Telegraph Road: Album recording

[LoveExpresso]

I was listening to the album version of Telegraph Road last night (almost by accident) and it crossed my mind (during air guitar playing) what I always loved about this recording: It is the fact that, although it is really long and prog rock and everything, it sounds like a one take and almost like recorded live in let's say some rehearsal hall.. So I wondered, what exactly do we know about these recording details? I do not possess the Mike Oldfield book and must admit I have some gaps about these details from Dire Straits times.

It would be great if (in case this thread would come to life) we could really concentrate on the album version and leave live version talks/camparisons to all those live tour threads that will come up in a few weeks.

So my questions:

-Was it indeed a one take recording (ok, with some overdubs?)

-Was Hal Lindes playing on the recording as mentioned on the sleeve and in the Telegraph Road Wikipedia entry or did play Mark all guitars?
Some examples of where Hal's playing is audible would be great (min/sec)

-Are the pipes in the very beginning real or are the synth pipes? I seem to hear some "testing" on the pipes (blowing) right before the playing starts?

-Do we know which guitar was used on the recording for that end solo?

So, please add other questions if you have any!

Thanks,

LE

[brickbat]

Very interesting topic. I had no idea that recording details also exist of Dire Straits / Mark Knopfler studio sessions. Always thought this field of information only lives among Beatles (Lewisohn) and Bob Dylan (Krogsgaard / Olof) collectors. Is this type of information also available about DS sessions?

[foma]

I remember Mark said in interview that too much work was used on that certain track. And then he heard 'Rave On' by Buddy Holly and was amazed by its liveness. So I assume it was very long track by track recording with minimum of live sessions hence he sayed 'Rave On' was much cooler.

Obviosly Buddy was recording live in one take just like all the bands in 50s and early 60s so it makes sense.

And what we've got after that? Yeah, Golden Heart with many live recorded songs, and sometimes complete live session like title track.

As for studio version of Telegraph Road — I never listen to that and used stick to the Alchemy version.

[Silvertown]

It has been thought that solos are played with a Telecaster (!)

[vgonis]

LE I don't remember reading such details in Oldfield's book but it has been quite some time since I read it. (BTW, If you are interested I have a second copy for trade/sale if you are interested)

I always prefered the studio version, clarity/precision and passion at the same time. I rarely listen to the alchemy version, much prefer the extended OES tour solos from Basel etc.

I think that it would be quite interesting to find out about the session. I wonder if there are more info in Ingo's site.

[Justme]

Here's the list of all guitars used during the recording of LOG:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Y7IQBwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA4&ots=HzF5cbJ7cC&dq=telegraph%20road%20Power%20Station%20New%20York%201982&pg=PA4#v=onepage&q=telegraph%20road%20Power%20Station%20New%20York%201982&f=false

[dmg]

Thanks for that one Justme.  Interesting to read that it confirms the use of a Schecter Telecaster Black (we assume this was the one used on TR) but also that it mentions a Schecter Stratocaster Azure.  I don't recall this one at all.

[vgonis]

Thanks just me! Your relatively new avatar confused me a bit. Guess I had it combined in my mind with the nick name.

[Justme]

Oh yes, I changed it after the downtime of AMIT.