OES rehearsal and preparations

[Jules]

I can't remember recording the US radio show.
I also can't remember what we were given to learn I Think I love You Too Much etc...
Being a quite simple rock blues, we might have just played it by ear the first time through.
I 'auditioned' for DS by playing along to the album cuts at Air Studios as they were mixing the album. I don't remember playing anything that didn't end up on the album.

I always thought that the four songs aired at that US radio show were recorded during the same production rehearsals, as long as it contains "The Long Highway" which was an unreleased song that was played only twice, at the first and second show of the tour in Dublin, and then dissapeared and as far as the bootlegs we have, that are a lot, wasn't played anymore.

[Pottel]

amazing thread this
huge thnx to Chris W. for providing!

[Chris W]

I really liked Portobello Belle , but didn't we only play that a couple of times too (at Dublin)?

[wayaman]

I really liked Portobello Belle , but didn't we only play that a couple of times too (at Dublin)?

Almost all days in Dublin (I think it was 5 dates) and also one in Grenoble, France, at least that we know because recordings exists.

[KnopfleRick]

I've always liked the version of Iron Hand from this session for Timothy White better than the album version.

And for me the version of The Long Highway is much better than the album version. It's longer and the acoustic guitar solo is just beautiful.

[Robson]

I've always liked the version of Iron Hand from this session for Timothy White better than the album version.

And for me the version of The Long Highway is much better than the album version. It's longer and the acoustic guitar solo is just beautiful.

Yes, I like this version very much too 

[cannibals]

Not really. A few songs were tried, played once, and never tried again.

Ticket to haven one off those songs??

[Chris W]

No idea.
I think it was mostly older songs, Pick Withers era.

[Love Expresso]

Isn't it just wonderful how Chris just couldn't give a f...k about all those irrelevant stuff that of course means the life to us Get-A-Lifers? Kudos to him for really honestly trying to answer all our fanboy questions...

LE

[GuitarChris]

I thought there was always a solo.
It was switched to Paul F. So the solo was there, but played by Paul on pedal steel.
Checked both OTN DVD and Basel.

Thank you very much for your reply, Chris! Appreciate your answers so much and it is very interesting to read your replies.

[Brunno Nunes]

Hi Chris, taking this opportunity and thanking you for your kindness in answering the questions here, I would like to ask you about the three songs from the OES album that were not played (as far as we know) during the tour: Ticket to Heaven, My Parties and How Long. Were these songs at least rehearsed? Do you have any memories about these specific songs? The same goes for ob-sides like Millionaire Blues and Kingdom Come.

Any thoughts on the songs above? Would any of them be suitable for a live performance, in your opinion? To date, no recording of them live with DS has ever surfaced. I have heard rumors that My Parties was played live in 1991 on the Australian tour, but... I doubt it.

About songs that were rehearsed and left aside for some reason, I believe that Setting me Up (from the first album) was a survivor, having appeared sporadically in some shows in 91 and much less in 1992, USA tour 92.

Here is just a personal point of view:

I missed some songs on the OES tour, Ride Across The River could be alternated with Planet of New Orleans, as well as The Man's Too Strong, Wild West End with Portobello Belle (this was played on rare occasions as well as So Far Away, both, probably survivors that gave a little sigh on the 91-92 tour). I can't imagine MK performing songs with the vibe of Lady Writer, Expresso Love, Down to the Waterline, Once Upon a Time in the West, Single Handed Sailor on the OES tour 91-92, I don't think any of them were rehearsed. 

Finally, a song that was played at every show from 91-92 and that in my humble opinion could be replaced by another from the band's catalog was Two Young Lovers. Personally, I think it was not a good choice, I prefer the production that the band did for this song on the BIA tour 91-92.

Are there any songs that you didn't like in the repertoire?

Thanks for your attention, Chris.

[TheTimeWasWrong]

I can't imagine MK performing songs with the vibe of Lady Writer, Expresso Love, Down to the Waterline, Once Upon a Time in the West, Single Handed Sailor on the OES tour 91-92, I don't think any of them were rehearsed. 

Maybe Water of Love, as that was also played in '96 and during the NHB gigs.

[Chris W]

Isn't it just wonderful how Chris just couldn't give a f...k about all those irrelevant stuff that of course means the life to us Get-A-Lifers?

Well that's not exactly accurate.
It was 35 years ago. If I played a song once or twice 35 years ago it's not going to be a distinct memory. I have photographs from the tour I can't remember taking.

[Chris W]

I seem to remember 'My Parties' being rehearsed. Not sure for how long.
One song I remember being seriously considered and rehearsed was 'Water Of Love'.
As to any others, I can't remember. Pretty sure we never tried 'Ride Across The River' as I would remember the complex arrangement and time signatures.

[Love Expresso]

Isn't it just wonderful how Chris just couldn't give a f...k about all those irrelevant stuff that of course means the life to us Get-A-Lifers?

Well that's not exactly accurate.
It was 35 years ago. If I played a song once or twice 35 years ago it's not going to be a distinct memory. I have photographs from the tour I can't remember taking.

And that's absolutely understandable of course! I follow your insta account and see all the photographs and I am astonished about the detailed describtions often.

What I meant: apart from what was rehearsed, we can't assume that you know the complete Dire Straits catalogue, song titles, regulars from older tours etc. We as "fans" know every second MK ever recorded of course but can't expect you to do the same.

By the way, I was watching that two-part Interview with you on YouTube where you talk in detail about the McCartney time (not only tour but also beginnings) and about all the people you met etc. And it not only sounds like a great adventure and highlight for sure but really puts the whole DS tour thing in relation. DS maybe were big at that time, but it seems Paul really was "grand", several dimensions higher, if not musically, then as a human being in any case. Must have been a dream come true for you whereas it's sad that DS was just a job with hardly any good rememberings.

LE