Happy Birthday Mark Knopfler!, And Achieving Musical Marketing Genius!
(Title image by DALL-E 3)
Hi WA Friends!
Please help me celebrate the birthday of Mark Knopfler, one of the most versatile rock guitar players of all time. You probably know him from the band Dire Straits.
A Little History
Mark was born on August 12, 1949, in Glasgow, Scotland. Inspired by his love for American blues, country, and folk music, he began his journey into music in his teenage years. By the early 1970s, Mark decided to pursue a full-time music career.
In 1977, along with his brother David Knopfler, bassist John Illsley, and drummer Pick Withers, Mark formed Dire Straits. Their debut album, Dire Straits (1978), was a modest success, but it was the single "Sultans of Swing" that truly put them on the map. The song showcased Mark's clean, fingerpicked guitar style, which became his signature sound.
Dire Straits' success skyrocketed in the 1980s with albums like Making Movies (1980), Love Over Gold (1982), and the massively popular Brothers in Arms (1985). The latter, with hits like "Money for Nothing" and "Walk of Life," not only solidified the band's place in rock history but also highlighted Mark's ability to blend storytelling with intricate guitar work. The album won multiple awards and became one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Despite the success, Mark disbanded Dire Straits in 1995 to focus on solo work and other projects. His solo career has been marked by a deep exploration of various musical genres, including blues, folk, and Americana. Albums like Golden Heart (1996), Sailing to Philadelphia (2000), and Shangri-La (2004) showcases his versatility as a songwriter and guitarist.
Beyond his solo work, Mark has also composed scores for several films, including Local Hero (1983) and The Princess Bride (1987), further demonstrating his broad musical capabilities.
Equipment Used (Courtesy of ChatGPT and Me)
(For the gearheads among you! Lol)
Guitars
Mark is known for his discerning taste in guitars, often selecting instruments that complement his fingerstyle technique and tonal preferences. His most iconic guitar is the 1961 Fender Stratocaster, which he famously used on "Sultans of Swing." This guitar, with its red finish and distinctive tone, became synonymous with Knopfler's early sound.
Mark has used a variety of other guitars throughout his career, including:
- 1958 Gibson Les Paul Standard (used on "Money for Nothing")
- Gibson Chet Atkins CE (used in many of his solo performances)
- Martin HD-40MK Mark Knopfler signature model acoustic guitar
- Pensa MK1, a custom-built guitar made specifically for Mark, which he used extensively during the late Dire Straits era and in his solo work.
- National Style "O" Resonator (featured on the cover of the Brothers in Arms album)
Amplifiers
Mark's amplifier choices have evolved over the years, but his preference for warm, tube-driven sound remains consistent. His most famous setup includes:
- Fender Vibrolux (his primary amp during the early Dire Straits years)
- Marshall JTM45 (used for its powerful, overdriven tones)
- Soldano SLO-100 (used during the later Dire Straits period)
- Matchless Chieftain (used in his solo tours for its clarity and responsiveness)
For studio work, he often uses a combination of these amps to achieve his signature sound, blending the clean tones of the Fender with the heavier sound of the Marshall.
Effects
Mark is known for using effects sparingly, preferring to rely on his fingers for tonal variation. However, he has used several key effects to shape his sound:
- Dunlop Cry Baby Wah (used selectively for soloing)
- MXR Dynacomp Compressor (used to add sustain and smoothness)
- Roland SDE-3000 Digital Delay (used for the ambient sounds in songs like "Brothers in Arms")
- TC Electronic 2290 Digital Delay (used extensively in the late Dire Straits era)
- Yamaha SPX90 (used for reverb and delay effects)
Honors and Awards (Courtesy of ChatGPT)
Mark's contributions to music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, reflecting both his artistic achievements and influence:
- Grammy Awards: Mark has won four Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Money for Nothing" (1986).
- Brit Awards: Dire Straits won the Brit Award for Best British Group in 1983.
- Order of the British Empire (OBE): Mark was appointed an OBE in 1999 for his services to music.
- Edison Award: Mark received this Dutch music prize in recognition of his outstanding contributions to music.
- Ivor Novello Awards: He has won several Ivor Novello Awards, including the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Dire Straits was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, recognizing the band's impact on rock music.
Discography (Courtesy of ChatGPT)
Mark's discography is extensive, reflecting his prolific output as both a solo artist and a member of Dire Straits. Below is a selection of his key works.
If you have to listen to just one album, check out Brothers in Arms (1985)!
With Dire Straits:
- Dire Straits (1978) – Featuring the breakthrough hit "Sultans of Swing."
- Communiqué (1979) – Continued the band's success with tracks like "Lady Writer."
- Making Movies (1980) – Included hits like "Romeo and Juliet."
- Love Over Gold (1982) – Known for the epic "Telegraph Road."
- Brothers in Arms (1985) – The band's most popular album, featuring "Money for Nothing" and "Walk of Life."
- On Every Street (1991) – The final Dire Straits studio album.
Solo Albums:
- Golden Heart (1996) – Mark's debut solo album, featuring "Darling Pretty."
