In 1977, rock and roll fans were greeted by many great new bands arriving on the music scene from all shores. Many bands from the United States and Britain were celebrating the new sounds of punk and eventually new wave. Dire Straits arrived in 1977 and sounded nothing like the newer bands. The band led by Mark Knopfler, featured brilliant virtuoso original sounding guitar playing, well-written lyrics, and beautiful melodies. The sound was slick, but not overproduced. When I first heard the band, they reminded me of a mix of Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and in a way Ennio Morricone. It was a band that was all substance.
The band Dire Straits released its first album in October 1978. The original lineup featured Mark Knopfler on vocals and lead and rhythm guitars, David Knopfler on rhythm guitar and vocals, John Illsley on bass and vocals, and Pick Withers on drums. The album immediately put the band on the map, as it featured the hit single “Sultan of Swing.”
released their sophomore album Communiqué, in 1979. The album did not feature any big hit singles, as “Lady Winter” only reached the number 45 spot on the U.S Billboard Hot 100. However, the album sold very well, as the band had already developed a large following based on the performance of their first record.
The band continued its yearly release schedule with the issue of its third album in 1980 entitled Making Movies. The album’s fresh and romantic sound was fueled by the addition of Bruce Springsteen’s piano player Roy Bittan in the recording sessions. The album sold extremely well, reaching the top 20 in the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Australia, and Austria. The band released their fourth album in 1982 entitled Love Over Gold. 
Most bands would give anything to have the success that Dire Straits had with their first four records. However, for Dire Straits their biggest success story had not yet come.
In 1985, Dire Straits released the album Brother In Arms. It would become the band’s most successful record and one of the biggest selling albums ever. There were multiple reasons for the album’s success. The first and simplest reason is it’s a great album. Mark Knopfler’s writing was brilliant on the record. The man was also very well connected with the changing sounds of the 1980s. However, the success of the record was also fueled by other factors. The song “Money For Nothing,” featuring Sting, became one of the most played videos on MTV. The CD was in a new format, and the album Brother In Arms
sounded incredible on the disc. Music fans had never heard sound that spectacular before.
It would be six more years before Dire Straits released their next album. The band’s sixth album, On Every Street, was released in 1991. It would be the final album released under the Dire Straits name. However, Mark Knoplfer would continue to record albums, releasing them under his own name.
Our Top 10 Dire Straits songs list includes some of the best material the band released during its thirteen-year recording period.
# 10 – Calling Elvis
“Calling Elvis” was recorded by Dire Straits for their sixth and final studio album, On Every Street, which was released on September 9, 1991. The song was produced by Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits and was recorded at Air Studios in London. Featuring Knopfler on lead vocals and guitar, the track also included John Illsley on bass, Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher on keyboards, and Chris Whitten on drums. Additional musicians, such as Paul Franklin on pedal steel guitar, contributed to the track’s distinct atmospheric sound.
As the lead single from On Every Street, “Calling Elvis” captured Dire Straits’ signature style while embracing a more textured and layered production. The song’s title and lyrics referenced Elvis Presley, using the idea of trying to reach him as a metaphor for an emotionally distant lover who seems as unattainable as the King of Rock and Roll himself. Lines like “Calling Elvis – is anybody home?” underscored the frustration of longing for someone who remains out of reach. The song’s slow-burning groove, combined with its moody guitar work and expansive production, created a hypnotic atmosphere that differentiated it from the more radio-friendly hits of Dire Straits’ earlier years.
# 9 – Telegraph Road
“Telegraph Road” was recorded by Dire Straits for their fourth studio album, Love Over Gold, which was released on September 24, 1982. Written by Mark Knopfler, the song stretched over fourteen minutes, making it one of the longest and most ambitious compositions in the band’s catalog. The recording took place at the Power Station in New York City, with production handled by Knopfler alongside engineer Neil Dorfsman. The lineup for the track featured Knopfler on lead vocals and guitar, John Illsley on bass, Alan Clark on keyboards, Hal Lindes on rhythm guitar, and Pick Withers on drums.
