Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero

Last updated
"Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero"
Single by Mark Knopfler
from the album Local Hero
Released4 March 1983
Genre
Length5:00 (album version); 3:58 (single version)
Label Vertigo
Songwriter(s) Mark Knopfler
Music video
"Going Home"

"Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero" is an instrumental rock track by Mark Knopfler, and the closing track from the 1983 film Local Hero soundtrack. [2] It was the debut solo single by Knopfler, and charted at number 56 in the UK, [3] [4] at number 26 in the Netherlands and at number 18 in New Zealand. [5] The soundtrack album also features a reprise called "Wild Theme", which consists of Knopfler's acoustic guitar interpretation of the song's melody. Despite its rather modest chart position in Knopfler's native UK, "Going Home" remains one of the artist's most popular songs. The saxophone piece was played by the American jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker. The song is popular among fans of English football, in particular those of Knopfler's home town club, Newcastle United, as it is played as the team runs out before every home game. [6]

Contents

The music video features footage of Knopfler playing on the New York City waterfront (with the Twin Towers and Empire State Building visible), intercut with footage from the film.

Other releases

Besides its popularity in Knopfler's solo live set, "Going Home" had become a live staple also for Dire Straits, entering the band's repertoire since its release, [7] and indeed the song's popularity grew thanks to its inclusion in the live album Alchemy: Dire Straits Live . [8] The studio version of the song was included on the 1993 solo compilation Screenplaying (which also included "Wild Theme") [9] and on the 2005 compilation Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler , both on the single disc and double disc edition. [10] [11]

2024 studio version

A supergroup, referred to as Mark Knopfler's Guitar Heroes, recorded "Going Home" to support the Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America. The recording, released 15 March 2024, was Jeff Beck's final recording before his death. Sir Peter Blake, who designed the sleeve for The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band , created the single's artwork; a collage of all the contributors, plus Local Hero actors Peter Riegert and Burt Lancaster, [12] in front of "Hanks", the famous guitar shop in London's Denmark Street. [13] The sessions were recorded at British Grove Studios although some performances were submitted remotely. [14] [15]

Produced by former Dire Straits keyboardist, Guy Fletcher, more than sixty musicians, mostly guitar players, participated in the nine minute recording. All musicians listed below played electric guitar except where noted:

Charts

1983 chart performance for "Going Home"
Chart (1983)Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [16] 26
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [17] 18
UK Singles (OCC) [18] 56
2024 chart performance for "Going Home"
Chart (2024)Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [19] 32
UK Singles (OCC) [20] 18
UK Indie (OCC) [21] 4

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dire Straits</span> British rock band

Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, John Illsley and Pick Withers. The band was active from 1977 to 1988 and again from 1990 to 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Knopfler</span> British musician (born 1949)

Mark Freuder Knopfler is a British guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits from 1977 to 1995. He pursued a solo career after the band dissolved, and is now an independent artist.

<i>Brothers in Arms</i> (album) 1985 studio album by Dire Straits

Brothers in Arms is the fifth studio album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 17 May 1985, by Vertigo Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. It was the first album in history to sell over one million copies in CD format.

<i>Making Movies</i> 1980 studio album by Dire Straits

Making Movies is the third studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 17 October 1980 by Vertigo Records internationally, Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Mercury Records in Canada. The album includes the single "Romeo and Juliet", which reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as “Tunnel of Love,” featured in the 1982 Richard Gere film An Officer and a Gentleman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sultans of Swing</span> 1978 single by Dire Straits

"Sultans of Swing" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, written by lead vocalist and guitarist Mark Knopfler. The demo of the song was recorded at Pathway Studios, North London, in July 1977 and quickly acquired a following after it was put in rotation on BBC Radio London. Its popularity soon reached record executives, and Dire Straits were offered a contract with Phonogram Records. The song was then re-recorded in February 1978 at Basing Street Studios for the band's eponymous debut album.

<i>Love over Gold</i> 1982 studio album by Dire Straits

Love over Gold is the fourth studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 24 September 1982 by Vertigo Records internationally and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album featured two singles: "Private Investigations," which reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, and "Industrial Disease," which reached No. 9 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in the United States. The title track was never released as a single, but two years later a live version from Alchemy: Dire Straits Live reached #15 in France, #29 in New Zealand, #43 in the Netherlands and #50 in the band's native United Kingdom. The album reached number one on album charts in Australia, Austria, Italy, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom, as well as number 19 in the United States. Love over Gold was later certified gold in the United States, platinum in France and Germany and double-platinum in Canada and the United Kingdom.

<i>Alchemy: Dire Straits Live</i> 1984 live album by Dire Straits

Alchemy: Dire Straits Live is the first live album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 16 March 1984 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. Recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on 22–23 July 1983, the double album features songs from the band's first four albums, the ExtendedancEPlay EP and Mark Knopfler's Local Hero soundtrack. Many of the songs have reworked arrangements and extended instrumental segments. The album cover is taken from a painting by Brett Whiteley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money for Nothing (song)</span> 1985 single by Dire Straits

"Money for Nothing" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, the second track on their fifth studio album Brothers in Arms (1985). It was released as the album's second single on 28 June 1985 through Vertigo Records. The song's lyrics are written from the point of view of two working-class men watching music videos and commenting on what they see. The song features a guest appearance by Sting who sings the signature falsetto introduction, background vocals and a backing chorus of "I want my MTV". The groundbreaking video was the first to be aired on MTV Europe when the network launched on 1 August 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Fletcher</span> British musician

Guy Edward Fletcher is an English musician, best known for his position as one of the two keyboard players in the rock band Dire Straits from 1984 until the group's dissolution, and his subsequent work with Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler for his many solo releases. Fletcher was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Dire Straits in 2018.

