I'm 70 yrs old...in all my life, nothing has ever surpassed this master piece.. Sultans of Swing. Love seeing reactions of those who are seeing and hearing this for the first time. Beyond words! Thanks for sharing. My gen, really did have all the best music!!

Can I add a shoutout to the sound engineer who balanced this performance to perfection.

One of the all-time best live performances EVER.

Iam 82 and love seeing young folks react to the pure talent from the 70 s. Not yelling and banging on the guitar .the guitar player used 3 finger pickin like his idol Chet Adkins

Terry Williams owns this performance! One of the greatest drum performances EVER!

The drummer is an absolute beast, and Mark's phrasing and note choices are just perfection. There are so few guitarists who can do what he's doing, at that level, in a live performance. That's why he is, and will remain one of my personal guitar heroes.

Arguably the best live version of any song ever!

I've been listening to Dire Straits for 40 years and will continue until the last day of my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm 61 and was at the concert back in 1983 and I watch this almost daily. Truly stunning

That drummer is a machine!!!

There are places you can see on Marks face, the recognition of what’s happening, the exuberance and joy! This is what music was given to us for! ❤️‍🔥

As an American, there certainly is something about British rock bands. Something grand.

You can tell by the smile on Mark’s and the rest of the bands face, that was an epic performance and they caught lightning in a bottle that night

They say that everybody gets their 15 minutes of fame during a lifetime..............This is one of those moments for Dire Straits. Everything clicked at the right moment, making it one of the best live performances ever in rock' n roll history. Long live Dire Straits and Rock 'n Roll

Some nights a band just performs pure magic, you know when you're in the audience, you can just feel it. It's an amazing experience.

Such a great time to be in the audience. No phones and people obsessing over screens. Just fans clapping along.

Quite simply…One of the greatest bands and songs ever produced!!!

The year when "Sultans of Swing" was released I had a cassette in my VW bus travelling through Italy. I always had a swarm of Italian fans around me asking "Who is this, who is this?......"

The thing about Mark Knopfler is that he's left-handed but mastered a right-handed guitar to a level most right-handed players could only dream of attaining. True virtuoso.

The guitars….the drums….i can listen to this over and over!

I’m the same age as Mark 74, I am lucky enough to have seen them live twice. ❤

I could listen to this performance for the rest of time on repeat and not get bored of it. Something new to listen to on each playing. Amazing.

Five brilliant musicians and a crowd _all_ hitting their A-game at the same time on the same night. Magic !

Fantastic seeing the audience so engrossed in the performance and without phones 😊

I've been a fan of Dire Straights since the start, they have so much talent and made wonderful music. This performance was magic. I was delighted to get to see them live in concert once way back when.

Dire Straits music amongst others helped me get through the hardest time of my life in 1979 when I spent four and a half months in hospital after a serious road crash.

Terry on drums - such energy, such drive, so powerful, so accurate - just IMMENSE!

Best drumming I've ever heard.

I'm from the UK and can't believe you haven't heard this before.

The drummer and key boards were wonderful!

Mark Knopfler is hands down a genious at the strings... simply mindblowing 🔥🔥🔥

Is this the song that no one has been able to duplicate his guitar playing? This is truly a MASTERPIECE!!

The song of all time

I still can't get over the fact that Mark Knopfler is actually left handed. Pure genius as a guitarist/songwriter/performer/storyteller.

My life has been happy because I could listen to his songs. From South Korea

Being a Pink Floyd fan all of my life, I still have to say, "That was by far the best life performance I ever saw"

I always listen to this live performance when I need a lift 😉. I also get a real kick out of watching others enjoy this for the first time!

@13:49, you never ever ever ever stop this solo mid way, god! :D

So soothing. Phenomenal instrumentation. They aren't just performing, they're having a good old fashioned jam session.

My absolute favourite recording of any track ever. I will have this played in full at my funeral as the soundscape to me life - I hope, I won't know! Mark Knopfler will forever be my hero.xx

No words! Your face said it all. Exemplary, incredible. Perfection.

I absolutely loved your reaction -- and, yes, this undoubtedly is a masterpiece (just like Pink Floyd's live version of 'Comfortably Numb', in my opinion). 🙂 Just had to think of my late father, who loved classical music all his life, but also blues, soul and the American crooners. I once watched a TV show with him in the early 1980s where Dire Straits performed "Sultans of Swing" -- not this extended version, but still great. It was his first time seeing/hearing them. His jaw dropped and when the last note was played, they had a new fan. Just a quick anecdote to share with you and everyone else. All best from Germany

No words for this live … just incredible pleasure 🙏

Sir, I am German, but this band "Dire Straits" is very unique in so many ways. Marc Knopfler wrote songs that were food for thought. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

If you liked this, you MUST listen to "Telegraph Road" from the same Alchemy Live gig. The chemistry between Mark's guitar and Alan's piano is amazing.

