Great piece. As a longtime Dire Straits fan, dating back to their debut, but peaking with 'Live: Alchemy,' 'Brothers in Arms' was disappointing when I first bought it in '85. I did love most of the songs, but it wasn't as strong an album as their earlier work. I've since grown to love it more due to the power of hindsight. After all, Love Over Gold's "Industrial Disease" pointed the way to both "Money for Nothing" and "Walk Of Life" as it is a combination of both musically yet lyrically more interesting.
I preferred their follow-up, and swan song, 'On Every Street' to 'BiA', and still do, but only slightly. Ultimately, their catalog is one of the finest of its era.
As for the slur, I'm a strong believer in writing in character, and I admire Randy Newman's oeuvre for the same reason. No, the song doesn't "need" that verse, but it more fully explains the character's disgust as well as his opinion of what he sees on his TV screen (as does the "jungle noises"/"chimpanzee" remark, which, interestingly, is never mentioned when this topic comes up). Newman's "Rednecks" follows this thought process, albeit far more explicitly.
Thanks for causing me to dig out my copy for the new year!
Thanks for the great comment and insight Michael. :) I'll admit to not having listened to their other 80s records in a long time. An excellent opportunity to start my 2025 listening journey on a classic rock foot. Cheers!
I never liked it much, I'm afraid. A guy at work used to play it a lot, so I heard it several times. Loved the first four albums, but for me at least, they lost something when Pick Withers left.
It sticks in my memory because ‘82 was my first trip to the UK and was really into Dire Straits. “Private Investigations” blew me away, but I actually like deep tracks like “Telegraph Road” and “It Never Rains.” It’s all great. “Industrial Disease” is precursor to “Money For Nothing,” of course, but still sneering good fun.
Great piece. As a longtime Dire Straits fan, dating back to their debut, but peaking with 'Live: Alchemy,' 'Brothers in Arms' was disappointing when I first bought it in '85. I did love most of the songs, but it wasn't as strong an album as their earlier work. I've since grown to love it more due to the power of hindsight. After all, Love Over Gold's "Industrial Disease" pointed the way to both "Money for Nothing" and "Walk Of Life" as it is a combination of both musically yet lyrically more interesting.
I preferred their follow-up, and swan song, 'On Every Street' to 'BiA', and still do, but only slightly. Ultimately, their catalog is one of the finest of its era.
As for the slur, I'm a strong believer in writing in character, and I admire Randy Newman's oeuvre for the same reason. No, the song doesn't "need" that verse, but it more fully explains the character's disgust as well as his opinion of what he sees on his TV screen (as does the "jungle noises"/"chimpanzee" remark, which, interestingly, is never mentioned when this topic comes up). Newman's "Rednecks" follows this thought process, albeit far more explicitly.
Thanks for causing me to dig out my copy for the new year!
Thanks for the great comment and insight Michael. :) I'll admit to not having listened to their other 80s records in a long time. An excellent opportunity to start my 2025 listening journey on a classic rock foot. Cheers!
Brothers in Arms- is a great album, all individual tracks have stood the test of time.
This was the first CD I ever purchased.
Wow, nice one! Thanks for checking in, Mark. :)
The band's critical and commercial peak, with some of Knopfler's best songs.
Do you have a favorite from this record, David?
"Walk Of Life". My mother introduced me to the band mainly through that one.
You could do a lot worse ;)
I never liked it much, I'm afraid. A guy at work used to play it a lot, so I heard it several times. Loved the first four albums, but for me at least, they lost something when Pick Withers left.
To each their own, Martin. Thanks for chiming in. :)
Soundtrack of high school parties in Michigan!
Shout out to my Michiganders!
The debut is of course brilliant, but I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for Love Over Gold and particularly “Telegraph Road.”
Lots of shout outs to Love Over Gold in the comments, will defs be digging that out one out and playing it this week.
It sticks in my memory because ‘82 was my first trip to the UK and was really into Dire Straits. “Private Investigations” blew me away, but I actually like deep tracks like “Telegraph Road” and “It Never Rains.” It’s all great. “Industrial Disease” is precursor to “Money For Nothing,” of course, but still sneering good fun.