Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits

Last updated

Sultans of Swing:
The Very Best of Dire Straits
Theverybestofdirestraits.jpg
Greatest hits album by
Released19 October 1998 (1998-10-19)
Recorded1978–1992
Genre Roots rock
Length78:59
Label
Dire Straits chronology
Live at the BBC
(1995)
Sultans of Swing:
The Very Best of Dire Straits

(1998)
Private Investigations
(2005)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits is the second greatest hits compilation by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 19 October 1998 by Mercury Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album was originally released, featuring liner notes by Robert Sandall, as both a single CD and a limited edition double CD, with the second CD containing live recordings from Mark Knopfler's first solo tour in 1996. A DVD of the same name was also released, featuring the music videos of all the songs on the single CD version, in addition to short interviews with Mark Knopfler about each song. The album is named after the band's 1978 hit single of the same name. In 2002, a limited edition box set, comprising the two CDs and the DVD, was released as part of Universal's "Sight and Sound" series.

Contents

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mark Knopfler, except where noted

Disc One
No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Sultans of Swing"  Dire Straits , 19785:50
2."Lady Writer"  Communiqué , 19793:49
3."Romeo and Juliet"  Making Movies , 19806:05
4."Tunnel of Love" (Containing an extract from Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel Waltz") Making Movies8:14
5."Private Investigations"" (Edited version)  Love over Gold , 19825:54
6."Twisting by the Pool"  ExtendedancEPlay , 19833:36
7."Love over Gold" (live)  Alchemy: Dire Straits Live , 19843:40
8."So Far Away" (Edited version)  Brothers in Arms , 19854:03
9."Money for Nothing" ( Radio edit )Knopfler, Sting Brothers in Arms4:09
10."Brothers in Arms" ( Radio edit ) Brothers in Arms4:55
11."Walk of Life" Brothers in Arms4:12
12."Calling Elvis" (Edited version)  On Every Street , 19914:41
13."Heavy Fuel" On Every Street4:54
14."On Every Street" (Edited version) On Every Street4:39
15."Your Latest Trick" (live)  On the Night , 19935:41
16."Local Hero/Wild Theme" (live)  Encores , 19934:23
Disc two

The following tracks were recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall on 23 May 1996 by Mark Knopfler.

  1. "Calling Elvis" – 9:05
  2. "Walk of Life" – 5:28
  3. "Last Exit to Brooklyn" – 2:23
  4. "Romeo and Juliet" – 7:30
  5. "Sultans of Swing" – 13:14
  6. "Brothers in Arms" – 8:54
  7. "Money for Nothing" – 6:37

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF) [31] Platinum60,000^
Australia (ARIA) [32] 6× Platinum420,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria) [33] Gold25,000*
Belgium (BEA) [34] Platinum50,000*
Finland (Musiikkituottajat) [35] Platinum42,743 [35]
France (SNEP) [36] Platinum300,000*
Germany (BVMI) [37] Gold250,000^
Greece (IFPI Greece) [38] Gold15,000^
Hungary (MAHASZ) [39] Gold 
Italy (FIMI) [40] Gold50,000*
Netherlands (NVPI) [41] Gold50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [42] Platinum15,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway) [43] Platinum50,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [44] 2× Platinum200,000^
Sweden (GLF) [45] Platinum80,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [46] Platinum50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [47] 2× Platinum600,000*
Summaries
Europe (IFPI) [48] 4× Platinum4,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Dire Straits</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Dire Straits

Dire Straits is the debut studio album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 9 June 1978 by Vertigo Records internationally, Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Mercury Records in Canada. The album features the hit single "Sultans of Swing", which reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached the top of the album charts in Germany, Australia and France, number 2 in the United States and number 5 in the United Kingdom. Dire Straits was later certified double platinum in both the United States and the United Kingdom by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) respectively.

<i>Communiqué</i> (Dire Straits album) 1979 studio album by Dire Straits

Communiqué is the second studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 5 June 1979 by Vertigo Records internationally, Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Mercury Records in Canada. The album featured the single "Lady Writer," which reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 51 on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached number one on album charts in Germany, Spain, New Zealand, and Sweden, number 11 in the United States and number 5 in the United Kingdom. Communiqué was later certified gold in the United States, platinum in the United Kingdom and double-platinum in France.

<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.

<i>On Every Street</i> 1991 studio album by Dire Straits

On Every Street is the sixth and final studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 9 September 1991 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The follow-up to the band's massively successful album Brothers in Arms, On Every Street reached the top of the UK Albums Chart and was also certified platinum by the RIAA.

<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>Sailing to Philadelphia</i> 2000 studio album by Mark Knopfler

Sailing to Philadelphia is the second solo studio album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 25 September 2000 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album contains featured vocal performances by James Taylor, Van Morrison, and Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze.

<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.

<i>Shangri-La</i> (Mark Knopfler album) 2004 studio album by Mark Knopfler

Shangri-La is the fourth solo studio album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 28 September 2004 by Mercury Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. Shangri-La received generally favorable reviews.

