A Mark In Time

Previous Albums => Golden Heart (1996) => Topic started by: Knopflerfan on August 13, 2021, 04:07:40 AM

Title: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on August 13, 2021, 04:07:40 AM
It's now been well over 25 years since the release of 'Golden Heart' (26/03/1996) I am curious to hear how fellow AMITers still feel about this album.........

For me and I suspect a few on here bar 'Brothers in Arms' it is the album that started this 'life-long' adventure/affiliation with MK and I still really love the album to bits.

I remember distinctly hearing the Single 'Darling Pretty' for the first time on Radio 1 well before the album was released and then purchasing the special edition DP single with postcards and both 'Gravy Train' & 'Claim to Fame' on there too....

The songs on this epic album have been with us all for a considerable amount of time and a lot of them have both good and bad memories associated with them for us all personally.
This is a very high ranked MK album in my books and even may well be the 'No.1' album for me. This album ages well....

Of course under 2 months later (17th May 1996) I saw MK in concert at the BIC on the 'Golden Heart' tour and that kick started the touring adventure with MK!!!


Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: qjamesfloyd on August 13, 2021, 11:08:27 AM
My story is very similar. When I heard Mark had gone solo, and was to release his 1st album under that banner I was interested to hear how different to Dire Straits it would be, being the same writer, I though it can't be to different, but I was very wrong, when I first heard Darling Pretty, my worries faded away, I was hooked and played that song again and again, I was also thrilled to hear it in the cinema, when I watched Twister.
The album itself, is still number 1 for me, it has a special place in my heart, the album is so full of great songs, and the songs a really varied, the playing by all involved is great, and Mark's guitar tone is wonderful. I was not lucky enough to watch Dire Straits live, but I also went to that live show at the BIC ;D and what a show it was.
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Robson on August 13, 2021, 01:19:50 PM
Beautiful album. I back to him often. There are two parts. The first is British, more DS. The second: folk, cajun, country.
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: dmg on August 13, 2021, 04:43:57 PM
I was a little disappointed to begin with, excepting a continuation of DS music, however it has grown on me and it is music of a very high standard.  I was thinking do I really enjoy it or have I just accepted this is the new Mark so I will enjoy it. Not sure I still know the answer truly but I do know I prefer the first 2 solo albums to the others by quite a margin.

The show I was to attend was blighted by a venue alteration due to roof damage to the Usher Hall, Edinburgh.  It was held in Meadowbank Sports Centre, which has rather more damage now in that it has recently been demolished!  The seating was hastily erected and my view wasn't exactly spectacular, nor was the sound.  Forgettable show from an excellent tour.  :(
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Stanko on August 13, 2021, 10:03:25 PM
My story is very similar. When I heard Mark had gone solo, and was to release his 1st album under that banner I was interested to hear how different to Dire Straits it would be, being the same writer, I though it can't be to different, but I was very wrong, when I first heard Darling Pretty, my worries faded away, I was hooked and played that song again and again, I was also thrilled to hear it in the cinema, when I watched Twister.
The album itself, is still number 1 for me, it has a special place in my heart, the album is so full of great songs, and the songs a really varied, the playing by all involved is great, and Mark's guitar tone is wonderful. I was not lucky enough to watch Dire Straits live, but I also went to that live show at the BIC ;D and what a show it was.
:thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on August 14, 2021, 01:29:52 AM
Beautiful album. I back to him often. There are two parts. The first is British, more DS. The second: folk, cajun, country.

All in all a fantastic album from 'the master' that takes some beating!!
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on September 27, 2021, 10:11:15 PM
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/mark-knopfler-golden-heart-album/amp/
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on September 29, 2021, 10:24:29 PM
My MK 'Golden Heart' standee - still in excellent condition after 25 years!!! (not for sale by the way!)
Anyone else have one??
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: jbaent on September 30, 2021, 09:12:01 AM
It's a record I loved when it came out, but with time it's the one that I listened the less.

