The new songs - A hypothesis

[dustyvalentino]

He was probably jealous that Tommy got awarded the CGP and he didn't.

[quizzaciously]

Brothers in Arms would make a nice instrumental.

Why Worry also as proved by Chet Atkins.

Well, also Metroland is pretty melodic, but the problem here is the whole melody is just too short! It's going for less than 30 seconds, so it couldn't be a song that I would call truly melodic. Its strong parts are Mark's delivery, emotion, amazing guitar playing, perfect recording quality, fine musicianship, and catchy lyrics. In other words, anything but melody, hence my opinion.

Brothers In Arms and Why Worry are good ones, yeah. Still can't put it on one level with famous melodies though. What makes Brothers In Arms work is Mark's whispering vocals and the out-of-world guitar playing which compliments the vocals perfectly. I remember Joan Baez's cover of Brothers In Arms, and how it sounds strange because it lacks the lead guitar, which ruins the whole thing in my opinion.

You see, this is the "problem" with Mark's songs. You take something out, and suddenly it's a completely different song, never standing a chance to compare with the original, even sung by great singers. And the melody has nothing to do with it. But think of something like "Fell Like Going Home", now that's a melody!

[quizzaciously]

He was probably jealous that Tommy got awarded the CGP and he didn't.

Lol! I love Tommy's story of working with Mark. They basically recorded this song on the fly over a cup of coffee. By the time Tommy left the studio the same day, he already had a master tape with him, it was this fast. Makes sense since Tommy needed to continue playing his 365 shows a year, and Mark needed to continue moving microphones in his studio.

Overall, not a bad choice of song. They both sang and played guitar, it's not a cover, it's jazzy and catchy. I also wish they would do more, but if they couldn't find anything to play and never record together again, then probably for a reason. If they'd enjoy it a bunch, they would surely record more songs, right? Right?

[dustyvalentino]

Not necessarily, they both had their own careers to focus on. MK has done one off collaborations with lots of artists, the fact that there weren't repeats doesn't mean that he didn't enjoy it.

[quizzaciously]

Not necessarily, they both had their own careers to focus on. MK has done one off collaborations with lots of artists, the fact that there weren't repeats doesn't mean that he didn't enjoy it.

It's impossible not to enjoy playing with either TE or MK, this is not what I meant. Just lamenting the fact it's like you've said, a usual one-off collaboration. Unlike some other artists Mark collaborated with, Tommy is a musical genius who can play anything and do anything, while also having a common friend with Mark with whom they both recorded a whole album together (Chet Atkins), they could do so much more.

[KnopfleRick]

plenty of Mark's songs have a strong melody, mostly during his solo work

Absolutely, and let's not forget the beautiful melodies of his film scores.  Mark definitely is a Melody-Man!

[SlowLearner]

Since "Ahead of the Game" sounds like a Get Lucky song, I figured I could try and guess what the other songs may sound like. All in good fun! THESE ARE ALL JUST GUESSES, I HAVEN'T HEARD THE ALBUM I SWEAR.

1. Two Pairs Of Hands - maybe a Down the Road Wherever type tune (mix of Trapper Man and One Song At A Time)
3. Smart Money - maybe something from Sailing To Philadelphia (like Wanderlust)
4. Scavengers Yard - maybe a Privateering type tune (Yon Two Crows?)
5. Black Tie Jobs - either something like You Can't Beat The House or Rear View Mirror?
6. Tunnel 13 - the new Silvertown Blues?
7. Janine - Rear View Mirror or Imelda?
8. Watch Me Gone - the new Don't Suck Me In?
9. Sweeter Than The Rain - the new Seattle?
10. Before My Train Comes - something reminiscent of Dire Straits? Southbound Again?
11. This One’s Not Going To End Well - Kill To Get Crimson era type song?
12. One Deep River - Shangri La type song (Sucker Row?)
13. The Living End - the new Terminal of Tribute To?
14. Fat Chance Dupree - the new My Bacon Roll?
15. Along A Foreign Coast - the new Fare Thee Well Northumberland?
16. What I’m Gonna Need - the new Nobody Does That?
17. Nothing But Rain - the new Haul Away?
18. Dolly Shop Man - the new Junkie Doll?
19. Your Leading Man - the new Summer of Love?
20. Wrong 'Un - the new Daddy's Gone To Knoxville?
21. Chess - the new Pale Imitation?

[Stanko]

Since "Ahead of the Game" sounds like a Get Lucky song, I figured I could try and guess what the other songs may sound like. All in good fun! THESE ARE ALL JUST GUESSES, I HAVEN'T HEARD THE ALBUM I SWEAR.

1. Two Pairs Of Hands - maybe a Down the Road Wherever type tune (mix of Trapper Man and One Song At A Time)
3. Smart Money - maybe something from Sailing To Philadelphia (like Wanderlust)
4. Scavengers Yard - maybe a Privateering type tune (Yon Two Crows?)
5. Black Tie Jobs - either something like You Can't Beat The House or Rear View Mirror?
6. Tunnel 13 - the new Silvertown Blues?
7. Janine - Rear View Mirror or Imelda?
8. Watch Me Gone - the new Don't Suck Me In?
9. Sweeter Than The Rain - the new Seattle?
10. Before My Train Comes - something reminiscent of Dire Straits? Southbound Again?
11. This One’s Not Going To End Well - Kill To Get Crimson era type song?
12. One Deep River - Shangri La type song (Sucker Row?)
13. The Living End - the new Terminal of Tribute To?
14. Fat Chance Dupree - the new My Bacon Roll?
15. Along A Foreign Coast - the new Fare Thee Well Northumberland?
16. What I’m Gonna Need - the new Nobody Does That?
17. Nothing But Rain - the new Haul Away?
18. Dolly Shop Man - the new Junkie Doll?
19. Your Leading Man - the new Summer of Love?
20. Wrong 'Un - the new Daddy's Gone To Knoxville?
21. Chess - the new Pale Imitation?

Nice try whatsoever