A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: qjamesfloyd on April 04, 2025, 12:36:23 PM
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We all know Mark is great with words, but what would you say is Mark's greatest lyrical achievement? For me it's Brothers In Arms.
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5.15 am for me. Pure art.
LE
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That's the hardest question in the world. There are so many amazing lyrics. I don't know why, but at first I thought about "Heart Full Of Holes"
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I know most of us have a lifelong connection to the DS material, but generally speaking I feel like the quality of lyrics got better in the solo years.
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"...
Sometimes you're the windshield
Sometimes you're the bug
Sometimes it all comes together, baby
Sometimes you're a fool in love
..."
Nothing beats this
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"...
Sometimes you're the windshield
Sometimes you're the bug
Sometimes it all comes together, baby
Sometimes you're a fool in love
..."
Nothing beats this
As John McEnroe would have said: You cannot be serious.
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I know most of us have a lifelong connection to the DS material, but generally speaking I feel like the quality of lyrics got better in the solo years.
Agree completely.
So many: Sailing to Philadelphia, Hill Farmer's Blues, Boom Like That, Heart Full Of Holes, So Far From The Clyde, Dream of the Drowned Submariner, Basil, and so on...
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I know most of us have a lifelong connection to the DS material, but generally speaking I feel like the quality of lyrics got better in the solo years.
Interesting comment. I think it's important to have a good marriage between the lyrics and the music. Telegraph Road and BIA convey this better than any IMHO.
I personally think his songwriting became less consistent during his solo period, especially after the first two albums. Also, the music clearly took a back seat which is criminal for a man who gave us so many great riffs and solos.
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I personally think his songwriting became less consistent during his solo period, especially after the first two albums. Also, the music clearly took a back seat which is criminal for a man who gave us so many great riffs and solos.
You nailed it.
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"I personally think his songwriting became less consistent during his solo period..."
What does less consistent mean?
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Wild West End, Industrial Disease, Man's Too Strong, Skateaway, Private Investigations and It Never Rains are some of Mark's best lyrics. No doubt.
However Tunnel Of Love is a close second behind Telegraph Road. Wow. Extroadinary. Very relatable in 2025 where America is a complete and utter mess under
abhorent leadership. Only fit for the rich who just get richer. Most who will flock on forums to spread their ignorant love for the man in charge are comfortable anyhow... when the reality is as always the working man and woman suffers. Deary deary me. When will we ever learn? "sorry, but we're closed..." sums up the world we live in today. Too many people hypnotised and brainwashed. But humans have always been like this. No surprise.
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"I personally think his songwriting became less consistent during his solo period..."
What does less consistent mean?
DS: consistently high quality (until OES probably)
Solo: some HQ, some LQ
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I know most of us have a lifelong connection to the DS material, but generally speaking I feel like the quality of lyrics got better in the solo years.
Interesting comment. I think it's important to have a good marriage between the lyrics and the music. Telegraph Road and BIA convey this better than any IMHO.
I personally think his songwriting became less consistent during his solo period, especially after the first two albums. Also, the music clearly took a back seat which is criminal for a man who gave us so many great riffs and solos.
The music didn't take a back seat at all. The guitar probably did.
For me, if less guitar means a better lyrical output then it's all ok. I sometimes read Basil's lyrics as poetry and feel incredibly satisfied, artistically speaking. His lyrics transition from the DS period to the solo years are the reflection of a man who has matured, someone with more wisdom. And the musical compositions too.
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I know most of us have a lifelong connection to the DS material, but generally speaking I feel like the quality of lyrics got better in the solo years.
Interesting comment. I think it's important to have a good marriage between the lyrics and the music. Telegraph Road and BIA convey this better than any IMHO.
I personally think his songwriting became less consistent during his solo period, especially after the first two albums. Also, the music clearly took a back seat which is criminal for a man who gave us so many great riffs and solos.
The music didn't take a back seat at all. The guitar probably did.
For me, if less guitar means a better lyrical output then it's all ok. I sometimes read Basil's lyrics as poetry and feel incredibly satisfied, artistically speaking. His lyrics transition from the DS period to the solo years are the reflection of a man who has matured, someone with more wisdom. And the musical compositions too.
Yes. I think so too.
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I know most of us have a lifelong connection to the DS material, but generally speaking I feel like the quality of lyrics got better in the solo years.
Interesting comment. I think it's important to have a good marriage between the lyrics and the music. Telegraph Road and BIA convey this better than any IMHO.
I personally think his songwriting became less consistent during his solo period, especially after the first two albums. Also, the music clearly took a back seat which is criminal for a man who gave us so many great riffs and solos.
The music didn't take a back seat at all. The guitar probably did.
For me, if less guitar means a better lyrical output then it's all ok. I sometimes read Basil's lyrics as poetry and feel incredibly satisfied, artistically speaking. His lyrics transition from the DS period to the solo years are the reflection of a man who has matured, someone with more wisdom. And the musical compositions too.
More like an old man who has become lazy and would rather fill a composition with words than a guitar solo, riff or good melody he'd have to replicate live. He has/had a gift and it's a real shame it's been wasted to a great extent for many years.
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I know most of us have a lifelong connection to the DS material, but generally speaking I feel like the quality of lyrics got better in the solo years.
Interesting comment. I think it's important to have a good marriage between the lyrics and the music. Telegraph Road and BIA convey this better than any IMHO.
I personally think his songwriting became less consistent during his solo period, especially after the first two albums. Also, the music clearly took a back seat which is criminal for a man who gave us so many great riffs and solos.
The music didn't take a back seat at all. The guitar probably did.
