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Sunday, May 5. 2013

The Sultans of Swing, live. Not sure what year this was. I do remember the first time I heard this tune on the car radio. It blew my mind. I do know that I was driving east, into eastern Kentucky and the coal country. Good times.

Posted by Bird Dog at 16:26 | Comments (15) | Trackbacks (0)

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july 1983

#1 peter h on 2013-05-05 16:49 (Reply)

I was fascinated by that song when it came out, which I think was '79 or '80. I was just a kid, and it didn't sound like anything else on pop "top-40" radio. I knew a little guitar, and what immediately struck me was that Knopfler's playing was a whole different kind of soloist's technical facility than what I was used to hearing, which was more straightforwardly Blues-based.

Via my parents, I knew something about Jazz and Swing, so the other weird thing about the song was that a) it didn't "swing"; b) it wasn't "Jazz" or "Rock" - but it was apparently about a Dixieland band pursuing its passion despite the sneering kids in the bar, indifferent to the music because "it ain't what they call Rock 'n Roll." The whole song was incongruous and I loved it.

#2 T.K. Tortch on 2013-05-05 17:10 (Reply)

Dude! That was badness. Never heard of this Knopfler fellow but I always liked the song.

I saw Boz last night. Great evening!

#3 Larry Geiger on 2013-05-05 18:19 (Reply)

Wow! That was great. I never got the chance to see them in concert, so thanks for that fabulous clip.

#4 Toad on 2013-05-05 18:32 (Reply)

It's 1983. The version that is on Alchemy (last track on disc 1)

#5 Paul on 2013-05-05 18:33 (Reply)

Saw them do this in 1983, I think, at GWU's Smith Center. Knopfler in my mind, doesn't get the respect he deserves as a creative guitarist.......his subsequent career has been very productive......huge talent

#6 Michael B on 2013-05-05 18:39 (Reply)

Great stuff...Mark Knopfler was one of the relatively few bright spots in early 80's music.

#7 Mark on 2013-05-05 19:23 (Reply)

Take THAT, Tom Francis!

#8 Agent Cooper on 2013-05-05 20:56 (Reply)

I don't believe in reincarnation, but in an alternate universe I would give everything to be playing the drums at that show.

@BD, Not heard very much, I think, but I like it just the same: Skateaway.

#9 Agent Cooper on 2013-05-05 21:16 (Reply)

Regrets - I've had a few. I lived in Scotland in the early 90s and had tickets to see them in Glasgow. Didn't go at the last minute, and i will always regret it. You'll hear Knopfler's guitar in movie soundtracks. His sound is recognizable.

#10 Mindy Jane on 2013-05-05 21:21 (Reply)

Had the same reaction when I first heard this. And was driving south on Rt 23 at the time.

#11 MikeinAppalachia on 2013-05-06 00:16 (Reply)

Now put "Telegraph Road" up. Even better, IMO.

#12 MikeinAppalachia on 2013-05-06 00:18 (Reply)

From the same tour;
Romeo and Juliet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMjrp6qm-iI

#13 pkuster on 2013-05-06 06:12 (Reply)

Psst! Did you hear?

Dire Straits' 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada

Thank goodness someone finally did something to stop these vile, gay-bashing monsters. That the band is even allowed to continue playing together is an outright-

Oops, hold on a sec. This just in:

Dire Straits 'Money for Nothing' Song Ban Lifted in Canada

Jeez, you can't trust anybody to keep their word these days!

As for this song, can you hear the Dylan in his voice? Notice how he's 3/4ths singing, 1/4th speaking, and how the words tend to tonally flatten at the end of sentences, two of the attributes that make Dylan stand out.

Fun post, BD.

#14 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2013-05-06 09:36 (Reply)

I have always considered this the best pop song ever written, conceived, produced. I am not an expert, however, so take that as you may.

As for Knopflers singing style, I once heard him state in an interview that he was driven to learn to play the guitar well because he couldn't sing. He let the guitar sing for him.

I've been listening to this song in rapt admiration since it came out and I have to admit it still give me goosebumps after almost 4 decades. From the tone of these comments, I don't think I am alone in this.

#15 Jeffersonian on 2013-05-07 22:17 (Reply)

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Sunday, May 5. 2013

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