The band would notch one last big hit before falling silent: 1991’s “Calling Elvis,” a brilliantly atmospheric update of Memphis rockabilly. (The image is further enhanced by its music video, a neon-suffused product of early computer animation that’s regarded as one of the most iconic artifacts of early MTV.) Knopfler, low-key and more interested in developing his craft than stardom, began retreating from the spotlight, devoting more time to composing movie scores. Indeed, their biggest hit, “Money for Nothing,” from the 1985 blockbuster Brothers in Arms, sounds like cyborgs playing roadhouse blues rock on synthesizers. This knack for marrying American roots music to contemporary sounds would become Dire Straits’ defining quality as they became stadium rockers in the ’80s. Besides introducing the world to Mark Knopfler’s tangled fingerpicking, the Dylan-esque gem layered earthy blues and country (the Tulsa sound in particular) over a shuffle so lean and tight, fans of New Wave music couldn’t help but embrace it. When Dire Straits released “Sultans of Swing” in 1978, it sounded like little else coming across the airwaves.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |