Sultans Of Swing (The Very Best Of Dire Straits) - Dire Straits

Advantages: Oh, practically everything
Disadvantages: Live performances may not be to everyone's taste

...1. SULTANS OF SWING With a moody, evocative sound, this song is a great introduction to the unique vocals of Knopfler. His gravely voice and “singspeak” style of vocals gives this a laid back style. It features a blistering guitar solo by Knopfler and it’s really smooth. That’s the best way I can think of to describe it. When I was a student, I’d go down to the Victoria Market in Melbourne to buy cheap fruit and veg. There was always a busker there ...
...and rock out with an acoustic version of “Sultans of Swing.” He always looked so ecstatic to be playing it, and with good reason! 2. LADY WRITER This is much more upbeat than the previous track. Knopfler’s voice sometimes loses its strength when he tries to really sing, but the cheeky lyrics make up for it. His little chuckle after the line “but your mother was a jazz singer” is perfectly timed, and rewards those who listen to it obsessively. (Who? ... Read review

Advantages: See op.
Disadvantages: See op.

...released their Greatest Hits collection: Sultans of Swing. I already had several live albums of theirs, but wanted a studio album and this one seemed to fit the bill, as it contained all of their classic songs. The track listing is as follows: 1. Sultans of Swing 2. Lady Writer 3. Romeo and Juliet 4. Tunnel of Love 5. Private Investigations 6. Twisting by the Pool 7. Love Over Gold (Live) 8. So Far Away 9. Money for Nothing 10. Brothers ...
...include:  The eponymous Sultans of Swing, with its fantastic guitar riffs that make even the most reserved amongst us want to get up and do an air guitar solo! I particularly like the lyrics to this song as well, and it is definitely amongst my all time favourite tracks.  The beautiful ballad Romeo and Juliet with its clever and thought provoking lyrics.  Money for Nothing with its distinctive and well-known guitar riff, ... Read review

Advantages: fantastic
Disadvantages: no

Dire Straits are for me the best musical group of the world. Their music is a sweet pop and often also country. Their best song is, for me, certainly “Sultans of swing”: pure and sweet music;when I I listen to it I think to stay in a dream…fantastic! Between their songs I remember “Romeo and Juliet”, “Brothers in arms” and “Communiquè”. The band was: Mark Knopfler (Vocals, lead and rhythm ...
...and vocals) and Pick Withers (drums). Today there is only Mark Knopfler as singer: very good is the album “Sailing To Philadelphia” and “Wag the dog”, the sound track of a film with Robert Redford. Dire Straits, for my opinion, are the pop – rock band most famous up to 1984-1985. How long Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits will sing for all us? I hope soon, the sound of his guitar is fantastic...His hands are really wonderful! ... Read review

Advantages: Some very good studio work, Knopfler's live guitar playing outstanding
Disadvantages: Most of the live tracks ruin the flow of the album

On the whole, Sultans of Swing is quite a good album, marred by a few live tracks. When this album was put together, nobody suggested that live and studio recorded tracks wouldn't go well together, and as a result the album flits rather ungracefully from one song to another. Add to this the (very annoying) second CD in the special edition, and you'll wonder why you spent your money on this set. The second CD features Mark Knopfler (minus Dire Straits) ...
...The standard of Knopfler's playing is, as usual, outstanding, but the lyrics and the way in which they are uncomfortably shoehorned around the live tracks will leave many Dire Straits fans looking for the eject button. That said, there are some good songs on here, including the (obligatory) Money for Nothing, but do yourself a favour, buy Dire Straits albums without the live tracks on. ... Read review

Advantages: A well rounded recording including live tracks
Disadvantages:

...owned a cassette with a Sultans of Swing recording, but found the CD version a little different in sound quality. This may be due the digital recording. However, it remains a classic. The beauty of this CD package is the 2nd CD that consists of live recordings. These reveal the talent of DS when playing well known tracks to a live audience. Capturing the essence of the recorded music, but extending the length of play and adapting to the audience. ... Read review