In 1982 I was deeply immersed in the Student Union of the tertiary institution where I’d just finished a degree. It was an exciting, intense time full of meetings, negotiations, and nights spent strategising how to improve the lot of the student population. We were young and relatively clueless, but deeply committed. Often by late afternoon a core group would adjourn to the pub across the road and repair to a dingy back room housing a beer-stained table and a wonky jukebox. We would take turns buying a jug or feeding the music machine. As the year wound down the most popular choice was a new single by Dire Straits: the moody, world-weary “Private Investigations”. I’d like to think the noir vocalisations and mysterious jazzy arrangement showed how sophisticated our musical tastes were, but the real reason for the popularity of the song was its seven minute duration. We knew a bargain when we heard it.
The single’s success was not confined to Australia. “Private Investigations”, despite sounding nothing like the synth-pop dominating charts at the time, made it to #2 in the UK.
“Private Investigations” came from the fourth Dire Straits album, Love Over Gold. Released in September 1982, it was without doubt the bands most atmospheric and exploratory work. Centrepiece of the LP is “Telegraph Road”, the fourteen minute epic opening the album. The road in question is in Detroit, Michigan. Mark Knopfler recalled sitting at the front of the tour bus as it traversed this long truck route, musing about how the road and its scenery must have changed over the decades. He referenced a book he was reading at the time as well as an iconic cartoon by Robert Crumb entitled “A Short History Of America”.
A fine example of the story-telling style that characterises Knopfler’s best songs, there are other layers to “Telegraph Road”. The song alludes to industrialisation, the struggle of workers to make a living in good times and bad, and a yearning for escape that would be quite at home in a Bruce Springsteen song. It’s easy to imagine the songwriter making connections between development and decline in the USA and a parallel history in Newcastle, UK, the industrial city where he grew up. A highlight of this epic track is the liquid lightning of Knopfler’s guitar during the final instrumental section as the music builds to an inexorable and powerful climax.
Love Over Gold may have a downbeat ambience, but it is by no means a dour album. Side two kicks off with the droll satire of “Industrial Disease”, another popular choice at our pub planning meetings. This rollicking rock song carries its biting lyric with ease and is a blood relation to the later “Money For Nothing”. Alan Clark’s keyboard contribution to “Disease” adds much tonal interest.
The title track is a misty reflection balancing Clark’s piano with tasteful Knopfler guitar and some nice mallet work by guest Mike Mainieri. The album closes with another extended work, “It Never Rains”. This track is most similar to earlier Dire Straits, although the extended arrangement and strong keyboard presence are aligned with the overall sound of the 1982 work.
Creating a wide cinematic musical canvas and allowing himself to stretch out with more complex arrangements, Mark Knopfler hit a creative highpoint with Love Over Gold. Soon after its release—but before embarking upon a huge world tour culminating in the live Alchemy album—he produced an excellent film soundtrack for the delightful Local Hero and contributed to albums by several other artists. Dire Straits also released the upbeat “Twisting By The Pool” E.P.
Certified Gold. And although I checked carefully in the sleeve, no child was to be found.
Love Over Gold, the first album Knopfler produced on his own, remains an engrossing and deeply satisfying listen. The sound is fabulous, especially on the 40th anniversary half-speed master version. So get some popcorn, put your feet up, and let Dire Straits take you on a trip. You’ll love it and when it’s over you’ll be convinced: it’s gold.
Bonus Factoid: During the Love Over Gold sessions, Knopfler also wrote “Private Dancer”. The song was offered to Tina Turner, who used it to spearhead her 1984 comeback album.
First published at Discrepancy Records, October 2022
vinylconnection.com.au 
I remember enjoying Industrial Disease. Also some snide comment made by Donald Fagen about Knopfler’s performance in the studio as one of the try-outs for Aja and how they were surprised at either how much direction he required or how long it took him to understand what they were going for. Which probably says more about Fagen/Becker than it does Knopfler, but thought that a funny aside and call-out to our 33.3 days.
