Dire Straights - Private Investigations

[domtheone]

Howdy

Anyone have this Best of Yet?

If so, what's it sound like? Is it availabe in SACD?

Also, how can it be called the Best of when it doesn't even contain their best ever (not to mention best song of all time) song ***

[steve1056]

I got the 2CD version last weekend. The sound is excellent, but I agree that the track listing fell short on the Dire Straits material. They would have been better leaving the Mark Knopfler material off completely or adding a 3rd CD with his solo stuff.

As far as I know there is no SACD version, only standard CD versions.

[rich tee]

I saw Dire Straits in Auckland New Zealand in 1991 at Eden Park.
Until then, I wasn't really a fan of them I went out of curiosity.
As a unit they were outstanding, MK was awesome on guitar, the sax just gelled the whole show together.
Heavy fuel, calling Elvis, money for nothing were fab.

[Floodedstatue]

Surely the 'Sultans of Swing' Best Of is better because it contains less Knopfler material?

[overkill]

Just get the first three albums............ after that it goes downhill rapidly anyway. Since Knopfler wrote all the songs anyway (apart from co-writing 'money for nothing'), and treated the band increasingly as a backing group (read Pick Withers comments) the solo stuff doesn't really either add or detract.

[danvitale]

Give me "Money For Nothing" as the best Best Of anyday.

I hate bands releasing countless Greatest Hits in time for Christmas...

[Floodedstatue]

Originally Posted by danvitale

I hate bands releasing countless Greatest Hits in time for Christmas...

I agree....I hate this time of year for that! Money-grabbing bast*rds

[huwg]

surely Alchemy (live 2 cd set) is the best showcase of their talents

[per-Sony-fied]

Haven't heard the CD version of Alchemy but the vinyl version is a disastrous effort at an attempt to record a live show. A very very poor show

[per-Sony-fied]

I think if you like Dire starits forget the 'best of' CD's go out and buy their albums. Much of their finest efforts lay on these.

As for all time concerts go..... Dire Straits are exceptional if a little inconsistant in the sound quality stakes from venue to venue. Birmingham NEC rocked it for me as their best effort on thier second tour. Helped by more modern digital? equipment.

[huwg]

Originally Posted by per-Sony-fied

Haven't heard the CD version of Alchemy but the vinyl version is a disastrous effort at an attempt to record a live show. A very very poor show

A disastrous recording (sound/mix) or performance?

Whilst I only have a few of their albums, I prefer the Alchemy versions to some of the songs as they have more pace and life to them. I owned Alchemy before the other albums, so I am no expert and am probably talking out of my ....

[domtheone]

I would have bought it in an instant, probalby, had it contained Telegraph Road.

I don't like the sound on the Love Over Gold CD. The Vinyl was much better IIRC.

I have the SACD of Brothers In Arms and that sounds pretty good even on the standard CD layer and i'd like a CD with a remastered Telegraph Road..

[per-Sony-fied]

Originally Posted by huwg

A disastrous recording (sound/mix) or performance?

A disastrous recording. The album is not worth tuppence IMV. If you'd ever been to any of their concerts you'd know that this album is way way below the quality they achieve Live on stage. The Love over Gold Vinyl album is a very good indicator of their achievable sound quality.

Although I am an avid Dire Straits fan.... I seem to be having an loss of memory.... did they not bring out a much later Live album? that was much more fitting of their stage capability.

[per-Sony-fied]

Originally Posted by domtheone

I have the SACD of Brothers In Arms and that sounds pretty good even on the standard CD layer and i'd like a CD with a remastered Telegraph Road..

The Brothers in Arms album was always a notch up in recording stakes. I believe Digitaly mastered from the out set.

I have both the Vinyl and JVC XRCD2 versions. The vinyl having tremendous clarity easily approaching CD standard to that end sounding more like a CD than a vinyl record!

[overkill]

Haven't heard the CD version of Alchemy but the vinyl version is a disastrous effort at an attempt to record a live show. A very very poor show

It is poorly recorded, and the CD is even worse. A crap recording with all the life sucked out of it. CD isn't a good medium for live shows anyway, hence the live album has become rarer in the last 10-15 years. Apart from Pearl Jam that is............

I don't like the sound on the Love Over Gold CD. The Vinyl was much better IIRC.

Agreed. It sounds flat by comparison.

The Brothers in Arms album was always a notch up in recording stakes. I believe Digitaly mastered from the out set.

It was. The album, while not their best musicaly, was one of the albums that really launched the digital medium into orbit due to its excellent recording quality. You could flog any old rubbish (and we did!) if you stuck that disc in.......... Ironicaly the vinyl album was just as good clarity wise, and is better in terms of overall reproduction. But no-one was interested........

Brothers in arms is an excellent recording on all media. As above, the SACD is a fine effort even on the CD layer.