Lyrically, “Telegraph Road” painted a vivid portrait of industrialization, following the transformation of an unnamed rural landscape into a bustling metropolis and the inevitable social decline that followed. Knopfler’s storytelling detailed the progression of civilization, touching on themes of ambition, economic disparity, and disillusionment. The song’s protagonist, a man struggling to find meaning in a world increasingly shaped by commerce, mirrored the fate of many working-class individuals left behind by progress. The slow-building arrangement, beginning with sparse instrumentation before evolving into a climactic guitar solo, emphasized the song’s grand, cinematic scope.
# 8 – Once Upon A Time in the West
“Once Upon a Time in the West” was recorded by Dire Straits for their second studio album, Communiqué, which was released on June 15, 1979. The song was written by Mark Knopfler and recorded at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, with production handled by Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett. The lineup featured Knopfler on lead vocals and guitar, David Knopfler on rhythm guitar, John Illsley on bass, and Pick Withers on drums, maintaining the core group’s signature blend of blues, rock, and intricate storytelling.
Lyrically, “Once Upon a Time in the West” presented a cynical take on modern society, law enforcement, and violence, painting a bleak picture of moral decay and unchecked power. Knopfler’s lyrics depicted a world where reckless drivers, corrupt officials, and even so-called heroes were not exempt from the dangers around them. The song’s title alluded to Sergio Leone’s classic 1968 Western film of the same name, reinforcing its themes of lawlessness and survival in an unforgiving landscape. Musically, the track’s slow-building groove, punctuated by Knopfler’s intricate lead guitar work, created a brooding, atmospheric tension that underscored the song’s dark narrative.
Though “Once Upon a Time in the West” was never released as a single, it became a fan favorite and a regular feature in Dire Straits’ live performances. Compared to other tracks on this list, such as “Telegraph Road,” which unfolded as an epic commentary on industrialization, this song took a more direct and scathing approach to societal criticism. It also differed from “Calling Elvis,” which played with pop culture imagery, while “Once Upon a Time in the West” focused on stark realities. The track remains one of Dire Straits’ most socially conscious works, showcasing Knopfler’s ability to fuse poetic lyricism with compelling instrumental arrangements.
# 7 – Down To the Waterline
# 6 – So Far Away
# 5 – Walk Of Life
# 4 – Tunnel of Love
“Tunnel of Love” captured Dire Straits at their most cinematic, weaving nostalgia, romance, and melancholy into an evocative narrative. Recorded at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas and produced by Jimmy Iovine and Mark Knopfler, the song appeared on Making Movies in 1980. Knopfler’s intricate guitar work, combined with Roy Bittan’s expressive piano, created a sweeping, almost orchestral rock ballad that stood apart from the band’s bluesier early material. The track was also notable for its dramatic structure, building from a delicate introduction—featuring an excerpt from Richard Rodgers’ “Carousel Waltz”—into a soaring, emotionally charged climax.
Lyrically, “Tunnel of Love” painted a vivid picture of youthful romance set against the backdrop of a carnival, referencing the Spanish City amusement park in Whitley Bay. The lyrics balanced excitement and longing, as the protagonist reminisced about a fleeting love affair, recalling moments of connection amid the chaos of carnival rides and neon lights. Knopfler’s storytelling gave the song a dreamlike quality, similar to the wistful reflection found in “Romeo and Juliet,” another track from Making Movies. In contrast, where “Romeo and Juliet” detailed love’s disillusionment, “Tunnel of Love” reveled in its bittersweet impermanence.
Although never released as a single in the UK or the US, “Tunnel of Love” became a fan favorite and a staple of Dire Straits’ live performances. The song’s extended instrumental passages and Knopfler’s expressive guitar soloing made it one of the band’s most powerful concert pieces. While Making Movies did not achieve the blockbuster sales of Brothers in Arms, it was widely regarded as one of the band’s most artistically accomplished albums, with “Tunnel of Love” standing as a defining moment in Dire Straits’ catalog.
# 3 – Money for Nothing
One of the legendary sayings of the 1980’s was the slogan “I Want My MTV.” Sting and Mark Knopfler turned that saying into a great tongue-in-cheek riff on the song “Money For Nothing,” The song became the biggest hit on MTV for a time. Sting, who as a member of his band The Police was also a huge MTV music video star. Although both artists were so brilliant with the music they produced they didn’t really need MTV. It was MTV that needed them.
