About the band: Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar)). They were active from 1977 to 1988 and again from 1991 to 1995. They are one of the world's best-selling music artists, with album sales of over 100 million (six studio albums, live albums and compilations). Dire Straits currently have five songs in my list of about 200 best pop/rock songs of all time.
About the song: it all began with this single, released from their self-titled first album from 1978. Before anyone else noticed the Dire Straits, they scored a top 10 hit in the Netherlands with the haunting Sultans of swing, which is still one of their most popular songs - their native UK followed suit a year later. The first few lines set the scene in an almost cinematic way as only Mark Knopfler can: "You get a shiver in the dark, it's raining in the park, but meantime... South of the river you stop and you hold everything. A band is blowing Dixie double four time... You feel alright, you hear the music ring." Run time 5:48.
