Communiqué (Dire Straits album)
Communiqué | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 5 June 1979 | |||
Recorded | 28 November – 12 December 1978 | |||
Studio | Compass Point (Nassau) | |||
Genre | Roots rock | |||
Length | 42:44 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | Barry Beckett, Jerry Wexler | |||
Dire Straits chronology | ||||
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Singles from Communiqué | ||||
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Communiqué is the second studio album by British rock band
It is the last album to feature David Knopfler, who departed from the band during the making of their following album, and the last with the original lineup.
Recording
After the
Release
Communiqué was released on vinyl LP and cassette on 5 June 1979, eight months after the release of the band's self-titled debut. It entered the German charts at number one, while its predecessor was still at number three.
"Lady Writer" was the first single released from Communiqué. Communiqué was remastered and reissued with the rest of the Dire Straits catalogue in 1996 for most of the world outside the United States and on 19 September 2000 in the United States.
Dire Straits toured throughout 1979 after the recording sessions were completed. The
Communiqué was the last album to feature David Knopfler, who left the band over creative differences with his brother during the recording of their third album in August 1980.[3] It is the only Dire Straits album not represented on the compilation Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler.
Artwork
The album cover was designed by Hothouse, art directed by Alan Schmidt with the cover illustration by Geoff Halpin.
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | B−[5] |
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 6.2/10[7] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
In a 1979 review for the
In his retrospective review for AllMusic, William Ruhlmann wrote that the second album "seemed little more than a carbon copy of its predecessor with less compelling material."[4]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Mark Knopfler
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Once Upon a Time in the West" | 5:14 |
2. | "News" | 4:11 |
3. | "Where Do You Think You're Going?" | 3:43 |
4. | "Communiqué" | 5:42 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Lady Writer" | 3:38 |
2. | "Angel of Mercy" | 4:29 |
3. | "Portobello Belle" | 4:21 |
4. | "Single-Handed Sailor" | 4:42 |
5. | "Follow Me Home" | 5:42 |
Total length: | 41:42 |
Personnel
Dire Straits
- Mark Knopfler – vocals, lead and rhythm guitars
- David Knopfler – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- John Illsley – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Pick Withers – drums
Additional musician
- Barry Beckett – keyboards
Production
- Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett (credited as B. Bear) – producers
- Gregg Hamm – mix engineer
- Jack Nuber – engineer
- Bobby Hata – mastering
- Paul Wexler – mastering supervisor
- Bob Ludwig – remastering
- Thelbert Rigby – tape operator
- Alan Schmidt – art direction[12]
- Geoff Halpin – illustrations
Charts
Communiqué spent 32 weeks on the UK Albums Chart.[13]
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
|
Sales and certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Austria (IFPI Austria)[29] | Gold | 25,000* |
Brazil | — | 90,000[30] |
Canada (Music Canada)[31] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[32] | Gold | 25,000[32] |
France ( SNEP)[33]
|
2× Platinum | 600,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[34] | Platinum | 500,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[35] sales since 2009 |
Gold | 25,000‡ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[37] | Platinum | 217,080[36] |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[38] | Gold | 7,500^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[39] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Sweden (GLF)[40] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[41] | 3× Platinum | 150,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[43] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- Notes
- Citations
- ^ "Dire straits single US cat no".
- ^ "Timeline | DireStraits.com". www.direstraits.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ Genzel, Christian. "David Knopfler". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
- ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Communiqué". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 24 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 206.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (23 September 2020). "Dire Straits: Dire Straits Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 200.
- ^ Daümler-Ford, Jonathan (18 August 1979). "Spin Off". Birmingham Daily Post. Retrieved 30 November 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. 29 September 1979. p. 130. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
- ^ Graham, Chuck (4 August 1979). "Album Reviews". Tucson Citizen. p. 11.
- ^ Communiqué (booklet). Dire Straits. Burbank, California: Warner Bros. Records. 1979. p. 11. 947770-2.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Dire Straits - Albums". Official Charts. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Dire Straits – Communiqu%E9" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Dire Straits – Communiqu%E9" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1992. 22. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Dire Straits – Communiqu%E9". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Dire Straits – Communiqu%E9". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Dire Straits – Communiqu%E9". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Dire Straits – Communiqu%E9". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Dire Straits | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Dire Straits Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1979". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1979". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum Awards 1987" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 December 1987. pp. 42–46. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ Tarik de Souza (12 September 1991). "Volta os campeões de audiência". Jornal do Brasil (in Portuguese). p. 38. Retrieved 23 October 2023 – via National Library of Brazil.
Alam da platina tripla pelos 750 mil copias de Brothers in Arms, a banda de Mark Knopfler garimpou entre nos duas platina dimples de 250 mil cada (Alchemy, o primeiro que estourou, em 84, e coletânea Money for Nothing, de 8) e um disco de ouro (no LP de estreia Dire Straits, de 79)
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Dire Straits – Communique". Music Canada.
- ^ Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
- ^ "French album certifications – Dire Straits – Communiqué" (in French). InfoDisc. Select DIRE STRAITS and click OK.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Dire Straits; 'Communiqué')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Italian album certifications – Dire Straits – Communiqué" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Communiqué" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
- Billboard. p. 67. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – Dire Straits – Communiqué" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Communiqué in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1979 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Dire Straits – Communique". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- ISBN 8480486392.
- ^ "Swedish Gold For Straits" (PDF). Cash Box. 12 January 1980. p. 26. Retrieved 17 February 2020 – via American Radio History.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Communique')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "British album certifications – Dire Straits – Communique". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American album certifications – Dire Straits – Communique". Recording Industry Association of America.
External links
- Communiqué at Mark Knopfler official website
- Communiqué at MusicBrainz (list of releases)