Dire Straits - Making Movies
Occasionally I'd like to give props to a favorite album of mine from the past. This week I'm recognizing Making Movies, Dire Straits' third studio album. I don't know when I first heard Dire Straits, if it was "Sultans of Swing," or even a song from Making Movies, but I probably first knew who they were with Brothers in Arms, which had the hits "Money for Nothing," "So Far Away," and "Walk of Life." I'd be lying if I said that album wasn't my favorite Straits album, but Making Movies is still a masterpiece from beginning to end.
The album opens with strains of "Carousel Waltz" from Rogers and Hammerstein's Carousel, which is the intro to "Tunnel of Love." It fits the song well, but then the guitars take over and its pure Dire Straits. Mark Knopfler's vocals carry the song, but his guitar licks are as memorable as usual.
My favorite song on the album, and perhaps my favorite Dire Straits song of all time is "Romeo and Juliet." The guitars are achingly sad, as well as the piano. But it's Knopfler's lyrics that really get to me. He recalls West Side Story as he sings:
"Skateaway" is pure '80s. Remember when people would go to rinks to skate with rollerskates with wheels on each side of the shoe? I never was good at it, but this song evokes those memories perfectly. The chorus is one that always sticks in my head for days. It's a good song to lift your spirits after "Romeo and Juliet" tale of ill-fated lovers.
The band's guitars are at their best for "Expresso Love." The song is driving, and the piano and organs help carry the song forward. The whole song reminds me why I consider Dire Straits one of the best rock bands of their time, if not all time. They stay true to rock's rhythm and blues roots.
The other side of Dire Straits is revealed on "Hand in Hand." Knopfler plays a soft acoustic guitar at first, with piano playing the role of falling rain as Knopfler sings "Rain come down, wash away my fears." He's joined by the full band soon, but overall the song is a much softer piece than the rest of the album.
Some critics have said Making Movies starts out strong and then weakens towards the end, and I slightly agree, since my favorites are all at the beginning. However, "Solid Rock" is still a fun rocking number. "Les Boys" is an odd song, I guess it's the band's "tribute" to homosexuals, to put it nicely. I'm not sure if Knopfler was making fun or what when he wrote the song.
This is just one fine album I always get in the mood to hear again every now and then. Sometimes I'll just dig out "Skateaway" or "Romeo and Juliet," but I love the other songs as well.
For further reading:
Mark Knopfler's homepage
All Music Guide's Dire Straits entry
Wikipedia's Dire Straits entry
The album opens with strains of "Carousel Waltz" from Rogers and Hammerstein's Carousel, which is the intro to "Tunnel of Love." It fits the song well, but then the guitars take over and its pure Dire Straits. Mark Knopfler's vocals carry the song, but his guitar licks are as memorable as usual.
My favorite song on the album, and perhaps my favorite Dire Straits song of all time is "Romeo and Juliet." The guitars are achingly sad, as well as the piano. But it's Knopfler's lyrics that really get to me. He recalls West Side Story as he sings:
Juliet, when we made love you used to cry
You said I love you like the stars above, I'll love you till I die
There's a place for us, you know the movie song
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet
"Skateaway" is pure '80s. Remember when people would go to rinks to skate with rollerskates with wheels on each side of the shoe? I never was good at it, but this song evokes those memories perfectly. The chorus is one that always sticks in my head for days. It's a good song to lift your spirits after "Romeo and Juliet" tale of ill-fated lovers.
The band's guitars are at their best for "Expresso Love." The song is driving, and the piano and organs help carry the song forward. The whole song reminds me why I consider Dire Straits one of the best rock bands of their time, if not all time. They stay true to rock's rhythm and blues roots.
The other side of Dire Straits is revealed on "Hand in Hand." Knopfler plays a soft acoustic guitar at first, with piano playing the role of falling rain as Knopfler sings "Rain come down, wash away my fears." He's joined by the full band soon, but overall the song is a much softer piece than the rest of the album.
Some critics have said Making Movies starts out strong and then weakens towards the end, and I slightly agree, since my favorites are all at the beginning. However, "Solid Rock" is still a fun rocking number. "Les Boys" is an odd song, I guess it's the band's "tribute" to homosexuals, to put it nicely. I'm not sure if Knopfler was making fun or what when he wrote the song.
This is just one fine album I always get in the mood to hear again every now and then. Sometimes I'll just dig out "Skateaway" or "Romeo and Juliet," but I love the other songs as well.
For further reading:
Mark Knopfler's homepage
All Music Guide's Dire Straits entry
Wikipedia's Dire Straits entry
Labels: Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler
posted by Tom at 7:39 PM
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