“Sultans of Swing” originated on a dreary cold London evening when a young art school teacher/musician called Mark Knopfler was sat in an almost empty pub in Deptford. A very average Dixieland jazz band called ‘Sultans of Swing’ was playing the pub (“a band is blowing Dixie double four time”), actually surprised they had an audience (“You step inside but you don’t see too many faces”). The lead guitarist was a guy called George (“check out Guitar George he knows all the chords….”) and Mark asked them to play ‘Creolo Love Call’ (“and the Sultans play Creole”…). ☺️ Yes that’s where ‘Sultans of Swing’ came from – an evening in a near empty pub in Deptford! Mark, inspired by his own lack of prospects as a musician, wrote about this moment when musicians just have to keep playing even without an audience, because it puts bread on the table….and it’s your only passion! This song was on the first Dire Straits demo tape (along with “Water of Love” & “Down to the Waterline”), which they took to a label in Soho, but they couldn’t get signed! Later that day they went to meet a DJ on BBC Radio London for advice – instead, he loved their music and played Sultans of Swing on his show. And that’s how the rest of the world (and a spotty teenager in Delhi ?!) got to have Dire Straits in their lives.

Dire Straits are my favourite band of all time. Their eponymous debut album is one of only two albums that I listen to end-to-end, on loop, for hours. I know, by heart, every incredible strum from Mark Knopfler’s finger-picking lead guitar, every snare and high-hat stroke from Pick Withers’ drums, John Illsey’s bassline and David Knopfler’s hypnotic rhythm guitar fills. I first heard it in the summer of ‘79, in the summer after our 10th Board exams – sneaking in to listen to my friend GB’s older brother’s records. One listen, and I was forever a Dire Straits fan – not just for the music but for Mark Knopfler’s lyrics that painted dramatic stories and his recitation style of singing. “Water of Love” is my absolute favourite Dire Straits song ?, and one of only two songs I sing (!) when I’m sozzled. It is 5:26 of pure magic and I can accompany Mark Knopfler, note for note on my air guitar☺️? .….

Brothers Mark and David Knopfler with friends David Illsley and Pick Withers formed Dire Straits in ’77. Originally called Café Racers (?), they changed their name to Dire Straits when a friend of Withers came up with the name to reflect their financial situation. A friend of mine has told me the story of how in Jan ’78, Talking Heads came to play at Sheffield University, while he was a student there. As the warm-up act were setting up everyone drifted off to the bar to get a drink and a smoke. And then, magic happened!! ⚡️?. The warm-up act started playing – minutes later, the bar was empty and everyone was crowded at the stage, enthralled by an unknown band, called…. “Dire Straits”! A month later they recorded their debut album which they released at the end of ’78. Within twelve months they were charting all over the world, playing sold-out concerts all across the US.

Dire Straits were regulars on the radio in Delhi from early 1980, especially with “Sultans of Swing” and “Down To The Waterline”. I’m going to write about Dire Straits a few more times over the next few days – their music is pretty much the background score of my late teens and early twenties. Some of favourite memories are linked to this album, including meeting Sahai and Sethi, at IIMC in July ’85, listening and singing along to this album together, instantly friends for life. Brothers In Arms!