Dire Straits - On Every Street (1991/2014)

It took Mark Knopfler more than six years to craft a followup to Dire Straits' international chart-topper, Brothers In Arms, but though On Every Street sold in the expected multi-millions worldwide on the back of the band's renown and a year-long tour, it was a disappointment. Knopfler remained a gifted guitar player with tastes in folk ("Iron Hand"), blues ("Fade To Black"), and rockabilly ("The Bug"), among other styles, but much of the album was low-key to the point of being background music. The group had long-since dwindled to original members Knopfler and bassist John Illsley, plus a collection of semi-permanent sidemen who provided support but no real musical chemistry. The closest thing to a successor to "Money For Nothing," the big hit from Brothers In Arms, was the sarcastic rocker "Heavy Fuel." It became an album rock radio favorite (though not a chart single), and fans still filled stadiums to hear "Sultans Of Swing," but On Every Street was not the comeback it should have been.

by William Ruhlmann

Tracklist:

A1 Calling Elvis 6:27
A2 On Every Street 5:04
A3 When It Comes To You 5:01

B1 Fade To Black 3:50
B2 The Bug 4:16
B3 You And Your Friend 5:59

C1 Heavy Fuel 4:56
C2 Iron Hand 3:09
C3 Ticket To Heaven 4:25

D1 My Parties 5:32
D2 Planet Of New Orleans 7:48