The early history of Dire Straits is filled with important milestones.
Before Brothers in Arms transformed the band into a global phenomenon, Mark Knopfler, John Illsley, David Knopfler, and Pick Withers were still building their reputation album by album.
One of the earliest signs that Dire Straits were becoming a major international act came with their second studio album, Communiqué.
Released on June 5, 1979, the album holds a special place in the band’s history for another important reason. It earned Dire Straits’ first RIAA Gold certification in the United States, creating an important milestone in the band’s early career.
The RIAA archive currently lists Communiqué as a Gold album on Warner Bros., with a certification date of June 26, 1979.
What Does an RIAA Gold Certification Mean?
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) created its Gold & Platinum program to recognize commercial success in recorded music.
A Gold award (certification) became an important industry benchmark, giving artists an official recognition of strong record sales in the United States.
So, for an album to receive Gold status under the certification standards applicable to that era, it had to reach the required level of U.S. sales. These awards became an important symbol of success for artists and record companies.
For a young British band like Dire Straits, receiving an RIAA Gold certification in America was particularly significant milestone. It showed that the band’s growing audience and popularity was not limited to Britain or Europe. Their music was already finding a substantial audience in the United States.
Communiqué Arrives After the Success of Dire Straits
Dire Straits recorded Communiqué shortly after completing their debut album. The band began recording sessions for the second album at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, before completing the project at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama.
The album was produced by Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett, with engineering by Jack Nuber. Communiqué was released on June 5, 1979 and quickly established itself as an important follow-up to the band’s debut.
The official Dire Straits timeline notes that the album reached No. 5 in the UK, while it also reached No. 1 in several European countries.
Dire Straits’ First RIAA Gold Certification
The RIAA archive lists Communiqué as a Gold album on Warner Bros. According to the RIAA information, the album received its first gold certification on June 26, 1979. That making Communiqué the earliest RIAA-certified Dire Straits album in the band’s catalogue.
For Dire Straits, the timing is particularly impressive. The album had only just arrived in stores, yet the band was already earning formal recognition from the American recording industry. This was another sign that their audience was growing rapidly beyond the United Kingdom and Europe.
A Record That Helped Establish Dire Straits in America & The Songs That Defined Communiqué
The importance of Communiqué goes beyond its certification. The album arrived during a crucial period in Dire Straits’ development.
Dire Straits was touring internationally building a larger audience, and proving that the sophisticated guitar-led sound of their debut could work on a second album.
Songs such as “Once Upon a Time in the West,” “News,” “Lady Writer,” “Single-Handed Sailor,” “Portobello Belle,” “Where Do You Think You’re Going?” and “Follow Me Home” showed different sides of Mark Knopfler’s songwriting.
The album retained the relaxed musicianship of the debut but also demonstrated that Dire Straits were already expanding their musical identity. At the same time, these tracks showed that Knopfler was already developing a broader songwriting palette.
The music remained relaxed and guitar-driven, but the arrangements and stories demonstrated that Dire Straits were becoming a much more confident and ambitious band.
The Beginning of a Remarkable RIAA Story
Looking back, the Gold certification for Communiqué was only the beginning. The RIAA archive identifies Communiqué as the earliest certified Dire Straits album in its database. The record received its gold certificationon June 26, 1979, only a few weeks after its release.
Dire Straits would later receive further RIAA recognition for some of the band’s biggest releases.
The catalogue includes awards for the albums Dire Straits, Love Over Gold, On Every Street, Money for Nothing, and the extraordinary commercial success of Brothers in Arms.
But Communiqué deserves a special place in that history. It was the first step. Before the multi-million-selling albums, before the massive stadium tours, and before Brothers in Arms turned Dire Straits into one of the world’s biggest bands, there was Communiqué, a second album that proved the success of Dire Straits was real.
Why the Communiqué Gold Award Still Matters
For collectors and longtime fans, an RIAA Gold certification is more than a number in an industry database. It represents a moment in time.
In June 1979, Dire Straits were still a relatively young band, but their music had already travelled far enough to earn official recognition in one of the world’s most important music markets.
It captured Dire Straits crucial moment, when the group was moving from promising newcomers toward international rock stardom, and this certification provides tangible evidence of that transition.
And the fact that an original award later appeared at auction makes the story even more fascinating. What was once an industry presentation to a Warner Bros. executive eventually became a collectible piece of Dire Straits history.
A Rare RIAA Award Presented to Warner Bros. Executive Carl Scott
There is also an interesting piece of memorabilia connected with this certification. Julien’s Auctions offered an RIAA Gold Record Award for Communiqué that had been presented to Carl Scott, a Warner Bros. executive. The award commemorated the album’s sale of more than 500,000 copies.
The story becomes even more interesting when the award later reached the collectors’ market. Julien’s Auctions listed the Communiqué RIAA Gold Award with an estimated value of $300–$500, but the piece ultimately sold for $1,625.
For collectors, this illustrates how an industry award can become valuable historical memorabilia decades after it was originally presented.
The award also connects several important parts of the band’s early story: Dire Straits, Warner Bros., the American record market, and the commercial success that would eventually become enormous.
Looking back at the history of Dire Straits, Communiqué is also important because it was the last Dire Straits studio album to feature the band’s original four-man lineup.
David Knopfler would leave during the recording of the band’s next studio album, Making Movies. That makes Communiqué an especially significant release when looking back at the early history of Dire Straits.
“Lady Writer” and the Growing American Audience
The album’s best-known single was “Lady Writer.” The song reached No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Dire Straits another opportunity to reach American listeners.
While it did not match the extraordinary chart impact of “Sultans of Swing,” it reinforced the band’s growing presence in the United States.
The success of Communiqué therefore came from more than one song. It confirmed that Dire Straits had developed a catalogue capable of attracting listeners beyond their first major hit.
Sources: Riaa.com ; Juliensauctions.com
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