Reviews (page 4 of 15)
Excellent album! Very bluesy and kind of funky. Some songs sound like the band America.
yep yep
Awesome ! Their best work
Great vibes
Felt like British country western beach boys. Guitar and songwriting is inspired
So many great album from DS, and this is one of the best. Such amazing guitar and songwriting.
The Dire Straits have always been near and dear to my heart. While this debut, self titled album is not my favorite work of theirs, there is no denying their unique sound a la The Allman Brothers or Chicago.
Added to my library
LP
Great debut album with some absolutely stupendous tracks, including the classic "Sultans of Swing", plus "Down to the Waterline", "Water of Love", "In the Gallery", and "Wild West End".
I really like the sound of these guys. I think that I can see why they aren't main stream but not sure why we don't hear more of their stuff today. There wasn't any filler here all of this was great music.
Absolute classic
JA, moet wel 5… sorry. Ga nu m’n best weer doen met 5 sterren en het niet elke keer geven
Masterpiece. The diversity of Dire Straits comes forward on this album.
Very chill and relaxing which makes it an album that’s very easy to listen to and enjoy. I’ve heard some of their hit songs but never did a deep dive on their discography. I will definitely be checking out more of their stuff!
I don't think I've heard all of these before. A+
I loved it. Just that.
of course a fantastic album
Great album big DS guy
Yes! I love Dire Straits and this album is well-listened to. I mean Sultans of Swing is such a banger but there are some great songs on this album. Definitely check out the Live at the BBC and Alchemy albums for some great live versions of these songs.
Got this used from a record shop in Hillcrest, San Diego for a few bucks. One of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Could listen to this album all day.
Excellent, Sultans of Swing is great but so is everything else. Knopfler’s guitar style is so skilled and interesting. There’s such a great blend of country, blues and folk. Dire Straits are what the Eagles would be if the Eagles weren’t so lame. 5 stars
Already fell in love with this artist long ago…. Such beautiful guitar solos and solid work
I love Dire Straits, but I've never listened to this whole album before. As I expected, this album was fantastic. It had everything that I could want in a Dire Straits album: Mark Knopfler's vocals, and Mark Knopfler's guitar playing. I love Mark's bluesy guitar picking, and this album was chock a block full of it. As blues-inspired as his guitar playing is, there's just something about it that has a flamenco-like quality to it as well that I just find incredibly pleasant to listen to. "Sultans of Swing" is not only one of the most beautiful classic rock songs of all time, it easily has one of the best guitar solos of all time too. Mark Knopfler's voice is fantastic too; sure, his singing is a tad monotone, but I still think his voice is incredibly rich. His pattern of speak-singing reminds me of the pacing of Bob Dylan's singing, which I absolutely love. This album is fantastic, and I really loved it. Favorite track: I mean, come on... Favorite track that isn't "Sultans of Swing": "Setting Me Up"
Solid cocaine rock.
guy says pavarotti incredible...i say check out markiplier six blade knife...world class vocals...perfect voices.. kultainen kitaranäpytys, midaasin kirous... kaikki soinnut mitä tekee kitaralla muuttuu kullaksi heh... Dire Straits has a way of making the guitar interact with the vocals that is really unique. BLUD SANOI DIRE STRAITS... YKSI HENKILÖ TUOSSA KYSEEESSÄÄ... FATHER KNOPFLER... in the gallery...kuulemma paskin...ei...paras....objectivity saavutettu...
Top 2
Always a pleasure
I already love it
this album is good
Chef's kiss. Perfect.
great debut album from one of the greatest bands.
Great
Knopfler's guitar blends perfectly with the vocals, classic blues rock album and such a strong debut album. Arguably one of the best guitar solos on sultans of swing but this album is much more than that.
Fantastic debut album! Great song writing, musicianship, and production. This album sounds gorgeous.
Very enjoyable just pushes a 5, upbeat but also contemplative Rock album
Great album, mellow vibes, overall one you can play start to finish with no skips
Dire Straits doet het altijd goed bij mij. Mark Knoflook mompelt wat in de microfoon, gooit er vervolgens een paar gitaarnootjes in, mompelt verder, weer wat gepiel op de gitaar, etc etc. Misschien een beproefd recept in de bluesrock, maar Knopfler perfectioneert het. Ik denk dat ik latere albums nog een tandje beter vindt, maar je weet in deze snoblijst nooit of die albums er ook in staan. Want debuutalbums zijn heilig. Dus ik geef maar alvast 5 sterren voor het hele oeuvre, dan zijn die alvast gegeven.
"Sultans of Swing" obviously the best, most popular song on the album but having heard the rest of the album, you can get a good feel for the overall sound of the band and why Sultans sounds the way it does. The band really knows how to compliment the instrument to the vocals so easily. Fantastic album, loved it. 9/10.
Dylanesque lyrics with some fantastic guitar playing. I’m always happy to be pandered to. “Wild West End” stands out as my favorite.
i’d avoided this album in the past because i didn’t love sultans of swing — man was i wrong. this is great; great guitars and very dylan lyrics and tone. really fun listen, and i ended up enjoying SoS when it came up!
This is a great sounding album. A high level of smoothness and exquisite production of guitar and drums and vocals all in good quantity. This album has good grooves and sounded fantastic on my hifi. Every track is a good listen. Surprisingly only one ‘hit’ with Sultans of Swing. But I enjoyed it all. 4.7/5.
Just slaps from start to finish
Probably one of the greatest debut albums I’ve heard so far! I didn’t realize that Sultans of Swing was this early into their career either. This album is so much better than the acclaimed Brothers in Arms. Listen again: yes Purchase for my collection: yes Favourite Song: Water of Love (Cream vibes!)
Is this the best album in the world? No. Does it contain the best guitar solo in the world? Yes.
One of my favorites
I grew up with this, my dad was a big fan. And you know, it rubbed off on me. Lots of good songs here with great guitar play.
Album 25 of 1001 Dire Straits - Dire Straits Favorite Track : Sultans of Swing Rating : 5 / 5 Each song is like a visit from an old friend. What is not to like about this album? Solid listen all the way through and includes one my all time favorite songs. Always a pleasure.
A pretty amazing album. The guitar work is special... it has so many soulful flourishes that continually make the music more expressive and integration. Every track is strong, with Sultans of Swing being an all time great. Can listen to this over and over.
