Dire Straits REACTION #3: "Telegraph Road" (Alchemy Live) [YouTube Edit] 

Thanks for reacting to this one. In my humble opinion it is one of the best songs ever written. There are great song writers, guitarists, story tellers, and singers in the world. But Mark is one of the few that is all of them together in one fantastic package. And yes, he is mentioned by many and shows up in lists as one of the greatest guitarists ever, Check out “Tunnel of Love” live at Wembley Arena 1985, “Private Investigations” live on Alchemy. “Speedway at Nazareth” live Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris version, and so much more. His solo career - 10 albums and a bunch of movie scores are fantastic as well.

The night we went this was the encore. Utterly amazing at the end of a 2 hr concert.

Not only was Mark a guitar virtuoso, but he was also a skilled story-teller, song-writer and composer for the band. Nevertheless, he always made sure to give all of the band members a chance to shine. Fun Fact: In addition to all of that, his unique sound, the fact that he is a finger-plucking genius, and his ability to produce complex emotions and nuanced transitions with and through his guitar, Mark was actually left handed but was playing guitar with his right, whilst making it all look so easy! This performance showcases the breathtaking live musicianship of this band and the kind of epic musical masterpiece they could collectively produce. So many of Mark's songs have an interesting background. In this case, the title refers to the 'Telegraph Road' just outside of Detroit, which is a major north-south thoroughfare in Michigan. Mark was inspired to write the song while riding in the front of the tour bus as they journeyed down Telegraph Road, as he was asking the driver about all of the urban blight in evidence at the time ("All these sings say 'sorry but we're closed,' all the way down the telegraph road"). Knopfler was also reading 'Growth of the Soil' by the Nobel Prize winning Norwegian author Knut Hamsun; he was ultimately inspired to combine the two narratives / histories, and the result was a song about the beginning of the development along Telegraph Road, and the consequent (and sometimes sad) changes over the ensuing decades of industrialization, urban development and economic hardship.

Great reaction and Mark is certainly regarded as one of the greatest in the right places. Virtuoso. Masterpiece of a song. One of many Penned by the unequalled Mr Mark Knopfler.

You skipped over part of the videp near the end. an iconic part.

You should listen to Calling Elvis from the On The Night 1993 performance and Private Investigations from the same concert.

That was the encore to the performance.

Thanks, Cole! Nice reaction.

The album you're referring to is most likely On Every Street from DS from 1991. I think you'll really love it. Also I recommend Calling Elvis Live - Dire Straits " On The Night" 1993. Love your channel. Cheers, all the best from Australia. 👍🎸🎸🎸

Mark played with Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan many times ,including many tours with them. He even co-produced ,with Bob , Bob's 1883 album Infidels.....

Greetings from Canada. If you like country infused Rock, you'll love a later version of Mark who toured and did a DVD with the brilliant EmmyLou Harris. Check out "Speedway at Nazareth" Peace, love and bellbottoms.

Talking about country, don't know if that is what you are looking for, but you should listen to The Notting Hillbillies (this is the band's name, not the album name: they only did one studio album as far as I know). It's not Dire Straits, but there several people involved with Dire Straits playing, and -- of course -- Mark Knopfler leads the group.

I don’t like skipping the music. The reactor is never more important than the song. Don’t touch it

If you are into country rock, then Mark's solo carreer should be of interest to you. The album Sailing to Philadelphia is a good start (you may check the title track, in duet with James Taylor) - As for Dire Straits: Brothers in arms from "On the Night" Live is also well worth a listening (even if you know the album version). You may also check "Once upon a time in the west" on Alchemy Live, Tunnel of Love and Romeo and Juliet

The Notting Hillbillies - Missing......Presumed Having a Good Time is probably what was recommended to you. Mark, Guy Fletcher (Dire Straits and Mark's solo band), Steve Phillips (& the Rough Diamonds, also a guitar maker) and Brendan Croker (& The 5 o'clock Shadows, RIP). They were Mark's side project in the 90's and early 2000's, played a lot of small venues and released the one album together which is a gem. Also his Wag The Dog soundtrack has a country vibe to most of the tunes and is all instrumental after the title cut.

Music for music people - totally! A friend of mine isn't in to progressive stuff, it has to have a typical chorus verse chorus structure they can sing along to, shame, admittedly these sorts of songs take more effort to learn but I can equally sing along to this and appreciate it far more having a musical background (guitar, piano & drums), I've written a song with typical structure, I couldn't even begin to try and write something like this masterpiece!

How musician can cut music?

Sorry your cuts are unecessary. I would like to say thanks for the reaction, but to react to parts of a song without viewers contibuting is obsurd to say the least, One thing you could mention before posting is the fact that you will not be showing the full performance. Sorry but not for me👎

What are this reactor doing ??? He is talking upon the video and don`t stop the video while talking but just silence the video !? Completely destroying it !! I gave up.. totaly hopeless..

stop with the cagey. I understand why but it detracts from the experience.