Track by Track Review
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Sultans Of Swing
This was the first song by Dire Straits to get attention on the radio. It’s got a bluesy sort of guitar presence that’s far cooler than you might guess at first listen. Paying careful attention to that guitar-line really reveals a lot of depth. This track still holds up quite well, despite being heard so many times. |
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Lady Writer
A more uptempo piece, this has a lot in common with “Sultans of Swing” in other ways. I’ve always liked this a lot, perhaps even more than “Sultans…” I like the guitar solo on this one a lot and a love how Knopfler continues to solo as it fades out. |
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Romeo And Juliet
This is a mellower cut that reminds me of Dire Straits taking on Bob Dylan or Lou Reed. The chorus rocks out a bit more and is stronger than the verses are. |
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Tunnel Of Love
More high energy than the track that preceded it, this one is more straightforward rock than a lot of the other music here. It’s really Knopfler’s guitar that drives it. While in many ways this isn’t as strong as the tracks that preceded it, I really like the intricate mellow section later in the piece. |
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Private Investigations
An intricate and pretty piece of music, this has a lot of classical built into it. Frankly, I’d consider it progressive rock. It’s very mellow. The cool jam later, though, has more energy and combines a blues aesthetic and some killer guitar playing with an even more pure progressive rock arrangement. |
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Twisting By The Pool
This little rocker is a retro textured number that’s both fun and a bit of a change of pace. |
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Love Over Gold (Live Version)
As the parenthetical suggests, here we get a live version of this Dire Straits classic. It’s pretty and intricate and another that’s almost progressive rock. |
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So Far Away
This is another of Dire Straits’ better known pieces. It’s a tasty one that’s pretty typical for the straightforward, bluesy rock of the group. |
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Money For Nothing
Probably Dire Straits’ best known cut, most should have heard this piece if nothing else by the band. This rocks out a bit more than some of the other music the group did over the years. It includes a guest appearance by Sting, too. It’s a great tune that holds up well. |
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Brothers In Arms
A mellower, bluesy number, this one is quite tasty. |
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Walk Of Life
This energetic rocker has a lot of 1950s rock and roll built into it. It’s another fun one and a highlight of the set. |
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Calling Elvis
A blues rocker, this is another (as the title should suggest) with a lot of 1950s music built into it. Somehow, it’s also got quite a bit of prog rock on show. |
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Heavy Fuel
For some reason this rocker has always made me think of the 1980’s output of Jethro Tull. It’s catchy and cool. |
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On Every Street
This track is one of the most sedate on show. It moves pretty slowly and doesn’t really do a lot for me. |
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Your Latest Trick (Live)
Percussion opens this live piece and holds it for a while. As the saxophone joins it becomes a rather jazzy number. The crowd sings along at times (even times went there aren’t vocals). This is a tasty mellow number. |
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Local Hero/Wild Theme (Live) This instrumental is intricate and pretty. At times I’m reminded of Steve Howe. It works towards jazz fusion and progressive rock styles. It’s a tasty piece. |
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