Primeiro álbum da icônica banda, ja temos o clássico sultans of swing, e o começo de uns dos melhores tons de guitarra imortalizado por Mark.
Where has this album been all my life? Stunning mixture of rock, blues, country, swing, probably countless other genres I'm forgetting right now. A pleasure to listen to. Loved all tracks, but In the Gallery is what pushed it to a 5 for me
Classique 5 sur 5 , les c9mpisitons la guitare et la voix de knopfler sont vraiment deja a point t annonce ce qui s’en vient. Un album incontournable et pourtant, meme pas le meilleur de dire straits.
I was surprised how much I loved this Immaculately arranged and produced
An absolute classic and a debut album to boot. It introduces the Dire Straits signature sound of smooth jazz infused rock. It's just an amazing record.
Love this album. Down to the Waterline and Sultans of Swing fav songs
As far as easy listening classic rock goes, it doesn't get much better. I could easily let this play and enjoy each of the nine songs—much more than just the Sultans of Swing. Excellent road trip soundtrack.
Only Mark Knopfler can sould like this <3
A good friend of mine once said to me If music could have a texture this album would be smooth. True dat! In the middle of the Disco craze this album dared to feature bluesy sounds, glorious guitar work and licks that make you feel chill as balls.
Smooth.
I love love love dire straits, we've got to install microwave ovens, custom kitchen deliveries, we've got to move these refrigerators, we've got to move these colour tvs
это прекрасно, восхитительно и великолепно. вкуснейшая музыка, одни гитарные соло чего стоят. хочется переслушивать.
Удивительный дебютный альбом Супер роковое кантри с сочнейшим басом Алкоальбом: темная пинта стаута
I really like this album. Although the singing is quite simple, it does a great job at contrasting the really complex music behind it. Really great songs to bop your head to. 5/5 Favorite song: Sultans of Swing (duh) Worst song: Wild West End
My go to evening rock record. Love it. 5
Whenever you hear Dire Straits - Mark Knopfler's unmistakable voice, along with the classic lyrics and backing musical arrangements make for some fantastic tunes. This album was such a treat to listen to - hit after hit. Loved it.
Very hard listen without dancing
yes.
Great just for Sultans
‘Saltans of Swing’ reminds me of my Dad. Big fan he was and taught me this solo 🤘
Wonderful. Hard to believe it was their debut album - it sounds so fully realised and polished.
Three words: Sultans of Swing. That's all you need to know.
Classic. Nothing more to say.
LOVE this album. so much
Excellent
The best album i heard…
Another fun listen from an album I hadn't heard
Every album has that groovy rock and roll twang that Dire Straits perfected
Dire Straits, enough said
awesome!
Another boss debut album. Communique got criticised for being too similar which is ridiculous. 'What a great album, better not make another one with a similar sound'.
Top album. Water of Love, Sixblade Knife, and Wild West End are some of the least mainstream yet most slammin' Knopfler tunes. Sultans of Swing is worn out from the radio burning it down, but a great tune. I remember way back in the day having one hell of a love affair with a gorgeous woman whose favorite tune was Wild West End. Ha! That one conjures some memories! I'm a pretty unabashed Dire Straits song. The guitar alchemy of it all.
Love the guitar. One familiar song on the album. Over all the album is great.
Loved the first 80% of it. After the famous Sultans of Swing the rest felt like it lacked that special something so I was hesitating to give it full rating. But looking back at the album makes me smile. What a lovely record with unique feeling.
an album from my childhood i completely forgot about, so glad i rediscovered it through here! extra points for nostalgia obvi
Love it. Mark Knopfler's guitar playing is just sublime. The whole comes together as a smooth, easy listen. 5 stars without a doubt.
Kuulemattomia biisejä! Kitara böngähtää aina kivasti!
i love dire straits. i love this album. 10/10 mark knopfler is p dang cool.
Substantial chops plus an understated vibe as the antidote to the chaos of disco and punk. There’s a modesty that underscores the quality, the restrained and refined licks a new brand of non-show-offy guitar heroics. The record has a vaguely cry-from-the-wilderness feel. One gets the feeling that this band kept its head down, avoiding all the noise around it, just doing its thing, and doing it at an extremely high level. "Wild West End" is a personal all-time favorite, and "Lions" and "In the Gallery" are seriously underrated, bookending "Down to the Waterline" and "Water of Love" in terms of intrigue and listenability. "Sultans" is fine, but barely a top five on this excellent sert. And much better was still to come – namely, Making Movies and Love Over Gold, egregious and utterly inexplicable exclusions to this list. Bonus points for the cool and arty cover photo, which the headbands-cum-wristbands-cum-wife-beater look (speaking of egregious) would rather unfortunately cancel out.
Onko nää kaikki näin saakelin hyviä? Mahtava tunnelma. Sopivan lyhyessä ajassa (9 biisiä n. 40 min.) ei ehdi tulla huteja. Miten voi kitara kuulostaakkin näin hyvältä? Uskoisin että yksittäiset biisit kuulostaa paremmilta juurikin levynä putkeen kuunneltuna. Paras biisi: Sultans of swing tietty, erityismaininta down to the waterline Huonoin biisi: Six blade knife? En kyl oikeesti tiiä minkä valita koska tää levy vaan toimii saakeli.
I remember hearing Bob Hudson play Sultans Of Swing on 2JJ one afternoon in 1978 & thinking that it would be big. The album was even better. Not sure how much the production of Muff Winwood (Stevie’s bro) had to do with it but the flow from track to track is terrific. There are the moody songs (In The Gallery),the rocky tunes (Setting Me Up is pure rockabilly) and, let’s face it, the ones that sound so much like J.J.Cale, it ain’t funny (Southbound Again). It’s all about Mark Knopfler’s laid-back vocals & distinctive guitar sound. From then on you could always identify his sound. Within a year Dylan employed him to play lead on the Slow Train Coming album. I hadn’t played this for quite a while, but thoroughly enjoyed it. A great album.
One of those perfect and classic albums from an iconic group and even more iconic guitar player. The whole JJ Cale roots rock style paired with Knopfler’s amazing guitar work make this such an enjoyable listen. Underrated is also the lyricism.
There's just something very cool and chill about the Dire Straits sound. Absolutely love Mark's relaxed, almost deinterested singing style and how the guitar howls just perfectly every time, not too much, never too little, just perfect!