- Sailing to Philadelphia (2000) – A critically acclaimed album with collaborations with James Taylor and Van Morrison.
- Shangri-La (2004) – Includes the introspective track "Boom, Like That."
- Kill to Get Crimson (2007) – An album that explores more folk and roots influences.
- Privateering (2012) – A double album blending folk, blues, and country styles.
- Down the Road Wherever (2018) – His most recent solo effort, showcasing his continued evolution as a songwriter.
Collaborations:
- Neck and Neck (1990) – A collaborative album with Chet Atkins, blending country and rock styles.
- Notting Hillbillies (1990) – An album with a side project focusing on Americana and roots music.
Dire Strait's Marketing Genius!
In 1985, Dire Straits pulled off one of the most ingenious marketing ploys in musical history with their hit song "Money for Nothing!" It was a song about playing the guitar on the MTV to get your money for nothing and your chicks for free.
Of course, the song received massive airplay on the music TV channel MTV! It still stands as one of the most successful examples of how to attract free marketing from a high-authority source in a related field.
Celebrating Mark's Birthday
Today, I am listening to most of the music in Mark's catalog, and tonight we are watching two Dire Straits concerts on DVD: "Sultans Of Swing" and "On The Night," along with a celebration among neighbors with food and drink. Life doesn't get much better than that! Lol 🥳
Tell Me What You Think!
Are you familiar with Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits? What is your favorite song? Have you seen the band in concert? I was lucky enough to see Dire Straits once and Mark as a solo artist.
Happy Birthday, Mark 🎂, AND ...
Keep On Rockin' It! 🤘
Frank 🎸
~ 75% Human written content
Recent Comments
20
I like Dire Straits and immediately thought of Money for Nothing when you mentioned the group. It was in the 1980s and MTV was a big deal for me and I remember that video coming on and I loved it!
Karin
Hi Karin
Yes, MTV upped the game on music promotion. I remember the first day MTV went on the air with the moon landing video.
Another band that was great, and perhaps the best, with making videos for MTV was Z Z Top. They just killed it with music videos from the “Eliminator” album! 😎
Frank 🤘🎸
Hi Frank
I always really liked Mark's guitar tone! And he definitely has a unique playing style.
I thought it was great that he was moderately successful in the late 70's, but then came back in the mid 80's and became even bigger! You've got to love Rock & Roll!
Happy Birthday to Mark, another musical genius! 🎂😎👍
Thanks for another musical history lesson, Frank and keep Rockin! 🎼🎸😎🤘
Tim 🎼
Hi Tim
Yeah, Mark has that trademark out-out-phase fingerpicked Strat sound, using the bridge and the middle pickups together (selector switch position two).
He has an unmistakable tone and rhythm that no one has managed to copy. You know exactly who it is after listening to just a few bars, like B.B. King or Carlos Santana.
He's still doing stuff on his own and in collaboration with other players.
Stream some of his tunes to mark the occasion. 🎶 😎
Rock On! 🤘
Frank 🎸
Hi Frank
You're spot on! Always recognizable, just like Carlos and B.B. ! George Lynch is another one that I could spot after a few bars. Jake E. Lee and Warren DeMartini are also players that have their own recognizable and unique style and sound. And then there's Eddie.......I could go on and on....sorry!
I'll check out some of Mark's later stuff! 🎸🎵
Keep Rockin!!
Tim 🎼
Hi Tim
Yes, there are many outstanding and unique sounding’80s guitar players!
I loved the ‘60s, ‘70s, and’80s; all great decades for rock and metal guitar! 😎
Frank 🤘🎸
See more comments
I loved the early Dire Straits sound (it was much more of a shuffle then). Many of the songs on the first demo featured on their first album that 'shuffled' a lot. I saw them at Newcastle Uni in 1978 and there weren't many of us there at all. Sultans had bombed on first release, but it was a hit on re-release. The gig was great though. I didn't see them again until about 10 years later, by which time they were mega-huge!
Mark is one of those guitarists who have a distinctive sound. You immediately know it's him. That is what makes all great guitarists 'great' in my eyes.
He lived in my local area in his early years, in North East England, and gave us a nod on 'Tunnel of Love' when he mentioned Cullercoats and Whitley Bay, both seaside towns close by. The Spanish City in Whitley Bay is also mentioned "When we were kids".
My own favourite DS songs are 'Telegraph Road' (i'm an unashamed lover of epic, storytelling songs) and 'Brothers in Arms' which has to be played at volume 11 for the atmospherics.
Dave
Hi Dave
Yes, Mark’s sound is totally unique! It’s true that some players have a musical fingerprint that can be identified in the first one or two bars of the song.
All BB King needed to do is play a single note with vibrato on it and I knew it was his!
“ Brothers in Arms” is a compositional masterpiece!
I play everything at volume 11! Lol 😆
Rock On! 🤘
Frank 🎸
I LOVE Telegraph Road, Dave. This is one of the songs that I had my kids listen to while lying between two speakers, lol.
Teri
I agree, Teri, and it sounds even better with a good pair of over-the-ear headphones on! 😎
Frank 🤘🎸