Dire Straits’ Self-Titled 1978 Debut Distinguished by Jazz-Inflected Mix of Folk, Blues, Country, and Rock: Guitarist Mark Knopfler Displays Uncanny Precision, Intricacy, and Texture. The breakout Dire Straits Album Includes ‘Sultans of Swing’ and ‘Down to the Waterline’: Band’s Shuffles, Boogies, and Ballads Spark With Crispness, Soulfulness, Coolness. Dire Straits’ arresting self-titled debut arrived in the midst of punk’s reign but couldn’t have been further removed from the era’s slash-and-burn style. Recorded in West London in February 1978, the band’s tasteful, jazz-inflected set embraces folk, blues, and pub rock while also tracing a direct line back to the beat-oriented sound of early rock n’ roll. Country and roots accents further distinguish the British quartet’s stripped-down music from any 1970s peers, as does the transparent production, which has remained revered among audiophiles the world over. 1 Down to the Waterline 2 Water of Love 3 Setting Me Up 4 Six Blade Knife 5 Southbound Again 6 Sultans of Swing 7 In the Gallery 8 Wild West End 9 Lions LABEL: RhinoGENRE: RockRELEASE DATE: 1/22/2021
