A Mark In Time

Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Brunno Nunes on March 09, 2025, 05:52:28 PM

Title: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: Brunno Nunes on March 09, 2025, 05:52:28 PM
Today I happened to find some very interesting information that I had previously overlooked. It is contained in the interesting documentary Bavarian TV report 1979. At 26:05, we can see the band at Warner Studios in Los Angeles for Communiqué sessions in March 1979, California. At this point, David Knopfler mentions in a report that they were making different editions of acetates, that they were trying out different versions of the songs from Communiqué, some higher-pitched, others a little "lower" (or "bass"), and that they were still going to decide on the final version, which would be the one they liked the most. Finally, he says that it would probably be a mix of all of them.

This leads one to believe that perhaps there are (as with many bands) outtakes from the album, Communiqué. It is therefore unbelievable that to this day, something similar to certain box sets released by Dylan or the Beatles has never been released by Dire Straits, although David mentioned that they were on acetates, but... that could be digitized, most likely.

Anyway... It is materials like these that many of us would love to be able to enjoy in a release at any time.

Link:

https://youtu.be/Be1TfwLD290?si=L1mEXhwbBRkpkiUg (https://youtu.be/Be1TfwLD290?

si=L1mEXhwbBRkpkiUg)

Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: Brunno Nunes on March 09, 2025, 06:32:52 PM
At the end of the documentary, we can see the long-haired uncle Ed Bicknell, next to Mark joking around😃, both in a photo session.
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: wayaman on March 09, 2025, 07:43:42 PM
And where are the tapes?

Lol
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: Brunno Nunes on March 09, 2025, 07:44:44 PM
And where are the tapes?

Lol

Yeahhh, one more time, where?????😅😅😅😅
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: Robson on March 09, 2025, 07:47:44 PM
It's one of the best documents of the old, distant times. I've always liked it very much.
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: Pottel on March 10, 2025, 08:54:57 AM
At the end of the documentary, we can see the long-haired uncle Ed Bicknell, next to Mark joking around😃, both in a photo session.
dude, that jacket....what has been seen cannot be unseen once again proven herewith
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: dustyvalentino on March 10, 2025, 09:42:33 AM
David Knopfler mentions in a report that they were making different editions of acetates, that they were trying out different versions of the songs from Communiqué, some higher-pitched, others a little "lower" (or "bass"), and that they were still going to decide on the final version, which would be the one they liked the most. Finally, he says that it would probably be a mix of all of them.

This description sounds like different mixes rather than outtakes...
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: ds1984 on March 10, 2025, 01:39:11 PM
Real outtakes (unreleased song) would be probably not the best stuff otherwise Mark would have already issued them on a later album.

Demo ? Alternate takes ? Maybe.







Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: JF on March 10, 2025, 05:50:12 PM
David Knopfler mentions in a report that they were making different editions of acetates, that they were trying out different versions of the songs from Communiqué, some higher-pitched, others a little "lower" (or "bass"), and that they were still going to decide on the final version, which would be the one they liked the most. Finally, he says that it would probably be a mix of all of them.

This description sounds like different mixes rather than outtakes...

I agree with Dusty.
What says David is about "pitch", something they did with In the gallery for example.
So I don't think these are outtakes

But almost all songs (except the title track) have been recorded in demos around fall 78. That's where the version on the MFN comp comes from
so, other songs should be "avalaible" (where are the tapes ?)
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: JF on March 10, 2025, 05:57:38 PM
Real outtakes (unreleased song) would be probably not the best stuff otherwise Mark would have already issued them on a later album.

there are several examples in Mark's carreer with unreleased songs that I would have loved to be released, more than released ones !

He didn't always did the right choos, right ?..

Making movies, Real girl, Eastbound train (demo version) In my car... are songs I'd love to have in official releases

and Millionaire blues, Gravy train, My claim to fame, Small potatoes, Camerado, Let see you, Summer of love, Follow the ribbon, etc... should have been on standrad releases imho

so, what is "best" stuff in Mark's head is not always what WE are calling best stuff...
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: Robson on March 10, 2025, 06:39:30 PM
and Millionaire blues, Gravy train, My claim to fame, Small potatoes, Camerado, Let see you, Summer of love, Follow the ribbon, etc... should have been on standrad releases imho "

And The Long Highway :)
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: ds1984 on March 10, 2025, 08:03:16 PM
and Millionaire blues, Gravy train, My claim to fame, Small potatoes, Camerado, Let see you, Summer of love, Follow the ribbon, etc... should have been on standrad releases imho "

And The Long Highway :)

Some of these a great B side, some other are just b side, in my own standard of course.
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: wayaman on March 10, 2025, 08:10:56 PM
I don't think there are outtakes of Communique. Actually they played most of those songs live prior to record the demos at Pathways, and even Communiqué, that was in the record, was written in Nassau...
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: the visitor on March 10, 2025, 09:15:21 PM
Taking the line that they played most songs live first, which is good angle to come from, this would leave In My Car and Bernadette as possible contenders for out take songs.

I think more likely though are that the acetates are preliminary mixes of the recorded tracks we already know.  Studio time and tape was expensive back then, especially premium studios such as Nassau, I doubt they would record things that were not perfected to a level.
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: Jules on March 11, 2025, 02:03:52 PM
Taking the line that they played most songs live first, which is good angle to come from, this would leave In My Car and Bernadette as possible contenders for out take songs.

I think more likely though are that the acetates are preliminary mixes of the recorded tracks we already know.  Studio time and tape was expensive back then, especially premium studios such as Nassau, I doubt they would record things that were not perfected to a level.

In my Car and Bernadette were played live after Communique went out so I guess both were new songs, they would be trying them, maybe for MM but they were not ok with them and abandoned them.
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: Peter1981 on March 13, 2025, 12:44:15 AM
I've always been very curious to hear the demo's for communique. Wasn't there a quote from either Barry Beckett or Jerry Wexler after hearing the demo's along the lines of 'we just have to re-record it just like that over here'?
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: Pottel on March 13, 2025, 02:05:40 PM
and Millionaire blues, Gravy train, My claim to fame, Small potatoes, Camerado, Let see you, Summer of love, Follow the ribbon, etc... should have been on standrad releases imho "

And The Long Highway :)

aha, a connaisseur!
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: JF on March 14, 2025, 06:33:18 PM
I've always been very curious to hear the demo's for communique. Wasn't there a quote from either Barry Beckett or Jerry Wexler after hearing the demo's along the lines of 'we just have to re-record it just like that over here'?

yes exactly. It's the case for almost all songs, except the tite track
Title: Re: Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?
Post by: localhero1986 on March 15, 2025, 10:11:28 AM
Taking the line that they played most songs live first, which is good angle to come from, this would leave In My Car and Bernadette as possible contenders for out take songs.

I think more likely though are that the acetates are preliminary mixes of the recorded tracks we already know.  Studio time and tape was expensive back then, especially premium studios such as Nassau, I doubt they would record things that were not perfected to a level.

Bernadette was played few times by DK, nice performance btw and a great song.