Rocktrospectiva: Dire Straits' Final Studio Album "On Every Street" Turns 35

Released on 9 September 1991 "On Every Street" was the 6th., and final studio album by British rock band Dire Straits. It was the follow-up to the band's massively successful album Brothers in Arms, On Every Street reached the top of the UK Albums Chart and spawned the singles "Calling Elvis", "Heavy Fuel", "On Every Street", "The Bug", "You And Your Firend" & "Ticket To Heaven."

On Every Street was released more than six years after the band's previous album, Brothers in Arms. On Every Street reached number 12 in the United States and number one in the United Kingdom and numerous European countries. The album was produced by Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits. Curiously, the band was about to released a record for what turned out to be the last time. 

By this time, the band consisted of Knopfler, John Illsley, Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher, and the album features session musicians including Chris White, Paul Franklin, Phil Palmer, Danny Cummings and American drummer Jeff Porcaro from Toto, who was asked to play the band's subsequent world tour, although he declined because of other commitments, both with Toto and as a studio musician.

Dire Straits promoted the album with a 14-month world tour which comprised 216 shows in Europe, North America, and Australia, sold 7.1 million tickets, and lasted from August 1991 to October 1992. This was documented in the group's second live album, On the Night, which was recorded in May 1992 at Les Arenes in Nîmes, France, and at Feijenoord Stadion in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and was released in May 1993. Dire Straits disbanded permanently in 1995, after which Mark Knopfler pursued a solo career.

The LP arrived all of six years and four months after their record-smashing, multi-million-seller of 1985, Brothers In Arms. It was that gruelling itinerary that made Mark Knopfler realise once and for all that the world of stadia shows, giant arenas and massive touring entourages and rigs was no longer one he wanted to live in.

As we know, Dire Straits never issued a formal statement to announce that they were splitting, but a strong clue had arrived with his 1990 splinter group the Notting Hillbillies, and their album Missing…Presumed Having A Good Time. By 1995, Knopfler was committed to his work outside of Dire Straits, and finally released his first non-soundtrack solo studio record, Golden Heart, a year later.

On Every Street produced a number of memorable songs, notably the lead single "Calling Elvis," one of many showcases for Mark's ever-nimble rock guitar lead lines. Three further releases from the album followed in the characteristically rocky "Heavy Fuel," the reflective title track, and the rock n' roll-flavored "The Bug." And perhaps some lesser-known gems such as "Fade To Black" and "You And Your Friend", the track "Iron Hand" relates to the Battle of Orgreave during the 1984–1985 UK miners' strike, with Knopfler remarking on how the police charge on horseback into the crowd of striking miners had reminded him of the savagery of medieval times.

 

On Every Street Track List:  

 

1. Calling Elvis

2. On Every Street

3. When It Comes To You

4. Fade To Black

5. The Bug

6. You And Your Friend

7. Heavy Fuel

8. Iron Hand

9. Ticket To Heaven

10. My Parties

11. Planet Of New Orleans

12. How Long