David Knopfler – Release (1983) Review | The Dance of Last Year’s Shadows
Kronomyth 1.0: The mystery dance
David Knopfler recorded two albums with Dire Straits and then abruptly left the band, releasing an album several years later that sounded remarkably like Dire Straits. Now, if this were a Mark Knopfler solo record, you’d be wondering what happened to Mark’s voice and if someone accidentally deleted the lead guitar tracks. Other than that, Release is pretty much Dire Straits firing on fewer cylinders. At its best, the album sounds like outtakes from the Straits’ first few albums. Madonna’s Daughter isn’t so far removed from “Espresso Love,” and Soul Kissing might have slipped onto any number of Straits albums with no one being the wiser. The album’s primary appeal will be to Dire Straits fans who want to hear what David is up to. For them, cameos from Mark Knopfler and John Illsey offer extra enticement. As someone who would have given his right arm to be in a band with his brother, I’ve never understood the family drama behind bands like Dire Straits, The Kinks and Oasis. Little Brother would seem to address the problems of the past, if you can connect the whole David pretending to be Mark giving David advice thing (I couldn’t). Although Release never gets completely unstuck from the Dire Straits comparisons and controversies, you get the sense that David Knopfler will eventually find his own voice. If his first album didn’t get the attention it deserved, at least it proves that David’s departure was Knopfler nothing.
The Product
A1. Soul Kissing
A2. Come to Me (David Knopfler/Harry Bogdanovs)
A3. Madonna’s Daughter
A4. The Girl and the Paperboy
A5. Roman Times (David Knopfler/Harry Bogdanovs)
B1. Sideshow
B2. Little Brother
B3. Hey Henry
B4. Night Train (David Knopfler/Harry Bogdanovs)
B5. The Great Divide
The Players
Dave Knopfler (guitars, synthesizers, pianos, vocals), Arran Ahmun (drums, congas, percussion), Harry Bogdanovs (synthesizers), Betsy Cook (piano, synthesizers, backing vocals), DMX (drums), Mike Pace (saxophones), Kevin Powell (bass guitars), Bud Roberts (guitars) with Marie Broady (backing vocals), Roger Downham (vibraphone), John Illsey (bass guitar on A1), Germaine Johnson (backing vocals), Mark Knopfler (rhythm guitar on A3), Pino Paladino (bass guitar on B3), Danny Schogger (piano on B5), Bobby Valentino (violin on B3). Produced by David Knopfler & Tony Spath; production work on initial recordings: Hugh Murphy; executive producer: Bernd Lissok.
The Pictures
Design and artwork by Busy Lizzy Design.
The Plastic
Released on elpee, cassette and compact disc in September 1983 in the UK and France (Peach River, DAVID 1), the US and Canada (Passport, PB/PBC 6030), Australia (Polydor, 817 235) and Germany (1/8 45080) with gatefold cover.
