All Along the Watchtower, if it were written by Dire Straits

[LaszloB]

Another one for the Dire Straits tribute section.

After Private Dancer I was up for another fast paced track and I thought this one would fit perfectly.
I've started noticing that most of these licks, when played in C#m or Dm, instantly sound like something Knopfler would play.

Anyway, I hope you like it! And I'm looking forward to some opinions about it from some true DS fans
And if you have suggestions for future videos, do let me know!

Cheers!

- Laszlo

[Love Expresso]

Great! You should release it officially. 

LE

[Justme]

Beautiful tone and awesome playing! 

[JF]

I've started noticing that most of these licks, when played in C#m or Dm, instantly sound like something Knopfler would play.

yes, Lady writer is in C#m and has almost the same chords progression in the verse, so it's natural that licks sounds DS 

well done 

[Rivers Of Rain]

I've really enjoyed this series of videos but I must say this is my favourite so far - the early 'stripped back four piece' Dire Straits sound suits this song extremely well. It fits perfectly somewhere between Dylan's original folk rock recording and Hendrix's heavier, more bluesy interpretation (I consider both essential for different reasons) and feels like the band could have recorded this song as a B-side for one of their early singles.

[qjamesfloyd]

Shouldn't the title be "If it were written by Mark Knopfler" Dire Straits didn't write anything!!

[quizzaciously]

Shouldn't the title be "If it were written by Mark Knopfler" Dire Straits didn't write anything!!

Yes, but technically you can also say "if were performed by Dire Straits", you don't need to write something in order to play it. But the OG title is catchy and that's probably the point

[NicoMK]

Shouldn't the title be "If it were written by Mark Knopfler" Dire Straits didn't write anything!!

This is a YouTube video, not a MK fan forum video. A lot of non-fan people know Dire Straits but how many remember the name of the man with the headband?

I can't remember how many times in my life I have said : I really love Mark Knopfler's music. -- Who ? -- The guy with the headband playing guitar with Dire Straits. -- Oh yes, that one. lol


The guy will attract more people -- and generate more clicks -- if he mentions Dire Straits instead of Mark. @quizzaciously, "performed" is good indeed.

Aside from this, it's very well played. Good job. Sounds like Lady Writer.

[quizzaciously]

Shouldn't the title be "If it were written by Mark Knopfler" Dire Straits didn't write anything!!

This is a YouTube video, not a MK fan forum video. A lot of non-fan people know Dire Straits but how many remember the name of the man with the headband?

I can't remember how many times in my life I have said : I really love Mark Knopfler's music. -- Who ? -- The guy with the headband playing guitar with Dire Straits. -- Oh yes, that one. lol


The guy will attract more people -- and generate more clicks -- if he mentions Dire Straits instead of Mark. @quizzaciously, "performed" is good indeed.

Aside from this, it's very well played. Good job. Sounds like Lady Writer.

Absolutely, Mark did a great job of turning down his own fame. When I was in school in the early to late 2000s, only 1 guy in the whole school knew who MK was. That was in Russia, of course, but still. A lot of people knew Dire Straits.

Laszlo is a great example of when an actual pro musician makes MK videos. I'm not a pro musician, so I can only teach, but playing and recording on this level are pretty insane tasks. And very entertaining, that's for sure.

[qjamesfloyd]

Fair point, but it is not "written" by Dire Straits, it would have been better to say "If performed by Dire Straits"  I have had to remind people who Mark was in the past, but not for a long time now, I think his name is bigger and more well known than you think.

[LaszloB]

Shouldn't the title be "If it were written by Mark Knopfler" Dire Straits didn't write anything!!

I'm aware Mark did most of the writing but it is, as @quizzaciously said, because Dire Straits is a bigger name and does indeed get more views.
On this site everyone ofcourse knows, but to the general audience I think the name Dire Straits is substantially bigger than Mark Knopfler.
And if I did put Mark Knopfler in the title, perhaps people would expect versions that are more in line with his solo work, so that's why I went with Dire Straits.
"If performed by Dire Straits" would probably be suitable aswell.

I do more than just Dire Straits stuff though, so for some bands 'written by' would work, for some a little less. But it's quite a hassle to go and change 25 titles and thumbnails now, so I'm gonna leave it as it is for now. I don't feel like I'm misleading the audience too much with that

[NicoMK]

I do more than just Dire Straits stuff though, so for some bands 'written by' would work, for some a little less. But it's quite a hassle to go and change 25 titles and thumbnails now, so I'm gonna leave it as it is for now. I don't feel like I'm misleading the audience too much with that

Not at all. It's just that you're on a fan forum and some of us (including me) like to be very fussy about small details. Next time you pop-up with a video, don't forget to write "Performed by Dire Straits and that'll be fine.

Seriously, the main point is that your videos are pretty cool. I wish I could play the guitar like you do. 

[LaszloB]

I do more than just Dire Straits stuff though, so for some bands 'written by' would work, for some a little less. But it's quite a hassle to go and change 25 titles and thumbnails now, so I'm gonna leave it as it is for now. I don't feel like I'm misleading the audience too much with that

Not at all. It's just that you're on a fan forum and some of us (including me) like to be very fussy about small details. Next time you pop-up with a video, don't forget to write "Performed by Dire Straits and that'll be fine.

Seriously, the main point is that your videos are pretty cool. I wish I could play the guitar like you do.

Ahh, I see your point! Thanks for the compliment!