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That is amusing. The Donald/Walter axis were not known for their tolerance. Though talking of sessions, I thought Mr Knopfler made a wonderful musical contribution to Dylan’s first religious album, Slow Train Coming. If you can overlook Bob’s warbling sermonising, it *sounds* great!
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While I would still say Dire Straits’ eponymous debut and “Making Movies” remain my two favorite Dire Straits albums, encouraged/prompted by Graham from Aphoristic Album Reviews, I’ve gained new appreciation for “Love Over Gold” (not that I ever thought it was bad!) and would now name it as a close third. The sound is excellent, as are Knopfler’s story-telling lyrics. “Telegraph Road” literally is like you’re watching a movie!
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Good call.
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The quality of this on YouTube is really good. It certainly has the Dire Straits sound. Good for a weekend workout.
Thanks
DD
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You are welcome, DD. It is a beautifully produced album.
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Yeah, I really like the embellishments around the core D/S sound.
The quality of the sound from YouTube is also very good.
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I watched “Local Hero” at my parents’ house years ago and loved it, didn’t realize Knopfler did the soundtrack, I’m listening to it now, a real treat.
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I remembered “Industrial Disease” as being catching, sorry, meant catchy pop tune, but listened to that again and admired the clever lyrics
On ITV and BBC they talk about the curse
Philosophy is useless, theology is worse
History boils over, there’s an economics freeze
Sociologists invent words that mean “industrial disease”
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Two men say they’re Jesus, *one* of them must be wrong.
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Maybe one’s got to be a chocolate Jesus, It’s good enough for me
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Or the Jesus of Cool? 🤔
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I’d always invite Nick Lowe to the party!
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Had to report back, Robert. The lil’ family watched Local Hero just now (at my suggestion). I loved it (again), they ‘liked’ it! As you say, excellent Knopfler OST. I love it when The Acetones play a slow variant on the theme in the pub.
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I’d like to see it again maybe do a Scottish -themed weekend
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I think “Gregory’s Girl” is the same vintage.
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Another small delight.
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I think it’s their best. It hurts some bands to add keyboards – it takes off their edge. But it worked really well for Knopfler’s relaxed, cinematic songs. They were never the same after this one – I think losing Pick Withers hurt them.
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Funny, isn’t it? Because Brothers was the one that took them to the toppermost of the poppermost.
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Having the most hits doesn’t equal the best album, obviously.
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“Jukebox Bargain” Great title. Great record. Great piece fella.
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Thank you CB!
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Jukebox deals: I was a barfly at the CrowBar in DC. Every time I went, at some point during the night I put in my 3 songs for a buck–Sympathy for the Devil, Killing in the Name of, and Like a Hurricane from Live Rust. That’s a healthy chunk of music for just a dollar.
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Excellent rock for your buck, Jeff.
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[…] blogger Bruce from Vinyl Connection had a great post earlier this week about Love Over Gold, the excellent fourth studio album by Dire Straits, for […]
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Wow… I have absolutely no recollection of Knopfler’s work with “Local Hero” (one of my favorite eighties films). Great factoid here, Bruce. – Marty
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Writing this made me want to see that lovely little film again, Marty!
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I’m very partial to Making Movies and confess that I was completely unfamiliar with this particular DS album; thank you for pointing me in its direction. (Thanks also for including the Crumb image: fabulous). I saw Local Hero way back in the day and should revisit it. I had no idea Knopfler had written Private Dancer: love that tidbit!
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‘Tunnel of love’ is my favourite Dire Straits track, for sure.
Isn’t that R Crumb cartoon brilliant? And depressing?!
Local Hero is warm and eccentric and reassuring. (Unless you are a therapist).
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Ah, Tunnel Of Love! Knopfler’s guitar outro = two minutes of sheer bliss. Truly one of my all-time favorite bits (blog-worthy back in 2014). And, at the very end, Roy Bittan’s cascading notes on the piano.
The Crumb really is brilliant. (Have you seen the 1995 documentary about him?)
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Yes, went to the cinema at the time. Felt rather like work. What a disturbing and disturbed family!
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