Sailing to Philadelphia - Mark Knopfler > Reviews > Dire Straits for Mark Knopfler

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Lacking inspiration
Lyrics	Mediocre
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Weak
Value for Money

Advantages:	A lovely duet with James Taylor
Disadvantages:	Flat and repetitive

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

I have always been a fan of Mark Knopfler, both in his days of Dire Straits and as a solo artist. So I anxiously awaited the release of his second solo album, Sailing to Philadelphia. I actually pre-ordered it from Amazon, so that I would receive it on the day of release. After his prior album, Golden Heart, which is one of my favourites and which I had to buy twice, since my children permanently borrowed it, I was sure this would be among my favourites.
Wrong!

Don't get me wrong, it's fine, but it is nothing exciting. It sounds like Mark Knopfler, like always. He has that very distinguishable voice and guitar sound. But it is flat and monotonous, not even the musicians excite me.

There are a couple of redeeming tracks. The first being the beautiful title track, Sailing to Philadelphia. On this, Knopfler duets with James Taylor, who by the way, still sounds as good as he did 20 some years ago. It is a lovely and soothing track about Jeremiah Dixon, a Geordie surveyor and Charlie Mason, a west country stargazer. Together they make their way to Philadelphia to draw the Mason- Dixon Line. This track is a favourite of several BBC Radio DJs. It is a very nice track.

The other track that I enjoy is also a duet. This time with Van Morrison. Again, the two voices compliment each other well. This song is entitled The Last Laugh. It is about someone who manages to redefine himself whenever he is down. "They had you crying, but you came up smiling. They had you crawling, but you came up flying. And the last laugh, baby is yours. And don't you love the sound, of the last laugh going down?" A song of hope in one's greatest despair.

Mark Knopfler is joined by Richard Bennett on guitar and other strings, Jim Cox on piano and Hammond Organ, Guy Fletcher on keyboards and backing vocals. Glenn Worf on bass and Chad Cromwell on drums. There are various guest session musicians on all of the tracks, with the most notable being Paul Franklin on pedal steel.

There are 14 tracks on this album. All having dealings with either America or Britain. Smart marketing for his fans on both sides of the ocean. I wish they would have been as smart when appraising the quality of the songs. Maybe next time. I will buy his next album if there is one. I haven't given up on Mark Knopfler yet.