet," "Skateaway," "So Far Away," "Walk of Life," and (of course) "Brothers in Arms," which made for the most dramatic marriage of the little screen and rock music when it was featured in the closing sequence of an episode of Miami Vice. But there are many other stops along the way, like "Private Investigations," "Sailing to Philadelphia," "Going Home" (from Local Hero), and "The Long Road" (from Cal). But "On Every Street," "Calling Elvis," and "What It Is" are here, too, making for a wonderfully rounded if argumentative best-of collection that goes the distance and explains sonically what all the fuss was about in the first place. There's the guitar sound that's as much Tony Joe White as it is J.J. Cale and Billy Gibbons, and the elegance of James Burton and Chet Atkins. There is soul, pathos, drama, and a bittersweet memory that Van Morrison first evoked on Astral Weeks and Saint Dominic's Preview. There is a new cut here as well, a duet with Emmylou Harris called "All the Roadrunning," taken from an upcoming collaborative album, and it's nice -- beautiful, in fact -- and keeps the line of continuity and excellence in perspective. This is not only a fine collection for fans because of its wonderful sequencing, but the best introduction to the man and the band that one could ask for.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
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Neil Dorfsman, Engineer - Ed Walsh, Synthesizer - Alan Clark, Keyboards - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Barry Bongiovi, AssistantEngineer - Hal Lindes, Guitar - John Illsley, Bass Guitar - Dire Straits, MainArtist - Pick Withers, Drums
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Mercury Records Ltd. (London)
Muff Winwood, Producer - Rhett Davies, Engineer - Mark Knopfler, Lead Vocals, Writer, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - John Illsley, Bass Guitar, Vocals - Dire Straits, MainArtist - Pick Withers, Drums - David Knopfler, Rhythm Guitar - Ralph Copeman, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1978 Warner Records Inc.
Neil Dorfsman, Engineer - Ed Walsh, Synthesizer - Alan Clark, Keyboards - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Mike Mainieri, Marimba, Vibes - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Barry Bongiovi, AssistantEngineer - Hal Lindes, Guitar - John Illsley, Bass Guitar - Dire Straits, MainArtist - Pick Withers, Drums
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Mercury Records Ltd. (London)
JEFF HENDRICKSON, AssistantEngineer - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Shelly Yakus, Engineer - ROY BITTAN, Keyboards - Jon Mathias, AssistantEngineer - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - John Illsley, Bass Guitar, Vocals - Dire Straits, MainArtist - Jimmy Lovine, Producer - Pick Withers, Drums, Vocals - Sidney Foster McGinnis, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Mercury Records Ltd. (London)
JEFF HENDRICKSON, AssistantEngineer - Richard Rodgers, Writer - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Oscar Hammerstein II , Writer - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Shelly Yakus, Engineer - ROY BITTAN, Keyboards - Jon Mathias, AssistantEngineer - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - John Illsley, Bass Guitar, Vocals - Dire Straits, MainArtist - Jimmy Lovine, Producer - Pick Withers, Drums, Vocals - Sidney Foster McGinnis, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Mercury Records Ltd. (London)
JEFF HENDRICKSON, AssistantEngineer - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Shelly Yakus, Engineer - ROY BITTAN, Keyboards - Jon Mathias, AssistantEngineer - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - John Illsley, Bass Guitar, Vocals - Dire Straits, MainArtist - Jimmy Lovine, Producer - Pick Withers, Drums, Vocals - Sidney Foster McGinnis, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Mercury Records Ltd. (London)
Neil Dorfsman, Engineer - Ed Walsh, Synthesizer - Alan Clark, Keyboards - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Mike Mainieri, Marimba, Vibes - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Barry Bongiovi, AssistantEngineer - Hal Lindes, Guitar - John Illsley, Bass Guitar - Dire Straits, MainArtist - Pick Withers, Drums
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Mercury Records Ltd. (London)
Neil Jason, Bass Guitar - Malcolm Duncan, Saxophone - Jimmy Maelen, Percussion - OMAR HAKIM, Drums - Randy Brecker, Trumpet - Bruce Lampcov, AssistantEngineer - Neil Dorfsman, Producer, Engineer - Alan Clark, Keyboards - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Terry Williams, Drums - John Dent, MasteringEngineer - Mike Mainieri, Keyboards - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Guy Fletcher, Keyboards, Background Vocals - Steve Jackson, AssistantEngineer - John Illsley, Bass Guitar, Background Vocals - Dire Straits, MainArtist - David Greenberg, AssistantEngineer - Dave Plews, Trumpet - John Levell, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Mercury Records Ltd.
