Brothers in arms 40th anniversary edition

[cannibals]

3 cd 21 Euro
https://thecircle.de/collections/dire-straits

[dmg]

TOL is uncut, yes, but I love Wembley so much, although much of the bridge is cut... Maybe I'm biased because of the video!

Didn't understand your comment about BIA, not much in it?

Sorry - both versions are roughly equal.  Both excellent.

It's always good watching the video.  I've seen the Wembley show much more than listened to any other.

Listen and compare 2 sections:
-Just after "starlight" : In Wembley Mark makes his LP weep more than in SA.
-In the rocking ending, just before Mark pauses to say thank you, Mark is still playing guitar in Wembley. I can't here him in SA, more like karaoke...

The power of simplicity and letting the song breathe.  Allow your mind to fill the gap.

I thought you prefered complexity (TOL 85) over simplicity (TOL 83)...
Btw in Houston the missing parts in San Antonio are there!

Alchemy TOL isn't simplicity as far as I'm concerned.  The solo has too many notes and is all the less fluid because of it.

I see what you mean...
Actually I wonder if Mark changed the end solo between 83 and 85, more progressive, just to be able to... rest a bit thanks to pauses in his guitar playing ! In Alchemy the end solo has no pause, Mark had to go straight to the end, and you an see him exhausted and out of breath in the end, needing the break before starting TR. This song is physically demanding!

I think personally the solo has better dynamics and much nicer playing (especially on the slow pre-drum part) on the BIA tour.  The build-up is slower into a more powerful crescendo.  On the LOG tour the slow build-up was much shorter, then suddenly the drums would kick in and it just sounded less tasteful.

Of course you could be right and I couldn't see his knees holding out for another tour!

[noizpop]

As I'm sure many around here, one of the concerts I've listened to the most in my life -first on cassette, then on CD and finally on vinyl- is Stockholm 85. Some of the performances of that show were superb; very powerful. And one of the ones I enjoyed the most is Wlid West End, especially because of Jack's guitar solo, very brilliant in his approach to hard rock. I'm very happy about the recent announcement, which I've been looking forward to with hope for no less than 35 years. However, I listened to San Antonio 85 again last night and, for some reason, Jack is uninspired in that solo. He seems to run out of ideas after every phrase, as if to say “how do I go on with this, what do I do now?”. In any case, I insist, I'm happy for the recording to arrive, some of the performances are sublime. I'm sorry that The Man's Too Strong is not here, but perfection doesn't exist, although I must admit that this boxset comes pretty close.

[wayaman]

Jack solos were improvised and never the same so, some days better, some worse.

I agree that the Stockholm one is amazing, with that duet between Jack and Chris White.

[herlock]

As I'm sure many around here, one of the concerts I've listened to the most in my life -first on cassette, then on CD and finally on vinyl- is Stockholm 85. Some of the performances of that show were superb; very powerful. And one of the ones I enjoyed the most is Wlid West End, especially because of Jack's guitar solo, very brilliant in his approach to hard rock. I'm very happy about the recent announcement, which I've been looking forward to with hope for no less than 35 years. However, I listened to San Antonio 85 again last night and, for some reason, Jack is uninspired in that solo. He seems to run out of ideas after every phrase, as if to say “how do I go on with this, what do I do now?”. In any case, I insist, I'm happy for the recording to arrive, some of the performances are sublime. I'm sorry that The Man's Too Strong is not here, but perfection doesn't exist, although I must admit that this boxset comes pretty close.

How would you compare this solo to the one from Houston and Cleveland ?

[wayaman]

As I'm sure many around here, one of the concerts I've listened to the most in my life -first on cassette, then on CD and finally on vinyl- is Stockholm 85. Some of the performances of that show were superb; very powerful. And one of the ones I enjoyed the most is Wlid West End, especially because of Jack's guitar solo, very brilliant in his approach to hard rock. I'm very happy about the recent announcement, which I've been looking forward to with hope for no less than 35 years. However, I listened to San Antonio 85 again last night and, for some reason, Jack is uninspired in that solo. He seems to run out of ideas after every phrase, as if to say “how do I go on with this, what do I do now?”. In any case, I insist, I'm happy for the recording to arrive, some of the performances are sublime. I'm sorry that The Man's Too Strong is not here, but perfection doesn't exist, although I must admit that this boxset comes pretty close.

How would you compare this solo to the one from Houston and Cleveland ?

Yes, the one from Stockholm has no comparison.

It's the best one.

[herlock]

I mean, sorry. How would you compare San Antonio to Houston or Cleveland ? Would it have been better to release Houston rather than San Antonio ?

[wayaman]

I mean, sorry. How would you compare San Antonio to Houston or Cleveland ? Would it have been better to release Houston rather than San Antonio ?

For me both are very similar and very plain. The US part was like louder pretending to be rockier but any European concert was better.

[Brunno Nunes]

I really like the versions of Wild West End after the American tour, when Jack really starts the solo, everyone goes up a tone, going from C to D, the original key of 77/80, for me this always sounded like an allusion, a tribute to the original recording of this song, then goes back to the key of C and continues... I simply love these colors, it moves me... There are also some passages with a simulated harmonica effect, this is done on the synthesizer, it's in the singing part. Anyway, these are my favorites on this tour, it's a shame we don't have any testimonials from any member of the band about all these new arrangements that were created for a tour and during the tour, I would love to hear more from the band members, especially MK and Alan.

By the way, something very relevant about these 40 years of the BIA album would be a documentary about the album and tour, interviewing everyone who participated in the legendary 85/86 tour, this should have happened before Jack left, it would have been perfect. Things from my dreamland! 🤌🏻😅

[Robson]

 Yes and several guest too players appeared during the tour: Eric Clapton, Paul Young, Hank B. Marvin,  Sting, Billy Joel, David Sanborn, Branford Marsalis, Paul Brady, Dave Edmunds, Nils Lofgren, Francis Rossi, T-Bone Burnett, Pete Townshend.

[Brunno Nunes]

Yes and several guest too players appeared during the tour: Eric Clapton, Paul Young, Hank B. Marvin,  Sting, Billy Joel, David Sanborn, Branford Marsalis, Paul Brady, Dave Edmunds, Nils Lofgren, Francis Rossi, T-Bone Burnett, Pete Townshend.

Exactly, good point, this would be a very relevant act on this iconic tour. It's sad to see time pass and this not happen, while most of them are still alive, it would be a tremendous waste to miss this opportunity. I don't know why someone hasn't come along to make this real yet, we've already lost Jack, unfortunately.

[Leprechaun]

On the official DS page an UK version of the 3CD and 5LP set is announced:
https://store.direstraits.com/product-category/bia-40/

Does someone what the difference is to the standard versions?

[Love Expresso]

My guess is that it has to do with CE certification which has to fulfill certain EU standards and as Brits hate the EU they won't put that label on their products so a UK citizen can buy his MK Box without it. No difference otherwise, Mark sings English on both versions. 

LE

[dustyvalentino]

Not all of us hate the EU. I’m sure that also applies to our friends in the USA.

[Love Expresso]

I was not entirely serious. 

LE