Being a Dire Straits fan, I don't and haven't played any of their tracks at any function as I wouldn't wish to inflict my personal favourites on the punters. Probably further tarnished by the fact that I've previously driven friends and relatives mad by playing them

But I would like am unbiased opinion if you would play their tracks or not.

Walk of Life would probably be the most likely candidate.

Money for Nothing has a good guitar rift for the air guitar players

There's also Sultans of Swing

Do you think I would get away with a bit more self indulgence by slipping a track in?

Walk of life, Twisting by the pool, or money for nothing

yes go fot it. pick the right moment and the straits go down well. imho

Depending on the function I through in Walk Of Life towards the end of the buffet to try and get their feet tapping and hopefully in the mood for a dance in a track or three

Jase

Yes these are the ones.

As a rule, Walk of life is the most popular, and I find it goes dowm well at family functions, or for the over 50's.

Money for nothing, i've played once this year, as it very much depends on the mood of the crowd. It can clear the floor.

Twistin by the pool, great track. Don't play it much, I might try it out this weekend and see what happens!

similar to you tony,cant remeber playing any,but if a request came in for them or something of a similar nature would play.nothing wrong with slipping the odd track in if you want to try it

Good to see that the general consensus is thats they are not a definite no. Will slip in Walk of Life during the early warm up and see what happens. Gig is a 21st but mixed family age group that have requested 60's, 70's & 80's so should be okay.

let us know how it goes down.

If no one else likes it, I will

lets hope hope they dont ask you to pack up afterwards

I too would play Twisting By The Pool (as I really like it) and Walk Of Life.

Although whenever I do play TBTP, I tend to find that its a floor killer, so not too often recently, more likely WOL.

Money For Nothing I tend not to play - A bit too slow I think, but then I could be wrong....

I'm sure you could dig out a super extended version of The Sultans Of Swing ;)

I occasionally used to play Romeo and Juliet during the buffet bit, long time ago though.

Only when requested...

its good radio / sing along music when your at home.. not so hot on the dance floor...

The problem with Twistin by the Pool is that it is not that well known to most punters. I think (and I bought it at the time) that is was only a top 20 hit, part of an EP. I don't think it appeared on any Dire Straights album.

Since then, it has appeared on alot of 'Summer albums'. I think it's great but would only play it if the punters were in the mood for that type of stuff, my guess is that it'a will be a floor clearer. Saying that, I will play it on Saturday and see what happens?????????????

Sultans of Swing -gtreat track, but not popular.

Money for nothing -great track- if you can get away with it, but since 1985 (when it charted) I reckon i've only played it 4 or 5 times.

Walk of Life - more popular. Played about 6 times a year, goes down well with an older crowd.

Twisting by The Pool is track 4 on the Money For Nothing album (I have them all :-) )

Thats the problem when you like most of the tracks, its hard to differentiate between what would be popular with others

That's the problem Tony. It should be popular, but Joe Public won't know this track very well compared to say Walk of Life.

I think the Money for Nothing album is a greatest hits type. When Twistin by the Pool hit the charts in 1982/93, it wasn't included on any album, but was I think part of a 3 or 4 track EP from memory.

Very rarely get asked to play Dire Straits at a Wedding but on the odd occasion at corporate gigs.
Wasn't Private Investigations a special release at the time - great track.

Here's maybe another way of playing 'Dire Straits' at a gig - Private Dancer, Tina Turner. Writen by Mark Knopfler and featuring many of the original members on the recording according to Tina in interview.

The Sultans of swing ( extended live version ) is in my top ten of all time favourite tunes....... however I have never played it at a gig.... or any other dire straits song for that matter, never been requested. I wish someone would cos I would enjoy playing it

I think you are right Dukesy. Wasn't kept at number 2 by Musical Youth

Also a Fan but dont often get to play them at a gig, very often tho use sultans of swing whilst sound checking as works well with checking lighting, making sure dmx is working etc....

Walk of life -
Used to play quite often - Always used to go down well,

This post is actually of great interest to most of us who do function work. Not really from the Dire Straights view point though.

We can identify classic tunes or tunes which in our view are worthy of a play, but we don't play them because they are on the whole unlikely to be popular. Or we are unsure how they will be received and ask fellow DJ's if they have tried them. I am going to experiment this weekend and play 2 of the tracks mentioned and see what happens.

The trouble with the general public is that they have short memories.

Rob.

Or long ones......

Don't forget those 'ones' who only want to pay a rate to DJs more reflective of the prices over 20 years ago!
They're everywhere!


It's Toooooo early for that!

I think the trouble with groups like Dire Straits is that they are a bit of a marmite. People either love them or hate them, rarely indifferent, so what you need is for the loud people to like them.

Money for Nothing was a late in the night rock number even when it was in the charts. I think in fact it was bigger in the USA ( Number 1 i think) than here.

I was lucky enough to do a 50th birthday where 6 out of the last 8 songs of the night were Dire Straits, all requests and they filled the floor. Despite my reservations at playing them

Yep....I would play them if requested...

Played Money for nothing tonight, went down OK.

Will play it tonight and see what happens. I was going to play it friday night, but they were a strange crowd, so I played it safe with the usual fare.

I played Walk of Life tonight but it was early before anyone was on the dance floor and didn't get any response but they were a funny lot tonight.

Put on Money for Nothing last night. Two punters danced to it. Followed it up with Shakin Stevens the floor is packed! Experiment is over

Yes I tend to agree. Will leave it on the only play if requested list now.

Twisting By The Pool should be more popular, but isn't. Shame really.

Money for Nothing you really have to work up to it, with good track selection beforehand. Get it right, and it works a storm. Get it wrong and it truely fails!

Playing to an 'older crowd' on saturday, i gave them ' Walk of life' and ' twistin' by the pool'. great songs and a packed dance floor.