Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing (Old Grey Whistle Test, 16th May 1978) 

That was Studio A BBC Manchester and i was operating camera 1 (lleft side - 1st shot of video) and remember it like yesterday.. one of those majic moments when all the camera, sound lighting crew (the "old greys") were blown away by a band they had not seen before.. Dire Straits 1st time on TV, gone 11pm BBC. The late Mike Appleton, producer, was the king of discovering new talent.

Why is this the highest quality video of this song between 1978 and the new millennium? Really a wonderful capture.

At 81 years old, I still never tire of watching Mark and his group perform this song. I remember as a young woman hearing it on the radio when it was a hit here in America. Loved it then...still do.

Nothing is better than when a band is in "the groove", in sync with each other. This performance is all time!

Mark Knopfler is a legend rockstar. No pick, no heavy distortion, no fireworks. His sound is all.

He is, without doubt, one of the best guitarists in the world...

The beauty of stripped down sound, no autotune, no postproduction, just hard work and repetition. Been there, done that. No contest.

Mark deserved more recognition for his work. His guitar work is exceptional. His singing voice is very very good. I never tire of listening to Dire Straits

Who still listening the song will be a blessing man...!!!

Mark did it for the love of his work and it shows that the music came first and that's why he's a legend

The bass player and the Drummer are so important in this song. Guitar George, who knows all the chords is just as important. Lest we forget. Pure class

Singing and playing lead is always an “awe” thing. Mark is an incredible guitarists too.

I remember that night well on the OGWT; for me, it was (& still remains) the best rendition Knopfler ever put out for that iconic track. 'Whistle Test was a real musicians programme - no fannying around with 'celebrities' throwing their toys out of the pram - Bob Harris in presenting - brilliant days !

This TV show, Old Grey Whistle Test, on BBC needs to be brought back to TV. It's about music!

I remember well when this song was released in 1978. I saw this performance as I always watched Whistle Test. Then the song exploded on the radio within days. It's impossible to underestimate the impact it had on the music scene in the UK even though at that time the two "cool" genres were punk and reggae. Then the album came out and those of us who had half decent stereos were gobsmacked by the impeccable playing and production as well as the songs. Every hi-fi shop in the country was playing it 24/7 to show off their gear. Just goes to show, don't matter what you look like or were you're from, or even what kind of music you play, if you can write a song like that and play it as well as that the whole world will stop what they're doing for five minutes and listen to you.

45 years later and it still sounds great to me ...

Amazing! Almost 45 years later and I'm still dumbfounded.

As a guitar player myself, I always try to explain to people how impressive this is that Mark finger picks a strat, but they don't get it. Underrated guitar player

And that's how it's played. There you have 44 years and the song is as strong as then. Thank you.

This is probably my favorite rendition of Sultans. The alchemy live one is great, but this one has that raw crunchy edge that is just special.

This song is a piece of music history, great version. 🤘🎸🤘

Imagine going on TV in the late 70s when people were either obsessed with punk or intrigued with new wave and playing this straight up rock song. Arguably the greatest ever song of all time as it turns out.

It gives me so much life seeing these four young men playing so energetically, so happily, everyone in the studio is amused by the music of these guys. Knopfler is truly a storyteller. He introduces you in his own world, his own novel, marked with that essence of nostalgia and memories that he treasures and he shares with you... While he leads you all around the story with his incredible skill for the guitar that is literally an explosion of feelings. Mindblowing. I'm so glad I'm alive to enjoy this everyday.

This song never ever gets old. One of the all time masters. Sweet and melodic

What about the crowd of young boys fooling around in the corner?

Mark Knopfler is one of the most underrated guitar players in history. He is a phenomenal talent...

WOW! First time I've seen this. Been a Fan since 1976. Good job guys.

A masterpiece in the rock history. What an awesome and brilliant live!!! Thank you!!!

First time I heard this song it blew my mind. I bet I've played it over 500 times since 1979 and I'm still not sick of it.

Mark, in my opinion is one of the most underrated guitarists and vocalist. His unique singing voice and extremely active style of guitar playing puts him on the pedestal of one of the greatest, most gifted musicians ever! I can, sort of, sing. I can, sort of play the guitar. Neither one independently is anywhere close to his caliber. When I try to combine the two together? Every dog ( including my wife JK) starts howling… not in a good way either!😂😂😂 I started listening to dire straits in the 7th grade… they’ve always been one of my favorites. Mark Knopfler will always hold one of the highest spots on the top as far as I’m concerned! Mark if you’re reading this… keep rocking forever brother! Thanks for all the wonderful music that you’ve given us the privilege to listen to!

