Possible outtakes from the album, Communiqué?

[Brunno Nunes]

Today I happened to find some very interesting information that I had previously overlooked. It is contained in the interesting documentary Bavarian TV report 1979. At 26:05, we can see the band at Warner Studios in Los Angeles for Communiqué sessions in March 1979, California. At this point, David Knopfler mentions in a report that they were making different editions of acetates, that they were trying out different versions of the songs from Communiqué, some higher-pitched, others a little "lower" (or "bass"), and that they were still going to decide on the final version, which would be the one they liked the most. Finally, he says that it would probably be a mix of all of them.

This leads one to believe that perhaps there are (as with many bands) outtakes from the album, Communiqué. It is therefore unbelievable that to this day, something similar to certain box sets released by Dylan or the Beatles has never been released by Dire Straits, although David mentioned that they were on acetates, but... that could be digitized, most likely.

Anyway... It is materials like these that many of us would love to be able to enjoy in a release at any time.

Link:

https://youtu.be/Be1TfwLD290?si=L1mEXhwbBRkpkiUg

[Brunno Nunes]

At the end of the documentary, we can see the long-haired uncle Ed Bicknell, next to Mark joking around😃, both in a photo session.

[wayaman]

And where are the tapes?

Lol

[Brunno Nunes]

And where are the tapes?

Lol

Yeahhh, one more time, where??😅😅😅😅

[Robson]

It's one of the best documents of the old, distant times. I've always liked it very much.

[Pottel]

At the end of the documentary, we can see the long-haired uncle Ed Bicknell, next to Mark joking around😃, both in a photo session.

dude, that jacket....what has been seen cannot be unseen once again proven herewith

[dustyvalentino]

David Knopfler mentions in a report that they were making different editions of acetates, that they were trying out different versions of the songs from Communiqué, some higher-pitched, others a little "lower" (or "bass"), and that they were still going to decide on the final version, which would be the one they liked the most. Finally, he says that it would probably be a mix of all of them.

This description sounds like different mixes rather than outtakes...

[ds1984]

Real outtakes (unreleased song) would be probably not the best stuff otherwise Mark would have already issued them on a later album.

Demo ? Alternate takes ? Maybe.

[JF]

David Knopfler mentions in a report that they were making different editions of acetates, that they were trying out different versions of the songs from Communiqué, some higher-pitched, others a little "lower" (or "bass"), and that they were still going to decide on the final version, which would be the one they liked the most. Finally, he says that it would probably be a mix of all of them.

This description sounds like different mixes rather than outtakes...

I agree with Dusty.
What says David is about "pitch", something they did with In the gallery for example.
So I don't think these are outtakes

But almost all songs (except the title track) have been recorded in demos around fall 78. That's where the version on the MFN comp comes from
so, other songs should be "avalaible" (where are the tapes ?)

[JF]

Real outtakes (unreleased song) would be probably not the best stuff otherwise Mark would have already issued them on a later album.

there are several examples in Mark's carreer with unreleased songs that I would have loved to be released, more than released ones !

He didn't always did the right choos, right ?..

Making movies, Real girl, Eastbound train (demo version) In my car... are songs I'd love to have in official releases

and Millionaire blues, Gravy train, My claim to fame, Small potatoes, Camerado, Let see you, Summer of love, Follow the ribbon, etc... should have been on standrad releases imho

so, what is "best" stuff in Mark's head is not always what WE are calling best stuff...

[Robson]

and Millionaire blues, Gravy train, My claim to fame, Small potatoes, Camerado, Let see you, Summer of love, Follow the ribbon, etc... should have been on standrad releases imho "

And The Long Highway

[ds1984]

and Millionaire blues, Gravy train, My claim to fame, Small potatoes, Camerado, Let see you, Summer of love, Follow the ribbon, etc... should have been on standrad releases imho "

And The Long Highway

Some of these a great B side, some other are just b side, in my own standard of course.

[wayaman]

I don't think there are outtakes of Communique. Actually they played most of those songs live prior to record the demos at Pathways, and even Communiqué, that was in the record, was written in Nassau...

[the visitor]

Taking the line that they played most songs live first, which is good angle to come from, this would leave In My Car and Bernadette as possible contenders for out take songs.

I think more likely though are that the acetates are preliminary mixes of the recorded tracks we already know.  Studio time and tape was expensive back then, especially premium studios such as Nassau, I doubt they would record things that were not perfected to a level.

[Jules]

Taking the line that they played most songs live first, which is good angle to come from, this would leave In My Car and Bernadette as possible contenders for out take songs.

I think more likely though are that the acetates are preliminary mixes of the recorded tracks we already know.  Studio time and tape was expensive back then, especially premium studios such as Nassau, I doubt they would record things that were not perfected to a level.

In my Car and Bernadette were played live after Communique went out so I guess both were new songs, they would be trying them, maybe for MM but they were not ok with them and abandoned them.