Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler
Private Investigations The Best Of Dire Straits And Mark Knopfler

For anyone who ever doubted if Mark Knopfler was the Dire Straits, I am more than sure that the title of this greatest hits compilation will be more than eloquent. A double collection equally divided between the most famous Dire Straits songs and the most valuable tracks from the solo discography of their indomitable leader. There might be someone who wonders if there was a need for such a collection for one of the most loved bands of the last twenty years? Perhaps not, but we all know that the laws of the music market are often disconnected from those of listeners who think before making a purchase that could prove superfluous.

The history of the English band is known more or less to everyone, and in these discs, it is well narrated through the thirteen compositions that skillfully retrace their journey. Even if the chronological order is set aside (already utilized in the previous "Sultans Of Swing - The Very Best Of"), the must-have tracks of the group are all there, from the understated debut of "Sultans Of Swing" to the consistent easy listening rock of "Tunnel Of Love" and "Romeo And Juliet"; the endless "Telegraph Road" and the cinematic "Private Investigations" have the challenging task of showcasing the central part of the group's career. The bestseller "Brothers In Arms" (re-issued a few months ago in a meticulously crafted version for its twentieth anniversary) is present here with "So Far Away", "Money For Nothing", "Walk Of Life", "Your Latest Trick", and the title track. Finally, the closing studio chapter of the nineties is recalled with the rhythmic sounds of "Calling Elvis" and the mainstream "On Every Street".

This compilation, unlike the previous ones, presents the tracks all in "full length" version, once again bringing to the attention of the listeners the neglected pop rock of "Skateaway", the unforgettable original version of "Love Over Gold", while a significant flaw I find is having entirely omitted the presence of "Communiqué". As for Knopfler's solo discography, the last three works are decently represented with the folk rock of "Why Aye Man", the rock blues "Boom Like That", and the dazzling riff of "What It Is" recalling the origins. The singer-songwriter vein of "The Trawlerman's Song", the beautiful duet with James Taylor in "Sailing To Philadelphia", and with the warm voice of Emmylou Harris in the laid-back country atmosphere of "All The Road Running" (the only unreleased track present) do their best to exquisitely close these two CDs, despite the deplorable flaw of having neglected the debut "Golden Heart". Obviously, for those who loved Mark Knopfler in all his forms, this double release (in a special edition with hardback and a 48-page exclusive booklet) is suggested only to always have at hand a humble compendium of the various chapters on which the history of rock is founded.