For me, if less guitar means a better lyrical output then it's all ok. I sometimes read Basil's lyrics as poetry and feel incredibly satisfied, artistically speaking. His lyrics transition from the DS period to the solo years are the reflection of a man who has matured, someone with more wisdom. And the musical compositions too.
More like an old man who has become lazy and would rather fill a composition with words than a guitar solo, riff or good melody he'd have to replicate live. He has/had a gift and it's a real shame it's been wasted to a great extent for many years.
To each his own, I suppose
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There was a point when he started to speak of himself as a "songwriter", to me that was searching for a new "label" to fill the empty space that emerged when he didn't want to be a "guitar hero" anymore. It felt always uneasy and artificial to me that he always spoke himself and defined himself what he saw himself. I guess all his heroes influenced him in finding his definite place in music history while he long had been given that place by his audience, which was denied by him.
There is a difference between lyrics and poetry, when the words fit perfectly in the melody, when they can and MUST be heard to be sung, or better, if you read them as a poem and you have the feeling that a certain dimension is missing, then it's probably good songwriting, I guess. With that in mind, even Solid Rock ( "...three more fingers pointing back at you") has great lyrics while One Song At A Time or Watch Me Gone feel slightly over the top.
LE
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It is worth noting that Mark Knopfler's voice has changed and that is natural. And it fits his current lyrics very well.
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It is worth noting that Mark Knopfler's voice has changed and that is natural. And it fits his current lyrics very well.
I agree with you!
Mark is one of the lucky ones whose voice and singing have gotten better with age. Often, it's the opposite.
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Mark is one of the lucky ones whose voice and singing have gotten better with age. Often, it's the opposite.
:hmm
When was last time you went listen him singing live ?
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Mark is one of the lucky ones whose voice and singing have gotten better with age. Often, it's the opposite.
:hmm
When was last time you went listen him singing live ?
Hannover 2019 and he was great!
Also I think that he still writes good songs and his guitar playing still is very tasteful.
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Mark is one of the lucky ones whose voice and singing have gotten better with age. Often, it's the opposite.
:hmm
When was last time you went listen him singing live ?
Hannover 2019 and he was great!
Also I think that he still writes good songs and his guitar playing still is very tasteful.
Definitely yes!
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If there has to be a number 1 it is BIA.
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Mark is one of the lucky ones whose voice and singing have gotten better with age. Often, it's the opposite.
:hmm
When was last time you went listen him singing live ?
Hannover 2019 and he was great!
Also I think that he still writes good songs and his guitar playing still is very tasteful.
On the last tour he could barely sing at all.
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Mark is one of the lucky ones whose voice and singing have gotten better with age. Often, it's the opposite.
:hmm
When was last time you went listen him singing live ?
Hannover 2019 and he was great!
Also I think that he still writes good songs and his guitar playing still is very tasteful.
On the last tour he could barely sing at all.
That doesn’t stop Dylan.
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Mark is one of the lucky ones whose voice and singing have gotten better with age. Often, it's the opposite.
:hmm
When was last time you went listen him singing live ?
Hannover 2019 and he was great!
Also I think that he still writes good songs and his guitar playing still is very tasteful.
On the last tour he could barely sing at all.
dmg, You and I were at the same show in Leeds and also Newcastle and we both agreed that it was pretty good, including his voice. Verona was excellent too. I felt that MK went out on a high in 2019! :)
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Vocals got better after he quit the fags.
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Mark is one of the lucky ones whose voice and singing have gotten better with age. Often, it's the opposite.
:hmm
When was last time you went listen him singing live ?
Hannover 2019 and he was great!
Also I think that he still writes good songs and his guitar playing still is very tasteful.
On the last tour he could barely sing at all.
dmg, You and I were at the same show in Leeds and also Newcastle and we both agreed that it was pretty good, including his voice. Verona was excellent too. I felt that MK went out on a high in 2019! :)
Think it's different after the show when you're still on a high, but retrospectively he sounded very weak even compared to 2015. R&J is the song I noticed the biggest difference with vocally.
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Mark is one of the lucky ones whose voice and singing have gotten better with age. Often, it's the opposite.
:hmm
When was last time you went listen him singing live ?
Hannover 2019 and he was great!
Also I think that he still writes good songs and his guitar playing still is very tasteful.
On the last tour he could barely sing at all.
dmg, You and I were at the same show in Leeds and also Newcastle and we both agreed that it was pretty good, including his voice. Verona was excellent too. I felt that MK went out on a high in 2019! :)
Think it's different after the show when you're still on a high, but retrospectively he sounded very weak even compared to 2015. R&J is the song I noticed the biggest difference with vocally.
I still listen to the Leeds and Verona performances and MK sounds fine to me both vocally and instrumentally. OK there was a little hiccup in the final solo of R&J at Leeds, but as we said at the time, nobody would have noticed except for us! ;)
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I think that dmg's comments about MK' voice are correct. Analysing the whole thing with a clear mind after the concert, he saw that MK, unfortunately, was on his lowest point as a singer and guitar player.
For a man who did SO MUCH, it's was sad when I looked at him singing and playing on his last tour. And it was brave as well. I think that he expected to be in a better shape when the tour started and, even with all his problems, he did te whole tour.
There was some very good moments during the tour.
He gave all playing Speedway.
However, I would never imagine that he would need help to play the R&J intro.
As I said: Sad, but brave.
Talking about hiccups, he did it on Watch Me Gone.
It is ON THE RECORD.
So, try to imagine how hard was to record ODR.
