The keyboards player got a raise.He was the Director of Music for Tina Turner.

hard to believe this came out almost 40 years ago. Amazing.

MASTERPIECE, Mark Knopfler is a genius

Hands down, one of the GREATEST performances EVER! I never get tiredof hearing this absolute MASTERPIECE!😀

"Alchemy" is an appropriate word for this album. Each of these musicians is great in his own right, but when you put them together, they turn to pure gold!

Alcemy is one of the best albums produced ever!

Brilliant musicians, brilliant song!!

This track is a masterpiece and the sound of "Alchemy" is incredible, sound engineers made an amazing work and mix on this live ❤

Mark is definitely from Newcastle. Newcastle United Football Club play his Theme from the film Local Hero at the start of all home games. Don't forget Mark has, to date 9 solo studio albums plus lots of film music (Local Hero, Cal, Princess Bride, Comfort and Joy, Last Exit to Brooklyn, Wag the Dog, Metroland, A Shot at Glory and Altamira)

From the same Alchemy live concert you’ll inevitably fall for Tunnel Of Love, Once Upon A Time In The West, Romeo And Juliet or Private Investigations. The whole (incomplete) show captured on camera is to great!

Terry Williams killed it on Sultans, Alan Clark killed it on this track! Mark again doing what he does best. Such a brilliant concert with everyone in the zone and feeling the music. All were at the top of their game.

What I love about this song is the music and the lyrics go hand in hand in perfect symmetry the keys make you think of a beautiful and simplistic nature landscape and human emotion while and the guitar playing and the drumming just makes you think of nails being hammered into the wood cabin and being fast forwarded through time to steel beams being put in place by cranes and hammers banging on steel for skyscrapers and the six lanes of traffic that’s filled with countless trucks moving slow we fast forward through the industrialisation of the land and then we get the consequences of such industrialisation through the human element the modern person has been fired/laid off and there’s “no work to be found” anymore and all the signs are saying “sorry but were closed” and this persons significant other is unhappy they are “acting a little colder like that don’t seem to care” the telegraph road is having a deeply negative effect on the main protagonist from work to personal life but even tho in the final verse of the song it starts of with these lyrics “but believe in me baby, and I’ll take you away from out of this darkness and into the day” and it’s got a motivational ending that they will leave the telegraph road to greener pastures I feel like it’s false hope, I feel like this line from the previous verse says it pretty clear “and the birds up on the wires and the telegraph poles can always fly away of this rain and this cold” implying he simply can’t this town is ingrained in his identity it’s the protagonists hometown even tho it’s shitty the telegraph road will keep them in place capitalism will grind him out and keep the main protag put. I’ll admit the last section about the ending is simply my opinion and take but I feel objectively everything else I said is pretty universal it’s a masterpiece of a song the best they ever did it's up there with the greatest rock songs and story telling songs of all time.

A pure ALCHEMY, the perfection, when some human beings, are playing together! Unreal performance!

Syed I think we can safely say you are out of the hiphop closet and into the rock n roll street!

I was fortunate to see Dire Straits live twice. They are my favorite band. Mark Knopfler rightfully gets credit as an all time great guitarist, however the other members of the band are excellent musicians in their own right. Watch any live performance and point out which member wasn't awesome at what he was doing. I think Kopfler is underrated because he's not flamboyant and in your face. Notice when he solos he doesn't step forward to bring all the attention to himself and do all kinds of crazy thing. He typically steps back to be at the same level as the other guitarists and just plays without the gyrations or anything else that bring attention to him. The pianist Alan Clark joined the band circa 1980. The Straits needed a keyboardist so they asked around for recommendations. Clark was referred and the rest was history. That's how it worked back in the day if you were a player with a great reputation.

Great musicians who were at the top of their game just killing it, and they knew it. It's magic when that happens.

This song in this concert is one of the best performances of all time. A slice of heaven . In other live performances of this song they actually do use a flute instead of the keyboard.

