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If there was ever a time when Dire Straits had to submit to the laws of the market, it was indeed during the release of Communiqué. Yes, Mark Knopfler himself stated in an interview that the group's second album had been ready for quite some time, but its release was delayed due to the slow climb of "Dire Straits" up the charts.
After this brief historical note, let's get to the music! The opening of the work is left to "Once Upon A Time In The West", a track that confirms the leader's preference for those engaging western atmospheres that were already hinted at in the first (master)piece: a song that for the next two tours would be (appropriately) chosen to open the concerts. "News" is a soft narration of daily events, where a great group cohesion manifests itself, which will find its best confirmation in what I consider should be considered one of the group's (underrated) masterpieces, "Where Do You Think You're Going": one of those beautiful country western rides, where the simplicity and brilliance of the guitar solos highlight one of the climactic moments of Knopfler's career.
Dire Straits, of course, aside from having compositions characterized by that rhythm the blood-related duo David/Mark ingrained in the ears of loyal supporters, boast beautiful slow-songs of which "Communiqué" is a well-supplied basket, as "Portobello Belle" (a great soft semi-virtual walk through the London neighborhood), "Angel Of Mercy" (a pleasant dedication to his guardian angel) which debuted in live performances during the group's presentation, and a drowsy "Follow Me Home" give a decent contribution to making the album enjoyable.
The title track, on the other hand, moves halfway between a well-made rock song and a rhythm almost of agony that reaches its peak in an interminable and concluding solo which will delight the most uncompromising fans of Knopfler and company. Not to mention "Lady Writer" (incidentally, like "Sultans Of Swing," it opened the b-side of the now-defunct vinyl) would be unfair, running the risk of keeping hidden the track which, together with the mentioned "Where Do...." and "Once Upon...." represent (in my opinion) the triptych for which I would recommend purchasing the cd to any enthusiast of the early Dire Straits sounds. In a few words, "L.W." (dedicated to an enticing writer who appears on TV) is a track that moves over a seductive chord progression and a well-sustained rhythm that peeks into an unpredictable and slowed-down chorus: dizzying like the final solo and the video you can enjoy on the DVD "Sultans Of Swing The Very Best Of."
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Once Upon a Time in the West (05:18)
Some people get a cheap laugh breaking up the speed limit
Scaring the pedestrians for a minute
Crossing up progress driving on the grass
Leaving just enough room to pass
Sunday driver never took a test
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Yes it's no use saying that you don't know nothing
It's still gonna get you if you don't do something
Sitting on a fence that's a dangerous course
Oh, you could even catch a bullet from the peace-keeping force
Even the hero gets a bullet in the chest
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Mother Mary your children are slaughtered
Some of you mothers ought to lock up your daughters
Who's protecting the innocenti
Heap big trouble in the land of plenty
Tell me how we're gonna do what's best
You guess once upon a time in the west
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Oh yeah, once upon a time in the west
Once upon a time in the west
02 News (04:16)
He sticks to his guns
He take the road as it comes
It takes the shine off his shoes
He's says it's a shame
You know it may be a game
Ah but I won't play to lose
He's burning the grass
He take up a glass
He swallow it neat
He crosses the floor
He open the door
He take a sniff of the street
And she tell him that he's crazy
She's a-saying hey baby
I'm your wife
Yeah she tell him that he's crazy
For gambling a-with his life
But he climbs on his horse
You know he feels no remorse
He just kicks it alive
His motor is fine
He take it over the line
Until he's ready to dive
And she tells him that he's crazy
Yes she's saying listen baby
I'm your wife
Yeah she tell him that he's crazy
For gambling with his life
He sticks to his guns
He take the road as it comes
It takes the shine off his shoes
He's says it's a shame
You know it may be a game
Ah but I won't play to lose
03 Where Do You Think You're Going? (03:48)
Where d'ya think you're going
Don't you know it's dark outside
Where d'ya think you're going
Don't you care about my pride
Where d'ya think you're going
I think a you don't know
You got no way of knowing
There's really no place you can go
I understand your changes
A-long before you reach the door
I know where you think you're going
I know what you came her for
And now I'm sick of joking
You know I like you to be free
A-where d'ya think ya going
I think you better go with me girl
You say there is no reason
But you still find cause to doubt me
If you ain't with me girl
You're gonna be without me
Where d'ya think you're going
Don't you know it's dark outside
Where d'ya think you're going
I wish I didn't care about my pride
And now I'm sick of joking
