Hi!.., here we go again!.
"Dire Straits" or in this case: "In the Gallery" better, was the debut studio album by the British rock band Dire Straits released on 7 October 1978 by Vertigo Records and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. This work was recorded at Basing Street Studios in London from 13 February to 5 March 1978.
In this lp was included the hit: Sultans of swing”, wrote and composed by Mark Knopfler, The first version was recorded at Pathway Studios, North London, in July 1977. It was included on a five-song demo tape, with: "Water of Love", "Down to the Waterline", "Wild West End", and David Knopfler's "Sacred Loving".
This demo tape was took to influential DJ Charlie Gillett, who had a radio show called Honky Tonk on BBC Radio London. Its popularity soon led Dire Straits to get a contract with Phonogram Records. The song was then re-rmake in February 1978 during 1st album recording sessions. Produced by Steve Winwood's brother Muff Winwood, was released on May in a single and re-issue in January 1979 , but in an alternative version recorded in April 1978. The other version went to the album, provisional title “In the Gallery”, that already had a first set list: Bit.ly/78DS4 that was modified before it was published, without any title, although this alternate order was used for some cassette versions.
Side One: (21:11)
1.Sultans Of Swing. (5:48)
2.In The Gallery. (6:16)
3.Down To The Waterline. (4:02)
4.Lions. (5:03)
Side Two: (20:40)
1.Wild West End. (4:41)
2.Water Of Love. (5:26)
3.Setting Me Up. (3:19)
4.Six Blade Knife. (4:13)
5.Southbound Again. (2:59)
The fast success of “Sultans of swing” with the song “Eastbound Train” or “Southbound Again” on side B; led the group to a promotional tour which started on 9 June 1978 at the Lafayette Club in Wolverhampton, 26 shows around England, the last on 9 july at ATV Centre, Birmingham. The second leg, 31 shows more to promote the album started on 11 October at Morkhove, Herentals, Belgium to 18 November at Hitchin College of Further Education, Hitchin, England. Ten days after finishing the tour, they travel to Nassau, Bahamas to the Compass Point Studios to start recording their second album “Communique”. Meanwhile the 2nd single from the album: ”Water of love“/ “Down to the waterline” ,was released in some countries.
Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the first Dire Straits album, I bring you this alternate 1st set list, with a bonus track, the B side “Eastbound Train”, recorded live. at Leeds Polytechnic, Leeds, England on 30 January 1978. From “Sultans of Swing” single.
Ok, “be-good”.., like Johnny and see you soon.
