Disco de Dire Straits: “Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits”

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 all their other albums. By that time I was familiar with their unique and unforgettable sound and also their very introspective lyrics. I came to love all their albums as much as "Love Over Gold", and I was pleased when they recently released this anthology of many of their hits, even including a theme from Knopfler's "Local Hero" movie score.

I really like all the cuts here, from "Sultans Of Swing' to "Romeo And Juliet" to "Lady Writer". In each, Knopfler's distinctive twanging guitar sound echoes in my house till all hours of the morning, along with "Private Investigations, " Tunnel Of Love", and "So Far Away". My own personal favorites here are the live version of "Love Over Gold" and "Money For Nothing". In the time since the band was actively recording in the mid 1980s, Knopfler has become 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 he did. 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. Dire Straits made an indelible stamp on modern rock that I am sure you will find entertaining and entrancing. Enjoy!

This is the best compilation of Dire Straits ever put together. All those who love Dire Straits and the guitar, will love this CD. Ofcourse a few live songs from LIVE AID 1985 could be added to this album. This CD is truly a tribute to Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits. Its an ever green album.

It would of gotten 5 stars but i'm not a huge fan of a couple of the songs such as heavy fuel (not true Dire Straits). However these songs are eclipsed by the legendary songs like sultans of swing and romeo and juliet(top 5 favourite songs). Best compilation created by Dire Straits and lets face it Mark Knopfler is one of the greatest guitarists ever. Definately some excellent music on the CD.

This remastered very best of replaces the 1988 Money For Nothing. On first glance one quickly notices how similar this compilation is to its predecessor.

It features the same single edits of Private Investigations, Money For Nothing, and Brothers In Arms. Both also seem to reflect the UK in terms of hits singles represented (the above mentioned Private Investigations, Tunnel of Love).

However, one would have wished it reflected the domestic market as well. Though Tunnel of Love is a strongly written track off of Making Movies, I would have much preferred Skateaway which was a hit single. This also neglects Industrial Disease from Love Over Gold as did its predecessor.

Though this does hit all the albums up to the live album, On The Night, Your Latest Trick (live) and Local Hero/Wild Theme (live) are less interesting and could have been dropped in favor of older material such as Down To The Waterline (which was on Money For Nothing).

However, HDCD mastering, the inclusions of hit songs from On Every Street, make this a slightly better retrospective than the one replaced. And since Warner Brothers was supposed to remaster the Dire Straits catalog several years ago as was done in the UK, and hasn't (no surprise there), this is the only way to get remastered Dire Straits.

However, I strongly recommend you track down these remastered imports. Brothers In Arms, Making Movies, and Love Over Gold are worth the effort and sound superb!

Dire Straits were a very talented band who made some decent music. Unfortunately this collection leaves off two of their strongest songs, "Skateaway" and "Industrial Disease" (three, if you count "Solid Rock") - and even more outrageous is the editing out the second verse of "Money For Nothing." No warning on the label? Big-time cave-in to the evil forces of political correctness!

A better introduction to the band would be to just buy the album "Making Movies." They haven't made a decent greatest hits collection for Dire Straits, and they probably never will :(