When Dire Straits entered the musical fray in the late 70’s, things were complicated. Disco was riding the coattails of Saturday Night Fever, punk and new wave were gaining mainstream momentum, and The Rolling Stones still had plenty of fuel in the tank. Even with all the clatter, Mark Knopfler and the boys never wavered from the guitar-driven style that wove some of the best parts of so many musical genres into their signature sound.
The band was recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and helped highlight a stellar class that featured The Cars, Bon Jovi, The Moody Blues, and Nina Simone. Unfortunately, fame and celebrity never sat well with Knopfler and he was a no-show at the induction ceremony. Fans of the band would have loved a reunion, even a three-song set on Hall of Fame night. Dire Straits recorded six studio albums between 1978 and 1991 with certified sales closing in on 50 million units. Although a new Dire Straits release is unlikely at best, here is a look at some of the best songs the band served up during their Hall of Fame career.
10. “Walk of Life”
Why is this song on a top 10 list, you ask? Well, ask a Dire Straits fan if they like it and they’ll squeal and say how much they loved the sports blooper turned sports triumph music video they remember from MTV. Some fans of the band may take a pass but the record peaked on the Billboard charts at number seven and is one of the band’s most successful releases. And so here it is.
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9. “Calling Elvis”
With a tilt of the head to its country roots, “Calling Elvis” wonders if, or just wishes, The King was still a phone call away. The single came from the band’s last studio album On Every Street, which was also the follow-up record to the massively successful Brothers in Arms. It was Dire Straits’ last hurrah, we just didn’t know it yet.
8. “Money For Nothing”
“Money for Nothing” was Dire Straits’ biggest single by far. Fueled by a heavily rotated video on MTV, and some added vocals by Sting, the song soared all the way to number one on the Billboard 100. The track also contained a disparaging gay slur and has not aged well. It’s not revisionist history, it’s cultural evolution. That said, Knopfler’s opening guitar riff kills. (Rumor has it that he sought out Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top to help get his guitar tuning just right.)
7. “So Far Away”
“So Far Away” is as cool as a menthol cigarette. No nasty guitar on this track, just Knopfler singing a love song. The tune just made the top 20 on the Billboard charts, the third hit single from Dire Straits’ massively successful fifth album Brothers in Arms. The album sold over 30 million copies worldwide and was the first album ever to be certified 10x platinum in the UK. “So Far Away” is nothing fancy. Its “jazz” feel makes the song one you play if you want other people to know you have good taste in music.
6. “Skateaway”
This song is about a girl who roller skates around town while jamming to some rock n’ roll through her headphones. It’s a fun tune with cool lyrics. But more to the point, can we talk about Making Movies? The album is Dire Straits’ best album no contest. Sure Brothers in Arms sold more but Dire Straits’ third album proved they were the real deal even if Making Movies contains only seven tracks. Four are on this list including this one.
5. “Romeo & Juliet”
“Romeo & Juliet” was inspired by an ex-girlfriend of Knopfler’s whom he believed was using him to advance her own musical career. The song has been used in movies, most recently I, Tonya and covered by musicians such as Matt Nathanson, Edwin McCain, and The Indigo Girls. The line, “oh, Romeo, yeah, you know, I used to have a scene with him” says so damn much about losing your love and watching them move on. Ouch.
Related: “I, Tonya: 1 Oscar, 100% Great”
4. “Tunnel of Love”
With an intro borrowed from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical Carousel, “Tunnel of Love” is an eight-minute kick in the teeth that showcases Knopfler at his best. The song highlights his lowkey, raspy voice and guitar chops. In case you missed it, “Tunnel of Love” was used in the movie “An Officer and a Gentleman” and has been sampled by John Legend. Oddly enough, the song did not make a significant impact on any singles chart anywhere despite being one of the band’s coolest tunes.
3. “Brothers in Arms”
Quite possibly the most beautiful song Mark Knopfler ever recorded. Enough said.
2. “Expresso Love”
From the moment Knopfler counts 1…2…3…4, this song is a gas. “Expresso Love” has everything: a catchy piano hook, driving percussion and vocals, and some of Knopfler’s best guitar work. On top of all that, it’s a love song or sort of anyway. Every love-struck sap wants to know if his love is the real deal or just “expresso love.” That’s a theme as timeless as rock n’ roll.
1. “Sultans of Swing”
Mark Knopfler composed his masterpiece on the band’s self-titled debut album back in 1978. “Sultans of Swing” combined great storytelling with guitar playing genius and announced Dire Straits’ had burst into the rock n’ roll consciousness. The inspiration for the song came when Knopfler stumbled upon a jazz band playing in a nearly empty London pub. Even with all Dire Straits’ song power, “Sultans” was the only single to be certified gold on either Billboard or the U.K Singles chart. And we’ve been playing air guitar to this track ever since.
Photo Credit: CIRCA 1970: Photo of Dire Straits Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Bill, you picked one of the best when it comes to music talent and style in my book to write about. You have great taste in music and I truly enjoyed reading this. Just one thing Expresso Love is on the top for me :))
Nothing can top Sultans. Sorry.
🙂
For some reason I got swept in to a Dire Straits vortex tonight and starting looking at a bunch 10 Best Dire Straits Songs lists. I agree with yours the most….Making Movies first four songs are a religious experience and a better album than Brothers. I would go with Romeo and Juliet but hard to argue with Sultans!
I still love Industrial Disease. It sounds like Knoppler channeling Dylan
Thank you for pointing out the fundamental greatness of “Making Movies”. It is one of the great albums of the rock era. I am not a massive Dire Straits fan but I can’t help but gush when it comes to this album. The musicianship is virtuoso. With the possible exception of “Les Boys”, there is no filler anywhere. Just one great song after another. Great ballads in “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hand in Hand” (a centerpiece and likely hit on any other album by any other band that gets buried on Making Movies because there’s so darn much wheat and so little chaff on the rest of the album), several rockers including “Solid Rock” and the sublime “Espresso Love” with the E. Street Band’s Roy Bittan’s delicate piano dancing around Knopfler’s magical guitar riffs before Knopfler buries it at the perfect moment, and, of course, the 8-minute tour de force of “Tunnel of Love” that pulls you in and won’t let you go until you’ve imputed your own long-ago affair with an exotic stranger into Mark Knopler’s mostly nonsensical fantasy built around his memories of an amusement park from his childhood.
If you are not familiar with the album or only know the songs individually, I strongly suggest waiting for a warm, late spring evening, sitting outside with a cold beer or glass of wine or cup of coffee as per your personal preferences and listening to this album start to finish in the order of the vinyl album. I promise it will knock your socks off.
On top of the great songs listed here. Mark Knopfler also created one of the great movie scores ever written (for one of the most impossibly underrated movies of all time), “Local Hero”. The movie is so funny and quirky and brilliant that. really, only Mark Knopfler’s guitar in all its quirky and brilliant glory would have worked in the background and boy did it ever. Get the soundtrack but see the movie first…. like today… NOW… put down your phone and figure out who is streaming it and watch it. Seriously. If you wait until tonight or next week. You are only going to cause yourself regret for denying yourself your God-given right to have this movie occupying your heart and soul for a few hours or days longer than necessary.
I have looked and looked for my favorite Dire Straits song Hand in Hand on the top 10 list and I can’t even find it in top 20. How does Money for Nothing rate above it? Leaving it off the top list of Dire Straits song is wrong people.