Ah, my favorite MK's era as a singer was in 2011/2012 when he tried (an sung very well) Bonaparte in D and BIA in Am.
I am not a fan of high pitches. However, he did a great job.
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I think that dmg's comments about MK' voice are correct. Analysing the whole thing with a clear mind after the concert, he saw that MK, unfortunately, was on his lowest point as a singer and guitar player.
I remember going to see the Golden Heart concert in Leeds 1996. It was the most wonderful concert and I still remember it to this day! I was walking on air for weeks afterwards! I would have loved to hear a recording of that concert, but we didn't have official recordings at that time. Maybe there was a bootleg, but I never found one.
These days we do have official recordings of the concerts we attend, but the downside of recordings is that we can hear all of the glitches, etc which we didn't notice at the live concert. If there were mistakes and glitches at the GH concert I attended in 1996, I was unaware of them, but it is still in my head as the most wonderful concert.
I wouldn't want to be without the recordings I have of the concerts I have attended and I still listen to them, but nothing can beat being there and enjoying the whole atmosphere of a live concert without having post mortems later! The recording of the Leeds concert in 2019, I'm happy to say, still gives me great pleasure as do so many others! :)
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I think that dmg's comments about MK' voice are correct. Analysing the whole thing with a clear mind after the concert, he saw that MK, unfortunately, was on his lowest point as a singer and guitar player.
I remember going to see the Golden Heart concert in Leeds 1996. It was the most wonderful concert and I still remember it to this day! I was walking on air for weeks afterwards! I would have loved to hear a recording of that concert, but we didn't have official recordings at that time. Maybe there was a bootleg, but I never found one.
These days we do have official recordings of the concerts we attend, but the downside of recordings is that we can hear all of the glitches, etc which we didn't notice at the live concert. If there were mistakes and glitches at the GH concert I attended in 1996, I was unaware of them, but it is still in my head as the most wonderful concert.
I wouldn't want to be without the recordings I have of the concerts I have attended and I still listen to them, but nothing can beat being there and enjoying the whole atmosphere of a live concert without having post mortems later! The recording of the Leeds concert in 2019, I'm happy to say, still gives me great pleasure as do so many others! :)
There are some other great quality recordings of that tour Val, do you have them?
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I think that dmg's comments about MK' voice are correct. Analysing the whole thing with a clear mind after the concert, he saw that MK, unfortunately, was on his lowest point as a singer and guitar player.
I remember going to see the Golden Heart concert in Leeds 1996. It was the most wonderful concert and I still remember it to this day! I was walking on air for weeks afterwards! I would have loved to hear a recording of that concert, but we didn't have official recordings at that time. Maybe there was a bootleg, but I never found one.
These days we do have official recordings of the concerts we attend, but the downside of recordings is that we can hear all of the glitches, etc which we didn't notice at the live concert. If there were mistakes and glitches at the GH concert I attended in 1996, I was unaware of them, but it is still in my head as the most wonderful concert.
I wouldn't want to be without the recordings I have of the concerts I have attended and I still listen to them, but nothing can beat being there and enjoying the whole atmosphere of a live concert without having post mortems later! The recording of the Leeds concert in 2019, I'm happy to say, still gives me great pleasure as do so many others! :)
There are some other great quality recordings of that tour Val, do you have them?
Yes, I do have some good recordings - Copenhagen, Hamburg, Vaison and some RAH, but I haven't discovered any from Leeds 1996 - yet! Maybe I should leave that one locked in my head! :)
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I remember that the "Sultans Of Swing" Very Best compilation had a RAH 1996 Show as a bonus CD. Wouldn't it be good to have that one complete as an official release? Loved that version of Sultans.
LE
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I remember that the "Sultans Of Swing" Very Best compilation had a RAH 1996 Show as a bonus CD. Wouldn't it be good to have that one complete as an official release? Loved that version of Sultans.
LE
Yes, I have that bonus CD too. It would be great to have it complete. BIA was a beautiful version - one of my favourites. :)
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I remember that the "Sultans Of Swing" Very Best compilation had a RAH 1996 Show as a bonus CD. Wouldn't it be good to have that one complete as an official release? Loved that version of Sultans.
LE
That whole bonus CD is killer. I listened to it endlessly when it came out. There must also be official recordings of Shepherd's Bush Empire 2002 and Toronto 2001, as there were tracks from them on the Why Aye Man single and TRD bonus CD.
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Looking back at that 1996 concert, I wish MK had explored the orchestra option a bit more often during his career, as did David Gilmour for example.
Some of his songs seem perfect for a full orchestra, BIA included. Would have loved to hear Speedway at Nazareth played with an orchestral crescendo at the end, or Piper to The End.
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As it was a DS Best-Of compilation, it was some sort of inconsistent to use a MK solo concert and only pick the DS songs instead of releasing a "real" DS concert as a bonus. It annoyed me that it started with a faded-in Calling Elvis and cut the first part Je Suis Desolé with the beautiful transition. But it all sounded great indeed and had excellent RAH vibes.
LE
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Looking back at that 1996 concert, I wish MK had explored the orchestra option a bit more often during his career, as did David Gilmour for example.
Some of his songs seem perfect for a full orchestra, BIA included. Would have loved to hear Speedway at Nazareth played with an orchestral crescendo at the end, or Piper to The End.
The best Brothers In Arms performance was from Music for Montserrat concert in 1997 with the Orchestra arrangement.
Truly remarkable.
As Mr Ed mentions at some point. Pity that DS never did a full orchestra concert.