For me when it came out was like a continuation of his DS sound mixed to what he wanted to achieve as a solo artist, specially adding country and celtic sound to his musical palette, and I liked the way he was going, as he was still playing a lot of great guitar stuff, but then he released STP with nothing of that country or celtic stuff and also little of that DS sound, and then RPD which was even further from that sounds... It took me some time to adapt to the new MK sound, and every record and step forward from MK; buried more and more the GH record, specially because for any reason, apparently only Bonaparte or Rudiger were worthy songs from that record to MK, both songs I use to skip from that record.

Still has songs I love like Darling pretty, No can do, Don't you get it, Vic and Ray (yes, I like that atmosphere a lot) and Are we in trouble now, but everything sounds to a very very far away MK to me, so I barely listen to this record.
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: jbaent on September 30, 2021, 09:12:40 AM
My MK 'Golden Heart' standee - still in excellent condition after 25 years!!! (not for sale by the way!)
Anyone else have one??

Actually an OES tour picture... never got why they used that for GH.
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: superval99 on September 30, 2021, 09:57:43 AM
It's a record I loved when it came out, but with time it's the one that I listened the less.

For me when it came out was like a continuation of his DS sound mixed to what he wanted to achieve as a solo artist, specially adding country and celtic sound to his musical palette, and I liked the way he was going, as he was still playing a lot of great guitar stuff, but then he released STP with nothing of that country or celtic stuff and also little of that DS sound, and then RPD which was even further from that sounds... It took me some time to adapt to the new MK sound, and every record and step forward from MK; buried more and more the GH record, specially because for any reason, apparently only Bonaparte or Rudiger were worthy songs from that record to MK, both songs I use to skip from that record.

Still has songs I love like Darling pretty, No can do, Don't you get it, Vic and Ray (yes, I like that atmosphere a lot) and Are we in trouble now, but everything sounds to a very very far away MK to me, so I barely listen to this record.

Almost exactly the same for me.   When GH came out it was played over and over and I couldn't get enough of it.  I loved the sound of MK's guitar and it was a  kind of relief that he hadn't gone too far away from DS, but as other albums emerged it became much less played and although it is still a beautiful album, others have taken its place. 
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on September 30, 2021, 12:19:39 PM
My MK 'Golden Heart' standee - still in excellent condition after 25 years!!! (not for sale by the way!)
Anyone else have one??

Actually an OES tour picture... never got why they used that for GH.

I wonder if they used that particular MK picture as that would have been the last time folk would have seen him like that live - as on the OES tour?
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: dmg on September 30, 2021, 12:46:03 PM
My MK 'Golden Heart' standee - still in excellent condition after 25 years!!! (not for sale by the way!)
Anyone else have one??

Actually an OES tour picture... never got why they used that for GH.

I wonder if they used that particular MK picture as that would have been the last time folk would have seen him like that live - as on the OES tour?

Maybe they thought people wouldn't recognise him without the headband.  He was after all the "voice and guitar of Dire Straits."  :lol
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on September 30, 2021, 12:49:10 PM
My MK 'Golden Heart' standee - still in excellent condition after 25 years!!! (not for sale by the way!)
Anyone else have one??

Actually an OES tour picture... never got why they used that for GH.

I wonder if they used that particular MK picture as that would have been the last time folk would have seen him like that live - as on the OES tour?

Maybe they thought people wouldn't recognise him without the headband.  He was after all the "voice and guitar of Dire Straits."  :lol

Spot on dmg!!
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on September 30, 2021, 12:58:21 PM
It's a record I loved when it came out, but with time it's the one that I listened the less.

For me when it came out was like a continuation of his DS sound mixed to what he wanted to achieve as a solo artist, specially adding country and celtic sound to his musical palette, and I liked the way he was going, as he was still playing a lot of great guitar stuff, but then he released STP with nothing of that country or celtic stuff and also little of that DS sound, and then RPD which was even further from that sounds... It took me some time to adapt to the new MK sound, and every record and step forward from MK; buried more and more the GH record, specially because for any reason, apparently only Bonaparte or Rudiger were worthy songs from that record to MK, both songs I use to skip from that record.

