Communiqué [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Dire Straits

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 19, 2000)
• Original Release Date: June 1979
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B00004Y6NT
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,125 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Dire Straits seemed to be a band with no popular context when they recorded this sophomore outing. Their previous album's "Sultans of Swing" still hadn't charted and former schoolteacher Mark Knopfler, whose 30th birthday coincided with this album's release, still had little interest in mirroring the post-punk obsessions of late-'70s London. Oblivious to the changes that would soon take place (brother David leaving the band, compact discs resurrecting older rock consumers, and their own ascension to arena-rock status), the band continued to refine its pub-rock aesthetic on this unpretentious set of melancholy rock tunes. Mark's talent for cynical character sketches is further developed on tracks like "Where Do You Think You're Going" and "News," while the presence of Jerry Wexler at the production helm ensures that the rest of the band keeps the rhythms tight. But the laid-back atmosphere of recording in the Bahamas seems to have had just as much influence, from the reggae lope of the opening "Once upon a Time in the West" to those waves crashing against the beach in the hypnotic album closer, "Follow Me Home." All in all, a solid effort from a band that probably had no idea what was just around the corner. --Bill Forman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific Early Dire Straits Album!, August 29, 2000

By	Barron Laycock "Labradorman" (Temple, New Hampshire United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Communiqué (Audio CD)

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 their other albums, including "Communique'. By that time I was familiar with their unique and unforgettable sound and also their very introspective lyrics. I came to love this album as much as "Love Over Gold", and several of the cuts are my favorites.

Starting with the first cut, "Once Upon A Time In The West", Knopfler's distinctive twanging guitar sound echoed in my flat to all hours of the morning, along with "Where Do you Think You Are Going?", "Communique", and "Lady Writer". My own personal favorites here are "Angel Of Mercy" and "Portobello Bella". In the short two years I lived in Britain, Knopfler became 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 it is. 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. Here in "Communique" they make an indelible stamp on modern rock that I am sure you will find entertaining and entrancing. Enjoy!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Beautiful!, May 25, 2005

By	George M. (Vancouver Island) - See all my reviews

When I first listened to the first Dire Straits album, back in the Seventies, I was instantly drawn to them. There was too much going on in the music scene at that time, sonically that is, and suddenly, here comes a band with a no-distortion guitar sound, with down-to-earth themes-mind you, those themes had their own spirituality- and, most important, with the ability to touch us all with music and words that speak directly to our hearts and souls! Am I exaggerating here? (...)

I do feel though, that, while other bands and artists at that time felt the need to create a complicated "progressive rock sound" aiming at impressing their young and inexperienced audience, these guys took their themes out of the harsh reality of life and made them songs, without bothering to sugar-coat them or disguise them in any way...and yet, the beautiful simplicity of their music is breathtaking!

I was born and raised in Athens, Greece, a city where life is damn difficult, but also a city that has never lost its soul, and this is where the first big success came for Dire Straits: Over 40,000 sales for their first album and at least as many for Communique, almost overnight!!!!
And this album was much inspired by the Greek way of life, especially the last song, "Follow Me Home", which Mark Knopfler wrote after the band visited the island of Rhodes. Having lived in Rhodes for three years, I can totally relate to that song...

I must say, I enjoyed what Dire Straits did after "Communique". I like "Making Movies" and even more I like "Love Over Gold", the second Dire Straits album to deeply touch my soul, especially after going through the 80's recession in British Columbia, Canada.

I still maintain though, that, "Communique" is a unique album. Despite some sonic similarities with their first album, especially in the opening tracks of "sides A & B", the feeling here is distinctly different from their first LP. I won't go through the individual songs here, other reviewers have done this already, and the fact is, I like all the songs.

My advice to all the listeners is simply to just relax, listen to this CD and get the feeling of it! Enjoy!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A solid second effort, November 8, 2005

By	Mr. N. Wright "nw" (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This second album from Dire Straits is excellent - and quickly grows on you. Sure, there are none of the classic tracks that we all grew to know and love, and also provoked inferior comparison with the group's debut (which is as good an album). The 9 selections here are totally listenable, top quality songs with no duds worth skipping and MK's storytelling lyrics prevail throughout. It has a very laidback feel to it like the first album does, but also a 'summery' tropical feel, possibly due to its recording location.

'Lady Writer' was probably the candidate for a single if there ever was one. Other tracks worthy of mention include the opener 'Once Upon A Time in the West', 'Portobello Belle', 'Single Handed Sailor' and the superb closing brooder 'Follow Me Home'.