TOP 10 – Dire Straits Songs

When their debut album was released in 1978, Dire Straits came out of nowhere. They had formed only the year before and had gigs much before they recorded a demo tape that caught the attention of many of their loyal fans.

They were an immediate hit with rock radio which embraced their clean guitar sound. After a few stumbles a boring second album, a great third one, frontman Mark Knopfler led them to the top of the charts in 1985 with “Brothers In Arms” album, one of the decade’s biggest sellers.

There was made only one more album after that before calling it quits in 1995. The Top 10 Dire Straits Songs celebrate their best.

Number 10 – Industrial Disease
From: “Love Over Gold” (1982)

In the early 80’s, things weren’t going so well for British industry. On top of, and in addition to, everything else, workers’ strikes, anxiety and physical and mental illnesses were fall-out symptoms of the decline of British manufacturing during the era.

Knopfler rolls through a bunch of aftershocks some real, some made up on this musically springy cut from the band’s fourth album.

Number 9 – Private Investigations
From: “Love Over Gold” (1982)

At number nine is  – Private Investigations from “Love Over Gold” album. Running almost seven minutes, “Private Investigations” feels like an epic from its very first droning notes.

Knopfler spins a film noir-style, whiskey bottles and shuttered blinds as classical acoustic guitar picks away in the background. This is Dire Straits at their most literary-minded and atmospheric.

Number 8 – So Far Away
From: “Brothers In Arms” (1985)

Before “Brothers In Arms” became a biggest selling album, and the band’s only number one LP in the US, “So Far Away” was released as the record’s first single in the UK.

It was released in the US as the third single, long after “Brothers In Arms” was on its way to reach multi-platinium glory, reaching to the Top 20.

Number 7 – Twisting by the Pool
From: “Twisting by the Pool” EP (1983)

In between “Love Over Gold” their most difficult album, and “Brothers In Arms” which made them global stars, Dire Straits released a four song EP in a retro rock n’ roll style. The mostly fun song in a style of Chuck Berry rocker that prestige the more popular “Walk of Life”.

Number 6 – Skateaway
From: “Making Movies” (1980)

Following the commercial and critical bomb of their second album, 1979’s ‘Communiqué,’ Dire Straits returned the next year — tighter, more focused and armed with their best set of songs. ‘Making Movies’ keeps those songs at the center of the picture, pushing aside the wayward habits of the group’s first two albums. “Skateaway” sticks closer to a traditional rock-radio format than any other song on the album.

Number 5 – Walk of Life
From: “Brothers In Arms” (1985)

“Brothers In Arms” is the biggest Dire Straits album filled with several songs which make this album to be special than others albums. “Walk of Life” was originally released as the B-side to the UK. “So Far Away” single that came out before “Brothers In Arms” also is one of the hits, which was the number one on the album list. “Walk of Life” song has been on the Top 10 list around in the world.

Number 4 – Romeo and Juliet
From: “Making Movies” (1980)

One of Knopfler’s loveliest songs, and maybe his all-around greatest composition is “Romeo and Juliet” bridges Shakespeare, “West Side Story” and a modern Rock N’ Roll love story where fame, not family, is keeping the young lovers apart. The single didn’t chart in the U.S. — a shame, because it’s one of Knopfler’s most timeless songs.

Number 3 – Tunnel of Love
From: “Making Movies” (1980)

This composition which is a piece of the same album’s like “Romeo and Juliet” – “Tunnel of Love” is a piece of the band’s third album. An epic 8 minute long song which is ends with one Knopfler’s all time greatest guitar solo. Following the “Communique”, “Making Movies” is marked like one creative album with commercial comeback for Dire Straits. In that time they’d have to wait another five years for that.

Number 2 – Money For Nothing
From: “Brothers In Arms” (1985)

Dire Straits biggest hit of all time same like “Brothers In Arms” and “Sultans of Swing” – this video-song “Money for Nothing” first time was played on MTV and made Dire Straits to be a popular band. Without compromise this song is a part of 80’s years of 20 century, massive hit on the music-video network and made Dire Straits to be a pop stars.

Number 1 – Sultans of Swing
From: Dire Straits (1978)

This song it earned Knopfler a gig with Bob Dylan and put the band in the history books. Before they released their first debut album in 1978, Dire Straits had a little more that a demo and few more gigs behind them.

With a few cuts, filled with mostly guitar jams and frames, “Sultans of Swing” was a debut song for Dire Straits, masterwork of Mark Knopfler’s guitar. This particular song rhythm can make you to feel specially cool late night.