On The Night

[herlock]

So would it be fair to say that Guy messed it up? If I remember correctly, he was the man in charge? I do exactly remember how big my expectations were and how shocked I was at the first listen because of Exactly that: the strange sound of MK's voice.

LE

I didn’t like the sound of the Emmylou and MK Live DVD either. It was over polished to me. MK to me is best live. His studio albums are dull compared to his live stuff. I rarely if ever listen to his studio albums.

I used to have that opinion, but of late I'm re-exploring the studio albums on Vinyl and to be honest I've got to the stage in life that if its MK - it'll ruddy do!! MK live is very special as a lot on here like me will know but then again so are his albums...

I'm with you. Mark live is very special and I listen to these recordings most of the time, but when I pick one studio album I usually stick to it a long time. Mark is amazing live or in the studio!

Indeed.
Yes live versions are expanded, but the studio versions are so finely crafted. SOS, TOL, TR, Solid Rock, MFN, BIA, OES, WII, WAM, Speedway have amazing studio versions. Even HFB without a ending solo sounds very unique in the studio. SOS's groove with Pick has never been reproduced live, even in 1978/79.

[Knopflerfan]

So would it be fair to say that Guy messed it up? If I remember correctly, he was the man in charge? I do exactly remember how big my expectations were and how shocked I was at the first listen because of Exactly that: the strange sound of MK's voice.

LE

I didn’t like the sound of the Emmylou and MK Live DVD either. It was over polished to me. MK to me is best live. His studio albums are dull compared to his live stuff. I rarely if ever listen to his studio albums.

I used to have that opinion, but of late I'm re-exploring the studio albums on Vinyl and to be honest I've got to the stage in life that if its MK - it'll ruddy do!! MK live is very special as a lot on here like me will know but then again so are his albums...

I'm with you. Mark live is very special and I listen to these recordings most of the time, but when I pick one studio album I usually stick to it a long time. Mark is amazing live or in the studio!

Indeed.
Yes live versions are expanded, but the studio versions are so finely crafted. SOS, TOL, TR, Solid Rock, MFN, BIA, OES, WII, WAM, Speedway have amazing studio versions. Even HFB without a ending solo sounds very unique in the studio. SOS's groove with Pick has never been reproduced live, even in 1978/79.

Herlock, you are so right - each MK studio album is so finely crafted (great word) and the album versions strike a fine balance Studio & Live. Almost that they are recorded on the album and then when they are played Live MK can then venture as he see's fit with any additions - guitar solo's etc

[hunter]

Watched the OTN concert again recently in its entirety. Made me feel quite nostalgic, but, although it has its highlights, especially YAYF, I find it musically boring now. It feels dated, really.

[schmonka]

Agree about YAYF, it pretty much is the highlight of the album - it is pretty spectacular...(lyrically not so much! )

[quizzaciously]

Agree about YAYF, it pretty much is the highlight of the album - it is pretty spectacular...(lyrically not so much! )

I must say that You And Your Friend ending STILL give me chills and goose-skin after all these years, one of the highlights of Mark's playing to me. And lyrically, it's just minor blues! "Woke up this morning" type of thing.

[qjamesfloyd]

That performance of You and Your Friend is amazing, if anyone wants to know how Mark Knopfler plays the Blues, play them that, the tone of the guitar, his touch on the fret board, the emotional licks, the control of the bends, it has everything.

[schmonka]

I think the interplay between MK on the Pensa and PF on The Box really sets this song apart, the song builds the intensity and really showcases both artists natural talents - MK and the OES era Pensa worked SO well.  Not only do the two guitars compliment each other so well, but this tune would definitely stand the test of time if played today but would need PF in the touring band, sadly Richard doesn't cut the mustard to carry this one off with his pedal steel skills! - Im actually surprised that PF isn't the occasional (or more regular) guest - this could introduce other gems such as Iron Hand - again a song that would work well currently. 

