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Dire Straits kick off the 1980s with one of the greatest roc

Terrence J. Reardon | Lake Worth (a west Palm Beach suburb), FL | 01/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dire Straits' third album entitled Making Movies was released in October of 1980 on Vertigo/Phonogram in Europe and on Warner Bros here in the United States.

By the time Dire Straits recorded its third album, Dire Straits had two back-to-back Gold selling albums and were getting better as a band. However, Dire Straits suffered its first personnel change as lead singer/lead guitarist/songwriter Mark Knopfler's rhythm guitarist brother David left Dire Straits. For Making Movies, Knopfler plus bass player John Illsley and drummer Pick Withers would record as a three piece. Plus Knopfler took over as producer with famed engineer/producer (and later chairman of Interscope Records) Jimmy Iovine plus Roy Bittan from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band playing keyboards. I was in for a treat whenI first acquired the album in January of 1998 (although was familiar with the first three tracks and "Solid Rock" as US radio played those songs often).

We begin the album with the eight minute plus epic "Tunnel of Love" which starts with Bittan's organ and piano rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The Carousel Waltz" before the band comes in for an epic which is of the ages featuring Knopfler's phenomenal guitar work. Next Mark breaks out the National Steel acoustic guitar for the six minute "Romeo and Juliet" which is a modern telling of the famed book. The first side ended with the track "Skateaway" which starts with drums fading in before keyboards, guitar, vocals and bass guitar come to life and speaks of a woman who roller skates her way through life.

The album's second side started with the rocker "Expresso Love" which is a great rocker. I know some complained that Dire Straits were trying to go the Springsteen route but a great song. Next is the song "Hand in Hand" which was a great song. Next is another hard rocker out of the US rock radio staple and longtime concert staple "Solid Rock" which has great playing all around. We close the album with the countryish sounding "Les Boys" which showed the band's humor somewhat about German boys who "do their thing".

Making Movies peaked at #14 on the Billboard chart and went Platinum here in the US with a million copies sold upon its release. Sales aside, Making Movies was to prove Dire Straits were going to dominate the 1980s.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!"