[Closed] Mark Knopfler: How does he compare?

[quote=MartynS ]There was a track doing the rounds that was just knopflers guitar from the sultans album track. It wasn't what he played, it was the other bits that made the track.This one?

Just listen to Knopflers album Privateering & then tell me the mans not got soul. For me, exquisite playing from the less is more style of guitar picking.

I heard an interview with MK a few months ago where he talked about not really concentrating on his guitar playing [i]that[/i] much, it was the songwriting he was most bothered about.
When you listen to something as well crafted as Tunnel of Love, Telegraph Road or Sultans I guess that makes sense!

Easily. I mean, give him time to learn the songs but jesus....easily.

I disagree.

I dont disagree that we can all learn somebody else songs but your argument was anyone in the top 100 can play anyone elses style. If that is the case why is number 1 better than number 100 when they can both play the exact same ?

Always confused me that Sultans of Swing is not a swing track. And slightly annoyed me too. I mean I like the song but the lyrics jarr.

I play but everyone who ever picked up a guitar is better than me. It's pointless arguing who us better, it's taste. To me MK songs were exceptional and the tone and feel of the guitar amazing. Every note he plays is melodic and contributes to the story. I think it was ZZTop who said its the notes you don't play.....

Yep, its all down to taste. I'd rather listen to Neil Young strangle a few notes than someone like Steve Vai play a million in the same length of time.
Mark Knopfler is very good however you look at it though.

Always confused me that Sultans of Swing is not a swing track. And slightly annoyed me too. I mean I like the song but the lyrics jarr.

Think you need to give them a closer listen! 😆

Please explain!

It's about another band in a pub in London "A band is blowing Dixie double four time". " 'We are the Sultans of Swing' " is in inverted commas in the lyrics so Knopfler is not singing about himself. Swing (I dance swing, and rock and roll) is danced to a 4/4 beat.

Edit to add the lyrics:

You get a shiver in the dark
It's raining in the park but meantime
South of the river you stop and you hold everything
A band is blowing Dixie double four time
You feel alright when you hear that music ring

You step inside but you don't see too many faces
Coming in out of the rain to hear the jazz go down
Too much competition too many other places
But not too many horns can make that sound
Way on down south way on down south London town

You check out Guitar George he knows all the chords
Mind he's strictly rhythm he doesn't want to make it cry or sing
And an old guitar is all he can afford
When he gets up under the lights to play his thing

And Harry doesn't mind if he doesn't make the scene
He's got a daytime job he's doing alright
He can play honky tonk just like anything
Saving it up for Friday night
With the Sultans with the Sultans of Swing

And a crowd of young boys they're fooling around in the corner
Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles
The don't give a damn about any trumpet playing band
It ain't what they call rock and roll
And the Sultans played Creole

And then the man he steps right up to the microphone
And says at last just as the time bell rings
'Thank you goodnight now it's time to go home'
And he makes it fast with one more thing
'We are the Sultans of Swing'

DS music was forced into the shape that fitted into the kind of venues that the band found themsekves playing. It wasn't for the better, IMO. His guitar playing is best close up and in yer ear.

I know it's not about the band themselves, but still seems dissonant to sing about swing in a different style. That's just me though I guess.

Blimey, reminds me of readers letters in Melody Maker in the 1960's!

I know nothing about music beyond enjoying other people making it, however shouldn't Richard Thompson be on a list of virtuoso guitarists?

I know it's not about the band themselves, but still seems dissonant to sing about swing in a different style. That's just me though I guess.

It's like most Dire Straits songs, it tells a story. In this case, about a part-time jazz band trying to keep going while rock and roll takes over. Never found that weird.

Knopfler does have some jazz influence in his playing, pretty sure he has some strong sympathies with the Sultans...

Rock and roll took over in the fifties but (Oxford) baggy brown trousers and platform soles were around in the seventies when Knopfler wrote the song.

Rock and roll was still popular in the seventies with many bands writing their own rock and roll style songs or covering others. Led Zep did "bin a long time since a rock 'n' roll", Slade "Keep on Rockin", Gary... best stop there.

Cant play a note myself but caught this on Sky the other night and enjoyed it. Comes across as a very down to earth guy.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=27OT_FSWrIE

Comparing something as subjective as music always seemed a bit pointless to me.

If a particular guitarist (or any musical instrument) has a style you like, then great, but trying to compare that misses the point IMO

Even the likes of Clapton was shocked by his abilities

Check out Eric in the audience of Albert Lee playing Country Boy:

[url=

s'n'Dave Xmas Special[/url]

AFAIK he used to play in Eric's band though so he knew full well how good he was, albeit different.

Albert Lee is using hybrid picking there, a pick and the fingers. James Burton popularised that playing "chicken pickin'"with early rock and rollers. Billy Gibbons does it too though both Knopfler and Gibbons often do without the pick and use the thumb.

[url=

Burton[/url]

It's like most Dire Straits songs, it tells a story. In this case, about a part-time jazz band trying to keep going while rock and roll takes over.

This is the kind of discussion I enjoy much more than technical comparison 🙂

Does no-one think that Mark Knopfler was influenced by Richard Thompson? Why doesn't RT get a mention with some of the other 'greats?'
Martin Simpson also springs to mind.

I reckon Richard Thompson is pretty well recognised as a great guitarist, but pretty much just amongst the folk (folk/rock) fraternity and people who are into music a bit more deeply than the general public.

As Knopfler and Thompson are the same age they were probably influenced by those that they listened to in their youth rather than each other. I tried to think of a Thomson riff and couldn't. Thompson has an interesting celtic sound and does what he does very well but many others do the celtic stuff that has stuck in my head while Thompson's hasn't. Andy Irvine for example.

I think that's been one of Richard Thompson's problems - he seems to be thought of as a folkie by most people, yet he's really a rock musician who does some folk stuff. Fairport Convention started as a rock band. But regarding songs with 'story' lyrics, surely he's unmatched?

I think that's been one of Richard Thompson's problems - he seems to be thought of as a folkie by most people, yet he's really a rock musician who does some folk stuff.

Last time I was at an RT gig he asked the Audience for requests with the words "Choose a genre'.

These are interesting. Don't know where 1/3 is though.

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Edukator, I can't believe you're struggling for a RT riff.

I'm sure there are hitherto unknown Amazonian tribes who all get pissed and sing maudlin versions of 'Meet on the Ledge'.
And I know that all beard wearers are legally required to know all the words of 'Matty Groves' by heart.

1952 Vincent BLack Lightening is a pretty memorable RT riff:

Sorry.

*starts shaving*

Douglas Adams had something to say about MK's playing.

http://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A311031/conversation/view/F38761/T56266/page/1/