The Weird True Story Behind Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits

Dire Straits' debut single, Sultans of Swing, launched the band into fame and stardom. But the inspiration behind Sultans of Swing was the complete opposite of that kind of life. This video explores how Mark Knopfler stumbled upon the idea of Sultans of Swing and how he, David Knopfler, John Illsley and Pick Withers created the sensational debut single.

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▶️▶️▶️CHAPTERS▶️▶️▶️

00:00 - Intro
00:47 - Inspiration
01:41 - Writing the Song
03:27 - Who are the real Sultans of Swing?
04:49 - Record Deal
05:30 - Recording the Debut Album
06:35 - Release and Reception
07:18 - Knopfler's Solo
07:54 - The Album's Success
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[MusicMongoose]

What’s your favourite Dire Straits tune? 🤔

[svenolofandersson]

I once proposed that my cover band should be called ”Consultants of Swing” but I was voted down.

[AndrewCrompton-ej]

Back in 1977 Mark and David Knopfler lived in a flat in Bronze street in Deptford. We knew of them, but they were not in our immediate music circle as they were a bit older than most of the rest of the local bands. I remember them playing the the Deptford Festival one summer afternoon, they were the support band to to another local group, Squeeze with a school mate called Jools Holland on keyboards. Squeeze were in turn the support band to the Fabulous Poodles. We all remember Mark surprised us all by being the best guitar player by far on the day. The next time I saw Dire Straits, they were the support band to the Red Lights (I think), at the Albany Empire in Deptford. The gig was notable, as the 'stage' was made of tables pushed together, halfway through the Dire Straits set, the drummer and the entire kit disappeared in a crash as the tables came apart. We lived in Lewisham at the time, a small house with a large floating population of musicians and a basement garage used for practice sessions. At the end of the road (corner of Lee High Road and Clarendon Rise) was a pub, a real dive, they had a jazz band on some Sundays, made up of older members of the local west indian community. We only occasionally drank there because it was cheap and convenient to the house! The pub was called The Sultan, it was knocked down in the 1990's and is now a branch of Nandos.

[bikerjon]

Imagine putting out
SULTANS OF SWING
as your debut single

[earlrandolph]

I remember well the first time I heard Sultans. I was in my brother's shop one evening working on my car and listening to my FM radio when the dj started talking about this pre-release single that they (KZEL 96.1, Eugene, Or.) had just gotten ahold of by this British band Dire Straits. Said that this would be it's first time heard on the west coast. I thought 'whatever'. Then I heard it. I dropped whatever I was doing and just listened, mesmerized. I had never heard anything like it. So I bought the album first time I had a chance and then listened to it on hi-fi. Wow!

[geoffhemingway]

I heard Sultans of Swing on the radio and immediately went out and bought the album(I was never much of a singles buyer) and have loved the band ever since. I have to say after all the great stuff they did it is still my favourite song of theirs along with Telegraph Road and Brothers in Arms. Brilliant stuff!

[AnneDowson-vplg]

I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard 'Sultans of Swing.' In a car passing a ploughed field outside the Yorkshire village of Drighlington near Bradford, on my way for a weekend in London with my cousins. It was March 1979, and when we got to London, this song was pouring out of every pub, cafe and shop
It was the soundtrack of that whole weekend. For a while, I thought that Dire Straits were American, until I heard Tunnel of Love, where they sing about Whitley Bay and the Spanish City funfair. Having other family in the North East, I used to go to the Spanish City with my Geordie cousins in the 1960s. Before the start of Radio One, fairgrounds were one of the few places you could hear the latest pop and rock music. Of course, I have been a great fan of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler ever since and I'm 73 now. Great memories!

[MrSparklespring]

I heard the song first in May 1978 on my brothers' self made radio in his bedroom. Went directly to the music store and bought the first album. Yes we were first in Belgium and the Netherlands to buy the record long before it was a hit in the UK. We always had a nose for good bands no matter what the 'flavour of the day' was. Same with U2. Now I have everything of Dire Straits and the entire album collection from Marks' solo career. One of the best songwriters ever and of course a great guitarist.

[devilsoffspring]

Almost 50 years and people still talk about this one song! It's kinda unique isn't it?

[colliemac]

I remember driving in my car, from the first note I went “Holy Crap!” & pulled over & turned up the radio full blast, I’d never heard anything like it.. Marks guitar work was genius, arpeggios, harmonics, playing notes in the chord rather than soloing in the key (yes I’m a guitar player) I couldn’t wait to hear the full album & I loved every song. After the disco era Mark popularized the guitar god once again & put bands. I do feel intentionally or unintentionally they drew their style from JJ Cale.

[berendharmsen]

They came out of the gate with the best song they would ever make, and it's also one of the best songs of all time, period.

[bart]

Dutchie here: As phonogram was a Dutch lable owned by Phillips, the first time Sultans came out was as a 7"single in the Netherlands (Vertigo 6059 206). It was a different version and based on the original Pathway demo.

[Dancehip]

I was listening to that song not too long ago, and though I've heard it ever since it was released (yes, I'm that old) I was knocked out by how assured and masterful the playing sounds. It's so hard to believe that this was their debut single from their very first record. They sound like complete pros. Great, great song.

[normanpeterson]

Graduated high school in 1979 🎸
I remember this gorgeous tune was all over the radio the fall of 78. Never knew that those guys could barely pay the gas man when this gem was written. This was an awesome history lesson.
Ta Very Much! 🇬🇧

[fatimaemiko]

This song blew my mind the first time I heard it and blew my mind again with achemy live performance

[joseph-owhf]

Back when there was a thing called radio....the song played right as I was arriving at my flat. I immediately went in and called the radio station to find out the name. Bought the LP next day. Still a fan. While I love the first album, Brothers in Arms is one of finest pieces of music ever and one of the best sounding albums ever recorded. (although I never liked Money for Nothing despite it being their biggest hit)

[nmusic]

GREAT work Sir ! I Absolutely remember the first time I heard this song all those years ago, I knew it was a very special tune. Unbelieveable guitar work !!

[philipmartin]

"I want my MTV" and it's video here in the states was where most people I know became familiar with Dire Straits. Bought the Brothers in arms CD in 1989. Loved it all. I really liked to crank "Ride Across the River" at it's beginning. Any musician should appreciate the works of Dire Straits.

[roquefortfiles]

I was in 8th grade when Sultan's came out. I distinctly remember waking up one day and hearing it start playing on my radio i had beside my bed. Being in a band at the time and loving music it was one of those times where i just sat there saying to myself.. "Who are THESE guys?? Who is this? I've never heard anything like this" it wasn't so much as the lead singer singing the song as it was the guitar that was singing the song. It all built up to an amazing finish that was spine tingling incredible. To be honest i didn't even think it was a guitar being played. I thought it was violin doing all the little fills it was so intricate and To this day it is my favorite Mark Knofler song. It is his trademark song.

[laurienewman]

One Sunday back in 1977 I was chilling out on the beach at Sandwich Bay in E Kent with my cousin listening as we always did to the radio show 'Honky Tonk' on LBC when Charlie Gillette played Sultans of Swing for the first time. That moment is still etched on my mind some 50+ years later!