basic information musicians tracks comments

basic information

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'"

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 one

1. Once Upon A Time In The West (13:01)
2. Expresso Love (05:34)
3. Romeo And Juliet (08:18)
4. Love Over Gold (03:29)
5. Private Investigations (07:32)
6. Sultans Of Swing (10:57)

part two

7. Two Young Lovers (04:50)
8. Tunnel Of Love (14:23)
9. Telegraph Road (13:43)
10. Solid Rock (06:02)
11. Going Home (06:04)

unreleased tracks

12. Industrial Disease (05:52) *
13. Twisting By The Pool (03:41) *
14. Portobello Belle (07:21) *

* these tracks were released as bonustracks with boxset "live 1979-1992" in 2023

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.