Neil Jason, Bass Guitar - Malcolm Duncan, Saxophone - Jimmy Maelen, Percussion - OMAR HAKIM, Drums - Randy Brecker, Trumpet - Bruce Lampcov, AssistantEngineer - Sting, Vocals - Neil Dorfsman, Producer, Engineer - Alan Clark, Keyboards - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Gordon Sumner, Writer - Terry Williams, Drums - John Dent, MasteringEngineer - Mike Mainieri, Keyboards - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Guy Fletcher, Keyboards, Background Vocals - Steve Jackson, AssistantEngineer - John Illsley, Bass Guitar, Background Vocals - Dire Straits, MainArtist - David Greenberg, AssistantEngineer - Dave Plews, Trumpet - John Levell, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Mercury Records Ltd.
Neil Jason, Bass Guitar - Malcolm Duncan, Saxophone - Jimmy Maelen, Percussion - OMAR HAKIM, Drums - Randy Brecker, Trumpet - Bruce Lampcov, AssistantEngineer - Neil Dorfsman, Producer, Engineer - Alan Clark, Keyboards - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Terry Williams, Drums - John Dent, MasteringEngineer - Mike Mainieri, Keyboards - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Guy Fletcher, Keyboards, Background Vocals - Steve Jackson, AssistantEngineer - John Illsley, Bass Guitar, Background Vocals - Dire Straits, MainArtist - David Greenberg, AssistantEngineer - Dave Plews, Trumpet - John Levell, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Mercury Records Ltd.
Neil Jason, Bass Guitar - Malcolm Duncan, Saxophone - Jimmy Maelen, Percussion - Michael Brecker, Saxophone - OMAR HAKIM, Drums - Randy Brecker, Trumpet - Bruce Lampcov, AssistantEngineer - Neil Dorfsman, Producer, Engineer - Alan Clark, Keyboards - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Terry Williams, Drums - John Dent, MasteringEngineer - Mike Mainieri, Keyboards - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Guy Fletcher, Keyboards, Background Vocals - Steve Jackson, AssistantEngineer - John Illsley, Bass Guitar, Background Vocals - Dire Straits, MainArtist - David Greenberg, AssistantEngineer - Dave Plews, Trumpet - John Levell, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Mercury Records Ltd.
Jeff Porcaro, Drums, Percussion - Chris White, Conductor, Flute, Saxophone - Phil Palmer, Guitar - BILL SCHNEE, AssistantEngineer - Steve Orchard, AssistantEngineer - Neil Dorfsman, Engineer - Jack Joseph Puig, AssistantEngineer - Alan Clark, Conductor, Producer, Keyboards - Avril Mackintosh, AssistantEngineer - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - CHUCK AINLAY, Engineer - Andy Strange, AssistantEngineer - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Danny Cummings, Percussion - Guy Fletcher, Producer, Keyboards, Background Vocals - John Illsley, Producer, Bass Guitar - Dire Straits, MainArtist
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1990 Mercury Records Ltd. (London)
Jeff Porcaro, Drums, Percussion - Chris White, Conductor, Flute, Saxophone - Phil Palmer, Guitar - BILL SCHNEE, AssistantEngineer - Steve Orchard, AssistantEngineer - Neil Dorfsman, Engineer - Jack Joseph Puig, AssistantEngineer - Alan Clark, Conductor, Producer, Keyboards - Avril Mackintosh, AssistantEngineer - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - CHUCK AINLAY, Engineer - Andy Strange, AssistantEngineer - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Danny Cummings, Percussion - Guy Fletcher, Producer, Keyboards, Background Vocals - John Illsley, Producer, Bass Guitar - Dire Straits, MainArtist
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Mercury Records Ltd. (London)
Neil Jason, Bass Guitar - Tim Palmer, AssistantEngineer - BILL SCHNEE, Mixer - Bob Ludwig, Masterer - STEVE JORDAN, Drums - Tony Levin, Bass Guitar - Neil Dorfsman, Engineer - Alan Clark, Hammond Organ, Piano, Synthesizer - Josh Abbey, AssistantEngineer - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, Music, Synthesizer, MainArtist - Terry Williams, Drums - Phil Vinall, AssistantEngineer - Eddie Gomez, Bass Guitar - Steve Jackson, Mixer, Engineer - John Illsley, Bass Guitar - Mike Brecker, Saxophone
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1993 Phonogram Ltd. (London)
Paul Brady, Mandolin, Whistle - Liam O'Flynn, Contributor - Bob Ludwig, Masterer - Neil Dorfsman, Engineer - Mark Knopfler, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist - Terry Williams, Drums - Guy Fletcher, Keyboards - Steve Jackson, AssistantEngineer - Matt D'Arbanlay-Butler, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1993 Phonogram Ltd. (London)
Richard Bennett, Guitar - Jimmy Nail, Background Vocals - Tony Cousins, Masterer - Jon Bailey, SecondEngineer - Chad Cromwell, Drums - Jake Jackson, SecondEngineer - Glenn Worf, Bass - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer, Performed by, MainArtist - CHUCK AINLAY, Producer, Mixer, Recorded by - Jim Cox, Hammond Organ, Piano - John Saylor, SecondEngineer - Guy Fletcher, Keyboards - Tim Healy, Background Vocals
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2002 Mercury Records Ltd. (London)
