Brothers in arms 40th anniversary edition

[the visitor]

It's funny, I really like R and J on this release. The national sounds so clear and the instrumental bit at the end is perfect. Love the little attention to detail like how Terry's toms are panned in the mix.

[jf9081]

At first listen I dare say it's the best live recording of Dire Straits.
FABULOUS!

[dmg]

I started listening to San Antonio, amazed by the quality, it certainly offers new perspectives on the songs. Unfortunately, in RATR Live San Antonio, Chris brought the flute sound forward at 09:55, exactly at the moment when Mark makes the lick that signals that the song is going to end, in this case, he anticipated it, this flute sound was always after Mark's lick, who here had to back off, almost he basically didn't even continue.

How powerful this song is live, lucky for those who had the opportunity to witness this atmosphere live at the time

See post 95 on this thread.

Fortunately I don't think anyone will notice unless they've heard multiple versions as we have.

[dmg]

It's funny, I really like R and J on this release. The national sounds so clear and the instrumental bit at the end is perfect. Love the little attention to detail like how Terry's toms are panned in the mix.

I was going to comment on how pleased I am with the mix on R&J too!  The sound of the National on bootlegs has never been great and this has been rectified here.  Now we have the perfect R&J soundboard: vocals when Mark could be bothered and beautiful electric outro (unlike Alchemy).

And yes, this is the best DS live release...by a country mile.  The band, especially Mark, were so far ahead musically of what they were on the LOG tour it makes Alchemy sound naïve.

[TheTimeWasWrong]

It's funny, I really like R and J on this release. The national sounds so clear and the instrumental bit at the end is perfect. Love the little attention to detail like how Terry's toms are panned in the mix.

I was going to comment on how pleased I am with the mix on R&J too!  The sound of the National on bootlegs has never been great and this has been rectified here.  Now we have the perfect R&J soundboard: vocals when Mark could be bothered and beautiful electric outro (unlike Alchemy).

And yes, this is the best DS live release...by a country mile.  The band, especially Mark, were so far ahead musically of what they were on the LOG tour it makes Alchemy sound naïve.

Though I'm super happy with the release (I will comment on that later after a few more listens), I still prefer the LOG tour over the BIA tour. I really don't like the 80s sounds (Expresso Love intro, terrible digital drums, etc.). I think the sax is overused, and I definitely prefer Hal over Jack. I can't stand the guitar solo on Wild West End; it has nothing to do with 'song is king', but even besides that, it's just a terrible solo. Putting the change in amps/effects aside, I think MK's playing in '82/'83 is the best it's ever been.

[Robson]

It's funny, I really like R and J on this release. The national sounds so clear and the instrumental bit at the end is perfect. Love the little attention to detail like how Terry's toms are panned in the mix.

I was going to comment on how pleased I am with the mix on R&J too!  The sound of the National on bootlegs has never been great and this has been rectified here.  Now we have the perfect R&J soundboard: vocals when Mark could be bothered and beautiful electric outro (unlike Alchemy).

And yes, this is the best DS live release...by a country mile.  The band, especially Mark, were so far ahead musically of what they were on the LOG tour it makes Alchemy sound naïve.

I don't agree that Alchemy sounds naive. This album sums up the first period of DS wonderfully.

[Pieter]

It's funny, I really like R and J on this release. The national sounds so clear and the instrumental bit at the end is perfect. Love the little attention to detail like how Terry's toms are panned in the mix.

I was going to comment on how pleased I am with the mix on R&J too!  The sound of the National on bootlegs has never been great and this has been rectified here.  Now we have the perfect R&J soundboard: vocals when Mark could be bothered and beautiful electric outro (unlike Alchemy).

And yes, this is the best DS live release...by a country mile.  The band, especially Mark, were so far ahead musically of what they were on the LOG tour it makes Alchemy sound naïve.

Though I'm super happy with the release (I will comment on that later after a few more listens), I still prefer the LOG tour over the BIA tour. I really don't like the 80s sounds (Expresso Love intro, terrible digital drums, etc.). I think the sax is overused, and I definitely prefer Hal over Jack. I can't stand the guitar solo on Wild West End; it has nothing to do with 'song is king', but even besides that, it's just a terrible solo. Putting the change in amps/effects aside, I think MK's playing in '82/'83 is the best it's ever been.

Agree with wild west end. Jack did a better job with the solo in two young lovers during the last show in Sydney.

Btw, I must say that I really like SOS on this recording!

[herlock]

I love both LOG and BIA tours equally.
No, Alchemy doesn't sound naive. It was more sober, with less cheesy synths. OUATITW is wonderful, TR is strong and emotional, Sultans is best without sax and strong guitar. TOL, although more straightforward than in 85, was still great, with longer sax intro.
The BIA tour has cheesy keyboards, is too 80...but so energetic. BIA was so strong in 85 (but not 86). MFN so powerful. TOL and Sultans so bad ass.
All DS tours were great, each in its own sweet way. I don't think one was better than the other. Just different arrangements. If you are in a "less is more" mood, '79 is perfect. If you are in "over the top" mood, BIA and OES tours rule. If you are in a reasonable mood, Alchemy is the way to go!

