Editing Dire Straits (section)

===1977–1979: Early years and first two albums ===
[[File:DireStraits-PRS.jpg|thumb|left|[[PRS for Music]] heritage plaque commemorating Dire Straits' first performance in [[Deptford]], London]]
Brothers [[Mark Knopfler|Mark]] and [[David Knopfler]] were born in [[Glasgow]]<ref>{{cite book | last=Illsley | first=John | title=My Life in Dire Straits : The Inside Story of One of the Biggest Bands in Rock History | publisher=Bantam Press | publication-place=London, UK | year=2021 | isbn=978-1-78763-436-7 | oclc=1282301626}}</ref> and raised in [[Blyth, Northumberland|Blyth]] in the northeast of England. With [[John Illsley]] and [[Pick Withers]], from Leicester in the East Midlands, they formed Dire Straits in Deptford, south east London,<ref>{{cite book | last=Illsley | first=John | title=My Life in Dire Straits : The Inside Story of One of the Biggest Bands in Rock History | publisher=Bantam Press | publication-place=London, UK | year=2021 | isbn=978-1-78763-436-7 | oclc=1282301626}}</ref> in 1977.<ref>Peter Buckley (2003) [https://books.google.com/books?id=7ctjc6UWCm4Cpg=PT304 The rough guide to rock], p. 297. Retrieved: 29 December 2010.</ref> Withers was already a 10-year music business veteran, having been a session drummer for [[Dave Edmunds]], [[Gerry Rafferty]], [[Magna Carta (band) |Magna Carta]] and others through the 1970s. He was house drummer at Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire<ref>{{cite book | last=Illsley | first=John | title=My Life in Dire Straits : The Inside Story of One of the Biggest Bands in Rock History | publisher=Bantam Press | publication-place=London, UK | year=2021 | isbn=978-1-78763-436-7 | oclc=1282301626}}</ref> and was part of the group Spring, which recorded an album for RCA in 1971. At the time of the band's formation, Mark was working as an English teacher,<ref>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=C. |title= Contemporary World Musicians |publisher= Taylor & Francis |year= 2020 |isbn=978-1-135-93961-8 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qVYAEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT1362 |access-date= 17 July 2021 |page= 1362}}</ref> Illsley was studying at Goldsmiths' College, and David was a social worker.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.thedrumdoctor.net/pick-withers-a-road-well-travelled-a-drumdoctor-interview |title=Pick Withers – A Road Well Travelled |type = interview |website= The drum doctor |date=16 July 2012}}</ref> Mark and Withers had both been part of the pub rock group [[Brewers Droop]] around 1973.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Larkin |first1=Colin |title= The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date= 2011 |publisher= Omnibus Press |page=697}}</ref>

The new band was initially known as the Café Racers. The name Dire Straits was coined by a musician [[flatmate]] of Withers, allegedly thought up while they were rehearsing in the kitchen of a friend, Simon Cowe, of [[Lindisfarne (band) |Lindisfarne]]. In 1977, the group recorded a five-song demo tape which included their future hit single, "[[Sultans of Swing]]", as well as "[[Water of Love]]" and "[[Down to the Waterline]]".<ref>{{cite book |title=Dire Straits |last = Oldfield |first = M. |page= 42 |year=1984 |publisher=Sidgwick & Jackson |isbn=978-0-283-98995-7}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title= Dire Straits – Honky Tonk demo |date=24 July 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S6txDr4JYI |access-date=1 January 2020}}</ref> After a performance at the Rock Garden in 1977, they took a demo tape to MCA in Soho but were turned down. They sent a tape to DJ [[Charlie Gillett]], presenter of ''Honky Tonk'' on [[BBC Radio London]].<ref name="BBC London"/> The band simply wanted advice, but Gillett liked the music so much that he played "Sultans of Swing" on his show. Two months later, Dire Straits signed a recording contract with the [[Vertigo Records|Vertigo]] division of [[Phonogram Inc.]] In October 1977, the band recorded demo tapes of "Southbound Again", "In the Gallery" and "Six Blade Knife" for BBC Radio London; in November, demo tapes were made of "[[Setting Me Up]]", "Eastbound Train" and "Real Girl".<ref name="BBC London">{{cite book |last1=Lazell |first1=Barry |title=Rock movers & shakers |date=1989 |publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc |page=143}}</ref>