When that guitar kicks in, the first song. Chefskiss
Great album. One of the underrated bands of the era. I believe this album would fit in today's scene with its masterful guitar work and hints of modern alternative rock.
Yes. 4.6
Very nice guitar work.
Great time listing to this one
Always loved this one. Sultans of Swing is one of my all time favorites.
Vidste godt at Dire Straits er gode, meeen skal til at høre mere. Deres bedste album.
Great album
Classicly good.
Nobody plays guitar like MK
Transcendental guitar rock, excellent album 9/10
A true classic!
Sultans of the swing ❤️
Such a good album. Knopfler is so underrated.
Easy 5 ;) Liking the laidback feel. Played a lot in my early days, still like it, nice to hear again. Same for communique probably or maybe i should say all albums up to alchemy ...
This is not "Making Movies" which is one of the best albums ever made (and presumably included on the list as well) but still easily 5 star of course (just like Love Over Gold and Brothers in Arms).
Totally unique, changed music forever.
discon con willy de reves
I think we all agree that Dire Straits' music is basically magic, so I won't try to come up with a new way to describe it.
Awesome!
Already knew and enjoyed "Sultans of Swing." Loved listening to the whole album. My kind of classic rock Summer jam.
Un clásico con temas muy británicos
Amazing debut album with rock heavily influenced by blues.
Fantastic album, one of their best.
Very pleasant classic, soft rock. Wikipedia calls it blues rock or pub rock. Enjoyable album.
Hi- Down to the Waterline, Water of Love, Sultans of Swing What I like most about Dire Straits is that it's like Bob Dylan, but good. All kidding aside, the smooth, effortless vocals and masterful guitar plucking of Mark Knopfler, is precise and old-school, which lends to the classic timelessness of Dire Straits.
So good - really fun album
Wonderful guitar!
Excellent…one of there best
Didn't even need to listen
The Dire Straits are the right amount of smooth and cool. Not too smooth, not too cool. They are situated in the 80's, for sure, but their music has a timeless quality to it that makes it feel fresh. I also love how they don't play on any southern rock or 80's pop "troupes," but rather have a sound in and of themselves.
This debut album is awesome!
Knopfler's finger pickin is one of the sweetest tones I've ever heard. While not my favorite Dire Straits album it does have Setting me up and Sultans of Swing the latter having perhaps the greatest the solo of all time. Though I prefer the solo on the live version on Alchemy, just insane.
solid af for a debut album definitely gave off heavy Bob Dylan vibes but with a lot of fast guitar picking which sounded really cool I think i’ll give this album a 9/10 but my favorite album of theirs is still Brothers In Arms
I have never tired of Sultans of Swing, it’s a perfect song with one of the best guitar solos of all time and Knopfler’s vocals maybe don’t get enough credit on that song. But this whole album is pretty damn fine, too. The buzzing dobro on the moody Water of Love and pretty much all of the guitar picking on every other song is great.
Magic one!
I always read people banging on about Dire Straits and how amazing they actually are but I'm only really familiar with them through the later stuff that has been played to death. (Except for The Sultans of Swing off this album, which I did rate but assumed was just an anomaly.) I ignorantly thought I was familiar enough with them and just didn't get it the same way as all those people who banged on about them... but this album has proven me utterly completely wrong. This is astonishingly good. Might pop off and buy this now.
pretty cool
Ótimo, perfeito, maravilhoso
Every song just slaps
Great!!!
Ridiculously easy one for me to review as it's one of my favorites. Still listen to it quite frequently. In the midst of an era of music history, they recorded and released this beauty which should've been a total flop based upon what was popular at the time -- and even based on what was considered unconventional or rebellious at the time -- yet it endures as one of the finest works in the broad rock genre. All that aside, I just love listening to it. Mark Knopfler's melodic and intricate guitar playing never fails to fill me up, and it's important to acknowledge just how darn excellent the rest of the band is, too. Genius stuff. Love it.
Just a trumpet playing band. Love this album. Good guitar and vocal blending. Not a bad song on it, plus Sultans of Swing. 5
Top tier
Loved it!
OH yea!
COOL!!!
Love everything about this one. 5 stars all the way for me, along with the classics, Sultans of Swing and Down to the Waterline. Mark Knopfler's clean and sweet guitar licks are just masterful.
Excellent.
Love the grooviness.
Didn’t realize these guys sang Sultans of Swing which I’ve definitely heard before.
as first albums go, this is fucking ace. As first singles go (is this right? to lazy to check) Sultans of Swing is neither the best, not the most radio-friendly cut. Embarrassment of riches. When I first heard this (retro-tracking the back catalogue in the wake of Brothers in Arms) I used to imagine the ideal listener of the time. Its late. Co-habitants have buggered off to sleep. Outside, the silence lays thick. Indoors, single lamp by most comfortable armchair. Brushing off the vinyl, pouring out a subtle malt (generous serving), and settling down for 40 minutes of me, myself and I. Subtle malt and vinyl aside (I lack the resources for one, the temperamental inclinations for the other), I did this last night. God, it felt good.
Now that's a debut album
This is my favourite album. I have all the collection of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler and his collaborations with anothers artists. The best.
Absolutely sublime, up my street and an all time classic
Listening to the album after many years again brought back so many memories. It truly is one of the greatest. So many remarkable hits. And those you don't know are just super chill to listen too. The lyrics are timeless. And Mark Knopfler's skills are just out of this world. 5 Stars
Loved this album. Probably more then brothers in arms.
I've had a few other Dire Straights and Knopfler albums, but somehow never studied this one. This is a great piece of work!
Classic......waterline gallery sultans ...etc
Nunca pensé que me volvería fan de Dire Straits. De joven era una de las bandas que odiaba con toda mi alma. Así cambia la gente. Este disco es brutal, me encanta el tono de guitarra que tiene.
wtf this surprised me, really hit the spot
één minuut bezig en ge gaat goed. Zoveel leuk gitaargebruik en zo een aangename stem. ik ben nog maar net bezig maar al wie haat heeft op dire straits mag met bezos naar de ruimte en niet meer terug komen. oogjes toe, denken aan de jaren 70-80 en dan in de auto, opendak, zonnetje op uw snoet en dan met de wind in de haren deze muziek! Sultans of swing is een klassieker onder de klassiekers
This is a certified classic. Album is gewoon een ✨vibe✨
Ohhhh yeah baby. So good.
