Sultans of Swing (Live in Germany) (2 CD Set) [Import]

Dire Straits | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 6, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: 101 DISTRIBUTION
• ASIN: B001MYIPY6
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,450 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Down To The Waterline

2. Six Blade Knife

3. Once Upon A Time In The West

4. Lady Writer

5. Single Handed Sailor

6. Water Of Love

7. In The Gallery

8. Follow Me Home

Disc: 2

1. News

2. Whats The Matter Baby?

3. Lions

4. Sultans Of Swing

5. Wild West End

6. Where Do You Think Youre Going?

7. Eastbound Train

8. Sultans Of Swing (redux)

Editorial Reviews

2009 release containing a classic early live show from Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits, performed in Germany in 1979. This release captures the original band in their first brush of international success - Mark and Dave Knopfler on lead and rhythm guitars, John Illsley on bass, Pick Withers on drums. For all its newfound success, Dire Straits here puts on a carefully polished, musically serious show, full of the nuance and intelligence that characterized the band s memorable career in Rock. A very young Mark Knopfler is of course front and center, with his trademark Dylan-influenced vocals, seductive guitar playing, and dark and thoughtful songs. Those songs include beloved numbers from their breakout self-titled debut album ('Sultans Of Swing', Down To The Waterline, Six Blade Knife and others) as well as a batch of tracks from their forthcoming sophomore album including Lady Writer and Once Upon A Time In The West. 16 tracks. Immortal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars LIVE IN GERMANY, June 24, 2009

By 

Stuart Jefferson (San Diego,Ca) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sultans of Swing (Live in Germany) (2 CD Set) (Audio CD)

Two discs 39 minutes each approximately. The sound is very good-even for a live (mono) recording. This has the feel of the listener sitting in the "sweet spot" at this concert-all the instruments are plainly audible,which is especially important for this group. I don't know for sure,but I believe this set may be the audio portion of a DVD of this concert. This company (possibly based in the Netherlands) has released a Neil Young set,which is the soundtrack to "Live Rust",with more tracks and unedited songs than was "officially" released. Even the tri-fold cd holder and the graphics are similar. So I'm wondering about the legality of it all. But no matter-its the music that's important.

For those who like DIRE STRAITS first few albums (especially the first) this a welcome addition. This was the original band-Mark Knopfler on guitar/vocals,David Knopfler on rhythm guitar/vocals,John Illsley on bass,and Pick Withers on drums.

With all the attention on Mark Knopfler,many people don't realize how important the rest of this group was,particularly the bass and drums,to the DIRE STRAITS "sound". The bass simultaneously filled in the bottom yet was very melodic. The under-rated Withers on drums was the Charlie Watts (ROLLING STONES) of the group. He held everything together while driving the band forward no matter what the tempo. All the while never calling attention to himself-just getting the job done. When this group began drifting apart something was lost. Yes the new band went on to fame and big venues (and big money) but that certain workmanlike,straight ahead feel was gone.

This concert brings it all back. Recorded in front of a small audience (Knopfler alludes between songs to there being 100 people) this is DIRE STRAITS before all the fame. Their first "hit","Sultans of Swing" is buried in the middle of the second disc. And then Knopfler,shyly tells the crowd that they will replay it because they fouled it up. This is part of the refreshing feel of this set,before they became "stars". The songs are played in a matter-of-fact,workmanlike style. Nothing fancy,no long instrumental passages,no flash-just a band trying out it's songs in front of a small audience. There is a simple honesty heard here that disappeared later. While its great to hear Knopfler's guitar,the instrumental work is kept to a minimum,but that great sound and the fast picking is still there. Everything is played with an idea of just presenting the tunes in the best way possible. A number of the tracks here appeared on the first album,with a few being tried out for possible later albums. Long time listeners will know most of the songs,yet being a live setting,the instrumental passages and the arrangements are turned around slightly,which gives added interest. All the tracks form a cohesive whole and together give a picture of this band at it's beginning stages.

