Do Dire Straits Count as Prog? - Progressive Rock Music Forum

No. Not in my opinion at least.

No

No, DS are not prog but it's easy to see why prog fans would like a sophisticated album like Love Over Gold or Making Movies. Good stuff.

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some of their songs have been overplayed, I mean I don't want to hear Money For Nothing any time soon. Or Romeo & Juliet, Walk of Life.

The real question is ... does Dire Straits count as prog to you?

To my ears, there were definitely progressive in combining country, blues, jazz, and even classical elements with rock. If you haven't heard Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins' album entitled "Neck and Neck", it is fun. Also, Money For Nothing off of Brothers in Arms showcases an extremely creative (and, dare I say progressive) way of playing electric guitar using country fingerstyle. The introduction leading into the guitar riff gives me goosebumps every time. The lyrics were meant to be satirical but are often criticized these days as being offensive. At the time Mark Knopfler was often dubbed the King of Tone. When you listen to the song Brothers in Arms, just tell people you have sand in your eyes. But, would I call them a Progressive Rock band?

Probably, I would not classify them in that way. But, I'd think twice about it, and they are definitely a band that many people who enjoy Prog Rock have on their playlists ... like Big Country (rah!) and shy people who like Kajagoogoo.

Edited by Jaketejas - June 30 2020 at 09:32

dr wu23 wrote:

...and Pick Withers the drummer in DS used to be in the prog band 'Spring'.

Good catch doc.

Edited by SteveG - June 30 2020 at 09:48

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No. Their music was originally based in pub and club blues, but they were certainly a damned fine band.

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SteveG wrote:

No, DS are not prog but it's easy to see why prog fans would like a sophisticated album like Love Over Gold or Making Movies. Good stuff.

If DS had made three stupendous albums ala Love Over Gold, I'd say that they could have a shot at PA, but otherwise no.

While I still love their debut Clap

, their next two albums bore me to death. Sleepy

And TBH, at first, I almost didn't pay attention to LOG because all you heard was Industrial Disease (musically the weakest on that album) over the radio, and at the time, I was diving into 60's psych and 70's JR/F and soon afterwards 60's jazz. But that was one hell of an album. Star

; but, I could've easily missed it altogether.

I was expecting very much out of their next release , which turned out to be awful Twisting EP, which was a complete turn off. I wasn't impressed at BIA either at first, because if I didn't mind MFN, I hated the other hits out of it, and by that time, I was almost completely out of the "rock thing". Then I heard at a GF's place the second side of the BIA album, and I found it rather nice (much more in the LOG mood) with strong stuff

One of DS' facet is the roots thing, and this is a gigantic turn off for me, with tracks like Walk Of Life and stuff like that. Very irritating, to the point that if it comes on the radio, I will switch stations.

BTW, I never really warmed to Alchemy Live, though most people rave about it.

Catcher10 wrote:

Nah....there is no progressive rock music in their albums.

There is no "prog" music in their albums. I think they have their "progressive" moments, but wouldn't consider them overall as progressive rock, nor should they have an entry on PA. Though maybe we need a database for bands that many prog fans enjoy that are not prog or qualify for prog-related. "If you like prog, you might like these bands/artists."

The Love Over Gold album does perhaps (and "Telegraph Road" in particular). Apart from that, not really. I really like them nonetheless.

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