Dire fucking Straits man
One of my top #5 albums
One of my favorite debut albums. Great tracks all the way through. And, of course, Sultans. Amazing. Knopfler is an animal.
Upbeat album for a down day.
Every track is a good one. Even better than I remembered.
Class album
Het blijft een sterke groep.
Incredible. Knopfler is Legend. This album is an awesome, understated journey with some absolutely beautiful songs sprinkled through. Can hear Dylan infl. Favourite gat (it's all 10/10) - In The Gallery. Wild West End is super beautiful
Classic. Incredible, unique guitar.
nice and bluesy
nivélazo. a real rythem guitar!
A great album.
A great album.
Beautiful, clean, classic Knopfler playing. Songs grove. Some great, classic DS tunes including Sultans.
Terrific
Very nice tunes, with a lot of roles that sound like jazz (to me)
Loved it. I don’t understand why they weren’t so widely regarded in the US from this album. Excellent.
Excellent album
Incredible
great album. nice vibe through and through.
Amazing classic rock album
One of the best albums ever.
Freaking awesome
Det skønt
In my opinion this is the far stronger of the two dire straits albums I’ve heard on this list so far. It does a really good job of exploring a musical theme without feeling repetitive while still feeling consistent enough to be a full fledged album. Really nice listen.
I love Brothers in Arms. This, their first album (of largely unfamiliar songs) made me think of other more familiar DS songs in their later catalogue. Which suggests that, guitar noodling talent notwithstanding, their songs always were a bit samey. This being the first album, and a perfectly pleasant one, you can’t really accuse them of samey-ness yet. So have scored as if a brand new sound. And on that basis it works.
When I was growing up I wrote off Dire Straits as Dad Music. Now I'm a dad I can appreciate the quality that feels almost effortless. Will be listening again.
A classics, a must listening to every guitar lover
Good. I like Dire Straits. Mark Knopfler is a great guitar player and songwriter.
Knopflerin Markku on kyllä luunkova luu. Varmaan omissa kaikkien aikojen kitarasankarisuosikkilistalla ihan siellä terävimmässä kärjessä, jos ei jopa ihan ygösenä. Tää on vallan hyvä levy levy, joskin omissa papereissani Making Movies on vielä parempi Dire Straits -lätty. Tässä on vähän se helmasynti mikä monessakin muussa Knopflerin albumikokonaisuudessa, että terävin kärki on ihan helvetin kova, mutta sitten loput on vähän meh. Jos tältä levyltä ja sitten tätä seuraavalta Communiquelta oltaisiin otettu 10 parasta biisiä ja tehty niistä yksi levy, niin olisi täydet viisi tähteä, nyt pitää vähän rokottaa, kun on tuolla tosiaan ihan turhanpäiväisiä jollotuksia seassa.
I was shocked at how much I liked this. Just nice vibes I loved the guitar and Mark Knopfler’s voice. Will definitely listen again.
201. Dire Straits - Dire Straits (1978) 9.11.26 Variety: 3 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 5 Emotionality: 4 = 4.4 rounded down to a 4 "Everybody got a knife it can be just what you want it to be/ A needle, a wife, or something that you just can't see" I remember being very surprised when I eventually found out these guys were Brits. It just didn't gel with what I knew of the rock music from the era. This was a good decade or more after "Money For Nothing" had been a giant hit ( I still love the Weird Al parody more), and I'd since heard a ton of their other stuff, including Knopfler's film score stuff like Local Hero ( which is pretty great) and teh Princess Bride, of course. Though at the time I was not aware that was him. Over time, both this album and Brothers in Arms became minor favorites, and when I've listened to them, it's usually been back to back or in a playlist, so they run together in my brain as some sort of misty, undefinable super album. So much so that even today when I saw this pop up, I still had to take a peak at the track listing to remind myself that "oh yeah - "Walk of Life" is not on this one. So I had to hit snooze on my 5-star alarm, and reassess. Just when was the last time I listened to this one all the way through? By itself? It's possibly within the last 15-20 when I had both on vinyl, but I can't be sure. I know this will be at minimum a 4 though. THE TRACKS Side one "Down to the Waterline" - Slow and atmospheric, with what are presumably meant to be the far off sounds of a boat horn? The bright, clean, bluesy guitar comes in and we're in it. Everything hits all at once and we go from 10 to... well, to maybe like a safe and reasonable 35MPH. The pace feels like it should be frenetic, but it's all very controlled, and Knopfler's moderated delivery gives off heavy Bob Dylan vibes, while his guitar work is more Gerry Rafferty. Thematically there's less a sense of romanticism here than danger, and excitement, and coolly impressionistic. I dig that Knopfler is one of those guys who can tell a story without being strictly literal, maybe another trick he picked up from Dylan. A great start, and pretty damn representative of the high level we'll be staying at for the duration. "Water of Love" - Bodies of water were on the mind I guess. Less menace, and more of a down home swampy blue bayou feel to the atmosphere as well as the beat. The drumming by Pick Withers deserves a special call out at this point, as it's just as top notch as everyone else on the album, but has always been one of my favorite parts about the thing. This song is a great showcase for his sparse, and gentle style. Once again Knopfler takes a simple metaphor, doesn't gussy it up too much, but shoots his shot straight down the center, smooth as silk. I came to his stuff much later in life, but this track reminds me a bit of some stuff from Richard Thompson, who seems to get a bit more varied in his stylistic choices, but who also has a superb clean guitar tone, and who I pair with Knopfler as the other great British guitar hero of the period, though I think Thompson probably had a good ten year head start on him. "Setting Me Up" - The guys turn up the reverb and we get much closer to a simulacrum of a live sound here, with a bit of a country blues pub rock number. Again, I can't stress how well this formula works for the band - basic as fuck blues number but swaddled in a layer of perfectly constructed instrumentation, and injected with a liveliness that makes it anything but a stale, cold imitation. I've made a couple of comparisons to Dylan already here with Knopfler's voice, but it's on these faster paced numbers where you can really hear the differences, and you realize that he's making choices with each song, and not doing an imitation. "Six Blade Knife" - We're squarely in down tempo Steely Dan territory for this number, but the bassline and the still bluesy guitar accents are SO much more organic and warm than anything those guys could get away with. Maybe my favorite vocals on the album, with Knopfler once again modulating and adjusting to the material, stretching those lines out and putting some gravel into the delivery of another perfectly constructed metaphor that doesn't need any gilding. Listen to how subtle those bongos are when they come in. This is musical surgery, guys. Where lot of the musicians of the era were content to punch you in the face, yank your teeth out with some dirty pliers, and pour some whiskey down your gullet to kill the pain, Knopfler and company are fully prepping you in a comfy chair, and providing you with some top shelf anesthetics ( never sedatives though) before making the minimum number of incisions