Still has songs I love like Darling pretty, No can do, Don't you get it, Vic and Ray (yes, I like that atmosphere a lot) and Are we in trouble now, but everything sounds to a very very far away MK to me, so I barely listen to this record.

Almost exactly the same for me.   When GH came out it was played over and over and I couldn't get enough of it.  I loved the sound of MK's guitar and it was a  kind of relief that he hadn't gone too far away from DS, but as other albums emerged it became much less played and although it is still a beautiful album, others have taken its place.

It is such a beautiful album, and one the started the journey for us all with regards MK's solo path..funnily enough I listen to it just as much as I did. One wonders how it will sound tomorrow when I pick up the Vinyl box set!!
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: jbaent on September 30, 2021, 01:01:50 PM
It's a record I loved when it came out, but with time it's the one that I listened the less.

For me when it came out was like a continuation of his DS sound mixed to what he wanted to achieve as a solo artist, specially adding country and celtic sound to his musical palette, and I liked the way he was going, as he was still playing a lot of great guitar stuff, but then he released STP with nothing of that country or celtic stuff and also little of that DS sound, and then RPD which was even further from that sounds... It took me some time to adapt to the new MK sound, and every record and step forward from MK; buried more and more the GH record, specially because for any reason, apparently only Bonaparte or Rudiger were worthy songs from that record to MK, both songs I use to skip from that record.

Still has songs I love like Darling pretty, No can do, Don't you get it, Vic and Ray (yes, I like that atmosphere a lot) and Are we in trouble now, but everything sounds to a very very far away MK to me, so I barely listen to this record.

Almost exactly the same for me.   When GH came out it was played over and over and I couldn't get enough of it.  I loved the sound of MK's guitar and it was a  kind of relief that he hadn't gone too far away from DS, but as other albums emerged it became much less played and although it is still a beautiful album, others have taken its place.

It is such a beautiful album, and one the started the journey for us all with regards MK's solo path..funnily enough I listen to it just as much as I did. One wonders how it will sound tomorrow when I pick up the Vinyl box set!!

When I play it nowadays, I skip all the country kind of songs, as that style clearly dissapeared in MK music, the celtic and folk ones still are represented in his music.
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on September 30, 2021, 01:06:21 PM
It's a record I loved when it came out, but with time it's the one that I listened the less.

For me when it came out was like a continuation of his DS sound mixed to what he wanted to achieve as a solo artist, specially adding country and celtic sound to his musical palette, and I liked the way he was going, as he was still playing a lot of great guitar stuff, but then he released STP with nothing of that country or celtic stuff and also little of that DS sound, and then RPD which was even further from that sounds... It took me some time to adapt to the new MK sound, and every record and step forward from MK; buried more and more the GH record, specially because for any reason, apparently only Bonaparte or Rudiger were worthy songs from that record to MK, both songs I use to skip from that record.

Still has songs I love like Darling pretty, No can do, Don't you get it, Vic and Ray (yes, I like that atmosphere a lot) and Are we in trouble now, but everything sounds to a very very far away MK to me, so I barely listen to this record.

Almost exactly the same for me.   When GH came out it was played over and over and I couldn't get enough of it.  I loved the sound of MK's guitar and it was a  kind of relief that he hadn't gone too far away from DS, but as other albums emerged it became much less played and although it is still a beautiful album, others have taken its place.

It is such a beautiful album, and one the started the journey for us all with regards MK's solo path..funnily enough I listen to it just as much as I did. One wonders how it will sound tomorrow when I pick up the Vinyl box set!!

When I play it nowadays, I skip all the country kind of songs, as that style clearly dissapeared in MK music, the celtic and folk ones still are represented in his music.

That's a very good point with regards the 'country' influenced tracks on GH jbaent. Indeed I'm ok with them but it is true how that genre slightly faded out of MKs catalogue bar 'All the roadrunning' of course!
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Robson on September 30, 2021, 01:46:46 PM
It's true, but sometimes I miss real pedal steel.
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on September 30, 2021, 02:02:06 PM
It's true, but sometimes I miss real pedal steel.

