'Romeo and Juliet' was released as a single from Dire Straits' 1980 album 'Making Movies' in early 1981.
The lyrics of the song describe the experience of the two lovers of the title, hinting at a situation that saw the Juliet figure abandon her Romeo after finding fame and moving on from the rough neighborhood where they first encountered each other.
Mark Knopfler, who wrote the song, said that it was inspired by his failed romance
with Holly Vincent, lead singer of the short-lived band Holly and The
Italians. The song speaks of a Romeo who is still very much in love with
his Juliet, but she now treats him like "just another one of [her]
deals". Knopfler has both stated and implied that he believes Vincent
was using him to boost her career. The song's line "Now you just say, oh
Romeo, yeah, you know I used to have a scene with him," refers to an
interview with Vincent, where she says "What happened was that I had a
scene with Mark Knopfler and it got to the point where he couldn't
handle it and we split up."
The single matched the success of their debut single 'Sultans of Swing' three years earlier, peaking at number 8 in the UK singles chart. However, where the former charted in many other countries, this single did not.
My collection: 7" single no. 6173
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Romeo and Juliet' / 'Solid rock'
Showing posts with label Dire Straits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dire Straits. Show all posts
Sunday, 22 September 2019
Wednesday, 20 August 2014
Heavy fuel - Dire Straits
The Dire Straits released 'Heavy fuel' as the second single from their 1991 album 'On every street'. In it, Mark Knopfler ironically extols the virtues of such conventionally frowned-upon vices as cigarettes, hamburgers, Scotch, lust, money, and violence.
The phrase 'You gotta run on heavy fuel' is from the novel 'Money' by Martin Amis, on which Knopfler based his lyric.
The single reached number 55 in the UK singles chart and peaked at number 25 in the Dutch singles chart. I didn't like the song back when it was released, but two decades on, it's actually very enjoyable. And so I got a copy a while ago.
My collection: 7" single no. 5383
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Heavy fuel' / 'Planet of New Orleans'
The single reached number 55 in the UK singles chart and peaked at number 25 in the Dutch singles chart. I didn't like the song back when it was released, but two decades on, it's actually very enjoyable. And so I got a copy a while ago.
My collection: 7" single no. 5383
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Heavy fuel' / 'Planet of New Orleans'
Sunday, 14 March 2010
On every street - Dire Straits
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623133839im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S5z0uviCL4I/AAAAAAAAJF4/ecC8d86zqOU/s200/direstraits7.jpg)
No promotional video was made for the song, and the B-side was an old track, from the band's 1980 album 'Making movies'. The single stalled at number 42 in the UK singles chart as a result.
My collection: 7" single no. 1590
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 29, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'On every street' / 'Romeo & Juliet'
Monday, 22 February 2010
Brothers in arms - Dire Straits
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623133839im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S4MDtE8eHMI/AAAAAAAAIzo/zNHKaulWj8c/s200/direstraits6.jpg)
'Brothers in arms' was a hit in the UK in 1985, but this re-release was unsuccessful in all territories. For me, it was the first opportunity to get this track on a 7" single.
My collection: 7" single no. 695
Found: Den Haag, December 5, 1988
Cost: - (present)
Tracks: 'Brothers in arms' / 'Going home (live)'
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Money for nothing - Dire Straits
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623133839im_/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S3MVl1x53AI/AAAAAAAAIg8/dA9miDQsW6Y/s200/direstraits5.jpg)
Sting contributed backing vocals to the track, and the classic line 'I want my MTV'. Knopfler modelled his guitar sound for the recorded track after ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons' trademark guitar tone, as ZZ Top's music videos were already on heavy rotattion on MTV. Gibbons later told an interviewer in 1986 that Knopfler had solicited Gibbons on how to replicate the tone, adding, 'He didn't do a half-bad job, considering that I didn't tell him a thing!'.
'Money for nothing' was not a hit in the Netherlands (which is quite remarkable in fact!) but reached number 4 in the UK singles chart and was a number 1 hit in Canada and the USA.
My collection: 7" single no. 320
Found: LP Top 100, Den Haag, 1985
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Money for nothing' / 'Love over gold (live)'
Sunday, 17 January 2010
So far away - Dire Straits
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623133839im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S1NvvvHjJtI/AAAAAAAAIAk/x79Nw7cWCU0/s200/direstraits4.jpg)
The B-side of this single is 'Walk of life', which was subsequently released as the fourth single from the album.
My collection: 7" single no. 908
Found: Parkpop, Den Haag, June 25, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'So far away' / 'Walk of life'
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Private investigations - Dire Straits
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623133839im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S0nVmnZGAUI/AAAAAAAAH2E/2YRgh4IV-kc/s200/direstraits3.jpg)
The single reached number 2 in the UK singles chart and number 1 in the Dutch Top 40. I bought my copy from my sister, who bought a second copy of this single because she played this one so often. When I listen to it now, the single hasn't deteriorated much.
My collection: 7" single no. 306
Found: Den Haag, 1982
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Private investigations' / 'Badges posters stickers t-shirts'
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Your latest trick - Dire Straits
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623133839im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/Sl5GtD9szfI/AAAAAAAAEH8/uB4uq9nSUKQ/s200/direstraits2.jpg)
The saxophone solo on the track was performed by Michael Brecker, an American jazz saxophonist who worked with many famous contemporaries including Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Chet Baker, George Benson, Quincy Jones and Pat Metheny.
My collection: 7" single no. 2205
Found: Record fair, October 9, 1994
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Your latest trick' / 'Irish boy', 'The road'
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Brothers in arms - Dire Straits
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623133839im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/ShxL26wHjUI/AAAAAAAADGY/3WuzQYJ66VY/s200/direstraits1.jpg)
'Brothers in arms' is the title track from their 1985 album and is arguably one of their best songs. In the UK this single made number 16, in other countries it only made the charts years later when it was re-released as part of the promotion for a compilation album.
My collection: 7" single no. 2770
Found: House of Rhythm, London, October 29, 1996
Cost: 40p
Tracks: 'Brothers in arms' / 'Going home (live)'
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