Masterpiece and my favorite version of this song 🔥 thank you for reacting and enjoying

Great reaction to and appreciation for an incredible song. Telegraph Road is a work of art. The entire band pulled off the performance of a lifetime - the likes of which, sadly, none of us will likely ever get to see again. Keep up the good work.

The whole band has incredible "feel". Really magical

That's LIVE... Immaculate! Can't hear it today anywhere, cause they all use some sort of "help".

That distinctive acoustic guitar sound at the opening is from the metal-front acoustic guitar made by National. Paul Simon refers to it in his classic song Graceland: "The Mississippi delta was shining like a National guitar...."

Awesome live performance . . . I saw them several times when I was living in London.

Indeed, this instrumentation is perfect. Also about the voice of Knopfler, it is actually inspired from Bob Dylan. You can actually hear the influence, where he’s not exactly singing, but still is managing to catch notes. Pianist was Alan Clarke, one of the best pianist of all time! Terry Williams on drums is just amazing to see. Also Hal Lindes and John Illsley on rhythm and bas is actually makes this song stand out!

Interesting fact : Mark was a lecture on writing at University and holds three honorarium PhD's in Music .

I love rock and roll. Concerts in those days really took you on a journey.

I like that you refer to Sultans Of Swing as another highlight from the tour - it is, but mate it’s all one concert. Alchemy the album was recorded on one night, what I wouldn’t give to have been there, although I would have been 12 years old at the time… Great reaction video, and some very great observations about both the playing and mood end sentiment of the song, nice work. Also I like the fact that you look just like I feel every time I hear this song: A big smile and a big “wow”!

Best of the Best. An eargasm!!! Such a masterpiece, this is crazy🎸🔥🎸🔥❤️

It is so much fun to watch your enjoyment of this absolute masterpiece! Just an amazing performance!

The pianist & YOU both need a raise 👊🏻

Best live Telegraph Road performance in my opinion. Thanks Syed - great reaction.

Saw them at a small club in Atlanta in 1978. They had so few songs in their portfolio, they played Sultans of Swing twice. Great show!

Performances like this is like haleys comet, you will only ever see it once every 75 years, I still wanna know what possessed knopfler to sit down and write a song that was 14 minutes long 😮 what an absolute masterpiece 🥺

I was lucky enough to be an audience member in the UK on that tour.... Just so amazing as you can imagine... and what a way to end a concert before the encores. It's hard to single out a track from that tour but Romeo & Juliet was amazing, the tracks starts with the same steel guitar that is used at the beginning of this track but all the lights were down and a single spotlight shone on the guitar and as Mark moved it sent flashes of light around the concert hall... Just a fabulous way to start the song. Keep on Rocking.

I've always loved this band and I don't mind admitting, I had a tiny crush on Mark Knopfler when I was a teenager. I never thought about comparing him to Bruce Springsteen, but I can totally see it after you explained more. And when you mentioned a Symphony, I thought it would be the perfect time to introduce to another iconic group. This Jeff Lynne and his orchestra (Electric Light Orchestra) are hugely popular. This was another band that had spectacular concerts. They had massive stadiums filled with fans. Here's a live performance, in case you're interested "Standin' In The Rain - Jeff Lynne's ELO Alone In The Universe 2017 UK TOUR" That was a very nice reaction, thanks for the memories👍

Stars aligned in this alchemy. The first album I bought was Dire Straits. My first music love, still love it.

Also a beautiful version, especially for guitarist. Good view on his fingers. Basel Live ,92 - Telegraph Road: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fJp3o9h1ntzYlKc.html

You need to see tunnel of love same concert

I am so glad that this new ”reaction” youtube culture introduces our music to new generations ❤ I was born 1968 🎉

Wonderful! Usually, a studio recording is preferable for what you do - calling out the craft, musicianship and artistry of the song and the songwriting. But here the live track offers even more --- more of Knopfler's terrific guitar work and an even deeper emotional range because of the dynamics and energy of the live performance. Great choice!

Alen Clark ,keys , is one of the outstanding keyboard players and plays often with mark still ,same w/ john on the base

So glad you revisited this Dire Straits live masterpiece. Thank you. Subscribed and Liked. 👍

In their moment in time, all of these great musicians came together and made some amazing music. Classic!

