In association with <strong>Costa</strong> Cálida International Radio and www.angloINFO.com Dire Straits were a British rock band, formed in 1977 by former journalist and teacher Mark Knopfl er and initially composed of Knopfl er (lead vocals and lead guitar), his younger brother David (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Pick Withers (drums and percussion). Dire Straits’ sound drew from a variety of musical infl uences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest to beat music within the context of rock and roll. Despite the prominence of punk rock during the band’s early years, the band’s strippeddown sound contrasted with punk, demonstrating a more bluesy infl uence that emerged out of the pub rock scene. Many of Dire Straits’ compositions were melancholic. The group’s fi rst album, “Dire Straits”, was recorded at Basing Street studios in West London in February 1978, at a cost of £12,500. Produced by Muff Winwood, the album had little promotion when initially released in the United Kingdom on Vertigo Records, a division of the Phonogram Record Corporation, and was not well received. However, the album came to the attention of A&R representative Karin Berg, working at Warner Bros. Records in New York City. She felt that it was the kind of music audiences were hungry for and championed the band to the company. Recording sessions for the group’s second album, took place in December 1978 at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas. Released in June 1979, “Communiqué” was produced by Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett and went to Number1 on the German album charts, with the debut album “Dire Straits” simultaneously at Number 3. Featuring the single “Lady Writer”, the second album continued in a similar vein as the Page 16 fi rst and displayed the expanding scope of Knopfl er’s lyricism on the opening track, “Once Upon a Time in the West”. In the coming year, however, this approach began to change, along with the group’s lineup. In 1980, Dire Straits were nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for “Sultans Of Swing” which had become a massive hit. In July 1980 the band started recording tracks for their third album produced by Jimmy Iovine with Knopfl er also sharing credit. The third album “Making Movies” was released in October 1980. During the recording sessions, tension between Mark and David Knopfl er took its toll on the band, and David left over creative differences with his brother to pursue a solo career and was uncredited on the album. The sessions continued with Sid McGinnis on rhythm guitar and keyboardist Roy Bittan from Bruce Springsteen’s East Street Band. After the recording sessions were completed, keyboardist Alan Clark and Californian guitarist Hal Lindes joined Dire Straits as full-time members for tours of Europe and North America. Dire Straits’ fourth studio album “Love Over Gold”, an album of songs fi lled with lengthy, experimental passages, was well received when it was released in <strong>September</strong> 1982, going gold in America and spending four weeks at number one in the United Kingdom. Released in May 1985,and the defi nitive album of them all “Brothers In Arms” entered the UK Albums Chart at number 1 and spent a total of 228 weeks in the charts. It went on to become the bestselling album of 1985 in the UK. “Brothers in Arms” was similarly successful in the US, peaking at No. 1 on Billboard 200 for nine weeks, going multi-platinum, selling nine million copies .The album featured a more lavish production and overall sound than Dire Straits’ earlier work, and spawned several big chart singles: “Money for Nothing”, which reached number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 4 in the UK Singles Chart, “So Far Away”, “Brothers In Arms”, “Walk of Life” and “Your Latest Trick” were all massive hits taken from the album. “Money for Nothing” was the fi rst video ever to be played on MTV in Britain and featured guest vocals by Sting, who is credited with cowriting the song with Knopfl er, although in fact, it was just the inclusion of the melody line from the Police single “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” that triggered the copyright credit. No actual lyrics were written by Sting. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 28th Grammy Awards in February 1986. “Brothers in Arms” was among the fi rst albums recorded on digital equipment due to Knopfl er pushing for improved sound quality. The album’s title track is reported to be the world’s fi rst CD single. It was issued in the UK as a promotional item distinguished with a logo for the tour, Live in ‘85, while a second to commemorate the Australian leg of the tour marked Live in ‘86. Containing just four tracks, it had a very limited run. “Walk of Life” meanwhile was nearly excluded from the album when co-producer Neil Dorfsman voted against its inclusion, but the band members outvoted him. The result was Dire Straits’ most commercially successful hit single in the UK, peaking at number two.”Money for Nothing”, “Walk of Life”, and “Brothers in Arms” immediately became live concert favourites. The album is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fi rst compact disc to sell a million copies. Dire Straits made only one more studio album the 1991 “On Every Street” from which the single “Elvis Calls” was a minor chart hit. With Knopfl er doing more solo work away from the band, including a project with The Travelling Wilburys, the writing was on the wall for the band. The last concert ever performed by the band was on the 9 th of October 1992, in Zaragoza, Spain. Knopfl er did not want to tour the band anymore and their last album was “Live at the BBC” which they were contractually obligated to complete for their contract release. Knopfl er dissolved the band in 1995. Dire Straits’ biggest selling album, “Brothers in Arms”, has sold over 30 million copies. They also became one of the world’s most commercially successful bands, with worldwide album sales of over 120 million. Dire Straits won numerous music awards during their career, including four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards—winning Best British Group twice, and two MTV Video Music Awards. The band’s most popular songs include “Sultans of Swing”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Tunnel of Love”, “Private Investigations”, “Money for Nothing”, “Walk of Life”, “So Far Away”, “Your Latest Trick” and “Brothers in Arms”. I personally think that track for track “Making Movies” was better than “Brothers in Arms”, but that aside they were a superb band with music that will be played for many years to come. You can listen to Mark Davies on <strong>Costa</strong> Cálida International Radio on “CALIDA GOLD” Thursday and Friday afternoons 4.15-6.30pm. Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement in the <strong>Costa</strong> Cálida <strong>Chronicle</strong> To place an advertisement with us please see page 4 or contact Teresa 619 199 407 www.costacalidachronicle.com email: costacalidachronicle@gmail.com
Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement in the <strong>Costa</strong> Cálida <strong>Chronicle</strong> To place an advertisement with us please see page 4 or contact Teresa 619 199 407 www.costacalidachronicle.com email: costacalidachronicle@gmail.com Page 17 In association with <strong>Costa</strong> Cálida International Radio and www.angloINFO.com