Disco de Dire Straits: “Making Movies”

This is not only my favorite Dire Straits recording, it is one of my favorite rock CD's of all time. Never has Mark Knopfler's guitar work been more passionate. Never have his lyrics been more poetic. Never have his vocals been more emotive. "Tunnel of Love" has an unforgettable melody, dreamlike lyrics, and a haunting guitar that add up to one of the greatest songs ever. "Romeo and Juliet" tells a heartbreaking story, told perfectly thanks to Knopfler's dead-on vocals. Not a weak song to be found in this masterpiece.

I was lucky enough to be living in England just outside London in a little town called West Ruislip just down the cobbled streets from the "T" station near the famous "Orchards" pub when Dire Straits released their "Love Over Gold" album in 1982, and the young English couple living in the flat upstairs played it over and over, introducing me both to their good taste in music and the terrific group called "Dire Straits" in the process. Of course, as I think back upon it, I was familiar with their hit "Sultans Of Swing", but never really paid much attention until hearing this terrific album and Mark Knopfler's unbelievably stirring, crisp and innovative guitar solos. Soon I was down at the music shoppe buying their other albums, including "Making Movies". By that time I was familiar with their unique and unforgettable sound and also their very introspective lyrics. I came to love this album as much as "Love Over Gold", and several of the cuts are my favorites.

Starting with the first cut, "Tunnel Of Love", an epic guitar rendition owing much to a Springsteen-like treatment of the material, Knopfler's distinctive twanging guitar sound echoed in my flat to all hours of the morning, along with "Romeo And Juliet", "Solid Rock", and a very hot and steamy "Expresso Love", and from such nice English boys! In the short two years I lived in Britain, Knopfler became a kind of institutionalized artistic force everywhere one looked, writing soundtrack music for (among other films) "Local Hero" and "Cal", performing both alone and with Dire Straits, and collaborating with other artists, as well. The music here is very and innovative progressive rock, and the electric guitar work literally sings by itself. When I listen to the album now, it is a source of continuing amazement to me that Knopfler could make the sounds that emanated out of that instrument so uniquely animated as it is. The whole band is terrific, and it is sad that they made so few albums before internal frictions broke them apart. Enjoy this and their other wonderful albums. Here in "Making Movies" they make an indelible stamp on modern rock that I am sure you will find entertaining and entrancing. Enjoy!

This wonderful, beautiful work is on my top five album list of all time. I have a confession: when all my friends were listening to Dire Straits in the early 80's, I could not STAND THEM! Well, then I heard Skateaway for the first time, & I am happy to admit how wrong I was. I picked up the album for the one song, and like everyone else here, could not stop listening...From the beginning notes of R & H's "CAROUSEL" (pure genius for crying out loud!),you knew you were in for a different experience. Tunnel of Love is amazing, and to repeat everyone else, I can listen to the ending over and over (and over). Romeo and Juliet brings me to tears with it's heartwringing message. I am a convert after this painstakingly beautiful album.

I have owned this album for many many years and never get sick of it. I can listen to the last 3 minutes of "Tunnel of Love" over and over again, all day long. "Romeo and Juliet" never fails to move me to tears. I only wish there were a comparable musical journey out there, as I just can't get enough! It is easy to give credit to Mark Knofpler's extreme talent, however, this album is a milestone of perfection for the entire group. Nothing can touch this ("Love Over Gold" comes close though!).

I have all 7 studio cds from Dire Straits and I believe that Making Movies is their best. Sure, their Dire Straits cd and Brothers in Arms are great discs. Making Movies is the only one that contains "Romeo and Juliet", "Skateaway" and "Les Boys" though. It's a tight 7 song playlist that works. 1982's Love Over Gold attempted the same results but fell short. I've always been pleased with Making Movies and I think it's Dire Straits' classic secret. Most people will go for the debut or Brothers in Arms, but Making Movies is as solid as either of those. All three are musts for any rock fan though.