Thus far my theme weeks have covered artists I consider among my very favorites — people such as Ben Folds, Fiona Apple, Elvis Costello, Billy Joel. And there are more artists along those lines who I can (and will) cover.
But this week I’m taking a little detour and featuring a group I don’t know much about and who show up only twice in my CD collection.
So how did Dire Straits earn this distinction? Well, I’ve heard several of their songs on the radio in recent weeks and every time I boost the volume and think “Ah, here’s a song I need to feature on the blog.” And after saying that for three or four different songs, I thought I might as well take a week and do it.
For me, ‘Sultans of Swing’ is the song that epitomizes Dire Straits, though I don’t rank it as high as some other songs (that I’ll get to later this week). This was their first big hit and it introduced that signature Mark Knopfler guitar sound.
I don’t know the first thing about guitars, so I have no idea what sets apart Knopfler’s work from anybody else’s. Is it the way he plays? The type of guitar? The way the sound is produced? Maybe all of the above. All I know is I absolutely love the sound of Knopfler’s guitar and I can pick it out by ear — something I can’t say about any other guitarist.
Lyrically, ‘Sultans of Swing’ is a beautiful sketch of a jazz band playing great music to a mostly disinterested crowd. I’ve never listened to a jazz band in London, but this song sure makes me feel like I have.
It’s raining in the park but meantime
South of the river you stop and you hold everything
A band is blowin’ Dixie double four time
You feel alright when you hear that music ring
And now you step inside but you don’t see too many faces
Comin’ in out of the rain you hear the jazz go down
Competition in other places
Oh but the horns they blowin’ that sound
Way on down south, way on down south London town
You check out Guitar George, he knows all the chords
Mind he’s strictly rhythm he doesn’t wanna make it cry or sing
Yes and an old guitar is all he can afford
When he gets up under the lights to play his thing
And Harry doesn’t mind if he doesn’t make the scene
He’s got a daytime job, he’s doin’ alright
He can play the honky tonk like anything
Savin’ it up for Friday night
With the Sultans… with the Sultans of Swing
And a crowd of young boys they’re fooling around in the corner
Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles
They don’t give a damn about any trumpet playing band
It ain’t what they call rock and roll
And the Sultans… yeah the Sultans play Creole
And then the man he steps right up to the microphone
And says at last just as the time bell rings
‘Goodnight, now it’s time to go home’
And he makes it fast with one more thing
‘We are the Sultans… We are the Sultans of Swing’
Meet Me In Montauk 
I like how you’re featuring both songs and artists you know well and those that strike you as worthy of being featured just… because.
I have a collection of associations when it comes to Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits, many of which will likely be talked about this week. “And chicks – for – free” – Knopfler + Sting + “the MTV” = my first strong memory of Knopfler. “Brothers in Arms” rocked me, but I’ll wait to talk about it until the time comes. When I fell in love with the Indigo Girls, I had to hear the song (“Romeo and Juliet”) that inspired their cover and found out a bit more about Dire Straits at that time. Finally, I think Princess Bride, I think Mark Knopfler.
I know what you mean about the distinctive guitar sound, though for me his voice is even more the signature of the band. The combination is what works so well. I look forward to this theme week, hearing some old favorites and being exposed to a couple of new songs along the way.
I too have a strong appreciation and like of Dire Straits and Knopfler, even though I own only a few songs and albums featuring him.
As for the guitar, that sound is a “clean” guitar sound–one without distortion. Clapton is also known for playing a clean guitar, but does it in a blues style (sliding notes) that makes it different and distinct. Bonnie Raitt is another clean guitarist–but also bluesy like Clapton. Knopfler’s sound is actually a throwback to the rockabilly music and the sound you would often here in early rock recordings like Rock Around the Clock. It actually takes much more skill to play a clean guitar sound since every note is distinct and heard. You can’t hide mistakes in a wall of sound.
Anyway, I look forward to hearing me some Knopfler and Straits this week.
And we thought Maddie was the guitar hero!
Hi, found this post about Dire Straits and it made me smile. I grew up with Dire Straits, my dad was bang into them when I were a nipper. But you are right, Sultan’s of Swing probably remains their most distinctive track and it is so unusual compared to its contemporaries in the charts of the day, or for that matter now. It is deeply deeply uncool to admit to liking Dire Straits in Britain, but pretty much every one I know secretly likes them, at least a best of. How can you not with the likes of this, Walk of Life, Romeo & Juliet etc. The band looked atrocious and they’re never gonna win you any friends or get you laid at a party, (Hey baby, let’s talk about the Straits!) but they will always be secret faves of mine.
This track in particular whisks me back to childhood as soon as I hear it’s opening guitars jangling along – and it does so without even having the decency to ask me first! I find myself regressing until I feel the need to pull on a pair of shorts and make sandcastles and eat lollipops. Bloody Knoplfer has a lot to answer for!
This song made it into my post about songs that cause kneejerk memories…
http://oldrope.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/music-to-remember/
Feel free to add any of your own memories at the end. Thanks for the good post though!
Your oldest of ropes,
Old Rope