Richard Bennett, Guitar, Instruments - Jon Bailey, AssistantEngineer - Eric Conn, Editor - JAMES TAYLOR, Vocals - DENNY PURCELL, Masterer - Paul Franklin, Pedal Steel Guitar - Aaron Swihart, AssistantEngineer - Chad Cromwell, Drums - Glenn Worf, Bass - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - CHUCK AINLAY, Producer, Mixer, Recorded by - Jim Cox, Hammond Organ, Piano - Jonathan Russell, AssistantEngineer - Graham Lewis, AssistantEngineer - Guy Fletcher, Keyboards, Background Vocals - Mark Ralston, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2000 Mercury Records Ltd. (London)
Richard Bennett, Guitar, Instruments - Jon Bailey, AssistantEngineer - Eric Conn, Editor - DENNY PURCELL, Masterer - Aaron Swihart, AssistantEngineer - Aubrey Haynie, Violin - Chad Cromwell, Drums - Glenn Worf, Bass - Mark Knopfler, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - CHUCK AINLAY, Producer, Mixer, Recorded by - Jim Cox, Hammond Organ, Piano - Jonathan Russell, AssistantEngineer - Graham Lewis, AssistantEngineer - Guy Fletcher, Keyboards, Background Vocals - Mark Ralston, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2000 Mercury Records Ltd. (London)
Richard Bennett, Guitar - Bob Ludwig, Masterer - Chad Cromwell, Drums - Glenn Worf, Bass - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - CHUCK AINLAY, Producer, Engineer - Rupert Coulson, AssistantEngineer - Jim Cox, Organ, Piano - Guy Fletcher, Organ, Piano, AdditionalEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2004 Will D. Side Limited under license to Warner Records Inc.
Richard Bennett, Guitar - Bob Ludwig, Masterer - Chad Cromwell, Drums - Glenn Worf, Bass - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - CHUCK AINLAY, Producer, Engineer - Jim Cox, Organ, Piano - Guy Fletcher, Organ, Piano, AdditionalEngineer - Robert Coulson, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2004 Will D. Side Limited under license to Warner Records Inc.
Neil Jason, Bass Guitar - Malcolm Duncan, Saxophone - Jimmy Maelen, Percussion - OMAR HAKIM, Drums - Randy Brecker, Trumpet - Bruce Lampcov, AssistantEngineer - Neil Dorfsman, Producer, Engineer - Alan Clark, Keyboards - Mark Knopfler, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Terry Williams, Drums - John Dent, MasteringEngineer - Mike Mainieri, Keyboards - Robert Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Guy Fletcher, Keyboards, Background Vocals - Steve Jackson, AssistantEngineer - John Illsley, Bass Guitar, Background Vocals - Dire Straits, MainArtist - David Greenberg, AssistantEngineer - Dave Plews, Trumpet - John Levell, AssistantEngineer
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1996 Mercury Records Ltd.
Emmylou Harris, Vocals, MainArtist - Mark Knopfler, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2005 Mercury Records Limited
Album review
This 22-cut double-disc set finally gets at it. Issuing a single disc of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler would be a silly thing at best and a hopelessly frustrating one at worst. When the band burst on the scene with "Sultans of Swing," there was a lot happening in rock music, but most of it was under the radar and remains forgotten except in the historic annals of music fanatics. Knopfler and his band were full of rock & roll romance and proved it through their first four recordings time and again. They couldn't help but become superstars and mainstays of MTV. But there is another story told on this best-of, which begins with "Telegraph Road." The story-songs Knopfler wrote were always the best anyway, and this set is full of them, from "Sultans" to "Romeo & Juliet," "Skateaway," "So Far Away," "Walk of Life," and (of course) "Brothers in Arms," which made for the most dramatic marriage of the little screen and rock music when it was featured in the closing sequence of an episode of Miami Vice. But there are many other stops along the way, like "Private Investigations," "Sailing to Philadelphia," "Going Home" (from Local Hero), and "The Long Road" (from Cal). But "On Every Street," "Calling Elvis," and "What It Is" are here, too, making for a wonderfully rounded if argumentative best-of collection that goes the distance and explains sonically what all the fuss was about in the first place. There's the guitar sound that's as much Tony Joe White as it is J.J. Cale and Billy Gibbons, and the elegance of James Burton and Chet Atkins. There is soul, pathos, drama, and a bittersweet memory that Van Morrison first evoked on Astral Weeks and Saint Dominic's Preview. There is a new cut here as well, a duet with Emmylou Harris called "All the Roadrunning," taken from an upcoming collaborative album, and it's nice -- beautiful, in fact -- and keeps the line of continuity and excellence in perspective. This is not only a fine collection for fans because of its wonderful sequencing, but the best introduction to the man and the band that one could ask for.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 22 track(s)
- Total length: 02:18:27
- Main artists: Dire Straits
- Composer: Mark Knopfler
- Label: Warner Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2005 Mercury Records Limited, under license to Warner Records Inc.
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