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I love Montserrat with an orchestra. But orchestral arrangements on a studio album not necessarily :)
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Is this boot not the same show that was used for the SOS bonus CD (still not complete)?
https://www.oneverybootleg.nl/swinginggh.htm
I'll say it before anyone else does, WHERE ARE THE TAPES :)
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Looking back at that 1996 concert, I wish MK had explored the orchestra option a bit more often during his career, as did David Gilmour for example.
Some of his songs seem perfect for a full orchestra, BIA included. Would have loved to hear Speedway at Nazareth played with an orchestral crescendo at the end, or Piper to The End.
The best Brothers In Arms performance was from Music for Montserrat concert in 1997 with the Orchestra arrangement.
Truly remarkable.
As Mr Ed mentions at some point. Pity that DS never did a full orchestra concert.
I would say BIA from the Mandela concert. Absolutely stunning live version.
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Looking back at that 1996 concert, I wish MK had explored the orchestra option a bit more often during his career, as did David Gilmour for example.
Some of his songs seem perfect for a full orchestra, BIA included. Would have loved to hear Speedway at Nazareth played with an orchestral crescendo at the end, or Piper to The End.
The best Brothers In Arms performance was from Music for Montserrat concert in 1997 with the Orchestra arrangement.
Truly remarkable.
As Mr Ed mentions at some point. Pity that DS never did a full orchestra concert.
I would say BIA from the Mandela concert. Absolutely stunning live version.
Yes, an absolutely stunning version. Mark was on a high.
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I would say BIA from the Mandela concert. Absolutely stunning live version.
Yes, an absolutely stunning version. Mark was on a high.
Funny that I really never felt the same way that you guys feel about Mandela's BIA.
OK, there are the crescendo on it, but I prefer the OTN performance over it.
My fav BIA "version" is the studio one.
Se second fav is from Montserrat.
The rest is rest.
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Looking back at that 1996 concert, I wish MK had explored the orchestra option a bit more often during his career, as did David Gilmour for example.
Some of his songs seem perfect for a full orchestra, BIA included. Would have loved to hear Speedway at Nazareth played with an orchestral crescendo at the end, or Piper to The End.
The best Brothers In Arms performance was from Music for Montserrat concert in 1997 with the Orchestra arrangement.
Truly remarkable.
As Mr Ed mentions at some point. Pity that DS never did a full orchestra concert.
I would say BIA from the Mandela concert. Absolutely stunning live version.
I think it's the 2nd warm-up show that has a really great version, maybe even better than the main event IMHO.
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Is this boot of the same show that was used for the SOS bonus CD (still not complete)?
https://www.oneverybootleg.nl/swinginggh.htm
I'll say it before anyone else does, WHERE ARE THE TAPES :)
Yes it is
The bootleg is sourced from official Radio CD
Mark Knopfler – A Concert Broadcast With Mark Knopfler (https://www.discogs.com/fr/master/1765541-Mark-Knopfler-A-Concert-Broadcast-With-Mark-Knopfler)
(https://i.discogs.com/xzMIwzu-gjBbaUlPwBUtpIZ1wB60RSfHS-bvCJbCLks/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:578/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE1NTg0/NjE4LTE1OTQwNTEz/MjUtMTgxNS5qcGVn.jpeg)
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I think that dmg's comments about MK' voice are correct. Analysing the whole thing with a clear mind after the concert, he saw that MK, unfortunately, was on his lowest point as a singer and guitar player.
I remember going to see the Golden Heart concert in Leeds 1996. It was the most wonderful concert and I still remember it to this day! I was walking on air for weeks afterwards! I would have loved to hear a recording of that concert, but we didn't have official recordings at that time. Maybe there was a bootleg, but I never found one.
These days we do have official recordings of the concerts we attend, but the downside of recordings is that we can hear all of the glitches, etc which we didn't notice at the live concert. If there were mistakes and glitches at the GH concert I attended in 1996, I was unaware of them, but it is still in my head as the most wonderful concert.
I wouldn't want to be without the recordings I have of the concerts I have attended and I still listen to them, but nothing can beat being there and enjoying the whole atmosphere of a live concert without having post mortems later! The recording of the Leeds concert in 2019, I'm happy to say, still gives me great pleasure as do so many others! :)
There are some other great quality recordings of that tour Val, do you have them?
Yes, I do have some good recordings - Copenhagen, Hamburg, Vaison and some RAH, but I haven't discovered any from Leeds 1996 - yet! Maybe I should leave that one locked in my head! :)
I was at that Leeds gig too! One of the most enjoyable MK/DS gigs that I have been fortunate enough to see (all have been good in different ways).
Sometimes I think it’s good not to hear a recording of a show you attended as it taints your memory of the experience somehow, as the recording never sounds the same as it did live. I love to listen to other shows from a tour rather than the ones I actually saw.
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I think that dmg's comments about MK' voice are correct. Analysing the whole thing with a clear mind after the concert, he saw that MK, unfortunately, was on his lowest point as a singer and guitar player.
I remember going to see the Golden Heart concert in Leeds 1996. It was the most wonderful concert and I still remember it to this day! I was walking on air for weeks afterwards! I would have loved to hear a recording of that concert, but we didn't have official recordings at that time. Maybe there was a bootleg, but I never found one.
These days we do have official recordings of the concerts we attend, but the downside of recordings is that we can hear all of the glitches, etc which we didn't notice at the live concert. If there were mistakes and glitches at the GH concert I attended in 1996, I was unaware of them, but it is still in my head as the most wonderful concert.
I wouldn't want to be without the recordings I have of the concerts I have attended and I still listen to them, but nothing can beat being there and enjoying the whole atmosphere of a live concert without having post mortems later! The recording of the Leeds concert in 2019, I'm happy to say, still gives me great pleasure as do so many others! :)
There are some other great quality recordings of that tour Val, do you have them?
