Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing - Very Best of
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Free Music Notes for Sultans of Swing - Very Best of
Free Music Review: A Great Anthology Of Dire Straits Music!
Hit: 5 Stars
I was lucky enough to be living in England just outside London in a little town called West Ruislip just down the cobbled streets from the "T" station near the famous "Orchards" pub when Dire Straits released their "Love Over Gold" album in 1982, and the young English couple living in the flat upstairs played it over and over, introducing me both to their good taste in music and the terrific group called "Dire Straits" in the process. Of course, as I think back upon it, I was familiar with their hit "Sultans Of Swing", but never really paid much attention until hearing this terrific album and Mark Knopfler's unbelievably stirring, crisp and innovative guitar solos. Soon I was down at the music shoppe buying all their other albums. By that time I was familiar with their unique and unforgettable sound and also their very introspective lyrics. I came to love all their albums as much as "Love Over Gold", and I was pleased when they recently released this anthology of many of their hits, even including a theme from Knopfler's "Local Hero" movie score.I really like all the cuts here, from "Sultans Of Swing' to "Romeo And Juliet" to "Lady Writer". In each, Knopfler's distinctive twanging guitar sound echoes in my house till all hours of the morning, along with "Private Investigations, " Tunnel Of Love", and "So Far Away". My own personal favorites here are the live version of "Love Over Gold" and "Money For Nothing". In the time since the band was actively recording in the mid 1980s, Knopfler has become a kind of institutionalized artistic force everywhere one looked, writing soundtrack music for (among other films) "Local Hero" and "Cal", performing both alone and with Dire Straits, and collaborating with other artists, as well. The music here is very and innovative progressive rock, and the electric guitar work literally sings by itself. When I listen to the album now, it is a source of continuing amazement to me that Knopfler could make the sounds that emanated out of that instrument so uniquely animated as he did. The whole band is terrific, and it is sad that they made so few albums before internal frictions broke them apart. Enjoy this and their other wonderful albums. Dire Straits made an indelible stamp on modern rock that I am sure you will find entertaining and entrancing. Enjoy!
Free Music Review: The Best CD ever made
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the best CD ever made. It typically has all my favorite
songs on it. It has even Heavy Fuel. A lot of these songs are
really great. Now I want to review all the songs on this great CD
1. Sultans of Swing-Excellent album beginner. Instant classic of
the late 70's. 10/10
2. Lady Writer-Yet the guitars are amazing in this song. 9/10
3. Romeo and Juliet-Okay but not really good. 5/10
4. Tunnel of Love-Great song, one of my favorites on this album.
This song has a typical great rock sound you'll ever hear from
the straits. One of their best songs of all time and is one of
my favorite Dire Straits songs of all time. 10/10
5. Private Investigations-Too slow for me. 4/10
6. Twisting by the Pool-Funny, great surf tune to listen to.
I bet this song goes best on the beach. It does. But not my favorite. 8/10
7. Love Over Gold-Skip it, it's live. 0/10
8. So Far Away-I was talking about going to Peoria, Il alone one
night when I played this song because I was so far away from my
family. One of their best and one of my favorites. 9/10
9. Money for Nothing-What an Intro. One of my favorite Straits
songs of all time. This version is even better. Typical heavy
metal style for the song. This and Heavy Fuel are very simular. 10/10
10. Brothers in Arms-Too slow for me. Not a classic rock song at
all. 4/10
11. Walk of Life-Bad, change the cheap electric organ to the Knopfler style guitar then I would like this song better but the
whole song is terrible. 3/10
12. Calling Elvis-This is much better. The six minute version is
way better. But still really good. 9/10
13. Heavy Fuel-Now this is my favorite song on the entire compilation. It is a great intro. It is a typical heavy metal
style guitar. Mark rules on this song. Great song. 100/10
14. On Every Street-Just a peaceful song to a rock song. This
song always puts me in a good mood. Great ending. 9/10
Overall, great CD. A must have for any rock fan.
