While they're on the road, "Sultans' of Swing" reaches Number 4 and the first album Number 2. Mark sessions for Steely Dan's "Gaucho" album.
Meanwhile the Dire Straits album gives them their first Number 1 - in Australia - and climbs steadily towards the Top 10's in North America and Europe.ĭire Straits first North American tour comprises 51 sold-out shows in 38 days, not to mention 300 interviews. They record "Communique" (including "Lady Writer" and "Once Upon A Time In The West") at Compass Point Studios, Nassau Bahamas. Wexler and Muscle Shoals keyboard player Barry Beckett agree to produce their second album. The group signs to Warner Brothers for the USA, but even before their album is released there, Knopfler visits Muscle Shoals studios to play on a Mavis Staples session produced by Jerry Wexler (whose tack record includes Aretha Franklin, The Drifters, Ray Charles). Despite enthusiastic reviews and responses everywhere, their first single, "Sultans of Swing" and self- titled album merely drop into the charts and drop out again. Total budget is 12,500 pounds - including artworkĬonstant live work - Marquee residency, tours of UK, France, Holland, and Germany to rapidly increasing audiences.
It includes "Sultans of Swing", "Water of Love" and "Six Blade Knife". They reach "an informal agreement" and Ed gets them on Talking Heads' first British tour as support act in the following January.ĭire Straits record their first LP at Basing Street Studios, London, produced by Muff Winwood.
As soon as he's seen them play, he offers to manage them. Stainze contacts Ed Bicknell, former drummer in Jess Conrad's band turned agent at NEWS, and asks him to book gigs for the band. Phonogram A&R man John Stainze is listening and, in short order, Dire Straits are signed to the Vertigo label. He plays the tape on his Honky Tonk show. They scrape together 120 pounds to record a demo and take it to BBC Radio London DJ Charlie Gillett, a renowned talent-spotter. A friend of Pick observes their sorry financial condition and says they should call themselves Dire Straits, which they do for their second gig - supporting Squeeze at the locally legendary Albany Theatre. Under the name of Mark's previous band, Cafe Racers, the line-up debuts at a punk festival, headlined by Squeeze, on waste ground behind Farrar House. They start rehearsing Mark's songs and are soon joined by Pick Withers, formerly house drummer at Dave Edmund's Rockfield studios. Teacher Mark Knopfler (guitar/vocals, born 12 August 1949), his younger brother, social worker David Knopfler (guitar - they were born in Glasgow and grew up in Newcastle) and sociology student John Illsley (bass, born 24 June 1949) are sharing a flat in Deptford, South London. It's less than a year after The Sex Pistols released Anarchy in the UK. A Short History of Dire Straits A Not So Brief History of Dire Straits
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