Description
Dire Straits Expand Musical Framework and Come Into Own on Making Movies: Co-Produced by Jimmy Iovine, Thematic Album Soars With Personal Songwriting and Epic Arrangements
Cinematic Landscapes and Intricate Passages Sound Sublime: Mobile Fidelity 45RPM 2LP Pressing of Making Movies Mastered from Analog Tapes, Features Audiophile Dynamics
Bruce Springsteen Pianist Roy Bittan, Mark Knopfler's Guitar Playing, and Passionate Performances Turn Making Movies Into a Classic: Includes "Romeo and Juliet," "Tunnel of Love," "Solid Rock"
Making Movies marks a magnificent turning point in Dire Straits' career. Considered by many fans to be the group's most complete album, the 1980 set witnesses leader Mark Knopfler greatly expanding his songwriting palette and setting his storytelling amidst more complex, involving arrangements. Dire Straits also benefits from crucial contributions from Bruce Springsteen pianist Roy Bittan and the departure of rhythm guitarist David Knopfler. The songs spark with a mélange of poetry, passion, and cohesion that engages the senses and begs to be experienced again and again.
Mastered from analog tapes and pressed at RTI, Mobile Fidelity's 180g 45RPM 2LP set of Making Movies breathes with reference-caliber airiness, spaciousness, dynamics, and separation. Produced by Jimmy Iovine and Knopfler, the record – which contains many Springsteen-esque elements – features the cleanliness and clarity that have long been Dire Straits trademarks. The extra-wide 45RPM grooves on this edition provide previously unattainable detail, information, and soundstaging. This is what audiophile recordings are all about.
You know you're in the presence of sonic greatness as soon as the first few seconds of the opening "Tunnel of Love" pass, as the introductory passage built on organ and piano – new additions to Dire Straits' palette – intertwine with the unmistakable coil-spring twang of Knopfler's guitar. The three-dimensional, full-bodied presentation of the latter instrument on this Mobile Fidelity LP is alone worth the price of admission. Crisp, rich, and balanced, the sound brings Knopfler's Fender Vibrolux and Music Man HD130 amplifiers into your room. The romanticism of Bittan's piano, precision timekeeping of drummer Pick Withers, and steady roll of bassist John Illsley come across with similar potency, scale, and verve.