[Robson]

I love both LOG and BIA tours equally.
No, Alchemy doesn't sound naive. It was more sober, with less cheesy synths. OUATITW is wonderful, TR is strong and emotional, Sultans is best without sax and strong guitar. TOL, although more straightforward than in 85, was still great, with longer sax intro.
The BIA tour has cheesy keyboards, is too 80...but so energetic. BIA was so strong in 85 (but not 86). MFN so powerful. TOL and Sultans so bad ass.
All DS tours were great, each in its own sweet way. I don't think one was better than the other. Just different arrangements. If you are in a "less is more" mood, '79 is perfect. If you are in "over the top" mood, BIA and OES tours rule. If you are in a reasonable mood, Alchemy is the way to go!

 
I agree.

[JF]

It's funny, I really like R and J on this release. The national sounds so clear and the instrumental bit at the end is perfect. Love the little attention to detail like how Terry's toms are panned in the mix.

the National sound is also gorgeous in WWE

[Brunno Nunes]

I haven't heard 100% of San Antonio yet, I've been very busy these days, but I'm completely delighted with what I heard, a very welcome release, definitely a great representation of an official show from the BIA 85/86 tour. I have never heard Resonante sound as beautiful and perfect as in this recording, R&J and WWE. RATR is impeccable, the only reason it is not 100% is because of little Chris's mistake, but 99% of the licks and arrangements that make up this song live are there. It is very good to have One World, along with RATR they are my favorite live songs from 85, in fact, it is the only live R&J with MK's guitar solo officially.

For me it is clear that Dire Straits here are at the peak of their power live, what energy this line-up provided on stage, it is very interesting to see the contrast with the LOG tour, the quantum leap they made in some aspects is impressive, whoever saw the band return in 91/92 must have been quite surprised by the format and approach, definitely a completely different band.

It's inevitable to stop thinking...
After 40 years, an official show from BIA's tour... I can't remember another band that didn't record and provide a live release from their peak moment in popularity, precisely with the album and tour data they had in real time, number one worldwide. Could it be that the logistics for this feat, within this context, were something unfeasible? The echoes of BIA and its tour remained strong until mid-1988 with the band's performance at the Nelson Mandela Tribute, awards on MTV even in 1987...

I believe that if San Antonio had been released in 1987 (a year after BIA's tour), it could have overshadowed Alchemy, especially if it had been filmed. I believe it would have been more impactful, the band had taken the old songs to another level of robustness and the new songs were incredible live, very powerful in general, just a thought.

[Brunno Nunes]

Other points of reflection I had with this release:

1-San Antonio Live 85 comes to repair many gaps present in the famous show at Wembley 10/07/85, where songs are missing and some are mutilated, missing parts, PI's intro, part of MFN's intro, and the TOL interlude where Mark introduces the band. San Antonio was the right choice to be the official launch of the BIA tour 85, without a doubt.

2- San Antonio 85 is more real than Alchemy, and I don't even need to talk about OTN. Rainbow 79 and San Antonio are the only live releases of a Dire Straits show in its entirety. Amen!🙏🏻

[JF]

in fact, it is the only live R&J with MK's guitar solo officially.

you mean on electric guitar ? 

The gig from RAH on the SOS comp limited edition features a R&J live version with electric guitar solo too (on Pensa)

[TheTimeWasWrong]

in fact, it is the only live R&J with MK's guitar solo officially.

you mean on electric guitar ? 

The gig from RAH on the SOS comp limited edition features a R&J live version with electric guitar solo too (on Pensa)

Roadrunning tour 2006 as well.

[Waldo]

Other points of reflection I had with this release:

2- San Antonio 85 is more real than Alchemy, and I don't even need to talk about OTN. Rainbow 79 and San Antonio are the only live releases of a Dire Straits show in its entirety. Amen!🙏🏻

Boa tarde Brunno,

Regarding SA more real than Alchemy, are you refering to some MK's banters left out (TOL being the perfect example), the curious case of the altered PB end  and SR coming from another gig ?
Appart from that, I believe Alchemy has always been regarded as one of the (very) few true live album.

But I'm kind of a purist too and I prefer a live album untouched, with mistakes than one "enhanced" in the studio.
The only thing I'm ok with is a mixing that allows you to clearly hear all unstruments.
Regarding the general sound and how it should sound there is no "single source of truth" as it depends on many factors" : the venue and where you are in it, the equipment,  if you have noisy talkers/screamers near you, etc...

There was a tume I used to buy many official live CDs until I heard that most of them are re-worked in the studio, sometimes heavily.
I was kinda schocked when I read that even the Who's Live at Leeds was doctored !
Since then and before the many re-issues I managed to find a copy to download of the bootleg Live at Leeds Complete where everything is left as it is.