Dire Straits - Dire Straits

• 180-gram vinyl reissue
• Dire Straits' arresting self-titled debut embraces folk, blues and pub rock + early rock 'n' roll

Dire Straits' arresting self-titled debut arrived in the midst of punk's reign but couldn't have been further removed from the era's slash-and-burn style. Recorded in West London in February 1978, the band's tasteful, jazz-inflected set embraces folk, blues, and pub rock while also tracing a direct line back to the beat-oriented sound of early rock n' roll. Country and roots accents further distinguish the British quartet's stripped-down music from any 1970s peers, as does the transparent production.

	Side A
	1. Down to the Waterline
	2. Water of Love
	3. Setting Me Up
	4. Six Blade Knife
	5. Southbound Again
	Side B
	1. Sultans of Swing
	2. In the Gallery
	3. Wild West End
	4. Lions