Sultans of Swing will always be my favourite, but lyrically this is the most poetic track they ever did. Wonderful!

Great reaction. Yeah the piano part of Alan Clark is amazing!

Love your Reactions. The whole Alchemy Album ist fantastic. And of course there is another gem - Private Investigations...

Alchemy is a musical delight from start to finish. The band is so tight, they have fun, the audience is fabulous, definitely one of the "must hear /must see" gig. Glad to see you enjoy. About Mark Knopfler: when Eric Clapton himself plays rhythm guitar for you, that speaks volumes about your talent. His tone and ability to tell a story with only guitar notes is simply amazing. Definitely try Brothers in arms Mandela tribute live, another banger.

Epic! And it's called "dynamics"!!

Dire Straits Wembley - 1985 live Have a listen !!!!!

Great reaction, I love seeing people appreciate a band I have loved for decades. The whole Alchemy concert is amazing, try Tunnel of Love next, but listen to the studio version then the Alchemy live version.

My mum & dad bought me the VHS 😂 of this when I was seven. Mark Knopfler became my guitar hero and remains so. Seen him live multiple times on his solo tours and seen Telegraph Road live many times. This version remains the best though. He’s a genius song writer and guitarist and life is better for it.

The outro is brilliant - like an organised jam session. Mark and John Illsley the bassist are the only 2 constant members of the band.

I bought the Lovem Over Gold album when it came out and loved this song on it but never heard the Live Alchemy version of it. Very impressive, everybody plays their asses off!

I'm enjoying your reactions to songs. It brings back memories of when i first heard a good song. Hear is how Mark Knopfler got the idea for the song. The Telegraph Road is a major north-south 70 mile thoroughfare in Michigan. Mark Knopfler was inspired to write this song while riding in the front of the tour bus, which made the journey down Telegraph Road. At the time, Knopfler was reading the novel The Growth Of the Soil by the Nobel Prize winning Norwegian author Knut Hamsun and he was inspired to put the 2 together and write a song about the beginning of the development along Telegraph Road and the changes over the ensuing decades. This was a metaphor for the development of America and the ruining of one man's dreams in the wake of its decline, in particular focusing on unemployment. Amazing sound for the time.

People frequently mention Dylan when they're trying to describe Mark's voice and delivery, but Mark also pulled a lot from J.J. Cale. He's worth a listen for sure.

Syed.. you should also check another Out Space Live performance.. the Crossroads, originally written by Robert Jonhson but played in something indescribable way by E Clapton and Mark Knopfler in 1988, with both them paying a tribute to one of the apostles of guitar Robert Johnson

You MUST Peter Gabriel - in your eyes - Secret World tour for a fantastic live performance

Now you have to do Tunnel of Love from Alchemy….this has my favourite outro of any song ever!

Keep in mind, this was the encore. They'd already played a full set... and then came back out and played this long song for the fans.

You should absolutely react to Tunnel Of Love from this show next.

Thisn't the best song you've listened to this month, this is the best song you've listened to EVER!

Thanks for the reaction! Tunnel of Love (Studio, Wembley or Alchemy Live), Once Upon a Time in the West (Alchemy Live) and Brothers in Arms (Mandela Live) are also definitely worth checking out :)

I was brought up on this live album and to this day it is still my favourite piece of live music I’ve ever heard

almost impossible to believe this was live, wow

It is interesting that Mark Knopfler often is not included in “top 20” and such lists of guitar players. I’m thinking that, even though he had a unique and easily recognizable sound, his playing was very “clean” and understated. Not much distortion, whammy, wah-wah, dramatic bends. He was impressive for damn sure, a great player, but doesn’t ooze charisma. Those are some reasons I think he is underrated.

Musicians that feed off the audience and preform best live are tthe real musicians . Mark and D S are one .

I was there in 1983 and the standout musicians were Terry Williams on the drums and Alan Clark on the keys It was my second concert, and its still possibly the best

Mark was actually born in Glasgow Scotland..

