The Ragpicker's Dream

Template:Use dmy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: Template:Start date | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=A Shot at Glory2002Shangri-La2004studioThe Ragpicker's DreamMK_The_Ragpickers_Dream.jpgMark KnopflerTemplate:Start dateJanuary–June 2002Ocean Way, NashvilleRoots rock, folk rock, bluesTemplate:DurationMercury
Warner Bros. (USA)Mark Knopfler, Chuck Ainlayx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} The Ragpicker's Dream is the third solo studio album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 30 September 2002 by Mercury Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States.<ref name="allmusic-rpd">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album received generally favorable reviews upon its release.<ref name="metacritic-rpd">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Composition

The album is a collection of songs written from the point of view of poor but dignified itinerant men, struggling to get by in life, often enjoying small triumphs. Knopfler gives a folk imprint to the whole album without relying too heavily on the acoustic guitar. The first song, "Why Aye Man", was used as the theme tune for the third series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet which first aired in 2002. The album contains numerous other references to North East England, including the village of Tow Law on "Hill Farmer's Blues".<ref name="allmusic-rpd"/>

Artwork

The album cover shows a black and white photograph of a man and a woman dancing in a kitchen. The photograph was taken by Elliott Erwitt and is titled "Spain, Valencia, 1952, Robert and Mary Frank".<ref name="magnum">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The photo was also used as the book cover for two novels: The Marriage Artist by Andrew Winer (2010, Henry Holt & Company), and Ancient Light by John Banville (2012, Viking).<ref name="ol">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Critical reception

Template:Album ratings In his review for AllMusic, Hal Horowitz gave the album three out of five stars, calling the album "a pleasant, classy, often inspired effort whose unassuming charms are best appreciated after repeated listenings."<ref name="allmusic-rpd"/> Horowitz continued:

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Horowitz acknowledges Knopfler's versatility and breadth of music on the album: the atmospherics of "Hill Farmer's Blues" and "Fare Thee Well Northumberland", the unaccompanied folk/blues of "Marbletown", the "shuffling groove" on the spooky "You Don't Know You're Born", the mid-tempo "Coyote", the authentic honky tonk swing of "Daddy's Gone to Knoxville", and Roger Milleresque "Quality Shoe". Horowitz singles out the title track, which he describes as "an homage to the American roots music he's always admired."<ref name="allmusic-rpd"/>

Track listing

All songs were written by Mark Knopfler.<ref name="allmusic-rpd"/> Template:Track listing

Limited edition bonus disc<ref group="Note">The limited edition disc was available only in the United Kingdom and Canada.</ref>

Singles from the album

• Why Aye Man - Released on September 16, 2002

Personnel

Music

• Mark Knopfler – vocals, guitars
• Richard Bennett – guitars
• Jim Cox – piano, Hammond organ
• Guy Fletcher – keyboards, backing vocals (8)
• Glenn Worf – bass guitar
• Chad Cromwell – drums
• Glen Duncan – violin (11)
• Paul Franklin – pedal steel guitar (3,5,10)
• Mike Henderson – harmonica (6)
• Jimmy Nail – backing vocals (1)
• Tim Healy – backing vocals (1)

Production

• Mark Knopfler – producer
• Chuck Ainlay – producer, engineer, mixing
• John Saylor – engineer
• Jon Bailey – engineer
• Jake Jackson – engineer
• Tony Cousins – mastering
• Stephen Walker – art direction
• Neil Kellerhouse – art direction, design
• Elliot Erwitt – photography (front cover)
• Ken Sharp – photography
• North Bank Fred – photography (trains)<ref name="album-notes">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

Charts

Weekly charts

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Chart (2002)	Peak position
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	2

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)	Position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	44
French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	83
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	61
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	46
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	57
UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	183

References

Notes

Citations

External links

• The Ragpicker's Dream at Mark Knopfler official website