I've always thought it was the best Dylan song that Dylan never wrote. More specifically, I've also always thought that "You can fall for chains of silver/You can fall for chains of gold" is a contender for the most Dylanish-sounding couplet that Dylan never actually sang. (Although Knopfler went on to ruin it immediately afterwards with the dreadful "and the prommy, SEZ they hold", which is almost up there with "Prince Char, MING".)

There's a great version of Romeo & Juliet by the Indigo Girls. They way they sing the line "Julie I'd do the stars with you any time" is genuinely heartbreaking.

Recently I've been missing that Dire Straits Greatest Hits album that I got rid of some time in the early 90s. I always thought that Knopfler wrote some clever lines, such as the one about the guitar player who's "strictly rhythm: he doesn't want to make it cry or sing". The songs of theirs that I've managed to dig up have aged much, much better than I would have thought.

Jolly good, but Hockey Skates is even better.

'She took off her silver locket.
Said, 'Remember me by this.'
She put her hand in my pocket.
I got a keepsake and a kiss.'

From Tunnel of Love - lovely stuff.

...but I don't get why this band gets so criticised- I see nothing in their music that deserves it as it's well written and well played. Can't stand 'Walk Of Life' and 'Twisting By The Pool', mind...

are really well worth investigating. He ditches the more bombastic side of Dire Straits, leaving some great melodies (Try 'Hill farmers blues' off The Ragpickers Dream) and some excellent guitar work.

Yes there is a certain amount of filtering required at times but it is always thus (The perfect album discussion notwithstanding)

The first album was and still is a really excellent, rootsy bluesy set. What's not to like?

Knopfler appears very happy with his solo career and the rest of Straits that was don't seem that bothered about jumping back on a tour bus. It is slightly odd how invisible he and Straits have become. Remember they were virtually omnipresent for the bulk of the '80s but are rarely referred to in any recent cultural analyses I've come across. I still listen to the first album. Sultan's has a few lovely lyrical turns in it but what makes it for me is its flow; long observational lines delivered at a rush. Great arrangement and delivery. 'It Never Rains' from Love Over Gold is quite a venomous lyric to an ex-lover (I assume) and a real counterpoint to R&J.

However my favourite is 'Badges, Posters, Stickers, T-shirts' which was a b-side throwaway. A mickey-take of over-excited heavy metal fans who have managed to blag a backstage pass to see their sweaty idols. Contains the line 'My mam says we're a pair of perverts'.

..on the credibility front was, of course, the fact that it was widely reported in the 80s that they were Princess Di's favourite group. That didn't exactly endear them to "the kids on the street."

I too was a hater of the Straits, but like many, I have mellowed towards them, and have picked up most of their CDs for around a fiver each, whenever I see them. I recently listened to "Alchemy" the double live album. Dodgy 80s keyboards aside (but no more dodgy than those on, say, "Stop Making Sense") it's a terrific live album. One of the best, in fact.

attached to 'Brothers In Arms' did the band no favours whatsoever. That along with the ever-presence of the video for 'Money For Nothing' on MTV, which became a symbol of the very thing the song set out to ridicule.

But Dire Straits had their moments... I always liked 'Private Investigations', but I haven't heard it for about 20 years, so I might think differently now.

...if Mark Knopfler is reading this, do you think he's thinking "Dammit, those blokes are right. If only I'd paid attention to them I'd be as rich and successful as, well, John Hiatt."?

the last couple of times I have seen him his back catalogue has been largely absent.On his tour with Emmylou they duetted the song 'Why worry' which is perfect for her voice. the last Mark Knopfler solo tour he maybe did 2 straits songs and didnt even do theme from Local Hero which is almost his signature tune. he doesnt need to dwell on that stuff as good as some of it is because his solo back catalogue is pretty good and i think his audience has changed anyway.

...with Mark Knopfler in Record Collector a few years back and from that, he seemed to be a modest sort of bloke and pretty happy with his lot in life, unlike some who take great pains to remind us on how awful the music industry is whilst still remaining in it.

And anyway, having only two songs that I really can't stand isn't bad going when there are some acts that can barely muster two songs that I enjoy!

I actually grew up hearing that Dire Straits debut and always thought it was just fine, particularly 'Down To The Waterline'.

..supporting Talking Heads at Sheffield University. A few months later they performed at the 'free' end of year bash at the Uni.

Six months later they were massive.

Watching them, you just knew that, strange support slot that it was, they were a phenomenally talented bunch of musicians. And given the climate in which they were breaking through, did fantastically well to have the success they did. All down to talent rather than hype or 'riding the zeitgeist' or whatever it's called.

Walk of Life and Twisting by the Pool are absolute poo though.