<i>The Ragpickers Dream</i> 2002 studio album by Mark Knopfler

The Ragpicker's Dream is the third solo studio album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 30 September 2002 by Mercury Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album received generally favorable reviews upon its release.

<i>Golden Heart</i> 1996 studio album by Mark Knopfler

Golden Heart is the debut solo studio album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 25 March 1996 by Vertigo Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. Following a successful career leading British rock band Dire Straits and composing a string of critically acclaimed film soundtrack albums, Knopfler recorded his first solo album, drawing upon the various musical influences he'd engaged since emerging as a major recording artist in 1978. The album reached the top-10 position on charts in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The album peaked at 105 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.

<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>The Very Best of Sting & The Police</i> 1997 greatest hits album by Sting and the Police

The Very Best of... Sting & The Police is a compilation album issued by A&M Records on 3 November 1997, containing a mix of Police songs and Sting's solo works. It originally featured one new track, a remix of the 1978 song "Roxanne" by rap artist Sean "Puffy" Combs. The album was reissued in 1998 by PolyGram International with "Russians" removed and three added tracks: "Seven Days", "Fragile", and "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da". The original European version issued by A&M Records of this compilation instead included these tracks without removing "Russians".

<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.

<i>Money for Nothing</i> (album) 1988 greatest hits album by Dire Straits

Money for Nothing is a greatest hits album by British rock band Dire Straits released on 14 October 1988, featuring highlights from the band's first five albums. The vinyl edition omits the song "Telegraph Road" and has a different running order.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Private Investigations (song)</span> 1982 single by Dire Straits

"Private Investigations" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits from their album Love over Gold. It reached number 2 in the United Kingdom, and is one of their biggest chart successes in the UK. The track has appeared on the compilation albums Money for Nothing and Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits, and is the title track to the more recent 2005 compilation, Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler.

<i>Private Investigations</i> (album) 2005 compilation album by Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler

Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler is the third compilation album by Dire Straits and Scottish-born British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released in 2005 by Mercury and Vertigo internationally, and Warner Bros. in the United States. Named after their 1982 hit single, the album consists of material by Dire Straits, with songs selected from the group's six studio albums from 1978 up through the group's dissolution in 1995. It also features work from the solo career of the group's singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mark Knopfler, including some of his soundtrack material.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dire Straits discography</span>

The discography of English rock band Dire Straits consists of six studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums, two extended plays and 31 singles. Dire Straits also have sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists in the world.

<i>Tracker</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Mark Knopfler

Tracker is the eighth solo studio album by the British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 16 March 2015.

References

  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits at AllMusic
  2. "Australiancharts.com – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  3. "Austriancharts.at – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  4. "Ultratop.be – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  5. "Ultratop.be – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  6. "Top 100 CDs". RPM . 68 (8). 16 November 1998. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  7. "Danishcharts.dk – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  9. "Hits of the World – Eurochart". Billboard . Vol. 110, no. 46. 14 November 1998. p. 63. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  10. "Dire Straits: Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  11. "InfoDisc: Tous les "Chart Runs" des Albums classés depuis 1985 dans le Top Albums Officiel". InfoDisc (in French). Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2013.Search under the drop-down menu for DIRE STRAITS and click OK.
  12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  13. "Hits of the World – Ireland". Billboard . Vol. 110, no. 45. 7 November 1998. p. 51. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  14. "Italiancharts.com – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  15. "Charts.nz – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  16. "Norwegiancharts.com – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  17. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  18. "Spanishcharts.com – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  19. "Swedishcharts.com – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  20. "Swisscharts.com – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing - The Very Best Of". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  21. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  22. "Jaaroverzichten 1998". Ultratop. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  23. "Rapports Annuels 1998". Ultratop. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  24. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1998". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  25. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  26. "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1999". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  27. "Jaaroverzichten 1999". Ultratop. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  28. "Rapports Annuels 1999". Ultratop. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  29. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1999". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  30. "The Official UK Albums Chart 2004" (PDF). Official Charts Company . Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  31. "Gold & Platinum Certifications". CAPIF (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
  32. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  33. "Austrian album certifications – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  34. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1998". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  35. 1 2 "Dire Straits" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland . Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  36. "French album certifications – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique . Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  37. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Dire Straits; 'Sultans of Swing')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  38. "Ελληνικό Chart – Top 50 Ξένων Aλμπουμ" (in Greek). IFPI Greece . Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  39. "Adatbázis – Arany- és platinalemezek – 2001" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ . Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  40. "Italian album certifications – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 29 May 2015. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Sultans of Swing" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
  41. "Dutch album certifications – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved 19 August 2019.Enter Sultans of Swing in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1998 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  42. "New Zealand album certifications – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 4 January 2013.[ dead link ]
  43. "Norwegian album certifications – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  44. "Spanish album certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España . Retrieved 4 January 2013.Select Álbumes under "Categoría", select 2005 under "Año". Select 06 under "Semana". Click on "BUSCAR LISTA".
  45. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  46. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Sultans of Swing')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  47. "British album certifications – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  48. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2009". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 4 January 2013.