It’s hard to name a band with a more iconic debut single than Dire Straits. The British band released their first single “Sultans of Swings” on their self-titled debut album in 1978, and the song never disappeared from the spotlight ever again. In this article, I will dive into the story, meaning, and legacy behind “Sultans of Swing”.
The Genesis of the Song
Mark Knopfler, Dire Straits’ bandleader, was inspired to write the song after witnessing a performance by a dull-appearing jazz band in a pub in South London. At the end of the set, one of the band members announced: “Goodnight and thank you. We are the Sultans of Swing.” The stark contrast between the band’s dull appearance and their extravagant name amused Knopfler.
“When the guys said ‘Thank you very much, We are the Sultans of Swing,’ there was something really funny about it to me because Sultans, they absolutely weren’t,” Knopfler said in Brian Johnson’s A Life on the Road. “You know they were rather tired little blokes in pullovers.”
How Knopfler Wrote the Song
Knopfler wrote “Sultans of Swing” on a National steel guitar. Initially, he wasn’t a fan of the song and thought it sounded bland. It wasn’t until Knopfler played the song on his first electric guitar, a ’61 Stratocaster, that the potential of the song became clear.
“It just came alive as soon as I played it on that ‘61 Strat which remained my main guitar for many years,” Knopfler told Guitar World. “The new chord changes just presented themselves and fell into place.”
The Meaning of the Song
“Sultans of Swing” tells the story of a performance by a dull-appearing jazz band with the extravagant name Sultans of Swing. At the start of the song, Knopfler pictures the scenery of walking into an uncrowded pub on a rainy night in South London. In there, a Dixieland Jazz Band is playing. Knopfler introduces the uninspiring band members guitar George and Harry, who are incapable of capturing the audience’s attention.
It is often rumored George and Harry refer to George Young and Hary Vanda. The two were part of The Easybeats in the 1960s and later produced albums for AC/DC under Vanda & Young.
At the end of the song the pub closes. But not before one of the band members promotes the group. “We are the Sultans”, he says. “We are the Sultans of Swing”.
From Demo Tape to Record Deal
After the song was written, Dire Straits recorded a demo tape with “Sultans of Swing” and 4 other songs. The tape – and in special “Sultans of Swing” – found its way to the radio thanks to the support of DJ Charlie Gillett, who included the song on his setlist.
The attention the song gained led to a record deal with Phonogram Records. Dire Straits later re-recorded the track for their self-titled debut album, with “Sultans of Swing” being its pivotal track.
The Legacy of Sultans of Swing
“Sultans of Swing” was released as Dire Straits’ debut single in May 1979, initially without any commercial success in the UK and the US. It wasn’t until the single was re-issued in January 1979, that the song reached the charts. It peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 8 on the UK Singles chart.
The song is primarily known for Mark Knopfler’s exceptional guitar playing. The iconic solo is characterized by Knopfler’s distinctive style and unique tone. During live performances of “Sultans of Swing”, he often extended the solo, leading to versions lasting longer than 10 minutes. Mark Knopfler’s guitar playing is one of the main reasons why “Sultans of Swing” ranks among the most iconic songs ever recorded.
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