Dire Straits - Cologne (Broadcast Recording) - DOUBLE LP

Early German Broadcast From A Young Dire Straits

Formed in London in 1977, Dire Straits were first championed by UK DJ Charlie Gillett, presenter at the time of Honky Tonk on BBC Radio London. Two months later, Dire Straits signed a recording contract with the Vertigo label.

The group's first album, Dire Straits, was recorded at Basing Street studios in Notting Hill, London, in February 1978, at a cost of £12,500. That same 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. This led to a United States recording contract with Warner Bros. Records.

Sessions for the group's second release, Communiqué, took place in December 1978 at Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas. Released in June 1979, Communiqué 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.

In February 1979, Dire Straits were in Germany performing live, and on 16th of the month they played at WDR Studio-L, in Cologne, where they put on a live radio studio session, which was simultaneously broadcast across the country.

Mainly playing cuts from their debut LP, the band still managed to slip in a few choice numbers for their upcoming sophomore record, and the result, in front of an invited only audience, was quite mesmerising. This remarkable performance is now presented in full on this new 2LP set, available on vinyl for the first time.

SIDE A:1. Down To The Waterline 2:59 / 2. Six Blade Knife 4:25 / 3. Once Upon A Time In The West 5:25 / 4. Lady Writer 4:07
SIDE B:5. Single Handed Sailor 4:25 / 6. Water Of Love 6:16 / 7. In The Gallery 5:50 / 8. Follow Me Home 4:43
SIDE C:9. News 3:54 / 10. What’s The Matter Baby? 2:53 / 11. Lions 5:48 / 12. Sultans Of Swing 5:55
SIDE D:13. Wild West End 5:26 / 14. Where Do You Think You’re Going? 4:08 / 15. Eastbound Train 4:09 / 16. Sultans Of Swing 6:33