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Communique | 
 enlarge | Artist: Dire Straits
Label: Warner Bros / Wea
Category: Music
List Price: $7.98
Buy New: $4.92
You Save: $3.06 (38%)
New (19) Used (6) from $4.92
Rating:  55 reviews
Sales Rank: 2778
Format: Original Recording Reissued, Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 47770
UPC: 093624777021
EAN: 0093624777021
ASIN: B00004Y6NT
Release Date: September 19, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Once upon a Time in the West | | • | News | | • | Where Do You Think You're Going? | | • | Communique | | • | Lady Writer | | • | Angel of Mercy | | • | Portobello Belle | | • | Single-Handed Sailor | | • | Follow Me Home |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Dire Straits seemed to be a band with no popular context when they recorded this sophomore outing. Their previous album's "Sultans of Swing" still hadn't charted and former schoolteacher Mark Knopfler, whose 30th birthday coincided with this album's release, still had little interest in mirroring the post-punk obsessions of late-'70s London. Oblivious to the changes that would soon take place (brother David leaving the band, compact discs resurrecting older rock consumers, and their own ascension to arena-rock status), the band continued to refine its pub-rock aesthetic on this unpretentious set of melancholy rock tunes. Mark's talent for cynical character sketches is further developed on tracks like "Where Do You Think You're Going" and "News," while the presence of Jerry Wexler at the production helm ensures that the rest of the band keeps the rhythms tight. But the laid-back atmosphere of recording in the Bahamas seems to have had just as much influence, from the reggae lope of the opening "Once upon a Time in the West" to those waves crashing against the beach in the hypnotic album closer, "Follow Me Home." All in all, a solid effort from a band that probably had no idea what was just around the corner. --Bill Forman
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| Customer Reviews:
 Dire Straits' second album still sounds excellent 30 years on January 5, 2009
Terrence J. Reardon (Port Saint Lucie, FL)
Dire Straits' second album entitled Communique was released in June of 1979 on Vertigo/Phonogram in Europe and on Warner Bros here in the United States.
By the time Dire Straits recorded Communique in the Bahamas in late 1978 with Warner Bros A&R man Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett producing this go around, their self-titled debut which had a great blend of rock, blues, folk, jazz and even some Country to great effect caught on in many countries (with their native England being the last to catch on to what Holland, Germany, Australia and the US saw as rock's great new band).
Like its predecessor, Dire Straits consisted of lead singer/lead guitarist/songwriter Mark Knopfler, his rhythm guitarist brother David (who would leave in 1980), bass player John Illsley and drummer Pick Withers plus session keyboard player B Bear. Those who put this sophomore effort were in for a treat (as I found out one day when I finally acquired the album in January of 1998 (although was familiar with "Lady Writer" as US radio played it alot).
We begin the album with the epic "Once Upon a Time In the West" which starts with Mark's stellar guitar work which gives way into a great mid-tempo rocking number. "News" is next and another great mid-tempo track with excellent electric guitar work. Next is "Where Do You Think You're Going" which is a great number with some piano work and starts out in a slow tempo before it ends in a faster tempo with some fiery guitar work. The first side ended with the album's title cut which was a great mid-tempo rocker with a catchy chorus and a great riff.
The album's second side started with the hit single "Lady Writer" which is a great rocker. This was the put Dire Straits on the map and made the band huge here in the US. Next is the shuffling "Angel of Mercy" which was another great song with a great riff and superb chorus. We follow with "Portobello Belle" which was another great song. "Single Handed Sailor" follows and is another great number. We close the album with another five plus minute piece called "Follow Me Home" which was another phenomenal track.
Communique peaked at #11 on the Billboard chart and went Gold here in the US with 500,000 copies sold upon its release. Sales aside, Communique proved Dire Straits were to be no one-hit wonder.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
 Inessential March 29, 2008
M. S. Thomas (Kyoto, Japan)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Interesting to see so much love for this; I find it sluggish, derivative of the debut, inessential, a sophomore slump. Still, it sounds pretty good and can be a pleasant listen if one doesn't concentrate too hard. "Once Upon a Time in the West" is a promising start, one of the better tracks, with Knopfler's sardonic writing in force, "Sitting on the fence, that's a dangerous course/ You could even catch a bullet from the peace-keeping force," but "News" stutters and "Where Do You Think You're Going" gets going only in the last minute. From "Communique", the album mellows a bit, and with a hint of flamenco and a hint of funk and the title track is a nice tune, though far from truly vital. The single, "Lady Writer" is rehashed Sultans of Swing, but a catchy song for all that, and so on...the songs taken on their own are just fine, but the sum is considerably less than its parts.
 A Step Forward February 21, 2008
John Murray (Fredericton, NB, Canada)
The Straits second effort found them dealing with their sudden fame in a far more comfortable fashion than other stars of the late 1970's/early 1980's. Instead of simply rehashing their first album to grab more success, the Straits went after a moodier, darker sound in which even the upbeat songs sound edgy. The band would rise to greater heights later, but this album - somewhat forgotten in the shadows of hits like "Money For Nothing" and "Sultans Of Swing" - is still a must for any fan of Dire Straits.