and sending you on your way, alert and maybe only just slightly disoriented. "Southbound Again" - A bit more of a straightforward blues rock flavor on this one, with the rhythm guitar provided a not terrible imitation of what might have been a accordion line in a more traditionally bit of American southern New Orleans type of blues. SOlid stuff, but maybe not as distinct as the other stuff around it. Side two "Sultans of Swing" - The big hit, and understandably so. The band takes the game they've already well established and turns that knob all the fuck the way up as if to say, "well if you think you liked the other stuff, then get a load of this...". The flamenco inspired finger picking rolls on this are STELLAR, and have lived in my brain since I was a kid. At the time I definitely was NOT hearing this sort of thing anywhere else. The kind of professionalism and technique on display in this one made Duran Duran and all the rest look tragically uncool, and I distinctly remember being fascinated by this band, who were obviously providing their origin story in song form. If the internet had existed at the time, I would have definitely been looking for more stuff by the Sultans of Swing. There's a very boring "band plays song on blacked out stage" music video ( though you do get to see Knopfler showing off his technique) that I didn't see til way later, and it never connected for me , at least early on that these were the "Money for Nothing" guys. Anyways, this is awesome. An all-time 80s classic, and one that lives in my mind as their calling card song, despite those later, more popular hits. I think it was a very wise choice to keep this in their pocket for the opener of side two as well. The listener is primed and ready to be bonked on the head by this one, and it doesn't overshadow everything that comes after that way. "In the Gallery" - A slow bit of blues with a seemingly oddball topic of an working class artist, denied entry in the closed ecosystem of the big city art scene. Seems a weird choice at first, but I think intentionally or not, it gels really well with the band's own image of the pub rock band at the top of their game, who might have been looked down by the more artsy fartsy elements in their own scene. Meat and potatoes blues rock, even as classy and high level as this stuff is , it had to have been a hard sell to the mainstream that was all primed for synths and electronic drum beats. Possibly reading too much into it, but yet another very solid number. "Wild West End" - Easily the softest song on the album, this one keeps a folky acoustic line and a fat bass going over top of everything else which keeps things a bit bouncy still, and avoids falling into something that's too schmaltzy or approaching soft rock, in a similar fashion to how a band like America could avoid the same trap. I wouldn't necessarily call the edges rough, but they are far from treacly. "Lions" - And another band who sticks the landing. We might be on a small roll here. A mid-tempo number that feels appropriately lazy, and like the lights have started flickering, letting you know it's almost closing time. This one reminds me again of Steely Dan, but it has the kind of purpose and drive lacking in even their best stuff. Solid and not as immediately as memorable as most everything on the album, it still works very well as a final statement. HIGHLIGHTS - "Down to the Waterline" - "Water of Love" - "Setting Me Up" - "Six Blade Knife" - "Sultans of Swing" - "In the Gallery" - "Wild West End" MIDLIGHTS - "Southbound Again" - "Lions" LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS I wonder if this might be the stereotypical "Dad Rock" album. Back in the day some of the exemplars of the genre might have been the Who, or Brice Springsteen, and maybe this is still true for boomers and boomer-adjacents. And nowadays I'm sure plenty of young people would even have the temerity to suggest that Green Day and Foo Fighters have aged into the term. Dire Straights to me, seem like an eternal archetype of what Dad Rock represents. The nostalgic comfort I feel at the deceptively simple, straightforwardness, full of killer guitar hooks and shined up with that radio-ready polish exemplifies the vibe, and at the same time transcends it for me. The band continues to straddle the boundaries of the early MTV era, and yet their sound cucks so much of the trending of the period that it still feels timeless to me. Maybe it's the mish mash of genres and influences - country, blues, pub rock, and a half dozen other subgenres and turns - that keep it sounding fresh to me every time I hear it, but what is unarguable is that the craft on display is TOP LEVEL. Even in a time when production techniques had evolved light years beyond even just a decade before, this sounds like a perfectly mixed and presented piece of technical art. I'm not sure how well documented the recording of this was, but I'm willing to bet there's a very interesting documentary o be made about it. Maybe not as epic and flashy as one about Dark Side of the Moon ( I'm sure there are a few of these) might be, but it would be a story of top level technicians ( both behind and in front of the mic) nailing it, again and again. Flawless execution aside, I will say that the album does feel a bit too workmanlike for it to hit that very top tier for me. It's a VERY solid 4 through and through, and full of great moments, with not a song that goes by that I didn't enjoy very much while it was playing. But it lags behind the ones that make the 5-star grade in that I am mostly able to immediately pull up specific moments from throughout the hole thing, or it just blew my away as a unique artistic accomplishment and experience, or both. This album is the long distance runner, slowly but surely on track to make it to the finish line, never faltering, but lacking in a certain flash and excitement, because those features are inimical to the whole game. I think I'll have much the same to say about Brother in Arms ( though it is ever so slightly flashier) when we get to it, and both albums will continue their very impressive, but very stable dual orbit around the 5-star black hole that the crazier, more surprising, and risk taking albums all get sucked into. Possible turn-Offs might Include: - squeaky clean, very polished production sound - nasally, Dylan-esque vocal delivery - lack of distortion and other very organic vibes - a very roots based sound You Might enjoy this if you: - like casually excellent guitar heroism - want to be surpised by unstereotypical sounds from a the era - enjoy lyrics that don't feel tossed off or like placeholders - don't mind silky smooth, perfection in both the playing and the production - are middle-aged dad or a middle-aged dad's dad PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - FURTHER LISTENING - Naturally by JJ Cale – - Down by the Jetty by Dr. Feelgood - Infidels by Bob Dylan - Local Hero soundtrack by Mark Knopfler - Daring Adventures by Richard Thompson - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Lost in the Dream by The War on Drugs
Some unbelievable
Do not own it. This is my first time listening to this album start to finish. Mark Knopfler is what I would describe as a guitarist's guitarist - like John Mayer - such thoughtful licks that add just the right touch without being overblown - and deceptively hard to play. I love "Six Blade Knife" and the acoustic touches in "Water of Love." "Sultans..." is a 10/10 song with a top-tier solo that is eclipsed by the outro! 5-star debut album, 4-star overall.