OES/OTN is the quick fix for pedal steel!!
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Robson on September 30, 2021, 02:36:59 PM
Yes :) Missing ...And Neck And Neck too.
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on September 30, 2021, 02:42:00 PM
Yes :) Missing ...And Neck And Neck too.

And quite brilliant albums they are too!!
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Robson on September 30, 2021, 02:57:39 PM
Yes :) Missing ...And Neck And Neck too.

And quite brilliant albums they are too!!

 :thumbsup
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: dustyvalentino on September 30, 2021, 03:22:24 PM
(http://www.oneverybootleg.nl/MK_1997c.jpg)

In terms of stupid pictures for posters this has to be the worst.
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: qjamesfloyd on October 01, 2021, 06:05:38 PM
I really wish Mark went back to the country style songs like on this album, I feel it is more him than the brass he is currently into.
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Robson on October 01, 2021, 07:05:57 PM
But in songs like Slow Learner or When You Leave, it sounds great:)
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on October 01, 2021, 07:22:49 PM
I really wish Mark went back to the country style songs like on this album, I feel it is more him than the brass he is currently into.

Cannot stand MK playing with the 'salvation army' one bit!!
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Robson on October 01, 2021, 08:41:06 PM
I really wish Mark went back to the country style songs like on this album, I feel it is more him than the brass he is currently into.

Cannot stand MK playing with the 'salvation army' one bit!!

 'salvation army' ? :think
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on October 01, 2021, 08:49:00 PM
I really wish Mark went back to the country style songs like on this album, I feel it is more him than the brass he is currently into.

Cannot stand MK playing with the 'salvation army' one bit!!

 'salvation army' ? :think

https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/music
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Robson on October 01, 2021, 08:53:24 PM
Now I understand:)
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on October 01, 2021, 08:55:37 PM
Now I understand:)

I was having a joke - glad you got it!!!
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on October 02, 2021, 12:21:55 PM
But in songs like Slow Learner or When You Leave, it sounds great:)

That's as maybe, but generally brass doesn't go too well with MKs catalogue....
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Robson on October 02, 2021, 03:58:54 PM
Is brass it also Your Latest Trick, Dream Of The Drowned Submarine, Radio City Serenade, Once Upon A Time In The West 2019? And many others. Doesn't go too well!?  :think
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on October 02, 2021, 06:11:40 PM
Is brass it also Your Latest Trick, Dream Of The Drowned Submarine, Radio City Serenade, Once Upon A Time In The West 2019? And many others. Doesn't go too well!?  :think

Ooooh, Once upon - 2019 Live version is absolutely fine until the brassies kick in....
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: qjamesfloyd on October 05, 2021, 11:44:41 AM
Exactly. Mark's use of Brass on record is fine, I just think it is over the top live, the only exception being Chris White, his Brass playing really complimented Dire Straits live shows.
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on October 05, 2021, 11:50:41 AM
Exactly. Mark's use of Brass on record is fine, I just think it is over the top live, the only exception being Chris White, his Brass playing really complimented Dire Straits live shows.

Don't remember Chris playing any brass instruments?! Thought he only played the Saxophone and flute which are Woodwind....

Anyway I know what you are saying....its the Trumpet/Cornet I detest most on MKs work...
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: dustyvalentino on October 05, 2021, 11:53:51 AM
I liked the full sound of the horns on the last tour.
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Knopflerfan on October 05, 2021, 11:59:27 AM
I liked the full sound of the horns on the last tour.

Good job we are all different isn't it Dusty... ;) :wave
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: qjamesfloyd on October 05, 2021, 12:50:08 PM
True, the saxophone is a woodwind instrument, but I think you get my point.
Title: Re: Golden Heart - Album 1996 - 2001 (25 years) Thoughts.....
Post by: Ed on February 05, 2022, 12:43:29 PM
Hello, this is my first post.
I remember this album being a crushing disappointment when it came out (folky, country stuff) and I didn't really listen to any MK/DS for another decade. Now it's one of my favourites, I love the guitar orgy in Darling Pretty, the balladry in Goled Heart and a Night in Summer Long Ago but Je Suis Désolé and Done With Bonaparte are the real spine-chilling tracks for me, up there with some of his best ones.