Dire Straits - Discography (1978-2018) AAC

Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Pick Withers (drums and percussion). They were active from 1977 to 1988 and again from 1991 to 1995. Dire Straits are one of the world's best-selling music artists, with album sales of over 100 million.

Their first single, "Sultans of Swing", from their 1978 self-titled debut album, reached the top ten in the UK and US charts. It was followed by hit singles including "Romeo and Juliet" (1981), "Private Investigations" (1982), "Twisting by the Pool" (1983), "Money for Nothing" (1985), and "Walk of Life" (1985). Their most commercially successful album, Brothers in Arms (1985), has sold more than 30 million copies; it was the first album to sell a million copies on compact disc, and is the eighth-bestselling album in UK history. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Albums, Dire Straits have spent over 1,100 weeks on the UK albums chart, the fifth most of all time.

Dire Straits' sound draws from various influences including country, folk, the blues rock of J. J. Cale, and jazz. Their stripped-down sound contrasted with punk rock and demonstrated a roots rock influence that emerged from pub rock. There were several changes in personnel, with Mark Knopfler and Illsley being the only consistent members. After disbanding once again in 1995, Knopfler launched his solo career full-time. Dire Straits won four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards (Best British Group twice), two MTV Video Music Awards, and various other awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.

Studio (04:36:38)
1978 - Dire Straits (1986, Vertigo 800 051-2, W.Germany) (00:41:15)
1979 - Communique (1987, Vertigo 800 052-2, W.Germany) (00:41:51)
1980 - Making Movies (1984, Vertigo 800 050-2, W.Germany) (00:37:38)
1982 - Love Over Gold (1984, Vertigo 800 088-2, W.Germany) (00:41:04)
1985 - Brothers In Arms (Vertigo 824 499-2, W.Germany) (00:54:50)
1991 - On Every Street (Vertigo 510 160-2, Germany) (01:00:00)

Remasters MFSL (03:39:53)
1978 - Dire Straits (2019 RM, MFSL UDSACD 2184, USA) (00:41:55)
1979 - Communique (2019 RM, MFSL UDSACD 2185, USA) (00:42:37)
1980 - Making Movies (2019 RM, MFSL UDSACD 2186, USA) (00:38:33)
1982 - Love Over Gold (2019 RM, MFSL UDSACD 2187, USA) (00:41:32)
1985 - Brothers In Arms (2019 RM, MFSL UDSACD 2099, USA) (00:55:16)

Remasters Warner Bros. (04:38:50)
1978 - Dire Straits (2000 RM, Warner Bros. 9 47769-2, USA) (00:41:44)
1979 - Communique (2000 RM, Warner Bros. 9 47770-2, USA) (00:42:38)
1980 - Making Movies (2000 RM, Warner Bros. 9 47771-2, USA) (00:38:18)
1982 - Love Over Gold (2000 RM, Warner Bros. 9 47772-2, USA) (00:41:09)
1985 - Brothers In Arms (2000 RM, Warner Bros. 9 47773-2, USA) (00:54:48)
1991 - On Every Street (2000 RM, Warner Bros. 9 47787-2, USA) (01:00:13)

Lives (03:35:37)
1984 - Alchemy (Dire Straits Live) (1996 RM, Vertigo 818 243-2, Germany) - 2CD (01:34:04)
1993 - On The Night (Live In France & Netherlands 1992) (1996 RM, Vertigo 514766-2, EU) (01:15:30)
1995 - Live At The BBC (Vertigo 528 323-2, Germany) (00:46:03)

Compilations (04:52:07)
1988 - Money For Nothing (1996 RM, Vertigo 836 419-2, France) (01:06:17)
1998 - Sultans Of Swing (The Very Best Of Dire Straits) (HDCD, Vertigo 558 658-2, UK) (01:18:05)
2005 - Private Investigations (The Best Of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler) (2008, SHM-CD, Mercury UICY-90854, Japan) (01:17:13)
2018 - Six Blade Knife (The Magic Of Dire Straits) (Chinese Dragon DSM-08-054, Taiwan) (01:10:32)

Singles (05:14:24)
1978 - Sultans Of Swing (1987 CDVS, Warner Bros. 9 25814-2, USA) (00:14:28)
1982 - Twisting By The Pool (1987 CDVS, Warner Bros. 9 25810-2, USA) (00:15:56)
1985 - Brothers In Arms (1987 CDVS, Warner Bros. 9 25812-2, USA) (00:17:58)
1985 - Money For Nothing (1987 CDVS, Warner Bros. 9 25813-2, USA) (00:16:56)
1985 - Walk Of Life (1987 CDVS, Warner Bros. 9 25811-2, USA) (00:16:23)
1986 - Brothers In Arms (CDS, Vertigo 884 285-2, W.Germany) (00:22:08)
1989 - Sultans Of Swing (CDS, Vertigo 872 611-2, Germany) (00:19:59)
1990 - Knebworth - The Album (CDS Promo, Polydor CDP 330, USA) (00:05:56)
1991 - Calling Elvis (CDS Promo, Warner Bros. PRO-CD-4953, USA) (00:11:03)
1991 - Calling Elvis (CDS, Vertigo DSCD 16, 868 757-2, UK) (00:14:00)
1991 - Heavy Fuel (CDS Promo, Vertigo DCDDJ 17, UK) (00:09:09)
1991 - Heavy Fuel (CDS, Vertigo DSHAM 17, UK) (00:17:00)
1991 - On Every Street (CDS Promo, Warner Bros. PRO-CD-5394, USA) (00:09:09)
1991 - Until September (CDS Promo, Vertigo SEPT 1, UK) (00:19:56)
1992 - On Every Street (CDS, Vertigo DSCDC 18, 866 411-2, UK) (00:23:31)
1992 - The Bug (CDS, Vertigo DSCD 19, 866 967-2, UK) (00:16:57)
1992 - You And Your Friend (CDS, Vertigo 864 613-2, Germany) (00:15:13)
1993 - Encores (CDS, Vertigo DSCD 20, 862 209-2, Germany) (00:20:50)
1993 - Your Latest Trick (Live) (CDS Promo, Vertigo SAMPLER OTN 2, UK) (00:04:36)
1994 - Ticket To Heaven (CDS, Vertigo 858 875-2, Germany) (00:17:28)
1998 - Sultans Of Swing (CDS Promo, HDCD, Vertigo SULT 98, UK) (00:05:48)

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