Dire Straits: Private Investigations (2LP) [MERCURY]

Why you'll love it

This Mercury pressing puts the collection on 180g vinyl across a 2LP set in a gatefold, with picture sleeves and lyrics. It runs from "Sultans of Swing" to Knopfler's solo work and the Emmylou Harris duet "All the Roadrunning," a UK top 10 single.

This edition

• 2LP set
• 180g vinyl
• Gatefold jacket
• Picture sleeves with lyrics
• Pressed in the EU

About the album

Mark Knopfler has always played as if he had all the time in the world, so it's fitting that his best-of takes the long view. Named after the 1982 hit, Private Investigations draws from the band's studio albums from 1978 through to their final bow in 1995, then follows Knopfler into his solo career and film work.

The big ones are all here: "Sultans of Swing," "Romeo & Juliet," "Tunnel of Love," "Money for Nothing," "Walk of Life" and the title track's slow, smoky crawl. Side D is where it gets interesting, with "Going Home," his much-loved theme from Local Hero, the solo songs "Boom, Like That," "Why Aye Man" and "What It Is," and the duet with Emmylou Harris, "All the Roadrunning," which was brand new when this came out.

AllMusic praised the sequencing and called it the best introduction to the man and the band one could ask for. It's also the cheapest way we know to acquire Mark Knopfler's right hand without the inconvenience of practising.

Also at Kops: more Dire Straits on vinyl · browse Rock

Tracklist

Listen

On Mercury (cat# 987576-7), the 2005 compilation.