Dire Straits – Love Over Gold : 2021 (180g Vinyl LP)

With a new rhythm guitarist in the fold, Dire Straits expands its sound as well as continues its glorious string of studio successes on 1982’s Love Over Gold. Per usual, it’s Mark Knopfler‘s crisp guitar playing and warm raspy voice, combined with Alan Clark’s gorgeous keyboard runs, makes for a sweeping affair that put the band in position for the commercial breakout Brothers In Arms. Anchored by the 14-minute-plus opener “Telegraph Road,” and by Knopfler‘s atmospheric leads and head-turning tonalities, Love Over Gold is a modern classic.

Part of the reason for the band’s uniqueness owes to its clean, vibrant sound. Just as Knopfler‘s narratives reflect poetic and surrealist texts, the group’s arrangements – an intoxicating combination of easygoing shuffles, bluesy boogies, and pop-honed ballads – mirror the old-fashioned soulfulness and spaciousness inherent in the classic recordings of the late 50s and early 60s. It’s no wonder why Dire Straits has long been a favorite of audiophiles the world over. When it comes to sonic purity, transparent soundstages, and rich tonalities, few, if any bands sound better.

And now, thanks to the meticulous efforts of Warner Bros., Dire Straits’ 1982 LP can be experienced like never before. Remastered and cut from the original analog tapes and pressed on high-quality 180g vinyl, Love Over Gold will bowl you over with its mesmerizing sound and engaging material. Knopfler‘s mesmerizing guitar textures and cool vocals appear as if they’re right in front of you. Details, imaging, and presence are on a level associated with the finest audiophile recordings.

1. Telegraph Road
2. Private Investigations
3. Industrial Disease
4. Love Over Gold
5. It Never Rains