Thank you very much and I hope you buy it.
Free Music Review: Probably the Best Dire Straits album Ever!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the best compilation album ever! I liked 11 out of 16
but didn't like 5 out of 16. Dire Straits may have the best music
ever heard in my life. Now song by song review.
1. Sultans of Swing: This is one of my favorite songs on this
album. Rocks hard too. (95%)
2. Lady Writer: This is another simular to Sultans of Swing song.
This track has good guitars in it. (76%)
3. Romeo and Juliet: This one's good but not as good as the rest.
(20%)
4. Tunnel of Love: I like this track a lot. This track has great
drums, and great guitars. (93%)
5. Private Investigations: This is the worst on this album. Good
guitars but not as good as the rest. (3%)
6. Twisting by the Pool: This is a surf rock song that'll make
you laugh and listen to over and over again. (59%)
7. Love over Gold: Just a passing song (0%)
8. So Far Away: I like this track. This track has great guitars
and drums are good. (65%)
9. Money for Nothing: One of my favorite tracks on this album next to Heavy Fuel. Great drums and great guitars. (100%)
10. Brothers in Arms: The worst ever on this album. (1%)
11. Walk of Life: This is a bad organ track. I hate the bop a lula sound. (16%)
12. Calling Elvis: Another good song. This one talks about Elvis.
(57%)
13. Heavy Fuel: I love this track. This is the best track on
this album ever. The guitars and drums rule in this track.
And is my favorite track on the whole album. (100%)
14. On Every Street. Starts out slow, then great rock and roll
ending. (87%)
Free Music Review: Dire Straits Best Songs!
Hit: 5 Stars
I remember hearing the first Dire Straits album while living in London in the early 1980s, and I was astounded by the singular sounds emanating coming from Mark Knopfler's guitar. The album I heard was "Love Over Gold", and after buying it and listening to all the songs within it, I sailed back out to buy everything else they already had recorded. Overnight I became a confirmed Dire Straits fan. And the distinctive style they promulgated and popularized in both British rock and on the world-wide stage guaranteed their lasting contribution to modern rock. Of course, they didn't survive the eighties as an entity, although Knopfler himself has gone on to become an accomplished scorer for movies and other musical venues. What remains, however, is singularly terrific, for no one can match that distinctive twangy purr Knopfler sent spinning down our spines. From the opening rendition of "Sultans Of Swing" to the unusual and provocative "Romeo And Juliet', this is a great collection. It includes "Tunnel Of Love", the live version of "Love Over Gold", an incredible version of "Private Investigations", culled form the "Communiqué" album, and "So Far Away'. Also here are "Money For Nothing", "Brothers In Arms", and "Walk Of Life'. Homage is paid here to Knopfler's early scoring career, with the "Local Hero" theme included. All in all, this is a terrific compilation of the best of Dire Straits. Enjoy!
Free Music Review: Buy The Whole Collection
Hit: 5 Stars
I count myself among the biggest of fans of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler and consider him to be the greatest guitarist of all time (certainly the greatest non-classical guitarist) so on that alone I gave this CD a 5 star score.I would just mention one potential drawback, that being the editing. Several of the songs, for instance "Money For Nothing", are in their 'single' form, which is to sat edited for time to fit into an FM radio broadcast, therefore, if you really want the whole song you need to buy the original CD. So this is a plug to buy the whole collection. More expensive, surely, but totally worth it.
I am a bit unsure who picked the songs for this CD, but the mix is a bit tilted to newer stuff. I think it might have been improved if a couple of tracks ("Heavy Fuel" comes to mind) had been left out and the unedited versions had been put on the CD.
Of course, this is all quibbling. I still recommend the CD, the sound quality is superb and the mix of old and new makes it an interesting career retrospective (to date). I have seen Dire Straits and Mark in concert several times and "Local Hero/Wild Theme" live at the close of the CD still gives me goosebumps when I hear it.