The Solo albums - which is your fave?

[Fletch]

So - it was after joining AMIT that I delved into Marks solo work. Before that I was probably only aware of Cannibals, which actually got radio AirPlay back in the 90s!

I started buying the odd song on iTunes, trying to avoid nasty Celtic ballads, but eventually, after being turned on by songs like Border Reiver and Hillfarmers, I just bought the CDs. Which is what I should have done in the first place!!!

Almost without fail I found each album underwhelming on the first few listens. Gradually of course - and I think everyone is a little like this - I grew to love some and loathe others.

Surprising even myself I enjoy Shangri La the most consistently. I think it's because it tends to groove along even in a laid back way, without going folky or Irish. Mostly!

So tell us which one you like now, why, and what is your memory of first listens?

I'm fascinated by the Bob Dylan fans who have joined and there reactions to the concerts. Honesty can be shocking!

[Pottel]

Difficult, but i guess it is a close call between get lucky and ragpicker for me

[superval99]

Difficult choice between "Ragpicker" and "Get Lucky".    I loved both, almost from the first listen and still do!    

Is it possible to have two votes?   

[ds1984]

Very difficult for me.

I would put GH-SL-TRD-GL on one side and SL-KTGC on the other.

If I had only one choice left if would be then GH although this more a patchwork of songs than a real album.
But AWITN is one of my personnal fave song.

[Love Expresso]

1. The Ragpicker's Dream
1.b Sailing To Philadelphia
1.c Get Lucky
2. Shangri La
3. Golden Heart
last rank: KTGC

The first three place change from time to time, but one thing I really could say without any doubt is that KTGC ranks on the last place. Not because I would think it is so bad inevitably, it is just that the others mean much more to me! 

LE

[Maxx]

I think STP and GH is the "best", but GL is better. Interpret as you want. 

[Fletch]

Yeah, it's not about "best" as much as what you enjoy more consistently. I guess the nature of these silly polls are frivolous. But as I would still consider myself fairly new to the albums, I'm interested in some of you old timers to see if some really grow on you. Sounds like no such luck for KTGC!
Likewise if there are new fans I'm interested to see if some folk are as horrified by the lack of rock as I was! The laid back folk does take a while to grow, if you've been brought up on a diet of Dire Straits.

[Love Expresso]

No, it is not so much the lack of rock, it is more the quality of songwriting. I think there are some weak songs on KTGC, it has not so much to do with the way they are recorded or the style they are in, because, in terms of recording it is still an awesome record. But Baloney Again, Wanderlust, One Last Matinee, Fare Thee Well Northumberland, Old Pigweed etc. are real gems, whereas I have problems to name one real gem from KTGC that lasts in my mind.

LE

[superval99]

Sounds like no such luck for KTGC!


On the contrary.  I love KTGC and listen to it quite a bit, but I think it's one of those albums for which you have to be in the right mood!   I think a lot of the songs are really beautiful and the lyrics are great eg "The Scaffolder's Wife" - I feel sure I know her!  

I had listened to DS since almost the beginning, but with a few DS exceptions, I think I like Mark's solo albums more than DS.  

[Tally]

It's Philadelphia for me, amazing quality and variety of songs, guest artists, fantastic guitar playing, etc. But Ragpicker has really grown on me since I first heard it, it's probably number two these days.

[border_reiver]

GH over the others.

Primarily based on the pure "come back"-factor that struck me at the time and then the fact that the Golden Heart B-sides still outplay several of the recent offical album tracks.

But as by this fall my vote will go to whatever album that holds "Corned beef city"   

[Rollergirl]

Philly, closely followed by lucky, but I love them all

[Maxx]

GH over the others.

Primarily based on the pure "come back"-factor that struck me at the time and then the fact that the Golden Heart B-sides still outplay several of the recent offical album tracks.

I see your point there, and it's a good one. GH is a great "come back-album" and probably far superior than any later album in that point of view. I guess it also was a very important one as it probably kept a lot of the Straits fans even if it was a few steps from it, as the later may have scared off a bunch.

[SirDogg]

Must be Golden Heart, with Sailing to Philly a close second

[goldenheart96]

STP, as this was the first MK album I listened to. But it's very closely followed by Get Lucky.

My ranking would look something like this:

STP
Get Lucky
KTGC
RPD
Shangri-La
Golden Heart (it's not really fair to put it so far below, and I love some of the rockers; but overall, it's just too much "Look I am in LOVE and I need everyone to tell!" for me. Not my kind of thing. Besides, Mark's voice sounds horrible on that one)