Dire Straits

(Translated from my original Italian text by ChatGPT and Piero Scaruffi)

Dire Straits coined an atmospheric guitar-based style, largely derived from the laid-back sound of J.J. Cale.

The band was formed by singer and guitarist Mark Knopfler. As a singer, he was a vocal clone of Bob Dylan, and as a guitarist he emulated J.J. Cale’s restrained and crystalline style, adding an epic tone rooted in country music.

The group broke through with Sultans Of Swing (1978), a disenchanted ballad that echoed Dylan set to a bebop rhythm. But melody and rhythm were merely a pretext for Knopfler’s tour de force, as he filled the harmony with delightful atmospheric touches, halfway between the twang of Duane Eddy and the metallic licks of Jimi Hendrix. Their compromise form of roots-rock ranged across a wide repertoire of references to rock tradition, yet managed to abstract them into a highly evocative, almost metaphysical sound. Dire Straits (Warner Bros, 1978) was a colossal success, and the band promptly released a carbon copy, Communique (Warner Bros, 1979), which remains one of their weakest albums despite Where Do You Think You're Going.

The solemn country-gospel of Tunnel Of Love and the martial ballad in the style of Warren Zevon, Romeo And Juliet, from Making Movies (Warner Bros, 1980), were just as relaxed—almost in slow motion compared to the punk rock of the time.

Love Over Gold (Warner Bros, 1982) was their most rarefied album, poised between the orchestral flamenco of Private Investigations and the philosophical ballad Love Over Gold, and crowned by the guitar tour de force of Telegraph Road.

After topping the charts with a nostalgic classic, the swinging rockabilly Twisting By The Pool (1983), Dire Straits reinvented themselves with Brothers In Arms (Warner Bros, 1985). This time the hits were the thundering boogie of Money For Nothing and the driving rockabilly of Walk Of Life. Knopfler also wrote Private Dancer (1986) for Tina Turner and composed two film soundtracks: "Local Hero" (1983) and "The Princess Bride" (1987).

Neck And Neck (1991) was a collaboration with country music's guitarist Chet Atkins.

Dire Straits re-formed years later for On Every Street (WB, 1991), but, despite its Latin-jazz ambitions, it is perhaps their worst album (and of the original lineup only Knopfler and bassist John Illsley remained).

Their trademark is Knopfler’s shimmering Stratocaster, immersed in slow melodic improvisations, echoing Les Paul tones, boogie figures and hillbilly picking—an ideal instrument for heartfelt serenades that evoke wide open spaces and the small dramas of ordinary people. It is no coincidence that Knopfler would go on to compose film themes, a sort of poor man’s Morricone, the most famous being the one for Wag The Dog (1998).