DIRE STRAITS Vinilo y CD

Review: Few albums define the 80s quite like this one. The band's fifth and - by far - most successful release at that point it's now celebrating its 40th anniversary with a fresh vinyl reissue, ironic considering the millions of CD players sold using it as an advert for the new format the the time. Opening with 'So Far Away', the album establishes its signature polished sound, blending Mark Knopfler's emotive guitar work with smooth, melancholic melodies. But it's 'Money for Nothing' that cemented Brothers in Arms as an 80s icon. Featuring Sting on backing vocals and driven by Knopfler's famous riff, the song skewers MTV culture while paradoxically becoming one of the decade's defining anthems. 'Walk of Life' brings a contrasting brightness, its upbeat keyboard melody making it an enduring favorite. The album also shows Knopfler's gift for storytelling, particularly on 'Your Latest Trick' and 'Why Worry', which balance pop sensibility with emotional depth. But it's the title track, 'Brothers in Arms', that delivers the most haunting momentiits atmospheric, war-torn balladry elevated by one of Knopfler's most stirring solos. The 40th-anniversary vinyl pressing gives new life to the album's lush production. One of the first fully digital recordings, Brothers in Arms benefits from the warmth and depth this analogue reissue brings, bringing out the richness of Knopfler's guitar tones and the album's expansive soundscapes. Four decades on, it remains an essential listenitimeless in both its musicianship and its message.

Review: Few albums capture an era like Dire Straits' fifth album Brothers In Arms. Originally released in 1985, the album fused Mark Knopfler's understated songwriting with polished, atmospheric production, creating a landmark in both rock and the then-nascent CD format. Now, with its 40th anniversary triple CD deluxe edition, Brothers In Arms feels fresher and more essential than ever. Disc one has the original album, remastered to highlight the warmth of Knopfler's intricate guitar work and the spacious soundscapes. 'Money for Nothing' and 'Walk of Life' remain radio staples, but deeper cuts like 'Ride Across the River' and 'Why Worry' show the band's subtle craftsmanship. The real revelation is the newly unearthed Live in '85 concert (discs two and three), recorded in San Antonio during their mammoth tour. The energy is palpable; songs stretch out, Knopfler's guitar finding new corners of emotion and tension. Unlike the studio's smoothness, the live show pulses with raw vitality. Housed in handsome digi-sleeve packaging, complete with a detailed 28-page booklet featuring fresh interviews, this reissue honors both the intimacy and grandeur that made Brothers In Arms a phenomenon. It's a perfect way to revisit i or discover i an album that still resonates across generations.

Review: Either you weren't born, or Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms turning 40 this year will make you feel decidedly long in the tooth. It's an unquestionable landmark for one of the best-selling albums of all time. To mark the occasion, the London-formed band's fifth studio album is being reissued across a bunch of formats, with this five album box set including a full live set from their 1985 show in San Antonio, capturing Mark Knopfler, John Illsley, Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher in their stadium-filling prime. As for the album itself i well, the vastly emotive 'Brothers in Arms', fuzz guitar earworm 'Money for Nothing' and feelgood singalong 'Walk of Life' pretty much speak for themselves. Classic pop-rock, this is a must-have for Straits fans, and well worth a listen for anyone who happens to be uninitiated.

Review: This 1992 live album captures the iconic UK rockers as they toured their final album On Every Street, wielding a setlist that balances hits and deep cuts. Side-A kicks off with the iconic early breakthrough hit 'Sultans of Swing', instantly impressing listeners in Mark Knopfler's signature fingerpicking guitar work. The energy continues with the ever-joyful 'Walk of Life', its infectious rhythm bringing an undeniable feel-good vibe. 'Heavy Fuel' rounds out the first side with its gritty, tongue-in-cheek take on rock star excess. Side-B opens with the smooth jazz-inflected 'Your Latest Trick', complete with haunting saxophone melodies that add emotional depth to the performance. The epic 'Telegraph Road' follows, serving as a masterclass in dynamic storytelling through music, with Knopfler's guitar work shining throughout its extended runtime. The album closes with 'Solid Rock', a fittingly energetic finale that evidently leaves the 65,000-strong audience at the Bedfordshire stately home wanting more. As the years go by, Dire Straits set themselves aside as one of the most talented, versatile and different bands in rock music.

Review: There's a question we keep asking ourselves every time we hear it. Is 'Romeo & Juliet' the most bittersweet romantic rock ballad of all time? We think it's definitely up there, retelling the tale of star crossed lovers for the 20th Century, Dire Straits' inimitable blues-hued sound provided the perfect springboard for a track that grabs you by the heartstrings and doesn't let go. Of course, there's more to Making Moves than this alone. Released in 1980, the record also comes with 'Tunnel of Love', perhaps best known as that song from the Richard Gere movie, An Officer & A Gentlemen. But it might be the hidden gems, or at least non-singles, that really make this one - 'Expresso Love' and 'Hand In Hand', for example. Remastered and sounding better than ever, we'll leave it to you to decide.

Review: Dire Straits bowed out in style when they released On Every Street in 1991. They'd taken their time since the knockout success of Brothers In Arms, waiting six years to deliver a follow-up which would satisfy fans of their inimitable sound. Mark Knopfler's dusky tones weave many a tale, and there's that pervading sentimental mood hanging over the record like a Dire Straits album should have, but there's also some of those Southern boogie rhythm sections to lock onto, not least on the drawn out splendour of 'Calling Elvis'. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab are going all-out on the reissue treatment for this edition, presented in a gatefold sleeve on Super Audio CD.

Review: The brilliantly ironically titled Money For Nothing album from Dire Straits was their great hits album from back in 1998. It came off the back of their hugely success 1985 long player Brotehrs in Arms and featured plenty of tracks from that record as well as the four others before that. 'Sultans of Swing', 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Private Investigations' and three of the five singles from 'Brothers in Arms' all feature and this special vinyl edition also has 'Telegraph Road (Live Remix)' which in the past was only issued on CD. 'Portobello Belle (Live)' is here too as a brand new mix.