David Knopfler – Behind the Lines (1984) Review | Another Joker’s Looking for Release
Kronomyth 2.0: It’s written in the missing book.
I bought a used copy of David Knopfler’s first solo album, Release, years ago, listened to it a handful of times, came to the unoriginal conclusion that it sounded like second-rate Dire Straits, and that was it for David Knopfler for about two decades. Fast-forward to last week, when I had an occasion to listen to Knopfler’s second album, Behind the Lines. And then I listened to it again, and again, and again. Each time I listened to it, it grew on me in a way that his first album never did. Yes, David’s vocals are a lot like his brother, Mark; so much so that you never completely shake the Dire Straits comparisons. But this is a very different record than Release. For starters, David doesn’t even play guitar on it, switching instead to piano and synthesizers. Recorded in Germany, the album was co-produced by Hans Rolf (a/k/a Charlie) Schade and features lots of synthesizers, studio production tricks, female backing singers and fretless bass that give the music a certain buoyancy. The whole second side is stellar, matching interesting lyrics with strong arrangements. The first side is lighter. The opening Heart to Heart and Shockwave, selected as the album’s singles, are catchy, middle-of-the-road romantic pop songs that don’t really play to Knopfler’s strengths. The noirish Double Dealing is better suited to his voice, delivered with tight-as-a-drum tension. As I said, the album doesn’t try to break free from Dire Straits completely, but it does go in a different direction, carving out a little corner of the musicverse just for David Knopfler. It’s a pleasant place to visit and would currently get my vote as the place to start if you’re interested in his extradire adventures. Oddly, the album appears to have been released first in France, then the UK and Germany, with no US distribution. A missed opportunity, that, although the music was likely to perform better with europop audiences.
The Product
A1. Heart to Heart
A2. Shockwave (David Knopfler/Bud Roberts/Hans Rolf Schade)
A3. Double Dealing
A4. The Missing Book
A5. I’ll Be There
B1. Prophecies
B2. The Stone Wall Garden
B3. Sanchez
B4. One Time
All songs written by David Knopfler unless noted.
The Players
Dave Knopfler (lead vocals, piano and synths), Arran Ahmun (drums and percussion), Judy Cheeks (backing vocals), Richard Dunn (piano and synths), Dave Jackson (backing vocals), Mick Jackson (backing vocals, backing vocal arrangements), Pino Palladino (bass guitar), Bud Roberts (guitars and synth guitar), Charlie Schade (synths), Pat Schockley (backing vocals), Forrest Thomas (backing vocals) with Taif Ball (bass guitar on A3/A5), Nick Davis (additional bass guitar on A4), George Mayr (saxophone on A5), Peter Schon (synths and bass synth on A1).Produced by David Knopfler and Hans Rolf Schade; engineered by Hans Rolf Schade.
The Pictures
Cover by Bill Smith. Photography by Andrew Douglas.
The Plastic
Released on elpee and cassette in 1984 in France (Polydor, 825 796-1/4) and in 1985 on elpee, cassette and compact disc in the UK (Making Waves, SPRAY/CSPRAY102) and Germany (Intercord 145/845.086) with innersleeve or gatefold cover (UK).