[[File:Dire Straits 1978 Hamburg 1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|right|The original Dire Straits line-up in Hamburg, Germany (1978); L to R: [[John Illsley]], [[Mark Knopfler]], [[Pick Withers]] and [[David Knopfler]]]]
The group's first album, ''[[Dire Straits (album)|Dire Straits]]'', was recorded at [[Sarm West Studios|Basing Street studios]] in [[Notting Hill]], London in February 1978, at a cost of £12,500.<ref name=sing365>{{cite web |url=http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Dire-Straits-Biography/D51A556F14DC66B548256873002ECB7F |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232747/https://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Dire-Straits-Biography/D51A556F14DC66B548256873002ECB7F |title= Dire Straits Biography |publisher=Sing365.com |access-date=27 August 2017 |archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> Produced by [[Muff Winwood]], it was first released in the United Kingdom on Vertigo Records, then a division of Phonogram Inc. It came to the attention of [[A&R]] representative [[Karin Berg]], working at [[Warner Bros. Records]] in New York City. She felt that it was the kind of music audiences were hungry for, but only one person in her department agreed at first.<ref name=sing365/> Many of the songs on the album reflected Mark Knopfler's experiences in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], [[Leeds]] and London. "[[Down to the Waterline]]" recalled images of life in Newcastle; "In the Gallery" is a tribute to Leeds sculptor/artist Harry Phillips (father of [[Steve Phillips (musician)|Steve Phillips]]); "Wild West End" and "Lions" were drawn from Knopfler's early days in the capital.<ref>Peter Frame (1999) [https://books.google.com/books?id=GHPVGbDS0KsC&dq=dire+straits+Down+to+the+Waterline+-+Newcastle&pg=PT193 Pete Frame's rockin' around Britain: rock'n'roll landmarks of the UK and Ireland], p. 182. Music Sales Group. Retrieved: 30 December 2010.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=UFRLAAAAYAAJ&q=dire+straits+-+Wild+West+End High fidelity, Volume 29, Issues 1–6], p. 102. Audiocom, 1979.</ref>

That year, Dire Straits began a tour as opening band for [[Talking Heads]], after the re-released "Sultans of Swing" finally started to climb the UK charts.<ref name="Roberts">Roberts, David (2006). [[British Hit Singles & Albums]]. London: Guinness World Records Limited</ref> This led to a United States recording contract with [[Warner Bros. Records]]; before the end of 1978, Dire Straits had released their self-titled debut worldwide. They received more attention in the US, but also arrived at the top of the charts in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. ''Dire Straits'' eventually went [[Top 40|top 10]] in every European country.

The following year, Dire Straits embarked on their first North American tour. They played 51 sold-out concerts over a 38-day period.<ref>Dafydd Rees, Luke Crampton (1999). ''Rock stars encyclopedia'', p. 229. Retrieved 26 December 2011</ref> "[[Sultans of Swing]]" scaled the charts to No. 4 in the US and No. 8 in the United Kingdom.<ref name="Roberts"/><ref name="Whitburn">[[Joel Whitburn|Whitburn, Joel]] (2006). ''The [[Billboard (magazine) |Billboard]] Book of Top 40 Hits''. Billboard Books</ref> The song was one of Dire Straits' biggest hits and became a fixture in the band's live performances. [[Bob Dylan]], who had seen the band play in Los Angeles, was so impressed that he invited Mark Knopfler and drummer Pick Withers to play on his next album, ''[[Slow Train Coming]]''.<ref>Humphries, Patrick. ''Absolutely Dylan'', p. 213. Viking Studio Books, 1991.</ref>

Recording sessions for the group's second album, ''[[Communiqué (Dire Straits album) |Communiqué]]'', took place in December 1978 at [[Compass Point Studios]] in [[Nassau, Bahamas]]. Released in June 1979, ''Communiqué'' was produced by [[Jerry Wexler]] and [[Barry Beckett]] and went to No. 1 on the German album charts, with the debut album ''Dire Straits'' simultaneously at No. 3. In the United Kingdom, the album peaked at No. 5 in the album charts. Featuring the single "[[Lady Writer]]", the second album continued in a similar vein to the first and displayed the expanding scope of Knopfler's lyricism on the opening track, "[[Once Upon a Time in the West (song)|Once Upon a Time in the West]]".<ref name= "RSalbumguide">{{cite web |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/direstraits/biography |title=Dire Straits |last= Considine |first=J.D. |year=2004 |work= The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |publisher= Rolling Stone Magazine |access-date=13 February 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080726072417/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/direstraits/biography |archive-date=26 July 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In the coming year, however, this approach began to change, along with the group's line-up.