Dire Straits - Live 1978 - 1992 (3 LP)
- LP
- 3 piece(s)
- 2023
- 64 tracks
- 5 uur, 52 min
- classic rock
Live 1978 - 1992
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4.4
Average of 17 reviews
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Let me be crystal clear: I'm after the EU version of the "Live 1978–1992" box set, specifically the "On The Night" album. I've got a duplicate of LP2 (sides three and four). Here's the runout info:Side I: 5540604-A / BN 98007-01 A1Side J: 5540604-B / BN 98007-01 B1I'm on the hunt for LP1 (sides one and two) with these runouts:5540603-A / BN 97869-01 A15540603-B / BN 97869-01 B1I'm happy to swap my extra LP2 for your spare LP1. EU version is what I'm after. Message me if you're interested.
I've got this Box set, but my version of ‚On The Night‘ has two copies of LP 2 and is missing LP 1. Is there anyone out there with the opposite issue who'd like to swap, so we can both have a complete box set? I'm based in Hamburg, Germany.
Absolutely breathtaking mastering. This is a real auditory delight so far. I bought it primarily for On the Night, which is quite hard to come by unless you're willing to pay an insane amount of money. However, I do feel they missed an opportunity by not including Planet of New Orleans. Having two versions of Latest Trick and the Encores was a bit much. But overall, they've crammed a ton into this boxset, so it's fantastic value and the ultimate DS live collection for the devoted fan!!" (Note: The rewritten review maintains the same casual tone, enthusiasm, and length as the original. It also mirrors the original's use of abbreviations like "ur" and the double exclamation mark for emphasis. The specific tracks mentioned and the sentiment towards them remain unchanged. The phrase "kookoo crazy" is rephrased to "insane amount of money" to convey the same meaning, and "missed a beat" is replaced with "missed an opportunity" to maintain the original sentiment. The rewritten review does not introduce any new information or correct the original's spelling or grammatical choices.)
Received this today. Absolutely fantastic but pricey package!!! I've had the CD for about a month now and I've really enjoyed it. I already own Alchemy in all formats, and On The Night on vinyl and CD from 1993. I’ve got Encores on 12” and CD too. And the DVD releases. At The BBC was pressed on vinyl back in 1995 but I’ve never seen it in person and it’s expensive and hard to find. I only have the CD. After buying the CD box and enjoying it, I decided to purchase this massive 12 vinyl set, because if I didn't, I know in 6 months time it will be out of print and selling for far more than it costs now. So, as a long time fan of the band I am, I don't mind spending on the bands I really love, and Dire Straits is one of them. The 6 studio albums were released in a vinyl box about 10 years ago and that had new masters and fleshed out Brothers In Arms to the CD length in a double vinyl package. On Every Street was spread over 2 vinyl discs too. I already had all the original LPs and the Stan Ricker cut of Brothers In Arms, another double pressing on Warner Bros. I don't really buy that much new vinyl these days as it's getting ridiculously expensive but this live box looked very attractive, and yes I bought "On Every Street" double LP a few years ago too! LIVE AT THE RAINBOW [December 1979. Previously Unreleased]. This sounds better than the CD version. On the CD Marks vocal seems a little distant and his guitar has lots of reverb. Here the vinyl is very warm and punchy. It’s nice to hear songs from the first two albums in a live setting and “Southbound Again” sounds much funkier here than it does on the original album. What’s striking is Pick Wither’s drums. He’s an amazing timekeeper, with a steady backbeat that’s tricked out at times with silky hi-hat licks and tom tom flutters. The listening experience is delightful and engaging. I’m amazed this wasn’t released years before now! I wonder what else is in the archives! This gig was the final show from the tour and on the last four cuts are Rock 'n' Roll covers where the band are joined by Phil Lynott [Thin Lizzy] and Tony De Meur [The Fabulous Poodles]. LIVE AT THE BBC [Recorded July 1987. Previously released June 1995] The first 7 tracks on this "live in concert" were recorded for BBC Radio in July 1978 at The Paris Theatre London, the bands hometown, while track 8 was recorded for the Old Grey Whistle Test in January 1981. This album has been remastered for this box and "Tunnel Of Love" which was previously mono for reasons unknown has had electronic 'widening' and sounds all the better for it. The band are in fine form here after a rocky start. The songs are all from the 1978 debut except "What's The Matter Baby?" which is also a co-write between Mark and David Knopfler, don't differ too drastically from the original cuts, maybe they're a little looser. This new pressing sounds fine, with clear highs and tight low bass. There's no noise from the vinyl itself which is fantastic, so the sounds just pop out. Very nice indeed. Listening to the band live back in 1978 here, they could have been an American band from the mid-west you accidentally saw in a pub while stepping in out of the rain on a wintry Friday night in London, never to be seen again. You'd never have predicted the mega stardom less than 7 years later in 1985. ALCHEMY [Recorded July 1983. Previously released March 1984] This was the bands first live album recorded on the last two nights of the Love Over Gold tour at Hammersmith Odean, London, July 1983. The band was now augmented with keyboards, Saxophone and percussion and the sound is for the stadiums and not the pubs. Drummer Pick Withers had left before the tour started and was replaced by Terry Williiams, ex-Rockpile and Paul Brady. Williams was a heavy hitter for sure and the sound is tougher and bigger. The original double vinyl had just 10 tracks while the CD and Cassette slipped in "Love Over Gold" making it 11. It's now been expanded to a 3 LP set