Down to the Waterline: outstanding opening to the album. It kind of felt a little similar to Steely Dan in some ways. Water of Love: This had lots of western themes that I loved. Sultans of Swing: a classic for a reason but honestly it wasn’t my favorite out of all the songs here. Wild West End: surprise gem 💎 Across the album: amazing full bodied instrumentation with lots of unique instruments adding lots of flavor and depth to different songs.
Love the unique style of Knopfler. Not the grooviest of songs, but very listenable.
I got a day time job, I'm doing allright.
Great album. Really enjoyed.
This was so awesome wow. Felt like my ears were being fondled
Some albums you put on and they just sound cool. This is one of those albums. It just has a very crisp sound. 8.5/10 Top song... Sultan of swing
guitar work goes crazy on this one 8.5/10 best song - in the gallery
A solid debut with one stone-cold classic and several really good songs. Their midtempo bluesy style mixing jazz, the blues and pub rock makes for catchy songs. It's a good record, fun to listen to.
Imposible que sea un disco malo si es de los Dire Straits :)
Very smooth. I liked it more than most other 70s rock. Sultans of Swing is such a banger. The first track was good too.
i've listened before. i love the bassy bluesy sound, feels unique, def deserves to be part of the musical canon. i think you could reduce it to a baseline of just *pretty good rock* with a few standout hits and i wouldn't vehemently disagree with you, but the instrumentation is really cool to focus in on and it might be my favorite blues-colored record yet. Sultans Of Swing still gets me going for sure, but Down To The Waterline is a stellar opener. solid 4
Great debut album from the band. Down the waterline Six blade knife Water of love Sultans of swing Wild West end Are my favourites ****
Fav: Sultans Least: in the gallery
Great album, rock classic
Quite good, but not great. Sultans of Swing is the obvious high bar on the album, they tightened up on future albums, that being said, I’m familiar with a more greatest hits aspect of Dire Straits. It’s a nice chill bluesy vibe record overall, it just didn’t knock my socks off.
What country wishes it could be
never listened to them before. i like the voice, like how smooth some of it is versus how rough it becomes. don’t know that i listened to an actual word but don’t really care honestly.
Great!
More familiar with the following 4 albums this debut hints at what’s to come… Sultans of Swing was massive and even this 10 year old boy could hear it was different and great.
What a fantastic debut album, and not just because it has one of my all-time favorite songs--"Sultans of swing"--although that certainly doesn't hurt. It's funny to read that this album totally bombed in the UK and didn't really make an impact of any sort until the US propelled it to double platinum; all the more ironic given that Mark Knopfler grew up in Glasgow and then NE England, although I didn't ever appreciate his British origins until I read the "1001 Albums" entry for this album. (I also didn't realize that he started off as a journalist and schoolteacher before he became the massive musician/artist he's best known for.) I know there were only two singles form this album ("Sultans" and "Water of love"), but so many of the tracks from this album are really solid and some have even become later hits; my no-single favorites are their classic opener "Down to the waterline", "Six blade knife", and "In the gallery" (and somewhat "Wild west end"). I'm not sure why this laid-back sound from the late 70s works so much better for me than contemporary albums from Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Tom Petty et al, but it does, and I'm thankful for that.
Great album as a debut, the guitar is amazing. However it feels like the most of the songs are very similar and I can barely distinguish between them
Music to chill out and just vibe to. I'll listen to Sultans of Swing any day. Not my personal favorite out of the Dire Straits albums, but the formula was just immediately there and only got better as the band's career went on.
tops
tira tudo menos a guitarra por favor
I know and like Dire Straits. I have 15 liked songs by them on Spotify, with 3 on this specific album. The 3 songs already liked on this one are "Down To the Waterline", "Sultans of Swing" and "Wild West End". I have the album Brothers In Arms as a perfect album, where I like all of the songs. Hoping to discover more cool stuff by deep diving on this one. It's interesting listening to this so many years after originally hearing "Sultans of Swing" and knowing their other radio hits and the Brothers in Arms full album. Mark Knopfler definitely has a super unique way of playing the guitar. You can tell it's him on any of these songs. It just doesn't sound like anyone else. I definitely get a Faces vibe from "Wild West End" - in the best possible way. A lot of times his vocals are vaguely Bob Dylan-ish but his deeper register reminds me more of Robbie Robertson. He's not a copy of either - just noted some similarities. I had trouble getting into "In the Gallery" and "Southbound Again". They're not horrible - just didn't seem to be adding much new. I ended up also liking 4 new to me songs - "Water of Love", "Setting Me Up", "Six Blade Knife", and "Lions". It's interesting that this came out the same year (1978) as Van Halen 1. Both were very different from what was dominating the radio at that time - but just in different directions. This one more bluesy/folky and VH1 more hard rock. Liked songs on Spotify: 7/9 Rating: 4/5
Mark Knopflers voice tells the story but his guitar sings the song. Dire Straits debut doesnt sound like one. The production is great I love the relaxed sound and the blues folk rock mix. Even though at that time the Dire Straits were still finding their style and sound for me its one of their best sounding records looking back on it. Knopflers guitar playing is nearly unrivaled for me when it comes to delivering emotion and feeling and his style of songwriting fits it perfectly. Some really great songs on there but also a few not really outstanding ones. Sultans of Swing is obviously one of the most recognized songs ever and the status is rightly earned for sure. Really good one this is a regular album pull for me. 4,4/5
I didn't expect to even consider anything but four stars for this, but I'm realizing it's not exactly full of my favorite songs (they're mostly on brother's in arms) or my favorite versions (alchemy) But it’s still four stars
I enjoyed listening to this one more than I thought. Not the most ground breaking and a bit too long. But I can see myself listening again.
Out of the gate swinging (no pun intended) with some iconic sound. This is one of the undeniably great guitar tones of all time. The way he can make it rock, sway with the vocals and envelop everything on the track. What a freaking genius. And I loved the lyrics on this one. Gets close to Dylan territory. That’s my cat nip always.
I always enjoy this album.
a solid album, but got bored.
