n&n. discography. album. |
© thomas gygax. no unauthorised reproduction. |
alchemy dire straits |
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musicians
release date 02.84 recording McKenna, Mick (Hammersmith Odeon, London UK 23.07.83) mixing Walker, Nigel / Allom, Jeremy (Air Studios, London UK 11.83), Track 12-14 Fletcher, Guy (British Grove Studios, London) production Knopfler, Mark, Track 12-14 Fletcher, Guy (British Grove Studios, London) credits "Thanks to all the road crew & technical staff, Damage Management & Walkers 'Power Toilet'"
tracks
clark, alan keyboards collins, mel saxophon de korte, joop percussion illsley, john bass knopfler, mark guitar, vocals lindes, hal guitar mandel, tommy keyboards williams, terry drums
part onenotespart two
- Once Upon A Time In The West (13:01)
- Expresso Love (05:34)
- Romeo And Juliet (08:18)
- Love Over Gold (03:29)
- Private Investigations (07:32)
- Sultans Of Swing (10:57)
unreleased tracks
- Two Young Lovers (04:50)
- Tunnel Of Love (14:23)
- Telegraph Road (13:43)
- Solid Rock (06:02)
- Going Home (06:04)
- Industrial Disease (05:52) *
- Twisting By The Pool (03:41) *
- Portobello Belle (07:21) *
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* these tracks were released as bonustracks with boxset "live 1979-1992" in 2023comments
The cover of the album is an adaptation of 'Alchemy - 1974', painted over a two-year period (1972-73) by the late Australian artist and personal friend of Mark Knopfler, Brett Whiteley, who died 1992 from a methadone overdose.
The painting is actually a self-portrait and consists of a series of large separate panels which, when fully displayed, extend around several walls of a studio. The vertical lines separating the frames can be seen on the album cover. There are many panels to the work and most are not seen here. The adaptation includes additional artwork and photographs of the band and some collage - e.g., the guitar cut-out and lips on the front.
One prevalent feature in Brett Whiteley's work are arrows going in opposite directions - they feature in various paintings he has done and presumably this is where the four arrows you see on the album cover originate.
Apparently Mark Knopfler was an admirer of Whiteley's work. In an interview on the Australian TV programme '60 Minutes' he said he was 'saddened' to hear of his death.
© thomas gygax. no unauthorised reproduction.. |