Great Dire Straits album! February 8, 2008
Carl H. Boening (Coker, AL United States)
I am a huge fan of Mark Knopfler, but even so I was not expecting this Dire Straits album to be this good. Communique combines the best of both worlds, with it combo of soulful blues and esoteric Knopfler riffs and lyrics. Just a pleasure to listen to.
Dire Straits Showcases a Country-like Feel to their Sound January 1, 2008
L.A. Scene (Indian Trail, NC USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Dire Straits is a band that would form in the late 1970s. Throughout their career, Dire Straits, they would do things much differently than many of the other bands during the "British Invasion" that was taking place. In an era where Punk and New Wave were taking center stage, Dire Straits were doing things the old-fashioned way: a combination of Classic Rock, Blues, Folk, and even some Country. In latter years, Dire Straits would migrate toward more complex and progressive arrangements and somewhere along the way they would become pop stars. However, the early days of Dire Straits would demonstrate their roots around Classic Rock, Blues, Folk, and Country. This was demonstrated on their self-titled "Dire Straits" which showed a simpler, more-stripped down sound than what they would eventually become known for. The follow-up album, "Communique" would continue this sound but focus much more around a County and Folk sound. Some consider "Communique" the weak point of the Dire Straits catalog, but I think there is plenty of good music on this album.
For the most part, Dire Straits is the brainchild of its lead guitarist and vocalist - Mark Knopfler. Throughout his career, Knopfler would assemble a group of musicians that would comprise Dire Straits. Like on their debut album, "Communique" consisted of Mark Knopfler on vocals and lead guitars, his brother David - also on guitars, John Illsley (who would be the only constant throughout the life of Dire Straits besides Mark Knopfler) on bass, and Pick Withers on drums. On latter albums, Dire Straits would demonstrate more use of the keyboards (for example Roy Bittan would add a new dimension by playing keyboards on the "Making Movies" album), but as on the self-titled "Dire Straits" album, "Communique" would continue to focus around a guitar-oriented sound. "Communique" is not a hard-Rocking collection and will have more of a soft feel, yet this still is a very good collection.
As for the lyrics, Mark Knopfler does some of his best songwriting on this collection. I like how he makes use of metaphors and storytelling.
Here is a track by track review of this collection:
"Once Upon a Time in the West" This song demonstrates two themes on this album....the "Once Upon a Time" demonstrates the storytelling capabilities while "West" demonstrates the Country-Western feel. The guitar work is going to be the signature of this song - highlighted by the "twanging" sound that is heard throughout this collection.
"News": Similar feel to this song as "Once Upon a Time in the West". This song combines storytelling with the Country-Western feel of the guitar. I particularly liked the instrumental ending to this song - which is highlighted by some haunting drums by Pick Withers.
"Where Do You Think You're Going?": This is one of the stronger songs of the collection. Instead of sung as a story, this one is song from Mark Knopfler's point of view. The guitar strings sound three dimensional as they provide another Country-like feel. The ending of the song has a great guitar jam.
"Communique": This song starts with a strong Country-like feel to it. This song took a few listens for me to get into, but after a few listens, it definitely is worthy of a title track. I particularly like how the vocals "slow down" right at the end of each chorus with "Communique".
"Lady Writer": This song picks up the tempo and is one of the earliest of examples of Dire Straits pulling off a faster tempo song. The result is the album's strongest track and one that stands up with the best of Dire Straits' tracks. Still the Country-like guitar feel is prevalent throughout this track. There are some also nice background vocals on this track.
"Angel of Mercy": Here is another track that highlights the Country-Western like guitars by Dire Straits. Here is another track that took a few listens before I got into it. Once again, this song is highlighted by some good background vocals by the band.
"Portobello Belle": Same story here....more guitar-laden instrumentals with a Country like feel to the melody. This song also has a storytelling feel, but this time from Knopfler's point of view. The chorus is subtle, but very effective. This is one song where Dire Straits highlights the use of keyboards.
"Single Handed Sailor": This song maintains the Country feel to it, however this song is going to contain some outstanding guitar riffs. The end result will not only be a very catchy melody, but a very good song. I particularly liked the instrumental about 2/3 into the track that will wind things up. The song also follows a storytelling pattern. I've heard many call this one of Dire Straits' most underrated songs - I couldn't agree more.
"Follow Me Home": This song opens with the sounds of ocean waves. These waves segue into some very gentle guitar sounds (with the Country-like "twang" that is found on so many of these tracks). The vocals don't start until about just a little under two minutes into this track. I actually found this the collection's weakest track, but it still isn't a bad track.
The liner notes contain all of the lyrics to it. Overall, this album demonstrates the songwriting, vocal, and guitar talents of Mark Knopfler. It also demonstrates the musicianship for the rest of the band. This album does a nice job in expanding on the foundation that was established on the self-titled "Dire Straits" album. On this album, you can understand why it wasn't so unusual for Mark Knopfler to record with EmmyLou Harris. .Yes, Dire Straits have recorded stronger albums, but this album still does a very good job at holding their own. Highly recommended.
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