A new book about MK

[dustyvalentino]

You will notice at various points in the book that, despite my great admiration for MK, I sometimes write with distance, humor or from a subjective perspective, things that a MK disciple might perceive as blasphemy. I was aware that I might face an icy headwind here and there on this forum (where there are people who would even “kill their mother to get an unreleased MK recording”, as I once read... ) – that was clear to me.

I think MOST of us here are realistic about MK and although major fans don't worship him as some kind of deity who is beyond criticism.

I enjoyed your analysis of MK basically ripping off JJ Cale's sound (I am crudely paraphrasing pages of a book into one sentence here, probably unfairly). The first time I listened to JJ Cale, after years of listening to MK, I actually found it quite embarrassing how much MK had stolen from him.

[Richard Koechli]

Yes, I am sure that most of you are very realistic and just huge music lovers. But there is a small group of hardcore fans worldwide (of course there are hardcore fans everywhere, heaven knows there are with Dylan too...) who are disciples and don't understand fun.

Yeah, J.J. Cale (I wrote a book about Cale in 2020, including a tribute CD: https://richardkoechli.ch/en/albums/the-real-chill-remembering-j-j-cale); it was exactly the same for me as it was for you: I discovered MK a few years before J.J. Cale - and only later realized how important Cale was for MK (and many others, EC for example). I wouldn't call it “stealing”; it's just the kind of stealing that happens all the time in music. I've done a lot of digging in the blues history (I've written a few books on it) and it's incredible how much was stolen in the blues, by everyone. You hear something, you like it, you make something of your own out of it or put your own soul into it – that's what MK did with Cale (and Cale was also influenced by other).

[Robson]

I love J.J. Cale but it annoys me a little that a lot of his songs sound like they're unfinished. Songs - sketches.

It's just a little reflection

[Love Expresso]

I love J.J. Cale but it annoys me a little that a lot of his songs sound like they're unfinished. Songs - sketches.

Funnily that's exactly what I love about all his albums and that's what I guess is one of his trademarks.

LE

[Robson]

I love J.J. Cale but it annoys me a little that a lot of his songs sound like they're unfinished. Songs - sketches.

Funnily that's exactly what I love about all his albums and that's what I guess is one of his trademarks.

LE

Yes, that's true but when the song suddenly ends you want more

[Richard Koechli]

Yes, that's true (although not with all Cale songs; some of his songs are completely finished and perfect, “Cocaine”, for example, his original version is a thousand times sexier than Clapton's). But some of Cale's songs sound very raw, and his storytelling is sketchy (I like it, but it's a matter of taste).

You also have to keep in mind that his legendary recordings are a bit older (early 70s), and that he didn't produce as elaborately as MK did later; Cale did a lot of the recording on his own and even in his camper van... It's a different spirit, but in the beginning they were very close. By the way, when you want more at the end of a song – it's the highest a songwriter can achieve...

[Brunno Nunes]

Yes, exactly, Brunno, I briefly mentioned you and this blog (www.universodirestraits.blogspot.nl) in the book; in the context of Tommy Mandel's letter to you (with details of his collaboration with MK) – in a second place I mention your name again in this context, and there I then write, by mistake (due to the dutch blog address), that you are Dutch. As I said, I will correct it (also Brunno instead of Bruno...).

I am glad you are interested in the book, thanks. I just subscribed to your YouTube page; you play Mark's style brilliantly, well done! I am constantly amazed at how many musicians there are worldwide who have cracked the MK code (40 years ago, idiot that I was, I thought I was the only one...   ).


By the way, I'm also amazed at how meticulously you and many fans worldwide have researched and collected everything about MK – you guys have really built an amazing network.


I would like to publish a Spanish translation of the book later, and an Italian one too – but unfortunately I don't know anything about these languages myself. I could do it with AI, but if you want to do it well, the only way is to know the language and be able to interact with the AI.

I'll keep an eye on your blog on Instagram.