I feel the absolute genius of this live extended version is EVERY riff and excursion on MK's guitar is based entirely on the chord structure, progression and melody of the song. He never departs to go off-piste in showing his finger picking range: he blows it out of the water constraining himself such that every solo phrase is a complex yet melodic echo of the song. It's why it has zero dissonance. Additionally, his off the cuff lyrical riffs make this a unique moment in their canon. Better late than never to this GOAT version enhanced by their first gig with a new drummer, Terry Williams, who added a new dimension to this live performance (helped his parents were in the crowd") I've been lucky to have been a follower of DS and MK since Dire Straits' first hit (this one as I was 18 and at sea for the first time when i got a letter screaming at me to find this single and buy it) to his current solo career... unparalleled breadth and guitar and lyrical virtuosity ...

First time I heard this song I was hooked. They weren't like any other band in existence. Totally different sound. So much talent.

I remember the first time I heard this, I walked into a friend's house, they were playing this album, and I was trying to pay attention to what we were all talking about, but the music kept grabbing my attention, I've probably heard it ten thousand times since then, but it never gets old.

This performance was recorded in the early 70’s. The best ever. No need to pause any more!

This is my favorite song from Dire Straits. I love Mark's guitar playing. especially in Sultan's of Swing. He is a master guitarist and musician. I am so glad you got to hear this. No one else has ever sounded like Dire Straits. Great reaction as usual.

that performance was flawless great job

One of the best bands in the history of rock music. Thank you!

Never interrupt a guitar solo … particularly this one.

Terry Williams (drummers dad) first time there watching his son play drums - he must of been soooo proud

So glad I saw them live in the 80's. It was a magnificent concert. Loved the show. Best lead guitarist ever, so lyrical. Just beautiful playing by a left-hand player playing a right-hand guitar and using his fingers not a guitar pick. Nothing short of fantastic, superb, sublime. One of the world's greatest ever musicians & bands DIRE STRAITS just showed us how it is done. Virtuoso lead guitarist Mark with equally brilliant musicians so talented xoxo

Such a great live version! Dire Straits are a great British rock band from the 70's-90's. Mark Knopfler is one of the best guitarists around. They have had so many hits including "Walk Of Life", "Brothers In Arms", "Money For Nothing", "Telegraph Road", "Romeo & Juliet", "Private Investigations", "Twisting By The Pool", "So Far Away" etc. They don't have a bad song.

My favorite song of all time and favorite guitar solo. This live version of the solo is even more incredible than the studio album version!

"Make that guitar cry" he said and believe me he certainly did!

The bands from the 60s through the mid 80s were so good. Real musicians playing timeless music. Another great example here.

Incredible band and of course led by the one of a kind, Mark Knopfler. The man is a virtuoso. Remarkable songwriter, guitarist and performer. You said it right... A masterpiece. Great reaction.

Well into the 100s of times listening to this masterpiece and hear something new every single time!

I could listen to this forever...

I love how they are all having fun especially the back up keyboardist (top right) is jumping thru the whole time.

The drummer is on FIRE

I have a hard time believing people have not heard this song at this point. It is one of the best rock songs of all time period. The solos are amazing, the entire band is on point. It is a masterpiece.

This has been both my favorite song and had my favorite guitar solo for 35 years.

Top ten rock performance of all time

I get a tingle down my spine when I hear this every time

Agree. You always know a fantastic band because they are amazing musicians, great songs and always even better live!

it was good when i first watched it and now all these years latter --- its just as good, one of the best ever.

I can remember the first time I heard this....I was sitting in my Dads Vauxhall Viva outside our local village shop. I had the radio on....this came on and I was instantly blown away!! I'm 68 now and still does it for me. Thanks.

This performance was basically more like a jam session for them.

Best live performance ever. 😊😊😊 So glad I saw them live in the 80s.

Someone once described the outro solo of the song as like “walking through the gates of heaven.” Can’t remember who said that to me, but have always thought it was the perfect description. My theory is that the outro is all about joy.