[Robson]

Iron Hand version of Timothy White Session should be on the album on every street

[PensaGhost]

Agree about YAYF, it pretty much is the highlight of the album - it is pretty spectacular...(lyrically not so much! )

yes great version

we are very close to the 30th anniversary of the start of that tour and still nothing about all the missing songs,
I am really sickened when I think what that album could be with all the missing songs,
especially Tunnel and Planet which are not available on any soundboard, unbelievable stuff

[dmg]

Agree about YAYF, it pretty much is the highlight of the album - it is pretty spectacular...(lyrically not so much! )

yes great version

we are very close to the 30th anniversary of the start of that tour and still nothing about all the missing songs,
I am really sickened when I think what that album could be with all the missing songs,
especially Tunnel and Planet which are not available on any soundboard, unbelievable stuff

Tunnel was a much lesser attempt than that already released on Alchemy and I know they didn't wanted to avoid comparisons with that album so perhaps that's why it wasn't there. 

As for Planet, I never thought he found a proper final solo for it and that's maybe why he stopped playing it.  It was always interesting but seldom found a way to go and seemed to end abruptly, sometimes without proper climax before the sax came in.  One of the best solos musically is London 16/09/91 I think, where it builds to a climax and blends seamlessly with the sax.  I love this song live mainly because it's so interesting and unpredictable!

[quizzaciously]

Agree about YAYF, it pretty much is the highlight of the album - it is pretty spectacular...(lyrically not so much! )

yes great version

we are very close to the 30th anniversary of the start of that tour and still nothing about all the missing songs,
I am really sickened when I think what that album could be with all the missing songs,
especially Tunnel and Planet which are not available on any soundboard, unbelievable stuff

Tunnel was a much lesser attempt than that already released on Alchemy and I know they didn't wanted to avoid comparisons with that album so perhaps that's why it wasn't there. 

As for Planet, I never thought he found a proper final solo for it and that's maybe why he stopped playing it.  It was always interesting but seldom found a way to go and seemed to end abruptly, sometimes without proper climax before the sax came in.  One of the best solos musically is London 16/09/91 I think, where it builds to a climax and blends seamlessly with the sax.  I love this song live mainly because it's so interesting and unpredictable!

That's especially interesting considering three months of rehearsals! Seems hard to believe that they managed to leave some arrangements unfinished. Me personally, I never even heard Tunnel and Planet from this tour, and I think I never missed a lot, to be honest.

[herlock]

Yes, Mark is very particular about what he chooses to release. I think he thought that Sultans, Tunnel and Telegraph were not as good as Alchemy versions. He said he wanted OTN to be "as different as Alchemy as possible", hence only PI and R&J are common to both albums.

[PensaGhost]

Yes, Mark is very particular about what he chooses to release. I think he thought that Sultans, Tunnel and Telegraph were not as good as Alchemy versions. He said he wanted OTN to be "as different as Alchemy as possible", hence only PI and R&J are common to both albums.

yes, that's the official version, didn't want to replicate Alchemy

BUT still Romeo and Private and Solid Rock and Going Home are there, and both the sound of the songs and the versions of SOS Telegraph Tunnel are so different from Alchemy that it's a musical murder to leave them out

add also Planet and when it comes to you out and the mess is complete

no news after 30 years 

[herlock]

Yeah, although I tend to agree that Alchemy versions of Sultans, TOL and TR are better, it would have been nice to have 91/92 versions as well, the more we have the better ! Marks things the opposite, that only the very best will go through...

[dmg]

Agree about YAYF, it pretty much is the highlight of the album - it is pretty spectacular...(lyrically not so much! )

yes great version

we are very close to the 30th anniversary of the start of that tour and still nothing about all the missing songs,
I am really sickened when I think what that album could be with all the missing songs,
especially Tunnel and Planet which are not available on any soundboard, unbelievable stuff

Tunnel was a much lesser attempt than that already released on Alchemy and I know they didn't wanted to avoid comparisons with that album so perhaps that's why it wasn't there. 

As for Planet, I never thought he found a proper final solo for it and that's maybe why he stopped playing it.  It was always interesting but seldom found a way to go and seemed to end abruptly, sometimes without proper climax before the sax came in.  One of the best solos musically is London 16/09/91 I think, where it builds to a climax and blends seamlessly with the sax.  I love this song live mainly because it's so interesting and unpredictable!

That's especially interesting considering three months of rehearsals! Seems hard to believe that they managed to leave some arrangements unfinished. Me personally, I never even heard Tunnel and Planet from this tour, and I think I never missed a lot, to be honest.

Always wondered about all these rehearsals myself because the arrangements changed so much over the tour before Mark seemed happy enough to have a soundboard recorded all the way to Woburn Abbey on 20th June '92!  These two songs in particular had lots of mistakes from Mark early in the tour too.