“Money for Nothing” became one of Dire Straits’ defining songs, encapsulating the band’s blend of sophisticated musicianship and sharp social commentary. Released as the second single from Brothers in Arms in 1985, the track was recorded at AIR Studios in Montserrat and produced by Mark Knopfler and Neil Dorfsman.
“Money for Nothing” became a commercial powerhouse, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping charts in Canada and Australia. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and was accompanied by one of the most recognizable music videos of the MTV era, featuring early computer animation. The song’s massive success contributed to Brothers in Arms becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time. Even decades later, “Money for Nothing” remains a defining track of the 1980s, both as a rock anthem and as a snapshot of the cultural moment in which it was created.
# 2 – Sultan’s of Swing
The comparisons to Bob Dylan’s vocal sound eventually disappeared after fans became used to the sounds of Mark Knopfler. “Sultans of Swing” introduced Dire Straits to the world with its distinctive blend of blues-influenced guitar work and evocative storytelling. First recorded as a demo in 1977, the song gained traction after being played on BBC Radio, leading to a record deal with Phonogram Records. The band re-recorded it for their self-titled debut album, Dire Straits, at Basing Street Studios in London with producer Muff Winwood. Mark Knopfler’s intricate fingerpicking technique, combined with his laconic vocal delivery, helped define the song’s unique character, setting the stage for Dire Straits’ signature sound.
Lyrically, “Sultans of Swing” painted a vivid picture of a struggling jazz band playing in a nearly empty pub in South London. Inspired by Knopfler’s real-life encounter with an underappreciated group of musicians, the song contrasted the passion of performing with the indifferent audience they played for. Lines like “You check out Guitar George, he knows all the chords” and “They don’t give a damn about any trumpet-playing band” captured both admiration for skilled musicianship and the resignation of playing to an unresponsive crowd. The song’s conversational tone and observational lyrics mirrored Knopfler’s later storytelling in tracks like “Tunnel of Love” and “Telegraph Road,” which similarly explored themes of disillusionment and perseverance.
Upon its release in 1978, “Sultans of Swing” climbed the charts, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart. The song’s widespread radio play propelled Dire Straits to commercial success, establishing the band as a major force in rock music. While other songs in this article, such as “Money for Nothing,” leaned into the arena-rock era of the 1980s, “Sultans of Swing” remained rooted in classic storytelling and technical prowess. Decades later, its masterful guitar work and observational lyricism continue to captivate listeners, securing its place as one of Dire Straits’ definitive songs.
# 1 – Romeo and Juliet
“Romeo and Juliet” stands as the defining masterpiece of Dire Straits’ catalog, earning its place as the closing song on this list and our pick for the band’s greatest work. Released on Making Movies in 1980, the song demonstrated Mark Knopfler’s ability to fuse poetic lyricism with intricate musicianship, crafting a modern tragedy of love and loss. The track was recorded at the Power Station in New York City, produced by Knopfler and Jimmy Iovine, and featured Knopfler’s signature fingerpicked guitar style, punctuated by Roy Bittan’s evocative piano accompaniment.
The lyrics reimagined Shakespeare’s classic love story, framing it as a tale of disillusionment and heartbreak in a contemporary setting. Knopfler’s protagonist, a lovesick Romeo, serenaded his Juliet with a bittersweet lament, recalling their past passion and lamenting how time and circumstance turned their love into a fleeting memory. Lines such as “When we made love, you used to cry / You said, ‘I love you like the stars above, I’ll love you ‘til I die’” captured the depth of devotion, only to be followed by “When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?”, exposing the painful reality of unfulfilled romance. This emotional depth set the song apart from others in Dire Straits’ catalog, even among introspective works like “Tunnel of Love” and “So Far Away,” both of which explored themes of love slipping through one’s grasp.
Commercially, “Romeo and Juliet” became one of Dire Straits’ most enduring songs, reaching No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart and solidifying its legacy as a staple in the band’s live performances. Its delicate balance of tenderness and regret resonated deeply, making it a fan favorite and a defining example of Knopfler’s songwriting brilliance. While other songs on this list showcased the band’s technical prowess or social commentary, “Romeo and Juliet” transcended them all with its raw emotion and lyrical storytelling, securing its rightful place as the ultimate Dire Straits song.
Photo: By Heinrich Klaffs [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
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