<i>On the Night</i> 1993 live album by Dire Straits

On the Night is the second live album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 10 May 1993 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album features many of the band's later hits, including the singles "Walk of Life" and "Money for Nothing". The cover art of the album features dishes of the Very Large Array in central New Mexico.

<i>Local Hero</i> (soundtrack) 1983 soundtrack album by Mark Knopfler

Local Hero is the debut soundtrack album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released in April 1983 by Vertigo Records internationally and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. It contains music composed for the 1983 film Local Hero, produced by David Puttnam and both written and directed by Bill Forsyth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Private Dancer (Tina Turner song)</span> 1984 single by Tina Turner

"Private Dancer" is a song written by British musician Mark Knopfler and recorded by singer Tina Turner, first released in October 1984. The song was intended to be for Knopfler’s band Dire Straits, but was never fully recorded or released by the band. He ended up giving the song to Turner, with her recording being produced by John Carter for her fifth solo album of the same name and released as the album's fifth single. The track reached number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the US R&B chart. The song had moderate international success, reaching number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hal Lindes</span> American musician

Hal Andrew Lindes is an American guitarist and film score composer best known for his time as a member of Dire Straits from late 1980 until late 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romeo and Juliet (Dire Straits song)</span> 1980 song by Dire Straits

"Romeo and Juliet" is a rock song by the British rock band Dire Straits, written by frontman Mark Knopfler. It first appeared on the 1980 album Making Movies and was released as a single in 1981. The song subsequently appeared on the Dire Straits live albums Alchemy and On the Night, and later on Knopfler's live duet album with Emmylou Harris, Real Live Roadrunning. The track was also featured on the greatest hits albums Money for Nothing, Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits, and The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk of Life</span> 1985 single by Dire Straits

"Walk of Life" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits, being the third track on their fifth studio album Brothers in Arms (1985). It was released as a single in the US in October 1985 and in the UK in January 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Latest Trick</span> 1986 single by Dire Straits

"Your Latest Trick" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, the fourth track on their fifth studio album, Brothers in Arms (1985). It was released as the album's fifth and final single in April 1986 by Vertigo Records. It later appeared on the live album On the Night; the same live version is on Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits. The full-length studio album version was included on the compilation The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tunnel of Love (Dire Straits song)</span> 1980 single by Dire Straits

"Tunnel of Love" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits. It appears on the 1980 album Making Movies, and subsequently on the live albums Alchemy and Live at the BBC and the greatest hits albums Money for Nothing, Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits, and The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations. The song was also featured in the 1982 Richard Gere film An Officer and a Gentleman and was included in the film’s accompanying soundtrack album.

<i>Encores</i> (EP) 1993 EP by Dire Straits

Encores is a live extended play (EP) by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 10 May 1993, shortly after the release of their live album, On the Night. Although it was an EP, it charted on the singles charts of several countries, including France, Portugal, and Spain, where it debuted at number one in all three countries. It was the band's final release prior to their official dissolution in 1995, when Mark Knopfler decided to embark on a solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Knopfler discography</span>

The Mark Knopfler discography consists of recordings by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, not including his work with Dire Straits. Knopfler began recording apart from Dire Straits in 1983, when he released his first soundtrack album Local Hero. That same year he produced his first album, Infidels for Bob Dylan. Between 1983 and 2016, Knopfler composed and released nine soundtrack albums, the last of which was with Evelyn Glennie.

"Love over Gold" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits. It is the fourth track and title track from the band's 1982 album. A shorter live version of the song, taken from the album Alchemy: Dire Straits Live, was released as a single.

References

  1. 1 2 Lesley Duncanson, Mark Knopfler: A Life in Songs
  2. ↑ "Local Hero [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] – Mark Knopfler | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic .
  3. ↑ "Mark Knopfler | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company .
  4. ↑ "Mark Knopfler Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com.
  5. ↑ "Mark Knopfler - Going Home: Theme Of The Local Hero" – via hitparade.ch.
  6. ↑ Sexton, Paul (April 16, 2020). "'Local Hero': Mark Knopfler's First Soundtrack Resonates Far And Wide".
  7. ↑ David Nieri. "Mark Knopfler – The Long Highway". pp. 38–43.
  8. ↑ Paul Sexton, They were different days
  9. ↑ "Screenplaying - Mark Knopfler | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  10. ↑ "Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler - Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  11. ↑ "Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler - Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler | Release Info". AllMusic.
  12. ↑ Horsley, Jonathan (February 8, 2024). ""Eric came in, played great, just one tasty lick after another. Jeff Beck's contribution was spellbinding": Mark Knopfler enlists Clapton, Townshend, Iommi, Slash and dozens more for all-star charity single". Guitar World. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  13. ↑ Nissim, Jonathan Horsley (February 8, 2024). "Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler assembles guitar heroes supergroup for Local Hero remake". Gold Radio UK. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  14. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (February 8, 2024). "Mark Knopfler Roped 60 Guitar Heroes For 'Going Home' Charity Single, Including Bruce Springsteen, Slash, Pete Townshend". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  15. ↑ Greene, Andy (February 8, 2024). "Mark Knopfler Unites With Over 60 Guitar Gods for 'We Are The World'-Style Charity Single". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Mark Knopfler – Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  17. ↑ "Mark Knopfler – Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  18. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  19. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  20. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  21. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.