Yes, I do have some good recordings - Copenhagen, Hamburg, Vaison and some RAH, but I haven't discovered any from Leeds 1996 - yet! Maybe I should leave that one locked in my head! :)
I was at that Leeds gig too! One of the most enjoyable MK/DS gigs that I have been fortunate enough to see (all have been good in different ways).
Sometimes I think it’s good not to hear a recording of a show you attended as it taints your memory of the experience somehow, as the recording never sounds the same as it did live. I love to listen to other shows from a tour rather than the ones I actually saw.
Hi Yorkshire Pudding and welcome to AMIT. I was standing behind the sound desk at that concert. Ed Bicknell was standing next to me and he kindly signed my tour book. It was a very special evening which I will never forget.
Were you also at the 2019 Leeds concert?
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I think that dmg's comments about MK' voice are correct. Analysing the whole thing with a clear mind after the concert, he saw that MK, unfortunately, was on his lowest point as a singer and guitar player.
I remember going to see the Golden Heart concert in Leeds 1996. It was the most wonderful concert and I still remember it to this day! I was walking on air for weeks afterwards! I would have loved to hear a recording of that concert, but we didn't have official recordings at that time. Maybe there was a bootleg, but I never found one.
These days we do have official recordings of the concerts we attend, but the downside of recordings is that we can hear all of the glitches, etc which we didn't notice at the live concert. If there were mistakes and glitches at the GH concert I attended in 1996, I was unaware of them, but it is still in my head as the most wonderful concert.
I wouldn't want to be without the recordings I have of the concerts I have attended and I still listen to them, but nothing can beat being there and enjoying the whole atmosphere of a live concert without having post mortems later! The recording of the Leeds concert in 2019, I'm happy to say, still gives me great pleasure as do so many others! :)
There are some other great quality recordings of that tour Val, do you have them?
Yes, I do have some good recordings - Copenhagen, Hamburg, Vaison and some RAH, but I haven't discovered any from Leeds 1996 - yet! Maybe I should leave that one locked in my head! :)
I was at that Leeds gig too! One of the most enjoyable MK/DS gigs that I have been fortunate enough to see (all have been good in different ways).
Sometimes I think it’s good not to hear a recording of a show you attended as it taints your memory of the experience somehow, as the recording never sounds the same as it did live. I love to listen to other shows from a tour rather than the ones I actually saw.
Hi Yorkshire Pudding and welcome to AMIT. I was standing behind the sound desk at that concert. Ed Bicknell was standing next to me and he kindly signed my tour book. It was a very special evening which I will never forget.
Were you also at the 2019 Leeds concert?
Hello! And thank you for the kind welcome.
We probably weren't too far away from each other - I was in front of the sound desk, and I think probably leaning on the barriers that surround it if memory serves correctly (this was a general admission standing gig for those on the floor).
It was a great gig, a small venue so everyone got a good view and we got some real early tour rarities in No Can Do (not one of my favourites though I have to say), Gravy Train and Vic and Ray. I remember that concert absolutely sprang to life with that opening riff of Calling Elvis and from then on it was especially magical.
This was before the internet got going so you never quite knew what was coming next in the set (for those of us that couldn't help themselves by looking at set lists and downloading recordings on the subsequent tours before actually going to a show). I heard Long Highway for the first time and absolutely loved it - I remember Mark saying something like "Not on any record, I don't know why I didn't record it, must have forgotten about it" in his intro.
Incidentally, the 1993 MK/Hillbillies gig at the same Leeds venue is my most favourite MK/DS/NHB show that I attended. Just MK and Brendan for the first half of the show (DS stuff), then joined by Steve Phillips for a NHB second half. Without a band you could hear every note that MK was playing and appreciate how amazing his guitar playing is/was....I mean how on earth do you do Calling Elvis with just two guitars, but they pulled it all off brilliantly. It was a wonderful atmosphere with the crowd singing along to everything and just 100% "into it" all.
I moved from the UK to New Zealand (now living in Australia) in 2007, so the last MK show I saw was at Wembley with Emmylou Harris in 2006
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I think that dmg's comments about MK' voice are correct. Analysing the whole thing with a clear mind after the concert, he saw that MK, unfortunately, was on his lowest point as a singer and guitar player.
I remember going to see the Golden Heart concert in Leeds 1996. It was the most wonderful concert and I still remember it to this day! I was walking on air for weeks afterwards! I would have loved to hear a recording of that concert, but we didn't have official recordings at that time. Maybe there was a bootleg, but I never found one.
These days we do have official recordings of the concerts we attend, but the downside of recordings is that we can hear all of the glitches, etc which we didn't notice at the live concert. If there were mistakes and glitches at the GH concert I attended in 1996, I was unaware of them, but it is still in my head as the most wonderful concert.
I wouldn't want to be without the recordings I have of the concerts I have attended and I still listen to them, but nothing can beat being there and enjoying the whole atmosphere of a live concert without having post mortems later! The recording of the Leeds concert in 2019, I'm happy to say, still gives me great pleasure as do so many others! :)
There are some other great quality recordings of that tour Val, do you have them?
Yes, I do have some good recordings - Copenhagen, Hamburg, Vaison and some RAH, but I haven't discovered any from Leeds 1996 - yet! Maybe I should leave that one locked in my head! :)
I was at that Leeds gig too! One of the most enjoyable MK/DS gigs that I have been fortunate enough to see (all have been good in different ways).
