Dire Straits continued their torrid pace, releasing their third album in three years — 1980’s Making Movies.
David Knopfler participated in early recording sessions until tensions with brother Mark led to him leaving the band. Eventually his guitar parts were all re-recorded and he isn’t credited on the album. Mark brought on producer Jimmy Iovine, whose work with Bruce Springsteen attracted his attention, and Iovine recruited E-Street Band keyboardist Roy Bittan to play on the album.
Those changes, along with Mark’s increasingly sophisticated songwriting, resulted in the band’s finest work to date.
Making Movies kicks off with three songs (making up the entirety of Side One) that would be the highlight of most band’s careers. ‘Tunnel of Love,’ ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ and ‘Skateaway’ are cinematic epics, bursting with drama and romance. That trio alone makes this a classic album.
Side Two isn’t too shabby, either. ‘Expresso Love’ is a rollicking fan favorite that features a bit of that Springsteen influence. ‘Hand in Hand’ might have been an enduring heartbreak anthem had ‘Romeo and Juliet’ not claimed that crown a few songs earlier. ‘Solid Rock’ and ‘Les Boys’ are a bit lightweight given the rest of the album’s resonance, but offer a refreshing change of pace.
The album went Platinum in the U.S. and 2X Platinum in the UK, though its three excellent singles failed to make much of a commercial splash. Chart success would come soon enough, for an album that’s easily one of the decade’s finest. But first, the band would take a bit of a detour.
More on that tomorrow.
She gets the sun in the daytime
Perfume in the dusk
And she comes out in the night-time
With the honeysuckle musk
Because she smells just like a rose
And she tastes just like a peach
She got me walking where the wildlife goes
I’d do anything to reach her
[Chorus]
And she was made in heaven
Heaven’s in the world
Oh, she was made in heaven
Heaven’s in the world
Is this just expresso love?
You know I’m crazy for the girl
Just crazy for the girl
[Verse 2]
She call me just to talk
She’s my lover, she’s a friend of mine
She says, “Hey Mister, you wanna take a walk
In the wild west end sometime?”
And I get trouble with my breathing
When she says boys don’t know anything
But I know what I want
Yes, I want everything
[Chorus]
‘Cause she was made in heaven
And heaven’s in the world
Oh, she was made in heaven
Yes, heaven’s in the world
Is this just expresso love?
See I’m crazy for the girl
Just crazy for the girl
[Bridge]
Well I feel so good because I feel so good
And I feel so good because it feels so right
I was made to go with my girl
Just like a saxophone
Was made to go with the night
[Verse 3]
And she can raise one eyebrow
Put her hand on my hip
And I close one eye now
Sweat on her lip
Oh, and I surrender to the fever
And I surrender to the will of the night
She love me so tender, I got to believe her love
Expresso love’s alright now
[Chorus]
‘Cause she was made in heaven
And heaven’s in the world
Oh, she was made in heaven
Yes, heaven’s in the world
Is this just expresso love?
Know I’m crazy for the girl
Just crazy for the girl
[Outro]
Na-na-na-na
Go, well I don’t want no sugar in it
No, thank you very, very, very
Wired up on it, all fired up on it
Expresso touch, woo-hoo
Na-na, na
Hey maestro, expresso now
Hey maestro, she said “Expresso now”
It’s just another one, just like the other one
It’s just another one, just like the other other one
Woah, hey maestro, expresso now
I say, hey maestro, expresso
I need another one…
Meet Me In Montauk 
I remember “Skateaway” being one of videos on rotation during the early days of MTV. I was immediately drawn to the smooth vibe of that song.
I’m sure I played the rest of the album back in the 80s, but it deserves another listen.