Talk:Dire Straits

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[edit] Telegraph Rd.

Is Dire Straits' song "Telegraph Rd." about the highway in Michigan? The article List of songs whose title includes geographical names mentions that song. --SuperDude 04:41, 5 Jun 2005 (UTC)

I've read something along those lines - so probably yes, as far as can be confirmed, short of asking MK himself. Andrew Spinner 21:06, 1 October 2005 (UTC)

According to this article it is: Historic names Between Pontiac, Michigan and the Ohio border, the highway is known as Telegraph Road, its name before the highway system existed. Mark Knofpler of the rock group Dire Straits wrote the song Telegraph Road about the development and decay of the road, which he spotted enroute to a concert. It is a major surface route through western areas of Metro Detroit. The highway has 8 lanes and is often busy, particularly during rush hour.

[edit] Recording on CD

In the early 1980's I remember listening to a Dire Straits album on the new CD technology that was being demonstrated at the Royal Institution in London. However, it wasn't "Brothers in Arms" as stated in the article but "Love over Gold". Wasn't it this this came out on CD first and was THE 'test CD' for people who had just bought the new player? 82.213.248.138 14:47, 6 November 2005 (UTC) ElChoco

Love Over Gold was an analog recording (though an excellent one) released on LP and cassette in 1982, prior to the commercial availability of CD players outside Japan. As an example of some of the best-recorded popular music of its era, it was widely used as demo material at the time and may very well have been used in technology demonstrations like you describe (it was, to my recollection, indeed one of the first major-label CD releases and also probably a typical purchase for early-adopters of the CD format in 1983, but there weren't that many of them at the time). Brothers In Arms was one of the first widely-available DDD (all-digital) recordings and came out concurrent with the boom in CD player sales. Given the sales figures for the two albums, I'd say the article's claims that Brothers was the one that benefited from the CD boom are valid. Jgm 16:06, 6 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Dubious Statement

Is this statement fact or opinion? Are there any reference sources? James084 16:01, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

For one thing, the "genre" isn't even mentioned. If they are just "British Rock," then they are simply not among the best, compared to other "British Rock" bands like the Beatles. If Dire Straits performed a more less-well-known genre, then one might get away with claiming they are one of the greatest bands in the genre. IMO, they are kind of a two-hit group- Money for Nothing and Sultans of Swing are their only really good songs. -70.95.59.46 03:44, 17 January 2006 (UTC)
Genre is mentioned - Dire Straits worked within the conventions of "classic" rock. I believe that the current wording of the sentence is very much close to the truth. The fact that someone (i.e. you) does not consider them to be a major influence does not make that statement an oppinion. You are also very wrong about them being a two hit band - there are 5 songs which reached UK top 10. A five hit group? Maybe. But sense the difference between your statement (which is an oppinion) and the sentence in the article. What is a fact anyways? How do you define "one of the greatest"? Dominykas Blyze 03:01, 1 March 2006 (UTC)
I can't agree with that statement about only having two good songs - Dire Straits are one of the most famous band bands of all-time. And if you compare everybody to the Beatles, that still doesn't say much. At the same time, 'one of the best in the genre' (what genre?) is too vague. Maybe "one of the biggest-selling and most-respected bands of all-time" would be more accurate.Andrew Spinner 11:00, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

All such statements are points of opinion (although specifying "the genre" would be helpful). For example, I would not condider The Beatles as part of a Rock genre, British or otherwise.

"For example, I would not condider The Beatles as part of a Rock genre, British or otherwise." Hooboy. It just gets sillier around here. Dire Straits, like The Beatles, are a rock, or if you prefer, a rock-and-roll band. 68Kustom (talk) 05:14, 31 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Disputed Statements

Claiming only two-hit songs quickly disqualifies one from making any judgment about this band. To say the least, DS had a whole disc worth of charted hits by 1988. Nontheless I don't see wikipedia as being like, say the Rolling Stone Rock Encyclopedia, in that statements like that will always be contested. BabuBhatt 11:05, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

I say it goes. It's opinion, technically. Dire Straits is one of the best bands, and their guitarist alone proves it. The number of hit singles proves nothing in terms of quality.
The second dispute seems unbased; according to the article, "Because of their unique sound and style some still consider them one of the greatest bands in the genre." This seems reasonable enough. Meanwhile, for the other dispute, it might be better to be checked, but I don't think it should be disputed; it would be better with a "reference needed" tag. Agreed? Darkhooda 17:40, 12 February 2006 (UTC)
Dire Straits had a unique sound, especially so for the disco-heavy period (1978) in which they started. Knopfler has proven himself to be a great guiarist, with Dire Straits and since. I have found their albums to be largely excellent from start to finish, and don't confine myself to their pop hits. An example is the "Comminique" album, which produced no top hits, but is superb from start to finish. I guess you either like Dire Straits for their sound, and interesting lyrics, or not.(UTC)

[edit] Origins of the name

My English teacher, who worked with Knopfler in the same college before he became professional musician, told that the name "Dire straits" comes from the fact that atleast in the beginning of their career they were still quite amateurs, and often lacking guitars and sometimes even players just before the gig, thus the name. Should it be included to the article? He also told that Knopfler spoke (I don't now if he still does) in interviews very slowly and with simple words even though he is very intelligent and educated, just because he thought that it is the way how rock-stars speak. Latre

Dire Straits ARE one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Mark Knofler is an ABSOLUTE genius on the guitar-you only have to listen to the Alchemy version of Sultans of Swing and the Live Aid performance of Money For Nothing. He is sensational and totally underrated. Money for Nothing defined the 80s music market.

'One of'? Vranak

[edit] picture

the image given only contains knopfler, so i don't see how it is remotely useful. we need a picture of the whole group. Joeyramoney 19:40, 23 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Knopfler's Guitar

I wonder if it would be useful to discuss Matk Knopfler's signature guitar sound. His playing is unique and lends itself well to long, sweeping, weeping, oft-powerful , oft-melancholy pasages and precise picking. He generates this atypical sound, as far as I remember hearing, by using nylon guitar strings as oppossed to steel ones. Should we mention that kind of thing? DocEss 17:44, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

Knopfler's special sound has a lot do with his own style of finger picking. And as far as the nylon strings go, you can't use nylon strings on an electric guitar. That could be on some particular song, but I can't think of any where Knopfler uses a nylon string acoustic guitar. 85.76.253.210 (talk) 13:00, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

Knopfler has in fact used a nylon string acoustic (usually a Gibson Chet Atkins model) pretty extensively in his solo/soundtrack work. That or a similar guitar might also be the one on "Private Investigations". It's certainly not his signature electric sound, which comes from (as mentioned) his picking style and pickups (not to mention incredible skill). Jgm (talk) 20:49, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] pictures!

where are the photos? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.24.168.139 (talk) 17:23, 11 December 2006 (UTC).

Just thinking the same... -b 00:13, 3 February 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Random question

Is Dire Straits an Expression?

If so, what does it mean?

Less gushing please —Preceding unsigned comment added by PedEye1 (talk • contribs)

[edit] References per WP:FN

I'm reverting the changes [1] to conform with [2]. --Rockfang (talk) 10:13, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Did not tour"

The Straits very definitely did tour Europe and North America in 1980 and -81 in support of Making Movies. Hal Lindes and Alan Clark along for the ride. 68Kustom (talk) 05:16, 31 March 2008 (UTC)