Have a good time,
Richard

It's great to hear that my blog is mentioned and also that Tommy Mandel shared with me about his time with Dire Straits during the LOG tour 82/83, which indeed contains very interesting and relevant information about that tour.

Thank you for acknowledging that I play in the Knopfler style, I'm just another person who has joined this adventure, I'm certainly one of the last in that line, among so many talented people to do this, but everyone who plays these songs knows that it's such a magical thing when we're playing a song with MK's signature on the guitar in character, it's something stimulating and we keep going towards infinity in an attempt to extract something from this unique sound, that's how it is for me.

I hope that in the future there will be an edition in Spanish, since it's a widely spoken language after English, of course. I'm sure AI will find a way to do that. 😊

All the best to you.

[KnopfleRick]

Hello Richard, welcome and thank you very much for this wonderful book about one of the greatest guitarists/songwriters of our time.
You have really done a great job!  I've been reading since last week and can hardly stop. You are right. There are no pictures needed. We all know how Mark looks like. But you paint pictures with every line which is amazing.
The book is very special because it is written by a musician about a musician, which is different than a book written by a fan.
It contains a lot of insider knowledge and details about music, music history, the music business, guitars, album reviews and much more. And it is nice to learn a little of the author's music history, also.
In any case the book, it is very interesting and informative. You can feel that it was written with a lot of love and admiration for Mark's music and style, without neglecting the criticism.
Even if a few errors have crept in here and there, which can be quickly corrected by all the Knopflermaniacs on board here, this is a really readable book, which is not lacking of humor either.
I'm really looking forward to part 2.

Ich verneige mich!
RIck

[Richard Koechli]

Thank you for your kind words, Brunno. Yes, it is a wide-upon universe, Mark Knopfler's guitar world. You and everyone who draws inspiration from him can find happiness in it and pass it on to other people at the same time. MK opened the way for me to fingerpicking (I hadn't had a plectrum in my fingers for decades), showed me an inspiring way to melodic concepts (chord-oriented melodies), and also opened the door to country and Celtic music. That's a lot.

I will think about it, the Spanish translation, the language is indeed very important. AI can do that, no question, but I can't check anything and there will be a margin of error - in English it is quite small by now (AI is most advanced there), in other languages there will be a certain percentage (maybe 10 or 20 percent) of errors or ambiguities. I see this with French; AI does a lot of the work, but I still have to correct it or guide it in the optimal direction again and again. With French I can do this, but with Spanish I am at its mercy.

All the best to you,
Richard

[Richard Koechli]

Well, the forum members here don't know that I promised you 6.6 pounds of the finest Swiss chocolate if you write something positive about the book,Rick; you did a good job. Seriously: You made my day; thanks a lot for your wonderful feedback (you're reading the German original edition, I assume, right?)

I need to recharge my batteries for volume 2, and to start making music again; maybe in 2026 or 2027...?

All the best to you, Rick, and greetings from Switzerland:
Richard's

[KnopfleRick]

Yes, the german version. Thanks for the delicious chocolate  and all the best to you always.
Rick

[Robson]

I don't know if I understand correctly. Is the book available for buy now?

[rmarques821]

Yes, exactly, Brunno, I briefly mentioned you and this blog (www.universodirestraits.blogspot.nl) in the book; in the context of Tommy Mandel's letter to you (with details of his collaboration with MK) – in a second place I mention your name again in this context, and there I then write, by mistake (due to the dutch blog address), that you are Dutch. As I said, I will correct it (also Brunno instead of Bruno...).

I am glad you are interested in the book, thanks. I just subscribed to your YouTube page; you play Mark's style brilliantly, well done! I am constantly amazed at how many musicians there are worldwide who have cracked the MK code (40 years ago, idiot that I was, I thought I was the only one...   ).


By the way, I'm also amazed at how meticulously you and many fans worldwide have researched and collected everything about MK – you guys have really built an amazing network.


I would like to publish a Spanish translation of the book later, and an Italian one too – but unfortunately I don't know anything about these languages myself. I could do it with AI, but if you want to do it well, the only way is to know the language and be able to interact with the AI.