I remember Mark being interviewed when this album came out and he tried to deflect the critics' adoration by saying "What I do is one thing up from strumming". Yeah, right. No distortion, no effects pedals, no plectrum. Just fingers, thumb and talent.

This version has so much energy, on every player's part. Illsley looks collected and focused as always. Pick is in his own world on those drums. And Mark and David jamming in sync on their guitars, like the brothers they are. Few things in the world are more beautiful than when musicians come together and share their songs with the world. And these four were some of the greatest.

Was it more than 44 years ago that I watched this on BBC2? In the middle of Punk, the vitality, clean sound, and virtuosity of Knopfler, hit home immediately and I was hooked. Shortly afterwards I dragged a somewhat reluctant girlfriend to see them perform at a small hall at Queens University, Belfast, before less than 300 people. Since then I have been to many Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler concerts and that music has been the soundtrack of my life. But nothing will surpass the wow factor of that short TV appearance.

1978? Wow! They all look pretty young in this video, I was only 11yrs old back then I'm now 55, 45 years ago, man I'm getting old alright, that's twice the age of 2 young adults 🤔

Thats RAW playing! Playing clean with a fender strat......no compression,no overdrive, no NADA other than talent. Its as if the sound guy is making it as difficult as he can for Mark. He really has to work ,even to make himself heard! Flawless!

Never tired of listening this beautiful masterpiece

BRILLIANT riffs and licks throughout this entire piece---on of the best ever! It is HYPNOTIQUE---I love it! I'm 71 and I can't get enough of it! It's a classic in my book!

What a poet, story teller and guitar player.

父がよく聴いていたアーティストです🎵ありがとうございます🎵

It's another beautiful song from the legend.

I can’t get enough of Dire Straits. Enjoy them more now than when they first came out.

I never tire of watching Mark and his awesome group perform this song. I am 81 years old and have a long history of enjoying music from many performers. One thing that sets Mark in front of many others, is you can see that he does not need to be “high” when he is on stage. He is a breath of fresh air and a fine example of true professional demeanor.

Mark knopler is the best guitarist ! My uncle is a huge fan and he had been several times to dire straits concerts in France! It’s just awesome to looking Mark playing it’s unbelievably beautiful 👍🌹

❤❤❤❤Danke Eure Musik 🎶 hat etwas mit mir gemacht....Danke für den Auftrag..........❤Danke ich...hab es überlebt 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

My favorite band EVER EVER and I’m old as dirt!! 😁❤️

Mark Knopfler. Smooth as a quality single malt

Ero a militare e ti ascoltavo già. Ne ho 64 e ti ascolto ancora la tua chitarra che parla mi incatta ! Come tutto il resto del gruppo !

I love this version of sultans.Ive seen numerous versions and over the years. They get board with playing it the same and make many alterations.This early recording just shows what a brilliant band they were ,right from the start.

What a show, what a band....there is nothing more authentic

Mark ist ein toller Musiker und hat mein Leben begleitet. Das war noch echte Musik!

He is such a master. No one better...I always marveled how he could sing and play at the same time.

It's amazing how so many rock'n'roll blockbusters you know and love for ages have actually been composed by people in their 20s... Mark is so charismatic.

Knopfler leaves me speechless! Sheer brilliance. This tune was stuck in my mind for almost a year after it was released. I knew then that Dire Straits would become GIANTS!

One of the top 5 leads ever written and played! Only Mark knopfler has this rhythm!

take a step back from Mark's sublime lead for a moment to give some props to the tight AF driving rythmn here - drums, bass, rythmn guitar freakin killing it - exploding the universe to make enough space for Mark to drop such epic solo work which otherwise there wouldn't have been enough space for

And that is why the master can still fill stadiums the world over! A very humble man with a massive talent.

This song did a dance on disco's grave, and we are all better off for it.

⚜ THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC ⚜🕊

Mark looks young & keen.I'm proud to have seen them live.Dire Straits up there with the best.

I love the sound of this live!!!🎸🎸🎸

Love it❤ The guitars , rhythm , base , drums everything 👍 Outstanding vocals , Mark 👍🙏💪 The energy , unbelievable 👍🙏💪 Thunderous !!! 👍🙏💪❤

This 16th May 1978..was my seven's birthday.... I only came to enjoy this song when I was 20yr old at high school..introduced by my roomate..

