Sultans of Swing

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox song "Sultans of Swing" is a song by the British rock band Dire Straits, written by the lead vocalist and guitarist Mark Knopfler. Dire Straits recorded a demo at Pathway Studios, North London, in July 1977, and it acquired a following after it was put in rotation on BBC Radio London. After Dire Straits signed a record contract with Phonogram Records, they rerecorded it in February 1978 at Basing Street Studios for their debut album, Dire Straits.

The B-side, "Eastbound Train", is a live track. "Sultans of Swing" reached the top five in Canada, South Africa, and the United States, and the top 10 in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia. It remains a staple of classic rock radio and is one of Dire Straits' most recognisable songs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Writing

"Sultans of Swing" was composed by Mark Knopfler on a National Steel guitar in open tuning. He thought it was dull until he bought his first Fender Stratocaster in 1977: "It just came alive as soon as I played it on that '61 Strat ... the new chord changes just presented themselves and fell into place."<ref name="greatest solos"/>

The lyrics were inspired by a performance of a Dixieland jazz band playing in the corner of an almost empty pub in Deptford, South London. At the end of their performance, the singer announced their name, the Sultans of Swing. Knopfler found the contrast between their dowdy appearance and surroundings and their grandiose name amusing.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Recording

Shortly after Dire Straits formed in 1977, they recorded a five-song demo tape at Pathway Studios, including "Sultans of Swing".<ref name="Oldfield42">Oldfield 1984, p. 42</ref><ref>Wooldridge 2002, p. 1962</ref> They took the tape to DJ Charlie Gillett, the presenter of Honky Tonk on BBC Radio London, hoping for advice. Gillett put "Sultans of Swing" on his rotation. Two months later, Dire Straits signed a recording contract with Phonogram Records.<ref name="Oldfield42" /> In February 1978, Dire Straits rerecorded "Sultans of Swing" at Basing Street Studios for their debut album, Dire Straits, produced by Muff Winwood.<ref>"On Every Street" official tour programme.</ref>

Composition

"Sultans of Swing" uses common time, with a tempo of 149 beats per minute. It is in the key of D minor with Knopfler's vocal range spanning G₂ to D₄. It uses a chord progression of Dm–C–BTemplate:Music–A for the verses, and F–C–BTemplate:Music for the choruses.<ref name="sheet">Template:Cite journal</ref> The riff uses triads, particularly second inversions. The song employs the Andalusian cadence or diatonic phrygian tetrachord.<ref>Template:Cite web All of the chords are compatible with a D natural minor scale, except for the A major triad which suggests a D harmonic minor scale.</ref> All the chords are compatible with a D natural minor scale, except for the A major triad, which suggests a D harmonic minor scale. Knopfler used similar triads on "Lady Writer".<ref>Rooksby 2002, p. 104</ref>

Personnel

• Mark Knopfler – vocals, lead and rhythm guitars
• David Knopfler – rhythm guitar
• John Illsley – bass
• Pick Withers – drums

Critical reception

Ken Tucker of Rolling Stone singled out "Sultans of Swing" as a highlight of the album for its "inescapable hook" and compared Knopfler's vocals to those of Bob Dylan.<ref name="rs-ds">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Cash Box likened the vocals to Lou Reed and wrote that "the arrangement of moderate beat and excellent guitar work are exceptionally fluid and engaging".<ref name=cb>Template:Cite news</ref> Record World said that "The lyrics are thoughtful and the hook instantly memorable".<ref name=rw>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The New Rolling Stone Album Guide called the song "an insinuating bit of bar-band mythmaking" whose lyrics "paint a vivid picture of an overlooked and underappreciated pub combo".<ref>Brackett 2004, p. 242</ref>

The Spokane Chronicle's Jim Kershner wrote that "Sultans of Swing" is "remarkable, both for its lyrics that made fun of hip young Londoners and the phenomenal guitar sound of Knopfler", which "sounded like no other guitar on radio".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jon Marlowe of The Palm Beach Post called it "an infectious, sounds-damn-good-on-the-car-radio ode to every bar band who has ever done four sets a night, seven nights a week".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Classic Rock critic Paul Rees rated the live version on Alchemy to be Dire Straits' greatest song.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2013, Rick Moore of American Songwriter wrote: Template:Quote

Record Mirror named "Sultans of Swing" the tenth-best song of 1977.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1992, Life named it one of the top five songs of 1978.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1993, Paul Williams included it in his book Rock and Roll: The 100 Best Singles.<ref name=williams>Williams 1993, p. 166-167</ref> The song is on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list, Dire Straits' only appearance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2006, Mojo included it in a list of the 50 best British songs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Guitar World ranked its guitar solo at the 7th greatest, and Rolling Stone named it the 32nd-greatest guitar song.<ref name="greatest solos">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Chart performance

The song was originally released in May 1978, but it did not chart at the time. Following its re-issue in January 1979, the song entered the American music pop chart. Unusually, the success of this single release came more than six months after the relatively unheralded release of the band's debut album in October 1978. BBC Radio was initially unwilling to play the song due to its high lyrical content but after it became a US hit, their line softened.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song reached the top 10 in both the UK and the US, reaching No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped drive sales of the album, which also became a hit.

"Sultans of Swing" was re-issued again as a single in November 1988, a month after it appeared on the band's greatest hits album Money for Nothing, when it peaked at No. 62. It was also included on Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits and The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations.

Other versions

Knopfler has improvised and expanded the solo during live performances. The coda of the live recording on the 1984 album Alchemy stretches the song to nearly 11 minutes,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> likewise with the band’s performance at Live Aid. At the 1988 Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert in London, Eric Clapton teamed up with the band, providing rhythm guitar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart peaks for "Sultans of Swing"

Chart (1978–1979)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	14
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	26
Canadian RPM Top Singles<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	4
German Singles Chart<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	20
Ireland (IRMA)<ref>Template:Cite web Only one result when searching "Sultans of swing"</ref>	6
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	11
New Zealand Singles Chart<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	12
South African Chart<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	3
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	8
US Billboard Hot 100<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	4
US Billboard Adult Contemporary<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	46

2025 weekly chart peaks for "Sultans of Swing"

Chart (2025)	Peak position
Greece International (IFPI)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	80
Portugal (AFP)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	139
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	85
UK Singles Chart<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	41

Year-end charts

1978 year-end positions for "Sultans of Swing"

Chart (1978)	Rank
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	85

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1979 year-end positions for "Sultans of Swing"

Chart (1979)	Rank
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	61

References

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External links

• Guitar World: 100 Greatest Guitar Solos - Sultans of Swing