Love Dire Straits. Sultans of Swing is a stone-cold classic.
It's really good. Knopfler's solo stuff is better, but I can't get away from the fantastic guitar even if his voice hasn't really come into its own yet. For anyone reading this, PLEASE listen to his solo version of Romeo and Juliet, it's life changing
'On Every Street', is better.
I only really knew Brothers in Arms bu this was pretty good
Está bueno, pero prefiero el otro disco donde sale Money for Nothing
Very nice album!
I’d listen to these guys all day long
Knoppfler is amazing. Great cohesive band.
Sehr entspanntes Album. Mag Down to the Water line und sultans of Swing natürlich. The Gallery ist auch cool.
PUUUUUUF pero que banda la concha de mi madre
85
SO much better than Brothers in Arms, and even though there are a couple songs I don't like as much, the good stuff (all the singles and 'Down by the Waterline' especially) is immaculate.
4 - great album
Beautifully understated, subtle guitar plays. This is definitely a 4 for me.
Ooh another one that I've listened to before. It knows me so well. I hope it's not stalking me... Here we go. Ok I'm not going track by track for all of these. Will give best and worst song though. Best - In the Gallery 8/10 (impossible to pick a favourite - they all occupy similar spaces in my brain. This one is cool) Worst - Southbound Again 7/10 (Again not a lot to separate these. This one is probably the most generic bluesy song, but still groovy. Outro of SMU saves it from being the worst offender IMO. Dire Straits sit as snugly in the pocket as you can imagine. Probably the best and worst parts of all of these songs. Most of them don't go anywhere. But man are they funky. And also somehow distinct even though they sound the same. Clean guitar sounds, groovy riffs. I can easily listen to this on a summer walk or drive. Pure uninterrupted vibes. This is a very solid album front to back as well - no weak tracks. No undisputed bangers either though, which probably stops this from being in my top tier. 8/10.
Loved this one, Second half is amazing.
August so far as regards this list has been a bit of a disaster with many 1 stars. So a Dire Straits album was welcome to buck the trend. That said this is not my favourite album of theirs. To be expected really as it’s their first and contains only one track which helped to propel them to mega stardom. But still contains some great Knopfler guitar licks played with his distinctive style. 4/5 9/8/26
Outstanding
Great opening song. I like the vibes.
8/10
nice
A bit boring and too country for me
Better than expected! Simple sounds but effective songwriting. First half of the album is excellent.
Dire Straits by Dire Straits some really good sounding music. This felt timeless when I was listening to it which speaks to its greatness, this could’ve been made yesterday. Made a new fan out of me!
Not bad dont love the country ish vibes
8 - dude knows how to jam a ditty
A great defining album of what the identity of the band is and has been. A big debut album that sky rocked a big influential group.
1er album studio du groupe, les dire straits ont réussi à se hisser du top 100 billboard grace a une guitare révolutionnaire interprété par mark knopfler et du mythique son "sultan of swing" qui reste mon son préféré de l'album est l'un de les solos de guitare pref ever suivi de lions et de six blade knife
Músicas icônicas, mas sem muita variação
Love this band!! So good!! Wish all my favorites were on here.
Dire Straits is another band with a totally unique sound, and definitely belong on this list. Sultans of Swing almost puts this up there with the GOATs all by itself.
Ich weiß nicht was mir fehlt aber es ist keine 5
4,1 Highlights: Down To The Waterline, Sultans Of Swing
Pretty damn solid record. The Straits keep a consistent sound and remain in the light of the camp their sound resides in. Savory morsels these songs are
Six blade knife is an all timers. I know sultans is in a lot of shit but six blade is better. I picked this vinyl up mainly because of six blade but the whole thing is a grove.
The sultans of swing was the collective noun for Len Houmous’ 21st and 22nd wives. 4.2 6/9 Sultans Of Swing
This isn’t Dire Straits best album (that title belongs to Making Movies imo), or their biggest hit (Brothers In Arms), or their most experimental (Love Over Gold), but it is a calling card. Mark Knopfler is the new gunfighter in town, he’s got skills and they’re all on full display. Fast and effervescent as Hank Marvin, sweet and clean as B.B. King and picking fingers like Chet Atkins. A new guitar god has arrived. If Sultans Of Swing was the only song on this album he still would made his point. 4.3
The opening of this album was some of my favourite sounds we’ve heard yet. The rest i also liked! Sultans of swing a standout
Not my favourite Dire Straits album, but I wish the record to reflect that they’re one of my all-time fave bands (and also Sultans of Swing IS that good).
Dad rock - but the very good kind. It’s an incredible record
Good album. I like their more recent stuff more, but there were some gems on this album that I haven't heard previously that I really liked.
Great album of roots rock with a good mix of different tempos and genres. Mark Knopfler is one of the best guitar players in any genre. Most people don't appreciate all of the subtle notes he gets out of the guitar. He's also underrated as a singer and the lyrics in his songs are good. Sultans of Swing and Down by The Waterside are favorites. A few less good songs though.
Dog Leap Stairs mentioned
4 out of 5. This makes me want to drink in a dark but comfortable bar.
an incredible album that immediately relaxes you.
Groovy very VERY MUCH 70s vibes,its giving the scooby gang at the beach in their 40s??
Nice chiller. W Vibe, me like
Some albums take me a few listens to appreciate, but I immediately liked this from the first listen, I’d never heard the album before other than Sultans Of Swing. The guitar interplay with the vocals & drums is simply beautiful with just enough variety from track to track to keep it interesting. That being said upon repeated listens I found it to be a decent album, but not among the greatest. Sultans Of Swing which I would rate a strong 5/5 remains by far the best track here and elevates this album up a level, there are some other memorable tracks for me such as Wild West End, Six Blade Knife & Down To The Waterline which are also pretty good but there’s also a couple of forgettable ones in there too which stop this from being a 5/5 album. FT: Sultans Of Swing Rating: 4/5
Sólido, muy fácil de escuchar. Sultans of swing obviamente temón mal, pero me esperaba que alguna otra me sorprendería y no, mismo en un momento dije “upa, al fin otra buena buena” y era que había terminado el disco y se me había puesto “brothers in arms” del otro disco. Me quedo a la espera de que toque el otro. A este le pongo un 3,5.