I have to say it was one of life's great music experiences to be in the crowd watching Dire Straits play this and all their other hits live. This song was my introduction to them when it was released when I was just a tacker at school

Thank you for your reaction to this masterpiece.❤ This IS the best live performance ever! ❤❤❤❤

Back when I was 12 and my brother was 15 all heard blasting from his room was Dire straits I no most songs word for word only now at 43 I'm thankful this music was in my home my brother now 47 has seen him a few times he still just as outstanding ❤

Sultans of Swing was released in 1978. I remember where I was when I first heard it and was totally mesmerised. Still mesmerised by their sound.

Drummers Dad was in the audience, seeing him play for the 1st time.

I read somewhere the drummer's Dad was in the audience that night, so amped up , he sped tempo up , and Mark and the boys responded, with smiles!

This song rocks. Mark is an amazingly talented man & awesome on the guitar 💯🎯

I remember this coming out, in about 1979. I was in the sixth form at school, and being knocked out by it.. It has been a lifelong favourite.

I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this. I love it so much. The cool guys on the block. I especially love watching reactions.

Totally agree with your assessment. Amazing, fantastic, incredible and every other word that means the same!!!!!!

The first time I heard this was when it was released & it was played on Top of the pops for the first time, I was just getting ready to go to the pub to meet up with the crowd I hung around with, at the time it was so different from everything else & the quality stood out like a bright light from everything else. When I got to the pub the first thing I was asked was if I'd heard it or seen them on TV earlier, they had quite an impact with many right from the start & quite a few from our crowd including me went on to follow them & buy everything they did.

Isn’t that Mark’s younger brother (mostly playing to the right of the screen) playing guitar with him? What a family!

Yep!! This is a Good One no doubt!! It never gets old.

This performance comes at you in waves.

Through my 7 decades on this earth..this brings me chills..I love it so muçh..lifts my life every time I hear it! Hope it does the same for you too!

I’d love to hear a recording of this with the drums highlighted… to appreciate them even more.

Late 1970ies, early 1980ies, there wasn't just one iconic song. There were many. But this one is a very special one of the iconic songs of that era. I went to school at that time and a lot of the music played on radio was either disco or punk music or hard rock. Like today music was often selected by the length of the pieces, 3 minutes was long already. That song was rarely shortened - probably the radio stations were receiving a lot of angry calls from listeners when they did. Dire Straits and the artistic guitar playing of Mark Knopfler were really fascinating. With every song they were able to create a special mood and unique atmosphere: Sultans of Swing, Romeo and Juliet, Tunnel of Love, Once upon a Time in the West, Telegraph Road, Brothers in Arms, Walk of Life.

Agree that the British rock bands are top notch. Dire Straits are pure fire!

And I was seen live, February 18, 1979 at the Stadhalle in Bremen / Germany. was just awesome!

🎶K so now🎸 "Telegraph Road" 🎸same venue later in the show where their jackets come off. Mark changes his guitar choice to a resonator guitar that I just love. Thank you for reacting to this song!

I was a student at Leeds University in the late 70s, when Dire Straits brought out their first album Dire Straits, which featured Sultans of Swing. A couple of my house-mates told me they were going to the Polytechic to see this hot new band Dire Straits. They told me they’d be really good. Unfortunately, I’d bought tickets for a Siouxie and the Banshees concert at the University Union, and told them I couldn’t go. What a mistake, one I only discovered after picking up a copy of the Dire Straits album in Oxford Street ( London). Great band and fantastic lead guitarist. Siouxie has faded into history. Dire straits will carry on entertaining lovers of music long after Mark Knopfler and the other band members have gone. P.S. I did go to better concerts than Siouxie’s at the University Union - Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, and Lindisfarne to name a few. 18:35

Glad you enjoyed it. I personally think this is the best live performance of a song by any artist/band period! To be honest any of the Alchemy Live songs are worth a watch but away from that Brothers in Arms live at The Nelson Mandela 70th birthday concert at Wembley is magical

As an U.S.A.F. veteran of 20 years i always loved their " Brothers in Arms" but Home Free did a cover of it that is so good. I know it was written for the British but still love it.

Dire Straits is not on my Top 10 list of favorites bands, not even top 50...but this has to be one of, if not the, greatest live performances ever done...hands down. Simply fantastic.

This is the song that landed a recording contract, it's also the title of the first studio album. The original recording is around five minutes long, this live version is around ten minutes. It's thrilling to see a fantastic group just get up and play for fun and this is probably the best version. Thank you for the reaction.

Terry is killing it!