DIRE STRAITS – SULTANS IN COLOGNE (2 LP)

Description

Pressed on colored vinyl, this unofficial double LP reproduces the soundboard-sourced television recording of the concert Dire Straits gave on February 16, 1979, at the WDR Studio-L in Cologne, for the Rockpalast program. The English band, still the original quartet of Mark Knopfler (vocals and guitar), David Knopfler (guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass and backing vocals), and Pick Withers (drums), were promoting their second album, “Communiqué.” The tracklist features seven songs (including “Once Upon a Time in the West,” “Where Do You Think You’re Going?”, and “Lady Writer”); another seven (including “Sultans of Swing”) are from their debut album, while “What’s the Matter Baby” is an outtake from that period. The bonus tracks are a version of the much later “Planet Of New Orleans” (included on 1991’s “On Every Street”) and an early rehearsal version of “Tunnel Of Love,” the 1980 opening track on “Making Movies.”