Sometimes I think it’s good not to hear a recording of a show you attended as it taints your memory of the experience somehow, as the recording never sounds the same as it did live. I love to listen to other shows from a tour rather than the ones I actually saw.
Hi Yorkshire Pudding and welcome to AMIT. I was standing behind the sound desk at that concert. Ed Bicknell was standing next to me and he kindly signed my tour book. It was a very special evening which I will never forget.
Were you also at the 2019 Leeds concert?
Hello! And thank you for the kind welcome.
We probably weren't too far away from each other - I was in front of the sound desk, and I think probably leaning on the barriers that surround it if memory serves correctly (this was a general admission standing gig for those on the floor).
It was a great gig, a small venue so everyone got a good view and we got some real early tour rarities in No Can Do (not one of my favourites though I have to say), Gravy Train and Vic and Ray. I remember that concert absolutely sprang to life with that opening riff of Calling Elvis and from then on it was especially magical.
This was before the internet got going so you never quite knew what was coming next in the set (for those of us that couldn't help themselves by looking at set lists and downloading recordings on the subsequent tours before actually going to a show). I heard Long Highway for the first time and absolutely loved it - I remember Mark saying something like "Not on any record, I don't know why I didn't record it, must have forgotten about it" in his intro.
Incidentally, the 1993 MK/Hillbillies gig at the same Leeds venue is my most favourite MK/DS/NHB show that I attended. Just MK and Brendan for the first half of the show (DS stuff), then joined by Steve Phillips for a NHB second half. Without a band you could hear every note that MK was playing and appreciate how amazing his guitar playing is/was....I mean how on earth do you do Calling Elvis with just two guitars, but they pulled it all off brilliantly. It was a wonderful atmosphere with the crowd singing along to everything and just 100% "into it" all.
I moved from the UK to New Zealand (now living in Australia) in 2007, so the last MK show I saw was at Wembley with Emmylou Harris in 2006
Many thanks for your reminiscences of that concert.
Regarding the 1993 gig, also at The Town & Country. I was also there, but on the balcony this time. It was the first time that I had seen MK live, so it was particularly exciting for me. I loved every minute and was singing along with the songs! I remember MK leaning over to someone at the front and asking if he could have a crisp! :)
It was pure accident that I was passing through the Merrion Centre one day and saw a poster being put up at a kiosk advertising the show. I rushed round to the T&C and bought the ticket. I couldn't believe that I would be seeing my hero at last and in such a small venue.
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I think that dmg's comments about MK' voice are correct. Analysing the whole thing with a clear mind after the concert, he saw that MK, unfortunately, was on his lowest point as a singer and guitar player.
I remember going to see the Golden Heart concert in Leeds 1996. It was the most wonderful concert and I still remember it to this day! I was walking on air for weeks afterwards! I would have loved to hear a recording of that concert, but we didn't have official recordings at that time. Maybe there was a bootleg, but I never found one.
These days we do have official recordings of the concerts we attend, but the downside of recordings is that we can hear all of the glitches, etc which we didn't notice at the live concert. If there were mistakes and glitches at the GH concert I attended in 1996, I was unaware of them, but it is still in my head as the most wonderful concert.
I wouldn't want to be without the recordings I have of the concerts I have attended and I still listen to them, but nothing can beat being there and enjoying the whole atmosphere of a live concert without having post mortems later! The recording of the Leeds concert in 2019, I'm happy to say, still gives me great pleasure as do so many others! :)
There are some other great quality recordings of that tour Val, do you have them?
Yes, I do have some good recordings - Copenhagen, Hamburg, Vaison and some RAH, but I haven't discovered any from Leeds 1996 - yet! Maybe I should leave that one locked in my head! :)
I was at that Leeds gig too! One of the most enjoyable MK/DS gigs that I have been fortunate enough to see (all have been good in different ways).
Sometimes I think it’s good not to hear a recording of a show you attended as it taints your memory of the experience somehow, as the recording never sounds the same as it did live. I love to listen to other shows from a tour rather than the ones I actually saw.
Hi Yorkshire Pudding and welcome to AMIT. I was standing behind the sound desk at that concert. Ed Bicknell was standing next to me and he kindly signed my tour book. It was a very special evening which I will never forget.
Were you also at the 2019 Leeds concert?
Hello! And thank you for the kind welcome.
We probably weren't too far away from each other - I was in front of the sound desk, and I think probably leaning on the barriers that surround it if memory serves correctly (this was a general admission standing gig for those on the floor).
It was a great gig, a small venue so everyone got a good view and we got some real early tour rarities in No Can Do (not one of my favourites though I have to say), Gravy Train and Vic and Ray. I remember that concert absolutely sprang to life with that opening riff of Calling Elvis and from then on it was especially magical.
This was before the internet got going so you never quite knew what was coming next in the set (for those of us that couldn't help themselves by looking at set lists and downloading recordings on the subsequent tours before actually going to a show). I heard Long Highway for the first time and absolutely loved it - I remember Mark saying something like "Not on any record, I don't know why I didn't record it, must have forgotten about it" in his intro.
Incidentally, the 1993 MK/Hillbillies gig at the same Leeds venue is my most favourite MK/DS/NHB show that I attended. Just MK and Brendan for the first half of the show (DS stuff), then joined by Steve Phillips for a NHB second half. Without a band you could hear every note that MK was playing and appreciate how amazing his guitar playing is/was....I mean how on earth do you do Calling Elvis with just two guitars, but they pulled it all off brilliantly. It was a wonderful atmosphere with the crowd singing along to everything and just 100% "into it" all.