Das Lied laß ich auf meiner Beerdigung spielen☝️👍🥁

Love this recording

The best guitarist ever in my opinion

😊 Phänomenal! Dire Straits waren eine TOP Band. Deren Musik ist einfach unsterblich. 🤩Und Mark Knopfler ist mein Gitarrengott! Ein Held, damals wie heute. Thank you for everything Knopfi! 😘🥰

I remember driving to high school in the 1970s in an old beat up Ford Galaxy 500 on a cool rainy day in Cleveland when this song came on the radio. I was blown away. I initially thought it was Bob Dylan. I stay in the car in the student parking after the song ended to see who the artist/band was playing it over the airwaves. When the DJ on WMMS FM 101 said it was DIRE STRAITS, I was like who??? Never heard of them before...but will never forget that special day. Oh yeah, I was late for my 1st class as usual and received another detention which required me to stay after school with the other tardy students but it was worth it.

Brillant version with great image and sound quality. All hail the Old Grey Whistle Test and 70s Dire Straits (still with Mark's brother David on rhythm guitar). They really ain't makin' 'em like that anymore.

İncredibly Charismatic, super song and voice❤

Oh how I love these old live performances!.. classic early Dire Straits stuff.. just the guitars and drums..this was much before they became wildly famous and graduated to more refined and heavy productions in their later albums..and although Mark's Alchemy performance of this number is the most popular, I have a personal soft corner for these songs, played so close to the studio version.. just a gang of incredibly talented musicians creating magic on the stage!

Simply,the BEST song of the world.

Wow, just one of my few all-time favourites ❤

Love the song and dire straits is honestly somewhat calming grew up with this music. Never gets old only better

Joy! Reliving my misspent youth listening to this song.

Man, Mark and the guys came out of gate roaring for years, just one golden nugget after another, though i never could stand Money for Nothing and still dont like it. This is a great little glimpse into how good they already were live and not just a studio band with all the overdubs and studio gimmicks. These dudes could really play and sounded better live than on record.

It's so incredible hearing the evolution of Sultans from this beauty to the masterpiece from Alchemy Live.

Where have all the years gone? Can’t remember what year, late 70’s and I was thinking who is this! This guy can play like anything! 😎

And this was 1978! In the midst of the disco craze. What an amazing song and Knopfler is amazing as well.

Спасибо, Марк за кристальной чистоты рок-н-ролл!

Simply superb..I was lucky enough to be studying in the UK around the period..the sound of the Sultans of Swing on the radio daily accompanying me on my way to College

Knopfler was always humble about his abilities on guitar, the band flying against the prevailing winds of punk rock and 80s digital pop new wave, by bringing in blues, country, and jazz influences drvien around his story-telling lyrics. It was a recipe for success for the band, and he established himself as one of the greatest guitarists of a generation...

I am wildly delighted with this record. The emotions of the young Mark are simply amazing!!! And interestingly, the microphone in Mark's early performances was always set low. ❤

Pick was/is such a great drummer. Plenty of space for the guitar. Great use of hi-hat and cymbals. Brilliant back beat.

There's no alternate to this masterpiece, specially the final 30 seconds of the song (guitar play) is magic. It can't get better...

Memorable, timeless, historic.

This the best version Sultans of Swing live ever. It’s outstanding!

This song is so awesome! Mark knopfler is just one of a kind. His voice and playing to me is just magical.

Saw this when it was first broadcast in the UK. Was blown away then and still blown away now!

Thank You! From another lifetime...its like I am running back to my childhood ❤

This will never get old.

Thank you for your music. For your Gigs in Germany/ Allgäu. You'r music is in my heart.

This is my favorite live version of this awesome song. We are the sultans we are the sultans of swing

Mark dosen't just play that Strat, he makes it talk ! Genius 🎸

Still remember the first time I heard this song and how blow away I was. Who puts the guitar solo at the END of the song?? Nobody! So original, and Mark played fills like no one else, except maybe early Clapton. His style of play was unique for the time (although borrowed from Chet Atkins), and the band always sounded so tight. Watching this video with Mark and David is still fun, 45 years later, and I still listen to Dire Straits from time to time. Another group that ran it's course and then went away, leaving us all wanting more ...

Smoke’n!! . . . YOU ~ ROCK ! ! 🎸 🤛

Надо же, спустя вечность, а мне 46, я его только слышала, а тут старое исполнение✌✌✌я не оторву глаз, эмоции ❤❤❤

One of THE best bands emerging from the new dawn of rock-and-roll post-disco in the later 70s.

This live is magnificent... Chapeau, Mark🎸🎸🎸

This in my top three favorite songs of all time.

Dire straits Россия вас слушает и очень давно, почти 40 лет. Удачи вам и творческих успехов, а так же здоровья!!!