It’s a bit early to roll out New Year’s resolutions, but I know one of mine will be to do more Deep (and Shallow) Dives on the blog. So far this year I’ve given that treatment to just one musical artist: Jason Isbell (I also explored the filmographies of David Lynch and Vincente Minnelli).
Last year, I dove into the five-album catalog of Jim Croce and did my first Shallow Dive, covering selected works by Barbra Streisand. Those were all rewarding (for me, at least) and I’m determined to add several other names to the list over the next year.
In that spirit, I thought I’d get a quick one in to close out this year. This week (and a bit of next) I’ll dive into the six-album discography of British rockers Dire Straits.
Dire Straits was formed in London in 1977 by guitarist brothers Mark and David Knopfler along with bassist John Illsley and drummer Pick Withers. Mark and David were working as an English teacher and social worker, respectively, when their demo tape landed in the right hands and they found themselves with a recording contract.
The following year, 1978, saw the band release their self-titled debut album and tour with Talking Heads. By early 1979, they were playing sold-out headliner shows in the United States on the strength of a top five hit, ‘Sultans of Swing.’
Sometimes one song is all it takes, and ‘Sultans of Swing’ is certainly that kind of song. It’s by far the best thing on Dire Straits’ debut, an instantly memorable groove that paints a vivid picture of a Dixieland jazz band playing to a small crowd on a rainy south London night.
Opener ‘Down to the Waterline’ is a sexy jam that kicks the album off with swagger and serves as a perfect introduction to the band’s sound. The rest of the songs live in a similar space, even if none are as memorable as those two.
Dire Straits reached #2 on the U.S. albums chart and #5 in the UK on its way to double Platinum status in both regions.
Sweet surrender, on the quayside
You remember, we used to run and hide
In the shadow of the cargoes, I take you one at a time
And we’re counting all the numbers down to the waterline
[Verse 2]
Well, near misses on the dogleap stairway
French kisses in the darkened doorway
A foghorn blowing out a-wild and cold
A policeman, he shines a light upon my shoulder
[Verse 3]
Up comes a coaster, fast and silent, in the night
Over my shoulder, all you can see are the pilot lights
No money in our jackets and our jeans are torn
Your hands are cold, but your lips are warm
[Outro]
She can see him on the jetty that they used to know
She can feel him in the places where the sailors go
When she’s walking by the river or the railway line
She can still hear him whisper, “Let’s go down to the waterline, c’mon”
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’ve always liked Dire Straits’ sound. Looking forward to this shallow dive.
don’t know much about them but I like this song. Looking forward to learning more.