I moved from the UK to New Zealand (now living in Australia) in 2007, so the last MK show I saw was at Wembley with Emmylou Harris in 2006
Many thanks for your reminiscences of that concert.
Regarding the 1993 gig, also at The Town & Country. I was also there, but on the balcony this time. It was the first time that I had seen MK live, so it was particularly exciting for me. I loved every minute and was singing along with the songs! I remember MK leaning over to someone at the front and asking if he could have a crisp! :)
It was pure accident that I was passing through the Merrion Centre one day and saw a poster being put up at a kiosk advertising the show. I rushed round to the T&C and bought the ticket. I couldn't believe that I would be seeing my hero at last and in such a small venue.
What an awesome first MK show! It was the first time I had seen him in a small venue, having only seen DS twice on the OES tour.
I have always thought it was quite an unusual gig for MK to do - I don’t think I know of another full show that was so stripped back, just him and Brendan C for half the set and then only Steve Phillips coming on for the second half. I guess Boothbay in 2006 was the most similar, but he brought along nearly a full band for that one.
And especially as only three or four days later was the NHB Swan Hunter show, which I was also fortunate enough to see, which was with the full NHB band (albeit Alan standing in for Guy).
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Looking back at that 1996 concert, I wish MK had explored the orchestra option a bit more often during his career, as did David Gilmour for example.
Some of his songs seem perfect for a full orchestra, BIA included. Would have loved to hear Speedway at Nazareth played with an orchestral crescendo at the end, or Piper to The End.
The best Brothers In Arms performance was from Music for Montserrat concert in 1997 with the Orchestra arrangement.
Truly remarkable.
As Mr Ed mentions at some point. Pity that DS never did a full orchestra concert.
I would say BIA from the Mandela concert. Absolutely stunning live version.
cannot decide between those two. bbbuuutt....the OTN version is also mesmerizing...
-
I think that dmg's comments about MK' voice are correct. Analysing the whole thing with a clear mind after the concert, he saw that MK, unfortunately, was on his lowest point as a singer and guitar player.
I remember going to see the Golden Heart concert in Leeds 1996. It was the most wonderful concert and I still remember it to this day! I was walking on air for weeks afterwards! I would have loved to hear a recording of that concert, but we didn't have official recordings at that time. Maybe there was a bootleg, but I never found one.
These days we do have official recordings of the concerts we attend, but the downside of recordings is that we can hear all of the glitches, etc which we didn't notice at the live concert. If there were mistakes and glitches at the GH concert I attended in 1996, I was unaware of them, but it is still in my head as the most wonderful concert.
I wouldn't want to be without the recordings I have of the concerts I have attended and I still listen to them, but nothing can beat being there and enjoying the whole atmosphere of a live concert without having post mortems later! The recording of the Leeds concert in 2019, I'm happy to say, still gives me great pleasure as do so many others! :)
There are some other great quality recordings of that tour Val, do you have them?
Yes, I do have some good recordings - Copenhagen, Hamburg, Vaison and some RAH, but I haven't discovered any from Leeds 1996 - yet! Maybe I should leave that one locked in my head! :)
I was at that Leeds gig too! One of the most enjoyable MK/DS gigs that I have been fortunate enough to see (all have been good in different ways).
Sometimes I think it’s good not to hear a recording of a show you attended as it taints your memory of the experience somehow, as the recording never sounds the same as it did live. I love to listen to other shows from a tour rather than the ones I actually saw.
Hi Yorkshire Pudding and welcome to AMIT. I was standing behind the sound desk at that concert. Ed Bicknell was standing next to me and he kindly signed my tour book. It was a very special evening which I will never forget.
Were you also at the 2019 Leeds concert?
Hello! And thank you for the kind welcome.
We probably weren't too far away from each other - I was in front of the sound desk, and I think probably leaning on the barriers that surround it if memory serves correctly (this was a general admission standing gig for those on the floor).
It was a great gig, a small venue so everyone got a good view and we got some real early tour rarities in No Can Do (not one of my favourites though I have to say), Gravy Train and Vic and Ray. I remember that concert absolutely sprang to life with that opening riff of Calling Elvis and from then on it was especially magical.
This was before the internet got going so you never quite knew what was coming next in the set (for those of us that couldn't help themselves by looking at set lists and downloading recordings on the subsequent tours before actually going to a show). I heard Long Highway for the first time and absolutely loved it - I remember Mark saying something like "Not on any record, I don't know why I didn't record it, must have forgotten about it" in his intro.
Incidentally, the 1993 MK/Hillbillies gig at the same Leeds venue is my most favourite MK/DS/NHB show that I attended. Just MK and Brendan for the first half of the show (DS stuff), then joined by Steve Phillips for a NHB second half. Without a band you could hear every note that MK was playing and appreciate how amazing his guitar playing is/was....I mean how on earth do you do Calling Elvis with just two guitars, but they pulled it all off brilliantly. It was a wonderful atmosphere with the crowd singing along to everything and just 100% "into it" all.
I moved from the UK to New Zealand (now living in Australia) in 2007, so the last MK show I saw was at Wembley with Emmylou Harris in 2006
Many thanks for your reminiscences of that concert.
Regarding the 1993 gig, also at The Town & Country. I was also there, but on the balcony this time. It was the first time that I had seen MK live, so it was particularly exciting for me. I loved every minute and was singing along with the songs! I remember MK leaning over to someone at the front and asking if he could have a crisp! :)
It was pure accident that I was passing through the Merrion Centre one day and saw a poster being put up at a kiosk advertising the show. I rushed round to the T&C and bought the ticket. I couldn't believe that I would be seeing my hero at last and in such a small venue.
