Then came the phenomenon that was Brothers In Arms, the record-smashing behemoth that, in addition to worldwide sales of 30 million-plus, practically became a greatest hits album in its own right.
There was far more abandon, and hints of the band’s love of rock‘n’roll, about the 1983 non-album single “ Twisting By The Pool.” Their first live album Alchemy followed in 1984 and featured the version we feature of “Solid Rock.” That Makin’ Movies track remained in Straits’ live set during the 1983 tour that produced the live LP. So did the atmospheric “Private Investigations,” a No.2 UK hit held off the top only by Survivor’s “Eye Of The Tiger.”
The 14-minute “Telegraph Road,’ from 1982’s Love Over Gold and one of many songs inspired by Knopfler’s extensive travels around America, typified the ambition and scale of his writing. But they were scaling ever-more ambitious peaks such as the Rodgers and Hammerstein-quoting “Tunnel Of Love” (said to be inspired by Knopfler’s childhood visits to the fairground at Whitley Bay) and the equally filmic, not to mention anthemic, “Romeo and Juliet.” Mark took his first co-production credit on the album, alongside in-demand rock producer and future Apple Music executive Jimmy Iovine. The release of 1980’s Makin’ Movies saw the band as a three-piece of Knopfler, John Illsley and Pick Withers, after the departure during the sessions of Mark’s brother David. The LP’s one single, and radio favorite, was the incisive “Lady Writer,” a hit in several countries, notably Holland.
By the time of the band’s second album Communiqué, they were already such big news that they were recording in the Bahamas and working with no less an industry legend than production overlord Jerry Wexler.
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