Great Rock Albums of 1985: Dire Straits- Brothers in Arms
The arrival of “Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits in the summer of 1985 brought many different reactions to people. Back then, I couldn’t help but laugh at teens who thought they were the brand new sensation of the 1980s. More than one of these was completely dumbfounded when I told them that Dire Straits had been on the go since 1978 and had four prior albums. Old time followers though, upon hearing this album accused the band of abandoning their original sound and going too new wave. Some even went onto say that Dire Straits had sold out. I never thought that though I realize now that particular label got banded around too much.
“Money for Nothing” was the first big single from “Brothers in Arms” and it seemed to be on every time I switched on MTV. It also got lots of radio airplay and that was one piece of evidence used by hardcore followers to insist the band sold out. Further evidence was the fact that Sting sang accompanying vocals on the song. If you want to know my thoughts, (and you do want to know my thoughts), I never thought this song was a sell out. Furthermore, I thought Sting did a damn good job on the vocals and I have always loved the fuzz guitar throughout the song. Okay, it didn’t dislodge “Sultans of Swing” off my top spot for my favourite Dire Straits songs, it didn’t even make the top three, but it is a good song.
In fact, “Money for Nothing,” isn’t even my favourite song on this album! That honour goes to the next song on the album, “Walk of Life.” Sure, there’s a heavy keyboard sound on it but it wasn’t done in that choppy synth pop style. Got to give full marks to Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher on it, they play it very well. Plus the song just has a vibe that grabs me and has me nodding along to the melody. Maybe also the American sports themed video on MTV might have had some influence on me too.
Unfortunately, after the those two songs and a cool opener, “So Far Away” is a more traditional sounding Dire Straits song for me, the album goes a little downhill on the next couple of songs. While the sax playing of Michael Brecker on “Your Latest Trick” is very good, it doesn’t redeem the song to a point where I can say, “Hey, this is good.” Nor do things improve with the next track, “Why Worry.” Both of these songs could be put on an album called, “Dire Straits Does Elevator Music” for that’s what they remind of.
Fortunately, the album improves to more familiar Dire Straits territory after that. While there are still elements of elevator music on “Ride Across the River,” at least Mark Knopfler let’s his guitar do some singing on it and I do like the jungle rhythms in the background. Then for a complete change, there is a country music sounding acoustic guitar intro on “The Man’s Too Strong” before going into more Dire Straits sounding guitar rock. This track will have you saying, “This is more like it” and my vote for hidden gem on the album. However, it does get some stiff competition for that honour from the next track, “One World.” More of the old Dire Straits here and again, Mr Knopfler isn’t afraid to let loose on the guitar. Those two songs all lead to the end which is carried out very somberly but nicely by the title track.
Track Listing:
- So Far Away
- Money For Nothing
- Walk of Life
- Your Latest Trick
- Why Worry
- Ride Across the River
- The Man’s Too Strong
- One World
- Brothers in Arms
Mark Knopfler- lead guitar, lead vocals
Alan Clark- keyboards
Omar Hakim- drums
John Illsley- bass, backing vocals
Guy Fletcher- keyboards, backing vocals
Additional Musicians
Sting- vocals on “Money for Nothing”
Michael Brecker- saxophone on “Your Latest Trick”
Randy Brecker- trumpet
Malcolm Duncan- saxophone
Jimmy Maelen- percussion
Mike Mainieri- vibraphone, keyboards
David Plews- trumpet
Jack Sonni- guitar synthesizer on “The Man’s Too Strong”
It was on the tour for this album when I finally got to see Dire Straits live. It was a good show but and they played “Sultans of Swing” as well as several songs from this album. There was a good mix of old and new followers there too. However, my big hang up about that evening was they didn’t play my number two and three DS songs, “Skateaway” and “Industrial Disease.” You can’t have everything I suppose. Still, no matter which side of the fence you sit on for “Brothers in Arms,” I have to say that it’s not a bad album.
Next post: The Power Station
To buy Rock and Roll Children, go to: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rock-Roll-Children-Michael-Lefevre/dp/1609763556/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1537988591&sr=1-1&keywords=michael+d+lefevre
September 26, 2018 at 8:32 pm
I’m surprised Knopfler had on shoes in the photo.
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September 26, 2018 at 8:39 pm
Well observed, I remember he was barefoot when I saw him live.
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September 27, 2018 at 2:09 am
Yeah. Everytime I’ve seen him, it was his headband and bare feet.
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September 27, 2018 at 9:00 pm
That doesn’t surprise me.
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September 26, 2018 at 9:29 pm
Never got a chance to discover dire straits fully but this review is interesting
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September 27, 2018 at 9:00 pm
Thank you. I hope you’ll stick around for future posts.
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September 27, 2018 at 11:09 am
I agree it was a mixed bag with some really good songs and some not so much. I like this one because it was my gateway in to the band and the wonders of Mark Knopfler.
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September 27, 2018 at 9:02 pm
Ah, this was a gateway for many new to Dire Straits. I can say that I was with them from the beginning.
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September 27, 2018 at 12:29 pm
[…] Source: Great Rock Albums of 1985: Dire Straits- Brothers in Arms | 80smetalman’s Blog […]
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September 27, 2018 at 9:02 pm
Thanks again for the re-blog
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September 27, 2018 at 5:31 pm
That’s exactly the same for me. I like this one a fair bit. I’m still surprised Money For Nothing receives airplay these days… that’s a strange one, but I listen to it and don’t feel that he’s spitting it out, but that’s what others say / said about folks like him. The Man’s Too Strong is indeed the gem on there…
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September 27, 2018 at 9:03 pm
I think we’re in total agreement on this one.
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October 1, 2018 at 1:26 am
Pure classic. I still have my old original LP. Yeah baby.
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October 1, 2018 at 8:27 pm
Cool.
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October 7, 2018 at 3:00 am
Yeah it’s the one I use as an example of frightening LP prices. I got my old perfectly fine copy at a yard sale for $0.50 or $1 and have had it ever since. Nowadays a RM copy is $45. Bollocks.
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October 8, 2018 at 6:55 pm
I agree, it is bollocks! You got a great deal though.
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