What an awesome first MK show! It was the first time I had seen him in a small venue, having only seen DS twice on the OES tour.
I have always thought it was quite an unusual gig for MK to do - I don’t think I know of another full show that was so stripped back, just him and Brendan C for half the set and then only Steve Phillips coming on for the second half. I guess Boothbay in 2006 was the most similar, but he brought along nearly a full band for that one.
And especially as only three or four days later was the NHB Swan Hunter show, which I was also fortunate enough to see, which was with the full NHB band (albeit Alan standing in for Guy).
that the one where they played those one offs, ticket to heaven and how long etc..?? kinda jealous now...
-
I think that dmg's comments about MK' voice are correct. Analysing the whole thing with a clear mind after the concert, he saw that MK, unfortunately, was on his lowest point as a singer and guitar player.
I remember going to see the Golden Heart concert in Leeds 1996. It was the most wonderful concert and I still remember it to this day! I was walking on air for weeks afterwards! I would have loved to hear a recording of that concert, but we didn't have official recordings at that time. Maybe there was a bootleg, but I never found one.
These days we do have official recordings of the concerts we attend, but the downside of recordings is that we can hear all of the glitches, etc which we didn't notice at the live concert. If there were mistakes and glitches at the GH concert I attended in 1996, I was unaware of them, but it is still in my head as the most wonderful concert.
I wouldn't want to be without the recordings I have of the concerts I have attended and I still listen to them, but nothing can beat being there and enjoying the whole atmosphere of a live concert without having post mortems later! The recording of the Leeds concert in 2019, I'm happy to say, still gives me great pleasure as do so many others! :)
There are some other great quality recordings of that tour Val, do you have them?
Yes, I do have some good recordings - Copenhagen, Hamburg, Vaison and some RAH, but I haven't discovered any from Leeds 1996 - yet! Maybe I should leave that one locked in my head! :)
I was at that Leeds gig too! One of the most enjoyable MK/DS gigs that I have been fortunate enough to see (all have been good in different ways).
Sometimes I think it’s good not to hear a recording of a show you attended as it taints your memory of the experience somehow, as the recording never sounds the same as it did live. I love to listen to other shows from a tour rather than the ones I actually saw.
Hi Yorkshire Pudding and welcome to AMIT. I was standing behind the sound desk at that concert. Ed Bicknell was standing next to me and he kindly signed my tour book. It was a very special evening which I will never forget.
Were you also at the 2019 Leeds concert?
Hello! And thank you for the kind welcome.
We probably weren't too far away from each other - I was in front of the sound desk, and I think probably leaning on the barriers that surround it if memory serves correctly (this was a general admission standing gig for those on the floor).
It was a great gig, a small venue so everyone got a good view and we got some real early tour rarities in No Can Do (not one of my favourites though I have to say), Gravy Train and Vic and Ray. I remember that concert absolutely sprang to life with that opening riff of Calling Elvis and from then on it was especially magical.
This was before the internet got going so you never quite knew what was coming next in the set (for those of us that couldn't help themselves by looking at set lists and downloading recordings on the subsequent tours before actually going to a show). I heard Long Highway for the first time and absolutely loved it - I remember Mark saying something like "Not on any record, I don't know why I didn't record it, must have forgotten about it" in his intro.
Incidentally, the 1993 MK/Hillbillies gig at the same Leeds venue is my most favourite MK/DS/NHB show that I attended. Just MK and Brendan for the first half of the show (DS stuff), then joined by Steve Phillips for a NHB second half. Without a band you could hear every note that MK was playing and appreciate how amazing his guitar playing is/was....I mean how on earth do you do Calling Elvis with just two guitars, but they pulled it all off brilliantly. It was a wonderful atmosphere with the crowd singing along to everything and just 100% "into it" all.
I moved from the UK to New Zealand (now living in Australia) in 2007, so the last MK show I saw was at Wembley with Emmylou Harris in 2006
Many thanks for your reminiscences of that concert.
Regarding the 1993 gig, also at The Town & Country. I was also there, but on the balcony this time. It was the first time that I had seen MK live, so it was particularly exciting for me. I loved every minute and was singing along with the songs! I remember MK leaning over to someone at the front and asking if he could have a crisp! :)
It was pure accident that I was passing through the Merrion Centre one day and saw a poster being put up at a kiosk advertising the show. I rushed round to the T&C and bought the ticket. I couldn't believe that I would be seeing my hero at last and in such a small venue.
What an awesome first MK show! It was the first time I had seen him in a small venue, having only seen DS twice on the OES tour.
I have always thought it was quite an unusual gig for MK to do - I don’t think I know of another full show that was so stripped back, just him and Brendan C for half the set and then only Steve Phillips coming on for the second half. I guess Boothbay in 2006 was the most similar, but he brought along nearly a full band for that one.
And especially as only three or four days later was the NHB Swan Hunter show, which I was also fortunate enough to see, which was with the full NHB band (albeit Alan standing in for Guy).
that the one where they played those one offs, ticket to heaven and how long etc..?? kinda jealous now...
Yes. In retrospect I didn't realise just how lucky we were to hear those two songs.
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Back to the lyrics, I love in Brothers in Arms where the line "Every man has to die" is followed by a wonderfully emotional guitar phrase, which to me is a lyric in itself.
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Back to the lyrics, I love in Brothers in Arms where the line "Every man has to die" is followed by a wonderfully emotional guitar phrase, which to me is a lyric in itself.
True! And in the live versions, he offered various ways to merge those words with wonderful guitar licks!