DIRE STRAITS COULD PUT ON ONE HELL OF A GOOD SHOW
I am the latter, then it is purely coincidental and not in any way prejudicial of english music. I guess I have always had an instinctive inclination to like the jazz rhythms of Louisiana, the hot pot blues
Dire Straits were not a fashionable band in any sense of the word, Knopfler and his fellow band mates were daggy and had very questionable dress sense, and musically they were the complete antithesis of Ramones angst or the unskilled buffoonery of the Sex Pistols.
sounds of Memphis and Chicago, not to mention all the other roots music that America has to offer more than the second generation music in England which mostly
was transported over from the US at some time anyway.
was transported over from the US at some time anyway.
Skiffle and various forms of folk music was really the only music which originated in England prior to the Elvis and Buddy Holly revolution. I tend to follow American guitarists more than english ones, but I love
two of the latter. No not Eric Clapton, no not Jeff Beck, and no, not even George Harrison, who I think was the best asset the Beatles ever had.
two of the latter. No not Eric Clapton, no not Jeff Beck, and no, not even George Harrison, who I think was the best asset the Beatles ever had.
Peter Green and Mark Knopfler are my two favourite english guitarists, they`re very different to one another.
Green was the original and.best guitarist of the `original` Fleetwood Mac, he was a
bluesman through and through, while Knopfler was more in the mould of Bob Dylan, his guitar playing and singing bore the same trademark lyrical detachment and the unstructured reedy folk flavoured rhythm and blues that the original electric folk rocker become renowned for.
bluesman through and through, while Knopfler was more in the mould of Bob Dylan, his guitar playing and singing bore the same trademark lyrical detachment and the unstructured reedy folk flavoured rhythm and blues that the original electric folk rocker become renowned for.
We will talk about Green another time, tonight we will talk about Knopfler and his classic live album with Dire Straits by
the name of `Alchemy` from 1984.
the name of `Alchemy` from 1984.
Mark Knopfler was a very uncool guitar hero who rose to fame at the height of the punk rock revolution in London in the late 1970`s.
Dire Straits were not a fashionable band in any sense of the word, Knopfler and his fellow band mates were daggy and had very questionable dress sense, and musically they were the complete antithesis of Ramones angst or the unskilled buffoonery of the Sex Pistols.
The band composed sophisticated tunes that were spiced up with themes of romantic fantasy and crisp clean musicianship to match.
`Alchemy` starts off with `Once Upon a Time in the West`, Dire Straits have turned a five minute tune into a ten minute one here, the epic cowboy and western movie sound intro makes the studio version sound just a
bit ordinary.
bit ordinary.
Dire Straits give staples such as `Expresso
Love`, `Romeo and Juliet` and `Sultans of Swing` a new lease of life on Alchemy with some jazzed up and inspiring improvisation.
Love`, `Romeo and Juliet` and `Sultans of Swing` a new lease of life on Alchemy with some jazzed up and inspiring improvisation.
One of the newer songs off the `Love Over
Gold` album at the time, `Private Investigations`, never sounded better than when it was played live.
Gold` album at the time, `Private Investigations`, never sounded better than when it was played live.
The romantic side to Knopfler was never more evident than on `Two Young Lovers`, which included a spinetingling saxophone
solo intro by Mel Collins, who wasn`t a full time member of the band.
solo intro by Mel Collins, who wasn`t a full time member of the band.
It nearly gets as soppy with `Tunnel of Love`but Knopfler and gang done a detour from romance long enough to record a classic rendition of `Telegraph Road`off the Love Over Gold album.
They ended it off with a no nonsense hard rocking performance of the formulaic `Solid Rock` and Knopfler`s best instrumental cover,`Going Home`, the theme from LOCAL HERO.
Dire Straits would go on to record the megahit `Brothers in Arms` in 1986, which as far as I`m aware remains the biggest selling british album of all time.
But if you ask me, Dire Straits never sounded more invigorating and inspiring than what they did on Alchemy.
It does capture the band in full improvisation flight, without all the production of Brothers in Arms which detracted somewhat from the spontaneous magic that Dire Straits could cook up when left unleashed on stage.
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