I'll keep an eye on your blog on Instagram.

Have a good time,
Richard

It's great to hear that my blog is mentioned and also that Tommy Mandel shared with me about his time with Dire Straits during the LOG tour 82/83, which indeed contains very interesting and relevant information about that tour.

Thank you for acknowledging that I play in the Knopfler style, I'm just another person who has joined this adventure, I'm certainly one of the last in that line, among so many talented people to do this, but everyone who plays these songs knows that it's such a magical thing when we're playing a song with MK's signature on the guitar in character, it's something stimulating and we keep going towards infinity in an attempt to extract something from this unique sound, that's how it is for me.

I hope that in the future there will be an edition in Spanish, since it's a widely spoken language after English, of course. I'm sure AI will find a way to do that. 😊

All the best to you.

I'm just curious... how do you participate in this forum by the way? Your posts are usually in fluent, almost perfect English, so why the need for a Spanish version?
Or are you using some sort of translator from PT to EN?

[Brunno Nunes]

Yes, exactly, Brunno, I briefly mentioned you and this blog (www.universodirestraits.blogspot.nl) in the book; in the context of Tommy Mandel's letter to you (with details of his collaboration with MK) – in a second place I mention your name again in this context, and there I then write, by mistake (due to the dutch blog address), that you are Dutch. As I said, I will correct it (also Brunno instead of Bruno...).

I am glad you are interested in the book, thanks. I just subscribed to your YouTube page; you play Mark's style brilliantly, well done! I am constantly amazed at how many musicians there are worldwide who have cracked the MK code (40 years ago, idiot that I was, I thought I was the only one...   ).


By the way, I'm also amazed at how meticulously you and many fans worldwide have researched and collected everything about MK – you guys have really built an amazing network.


I would like to publish a Spanish translation of the book later, and an Italian one too – but unfortunately I don't know anything about these languages myself. I could do it with AI, but if you want to do it well, the only way is to know the language and be able to interact with the AI.

I'll keep an eye on your blog on Instagram.

Have a good time,
Richard

It's great to hear that my blog is mentioned and also that Tommy Mandel shared with me about his time with Dire Straits during the LOG tour 82/83, which indeed contains very interesting and relevant information about that tour.

Thank you for acknowledging that I play in the Knopfler style, I'm just another person who has joined this adventure, I'm certainly one of the last in that line, among so many talented people to do this, but everyone who plays these songs knows that it's such a magical thing when we're playing a song with MK's signature on the guitar in character, it's something stimulating and we keep going towards infinity in an attempt to extract something from this unique sound, that's how it is for me.

I hope that in the future there will be an edition in Spanish, since it's a widely spoken language after English, of course. I'm sure AI will find a way to do that. 😊

All the best to you.

I'm just curious... how do you participate in this forum by the way? Your posts are usually in fluent, almost perfect English, so why the need for a Spanish version?
Or are you using some sort of translator from PT to EN?

My knowledge of the English language is still limited, I always use Google Translate, so I write in the translator and if necessary, I adjust it with the knowledge I have. When it's in Spanish, I almost never use a translator, because I can understand what is read and spoken much more easily, since it is very similar to my language, Brazilian Portuguese (which is a little different from Portuguese from Portugal, just as there must be notable differences between American and British English, Canadian and Australian English).

I honestly believe that I could easily understand 50% to 60% of a text in English about Dire Straits or Mark Knopfler without using a translator, probably, but in Spanish, something around 95%, without a doubt.🙌🏻

By the way, this limitation can cause me to express myself poorly, unfortunately this can happen, as happened in parts with the answer that Ed gave me in a certain topic here, but, that's okay, this is our world, nothing is perfect. 😅

[Richard Koechli]

Hi everybody,

Before I do a book update in the next few days, I'd like to ask if any of you MK experts (e.g. Dusty Valentino) might have found anything else that needs to be corrected. (of course, I can always make updates later)

Thank you very much; have a nice day

Richard