with the addition of "Industrial Disease", "Twisting by The Pool" and "Portobello Belle" which was on the 1988 Money For Nothing compilation but the mix sounds different here. I not sure if they're identical. Also on this set "Telegraph Road" swaps places with "Solid Rock". "The Rocks and the Thunder" is missing from the intro of "Going Home" I must add. The original release has this intact. I would have liked to hear "It Never Rains" from this tour too but it may have been dropped from the set after the 1982 leg. The vinyl is well pressed again, nice solid and warm sound. This is as good as it gets. I always felt the earlier press and CD were a bit harsh and slightly aggressive. The long moody intro to "Once Upon a Time in The West" pays off when Terry William's drums explode and the band comes to life. Alchemy is often regarded as the best era of the band and will be 40, soon. Some cite it as one of the best live albums of all time and as of now, officially anyway, we can't compare it to anything from 1985/86 when the band were at their commercial and global peak with the zillion selling "Brothers in Arms" album. Note! in 2025 "Brothers in Arms" will be 40 so I predict a box set of that album and maybe a live DVD/LP/CD in the package as that tour was very well documented. Including anything from that tour in this set would have been a bit overkill and bumped the price significantly I'd imagine, but it's food for thought. ON THE NIGHT [Recorded 1992. Previously released May 1993] I saw the band on this tour in late August 1991 at The Point [now 3 Arena] Dublin. This is the most streamlined and tightest incarnation of the band and the sound is very big. On the Night was recorded in May 1992 at Les Arenes in Nîmes, France, and at Feijenoord Stadion in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Now expanded to a 4 LP set with 7 previously unreleased recordings "Sultans Of Swing", "Fade To Black", "When It Comes To You", "I Think I Love You Too Much", "Two Young Lovers", "Tunnel Of Love", "Telegraph Road". I always felt the omission of "Sultans" on the 1993 is akin to a Queen live set without "Bohemian Rhapsody". It should have been a double from day one and none of that EP malarky which has reared it's ugly head again here. "The Bug" was earlier in the main set than presented on "Encores" I must add. I have noticed on the CD and now on the vinyl the extra tracks are not exactly like the previously released tracks. They seem to lack the smoother production or may be from different sources. Just thought I'd mention that. I love the way "Calling Elvis" opens this concert. Each band member gets a little solo near the end too. The new cut is smooth, warm and muscular with no harshness whatsoever. Drums and percussion are beautifully balanced, just wait until the drum solo! Knopfler's dark distortion toned Pensa-Suhr is demonic and his playing top notch, arguably the best of his earlier career? I love the way Paul Franklin's pedal steel answers Knopfler's licks with virtuoso brilliance. You just don't want it to end. This 4LP package makes you want to listen to the concert more and more and it is Dire Straits on full throttle with a powerful ensemble. This is a fantastic set. ENCORES EP [Recorded 1992. Previously released May 1993] On The Night came in a double CD case and when you bought the EP, you popped it in. The same with the 12" as it was intended to fit in the original pressing of the album. This was common practice back in the 90s, especially with CD singles. The only odd thing here is "Your Latest Trick" was then duplicated in the track listing! So I wonder if the new box set issue of On The Night would have been more complete with this disc minus the duplicate! There’s a booklet but the essay is brief and doesn’t get into too much detail. Lithograph prints of the sleeves with embossed print. Still it’s a nice addition to the Dire Straits studio and Knopfler solo sets. While the music of Dire Straits is still incredibly popular around the world it’s not often we see releases like this. Grab it while it’s hot! Further Note: I just found this interesting piece by Guy Fetcher who was involved with compiling the set. https://www.guyfletcher.co.uk/dire-straits-live-box-set-2023/
I'm sharing my thoughts on the US Warner edition since there's no listing for it on Discogs yet (I haven't had the chance to add it myself). Keep in mind, what I say should still hold true for the European version as it's the same edit, pressed at the same facility as the US one. Wow, this box set sounds incredible. BG's work is truly impressive. It's so much more vibrant and full-bodied than the CD version, particularly the new Rainbow live album which I wasn't too fond of on CD but now absolutely love. The vinyl mastering breathes new life into the album, making it far more enjoyable to listen to. As for the quality, my copy is completely silent and the packaging is really nice with those plastic-lined inner sleeves. The only letdown is the Encores LP, which reuses the same cut from the 2021 RSD release. It's mastered quite poorly. Even though BG cut it like the rest of this set, it was mastered by Bob Ludwig (who didn't master the other records in this box). Bob's vinyl mastering lately has been way too sharp and bright, which really takes away from the listening experience. But the rest of the box more than makes up for it. Also, there's some really bad distortion throughout Side 4 and 7 of On The Night which I think might just be my cartridge struggling with the cut. This probably won't bother you if you have a top-notch system but it might, as it did for me. In short, grab this box while you can and you won't be disappointed!
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| Date | Lowest price | Average price |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 2025 | £215.49 | €215.49 |
| 29 Apr 2025 | £218.49 | €218.49 |
| 30 May 2025 | £216.99 | €216.99 |
| 20 Jun 2025 | £219.49 | €219.49 |
| 31 Jul 2025 | £221.49 | €221.49 |
| 28 Aug 2025 | £221.99 | €221.99 |