You know I like you to be free
A-where d'ya think ya going
I think you better go with me girl
04 Communiqué (05:45)
We wanna get a statement for Jesus' sake
It's like a talking to the wall
He's incummunicado
No comment to make
He's saying nothing at all
Yeah but in the communiqué
You know he's gonna come clean
Think what he say
Say what he means
Maybe on a Monday he got something to say
Communication
Communiqué
Communiqué
Maybe he could talk about the tricks of the trade
Maybe he can talk about himself
Maybe he could talk about the money that he made
Maybe he be saying something else
But in the communiqué you know he's gonna come clean
Think what he say
Say what he means
Maybe on a Monday he got something to say
Communication
Communiqué
Communiqué
Well now the rumours are flying
Speculation rife
They say that he's been trying someone else's wife
Somebody at the airport
Somebody on the phone
Say he's at the station and he's coming home alone
Then we get the story
The serious piece
And a photography a taken in the hall
And you don't have to worry with the previous release
Right now he's saying nothing at all
But in the communiqué you know he's gonna come clean
Think what he say
Say what he mean
Maybe on a Monday he'll have something to say
Communication
Communiqué
Communiqué
Communication
05 Lady Writer (03:42)
Lady writer on the TV
Talk about the Virgin Mary
Reminded me of you
Expectation left to come up to yeah
Lady writer on the TV
Yeah, she had another quality
The way you used to look
And I know you never read a book
Just the way that her hairfell down around her face
Then I recall my fall from grace
Another time, another place
Lady writer on the TV
She had all her brains and the beauty
The pictures does not fit
You talked to me when you felt like it
Just the way that her hairfell down around her face
Then I recall my fall from grace
Another time, another place
Yes and your rich old man
You know he'd call her a dead ringer
You got the same command
Plus your mother was a jazz singer
Just the way that her hairfell down around her face
Then I recall my fall from grace
Another time, another place
Lady writer on the TV
She knew all about a history
You couldn't hardly write your name
I think I want you just the same as the
Lady writer on the TV
Talking about the Virgin Mary
Yeah you know I'm talking about you and me
And lady writer on the TV
Lady writer on the TV
Talking about the Virgin Mary
Yeah you know I'm talking about you and me
And lady writer on the TV
06 Angel of Mercy (04:32)
Well there's a Peter Pan moon, shepherd's delight
I got the dragon at noon, yes and won the fight
Now I want my reward in heaven tonight, just like you promised
Angel of Mercy you'll come to no harm
Angel of Mercy, there's no need for alarm
The knight in his armor wants a night in your arms
You know he's honest
Angel of Mercy, angel delight, give me my reward in heaven tonight
And if I give up my sword, won't you give me the right
Sweet angel
Well now it's too late for talkin', we can talk later on
Let the saxaphone play us till the chorus of dawn
And I need is a little oblivion, you don't need protection
Well now here comes the moonlight down on your bed
Angel of mercy let your heart rule your head
I don't want your money, I want you instead
Don't need rejection yeah
Angel of Mercy, angel delight, give me my reward in heaven tonight
And if I give up my sword, won't you give me the right
Angel of Mercy, give me heaven tonight
Well, if you cross your heart
And spit and swear upon the grave of your mother
You gotta get into it, you gotta
Tell me that I'm more than a lover
Yeah angel of Mercy, angel delight
A-give me my reward in heaven tonight
And if I give up my sword, won't you give me the right
Angel of Mercy, give me heaven tonight
Yeah angel of Mercy, angel delight
A-give me my reward in heaven tonight
And if I give up my sword, won't you give me the right
Angel of Mercy, give me heaven tonight
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Other reviews
By Rudy Basilico
An album fresh, I think more listenable than its older sibling, with a Mark Knopfler less pop and more Dylan.
While anyone approaching Dire Straits will be charmed by the big hits, over the years ears will start to prefer the rougher and more essential Knopfler.
By AJM
"News, in the second position, already creates a delicate atmosphere that was unknown in the first album; Knopfler’s fingers touch the strings gently and the voice sometimes seems afraid to let itself be heard too much."
"Mark Knopfler winks at JJ Cale for the technique and Bob Dylan for the lyrics and creates a style that remains unique for now."
By Ocean
"Communiqué" is the polished copy of the previous one.
Professor Knopfler gives us not only magnificent music but also great lyrics.
By Knopfler76
"Even Pick Withers’ drumming is magical, clear, precise, a caress in the night."
"The guitar first saturates the colors, then expands their texture into a kaleidoscope of sensations that prick our skin, opening up its pores, never to close them again."
By Knopfler76
Is there anything more enticing than this album, on a winter evening, when 'News' starts?
The guitar first saturates the colors, then expands their texture into a kaleidoscope of sensations that prick our skin, revealing the pores, to never close them again.