For those listeners who like the original sound of this band-this would be a valuable addition. People unfamiliar with this group would also benefit from hearing a small unpretentious band,simply getting up in front of a crowd and playing their music. The honest simplicity if this set is very refreshing-especially today.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Shoddy sound quality, March 27, 2009

By 

Tom Coe (Birmingham, AL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sultans of Swing (Live in Germany) (2 CD Set) (Audio CD)

While this is a rare performance that is probably worth it for avid fans, I wouldn't get too excited about it. The sound quality is average at best. The audio is in mono and comes directly from the video source.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Immortal?, September 11, 2009

By 

eurocrank (Ketchikan, Alaska) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sultans of Swing (Live in Germany) (2 CD Set) (Audio CD)

Maybe, maybe not. But I like this 2CD set about as much as any of the first five studio albums and a lot more than "Alchemy," "On Every Street," and "On the Night." The material is basically from "Dire Straits" and "Communique," but performed with the moodiness characterizing those albums, especially the latter. In other words, it has what "live at the BBC," the other two live albums, and "On Every Street" lack. It also has much less audience noise than "Alchemy" and "On the Night."

I've always been disappointed by the "BBC" disc because it seems tense, anxious. The Immortal 2CD set makes me realize that it's "Communique" that I love the most, that most captures what I love about Dire Straits . . . Celtic country & western from an American port town.

To me, almost all the Immortal sets should be treasured. The packaging--quality digipaks with good pictures and meaningful liner notes--complements the sound, which seems to be the audio portion of a video or DVD. Most are mono, but to call them bootlegs is misleading; I wish all bootlegs sounded this good. For example, I have Vol. 2 of Johnny Winter's officially released, personally sanctioned "Live Bootleg Series." It's gotten rave reviews in general, but the sound quality is inferior to every Immortal set I've heard. And most of the Immortal sets offer material that is officially unrepresented or seriously underrepresented.

These are my Immortal sets:

-Eric Clapton & Friends, "The A.R.M.S. Benefit Concert from London" 2CDs (A full concert, the friends include Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Steve Winwood, and Ronnie Lane. Page has a four-song set in which he beautifully shows up Beck on Beck's 'Led Boots.')

-Eric Clapton, "After Midnight LIVE" 2CDs (a 1988 concert with Mark Knopfler as second lead guitarist and Alan Clark on keyboards)

-Eric Clapton, "live at Budokan" 2CDs (a 2001 concert that is similar to but with fewer musicians on stage than "One More Car, One More Rider")

-Deep Purple, "LIVE" 1CD (A rare appearance of 'No, No, No' distinguishes this combo CD of part of a late "Fireball"/early "Machine Head" Deep Purple concert with part of Ian Gillan's "Bedrock in Concert" live CD)

-The Eagles, "New Zealand Concert" 2CDs (a 1995 concert notable for the inclusion of solo songs like 'Smuggler's Blues,' 'Life's Been Good,' 'The Boys of Summer,' and many others)

-Tom Petty, "Live in Chicago" 2CDs (a 22-song, full-band, 2003 concert, with covers of Elmore James, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles/Elvis, as well as Petty solo material)

-Queen, "Rock You from Rio--Live" 1CD (a 1985 concert that includes the otherwise unavailable live 'It's a Hard Life' as well as 'Liar,' which appears live only on the "At the BBC" disc)

-Lou Reed, "Through the Years: New York 1983 - Spain 2004" 2CDs (A tremendous selection of songs from both the Quine and the Rathke bands, the latter including Jane Scarpantoni on cello, this set is oddly compiled: the bands alternate song by song. Quine's 'Sweet Jane' is followed by Rathke's "Why Do You Talk,' which is followed by Quine's 'Rock 'N' Roll,' etc.)

-Rod Stewart & Faces, "LIVE IN LONDON" 1CD (the only live Faces CD in print)

-The Who, "Live from Toronto" 2CDs (This 1982 American Tour, Maple Leaf Gardens concert begins with 'My Generation,' ends with 'Twist and Shout,' and covers early and late Who in between, including 'Love Ain't for Keepin')

-Neil Young & Crazy Horse, "Live in San Francisco" 2CDs (a full concert of what was edited and overdubbed to become "Rust Never Sleeps")

Except perhaps for the Deep Purple package, these concerts are significant additions to the artists' released works. Clapton and Knopfler exchanging solos on 'Badge,' for example--where else you gonna hear that???

Those first five studio albums by Dire Straits deserve Clapton's praise of Knopfler on the "After Midnight LIVE" set: "wonderful." Peter Green may criticize Knopfler for making mistakes, but to me anyone who can evoke such vivid scenery with guitar, voice, lyrics, and melody (all of 'em) within a few seconds has a gift beyond technique.

This Dire Straits Immortal double disc is a full expression of that gift.