Everyone knows "Sultans of Swing". I've heard it so much that it's hard to appreciate it for its merits, but when I do, I can fully appreciate how good it is. It's regularly listed as one of the Greatest Guitar Solos. No argument here. Mark Knopfler just embodies effortless coolness. His loose talk-singing is just awesome, especially when you listen to what he's doing with the guitar at the same time. I've been underrating his guitar playing for too long. Standout track for me is "Wild West End". I was on a camping trip with my buddy two years ago and he played it for me while we sat around a campfire, drinking beers and smoking a joint. That moment elevated it to my favorite Dire Strait song. Listening to it sober, it's still incredible.
Great instrumentation, not quite at their peak but clearly special.
It's okay I love how chilly and calm this album sounds
I think I might like this more than *Brothers in Arms*, even though the latter was a part of my High School years.
It sounds like DS are still learning who DS is, and MK is still finding his voice. But the sound is there, and "Sultans of Swing" is as good as any of their songs.
Rate: 8/10
Super chill album. Sultans of Swing is a classic; the rest of the songs on this album have a similar sound. No other tracks stood out to me but I enjoyed this nonetheless. (4)
I'm over 50 and grew up listening to Dire Straits so there will be no 'first I ever heard of them' impressions here. Everyone in my generation has had a copy of the 'Brothers in Arms' CD, seen 'Money for nothing' on MTV. I've lost enough to always cry whenever I hear the title track 'Brothers in Arms'. Love the version of it with orchestra performed for the 'Music for Monserrat' concert. So I am very familiar - but also never heard the debut album at the same time (I have Brothers in Arms, I have the Best Of compilation from 1999 titled 'Sultans of Swing'. Now to this album: First track - Down to the Waterline: if you never heard Mark Knopfler/DS before this would you blow you away in 1978. Today it's just a good solid intro track. Nice but we know there's better. Second track - Water of Love: This blew me away, the sound of the guitars and drums. The guitar played is the steel resonator on the later cover picture of Brothers in Arms album that's world famous. the drums are suprisingly just the regular kit with felt and towels or something? Unique sounds that really caught my attention. Third track - Setting Me Up : formulaic and kind of boring to me. Fourth Track - Six Blade Knife: almost losing me here, getting more uninterested. Fifth track - Southbound Again: Wow, loving it. Music is very upbeat and southern USA style r&B but the funny part is the lyrics are from a northern British person hating traveling south, (ie towards London). Smart. This is GOOD. For me who has never had this album this is one of the undiscovered gems along with Water of Love. Sixth track - Sultans of Swing: I have a mp3 folder of the top 300 songs from 1965-2005 according to me, by my choice; this is on i. Also have the best of compilation by the same name, 'nuff said. Seventh track - In the Gallery: Not feeling it. probably better than Six Blade Knife and Setting me up. Eighth track - Wild West End: pretty good, probably 5th best track on this album. Another gem discovered, though not as good as the other top tracks. Ninth track - Lions: Smooth. Good but no hook. Enjoyable but nothing for the brain to figure out.
Classic
I enjoyed this album quite a bit. The guitar is laid back and the groove on each song is pleasant. This is a great album to cruise around to.
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Near Perfect - Down To The Waterline is incredible. The vibe that is created is very unique with the dry, smoky guitar that perfectly snakes around the solid grooves. Water Of Love and Six Blade Knife are also fantastic. The great songs don't let up and the album maintains a fantastic standard throughout. Dire Straits got it right first time, they never again made an album this good.
Very groovy, perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. I really liked Wild West End. A little long for me to put anything in heavy rotation, but I really enjoyed this. 3.5/5.
smooth, easy listening, interesting, groovy, bluesy-rock guitar licks and "cool guy storytelling".
Damn, Mark really sounds like Bob Dylan sometimes. Like, a lot. There's a lot of interesting guitar work and lyrics. Could use some dynamics or some more high points.
Good ole dad rock. Love the style. Great guitar work and mellow sounds.
Sultans of Swing could solo most other albums on this list
Calm und cool, nice work.
One of those bands that arrived fully formed. It's a very impressive debut and they then did go on to do even greater things (Love Over Gold is their masterpiece), but all the same this is a really enjoyable album. Sultans of Swing obviously the famous track (deservedly so), but the rest of the album is of a similar grade, if a bit more low key. It's just fabulous musicianship and tight as a drum. Fabulous recording as well (all DS albums are). Hi-fi demo stuff. Solid 4.
cowboy vibe
bloody fantastic. sounded in parts like a better version of JM's the church with one bell
Dire Straitsin omaleimainen tyyli kuuluu vahvasti jo yhtyeen esikoislevyllä. Mark Knopflerin käheä ääni ja rautalankatyylinen kitarointi ovat vahvasti läsnä. En kuitenkaan ole varma onko tämä kyseinen levy välttämättä paras valinta tälle listalle. Biiseistä Sultans of Swing nousee kevyesti ylitse muiden, mutta mukaan mahtuu muutama vähän tylsempi raita. Kokonaisuus jää kuitenkin vahvasti plussan puolelle ja yhtyeen myöhempi megahittilevy Brothers in Arms tullaan vielä kuulemaan tämän haasteen aikana.
Such a distinctive guitar sound, enjoyed this. Only really knew Sultans of Swing beforehand which is the obvious standout
I can hear some pretty strong influences in this album like JJ Cale & ZZ Top. It’s a solid album.
Not as familiar with this album as I thought I was, but I had a great time with it. Pretty amazing for a debut.
A great answer to the question "what if a Brit tried his hardest to sound like Dylan and played blues rock?". Even on this debut album Mark Knopfler was already earning his rep as a guitar legend. Good stuff. 8.5/10.
8.5/10 Every once in a while I randomly get surprised by a debut album. Sultans of Swing is such a damn good track.
This was a very good album. The whole time I kept thinking that it sounded like something made today. Production wasn't "in the way," but it definitely helped this album sound as fresh as it did.
⭐⭐⭐⭐- Gediget och imponerande debutalbum. Inte mitt favoritalbum av bandet men jag har lärt mig uppskatta det. Kanske skulle funnits några fler spår som sticker ut lite mer men samtidigt är det jämnt utan sänken så det blir en svag 4a. Bäst är Down to the waterline, Sultans of swing, Wild west end
Solo por Sultans of Swing está guapisimo. El resto del disco mola también mucho, así relativamente chill
It was a good country music band. i would listen to them during long car rides...