Private investigations is another stand-out!

John Ilsley excellent bass really is the glue that keeps this epic song together. Some of the major shifts in tone, and they’re many, are driven by this bass. All the instruments fuse brilliantly

LOL! I'd never heard of Mark Knopfler being described as looking like John McEnroe but what a great observation! McEnroe also plays guitar btw - but I'm guessing not as well 😅 Glad you enjoyed this classic track

While he was performing this he was writing brothers in arms

I saw Dire Straits on this tour for "Love Over Gold". "Alchemy" is my favor Dire Straits album, because it's like a live "Best Of" up that point in 1983 for Dire Straits. Really great versions of: "Once Upon a Time in the West", "Tunnel of Love", "Two Young Lovers", "Telegraph Road", and my favorite from this album, "Romeo and Juliet". Do others from this album and you are in for a treat.

I always hear shades of Bob Dylan in his vocals (of whom I'm also a fan btw)

I think Bob Dylan said it best when he said Dire Straits sound like one person. There's no band that blends the way they do - even more amazing when you consider they had a couple of lineup changes over the years.

As a kid in the 80's, I had red Fender bullet, tennis headband and wrist bands, an old suit jacket with the sleeves pushed up and a white T-shirt with the Brett Whitely arrows on it. What an insufferable wanker I must have looked. I wore the taped copy of this album out trying to play along with it. I succeeded so well that I became a bass player.

I think what you’re hearing that gives you the Springsteen vibe is the phrasing. For instance in Sultans of Swing I don’t think you’d make that comparison, the phrasing is totally different. But here I could almost hear Bruce singing this. It’s his style of phrasing. Mark has a distinct voice but can use it in so many ways. My personal favorite is Once Upon a Time in The West. Great video, Sonny T

I think one has to read "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck before you can really appreciate this song.

cool

Jimmy H, Stevie Ray, and a couple of others can play the guitar into submission. However, for nuanced genius and total mastery I'll take David Gilmore and Mark Knopfler any day of the week.

Another concert that is 'next level' and IMHO held on a similar plane to Alchemy and Pulse etc as something special is John Farnham playing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. One of the most skilled (and down to earth) male vocalists of all time belting out his 3.5 octave range with a world renowned Symphony Orchestra. Live concerts don't get much better and Farnsey live is totally world class. His audience engagement is also almost without peer.

Dire Straits Tunnel Of Love live Wembley is even better.

More great live performances: "In Your Eyes," by Peter Gabriel (Secret World Live tour, 1993) "Sunday Bloody Sunday," by U2 (live at Red Rocks, 1983) Queen's whole set from Live Aid (1983) "Folsom Prison Blues," by Johnny Cash (live at San Quentin Prison, 1969) "Sing, Sing, Sing (with a Swing)," by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (live at Carnegie Hall, 1938)

Old Newcastle. George lad

The old adage the best note played is the note not played works just as well on the piano as the guitar.

They really don't make like that anymore!

The comparison to Springsteen is apt... Springsteen's band also had an ace pianist, Roy Bittan.

Sometimes I think Mark sounds a bit like Lou Reed on some tracks.

What you thought might be Japanese was, I think, intended to invoke the N American wilderness with its native American people and culture before the settlement by the new Americans.

The problem with musicians these days is they don’t wear headbands, sweatbands and vests

He's from Glasgow

You mentioned you never see marks name come up when they talk about guitarists, well I'm here to tell you that someone has got it VERY VERY WRONG, he's top 5 without a shadow of a doubt, end of!!! 🥺

Dire Straits one of the all time great live bands, up there with, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynyd and ELO

Somehow this is the first time I've ever heard this. Absolutely has a Springsteen vibe.

You think dire straits are this good check out some pink Floyd you won't want stop listening to them trust me

Need to clean out your ears, thats the most distinct Newcastle accent I've ever hear.

Hello de France a regarder aussi le live de 1993[Calling Elvis]On the night😊😊😊

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Clark_(keyboardist) All you need to know.