Dire Straits – Dire Straits [Indie Exclusive, SYEOR 2021]

Dire Straits’ arresting self-titled debut, ‘Dire Straits’, 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 Dire Straits stripped-down music from any 1970s peers, as does the transparent production, which has remained revered among audiophiles the world over.

* The Spotify track list may not exactly represent the tracks and audio of this LP edition.

Track List:

Side A:

1. Down To The Waterline
2. Water Of Love
3. Setting Me Up
4. Six Blade Knife
5. Southbound Again

Side B:

1. Sultans Of Swing
2. In The Gallery
3. Wild West End
4. Lions