Drummer reacts to "Telegraph Road" (Live Alchemy) by Dire Straits

[@raycornford283]

'Alchemy' was a great name for this concert - magic was created.

[@StevenQ74]

Mark wrote this while the tour bus was going down route 24 in Michigan into Detroit, also called Telegraph Road, he was reading the book "The growth of the soil" at the time and combined the 2 into this song. Dire Straits is from the UK BTW , Mark was born in Glasgow Scotland and grew up in Newcasctle England. It's Alan Clark on keys BTW, Tomy Mandell was just a guest musician for this show who played suporting keys.

[@simonround2439]

That's correct, Mark's from Newcastle and lived pretty near where another Geordie legend, Sting, grew up. Sting actually did backing vocals on a Dire Straits song.

[@alundavies1016]

Supporting keyboards has a whale of a time by the way he dances through most of the set !

[@ValdemarVaage]

The movie based on the book, the best book ever written, is actually called The Telegraphist.

[@Ivantheterrible4444]

Thank you

[@meherenowmaybe]

I have been on telegraph road many times. I grew up in Birmingham and Troy outside of Detroit. Great place to live then and now. Now, especially Birmingham, a great little town.

[@SamKnause]

Masterpiece !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dire Straits at the top of their game. Mark is a gift to the world.

[@seanstevenson9891]

"Then came the lawyers, then came the rules." What an epic line.

[@fifi23o5]

I was fortunate enough to see and hear this live. And, yes, that makes me old, too. You can't have everything.

[@L33Reacts]

Man you are so damn Lucky lol I would have LOVED to have seen this magic performed live 🤤

[@fifi23o5]

​@@L33ReactsI've seen Dire Straits five times altogether, once, in 1985, I think, I've seen them twice in three days, 11th and 13th of May, different days, different cities in now different countries, different venues, different feel, even playlist was different. One concert was open air, the other was indoor arena, two totally different concerts. Of all concerts I've been to they are at the top together with Pink Floyd, all others come way behind. I've alsi been to three of Mark Knopfler's solo concerts. A totally different experience but worth listening it just the same, mastery of different kind.

[@dongubelman3013]

Jealous

[@williamosborne6866]

Tommy Mandel was a guest (tour only) keyboardist (hidden in the back) - their regular keyboard wizard was the incredible Alan Clark. Whatever you were reading is incorrect. Along with Mark, the other musicians here were Alan Clark (keys), Jon Illsley (bass), Terry Williams (drums), and Hal Lindes (rhythm guitar)

[@ronlyster5667]

The album version is every bit as much of a masterpiece as this version. Worth the listen!!

[@aliampb6949]

The night we went this was their encore. We thought our ears, brains and hearts would never recover. Over two hours of joy. Never forgotten

[@bradpalmer2953]

On the Alchemy blue ray cd, the final 2 songs were "Solid Rock" and "Going home".

[@brianshickey]

I would sell my soul to go back and watch this concert.

[@bradpalmer2953]

Wouldn't know for sure cos I wasn't there, but they follow on after TR ???

[@AnthonyEllis-qn9mj]

Try Romeo and Juliet.

[@willswomble7274]

The finest, greatest, non-classical analogue album recording of all time. Then their follow-up, pioneering DDD all digital, 'Brothers in Arms' stunned the world!

[@54fighting5]

Dire Straits... not only a great studio band and a great live band...but these fantastic musicians always appeared to be having a great deal of fun playing together on stage! The audience seemed to pick that love up and reflect it right back onto the band.

[@daphnethurlow5388]

Will never be another band like this....

[@garrycroft4215]

Yes Mark wrote this song while traveling on a bus down the Telegraph Road.

[@garrycroft4215]

Try “Tunnel of Love “

[@gillwaugh7212]

The lyrics are worth a read, Lee. Love your reaction to this truly epic performance.

[@redzone77p]

Dire Straits Opus, a beautiful piece, showcases the talent of the band.

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

ye, absolute masterpiece

[@scotstevens5263]

Just amazing still after all these years. Mark is an extremely great guitarist 🎸🎶🎶🎸. Love the drummer as well.

[@DrStrangelove3891]

Epic song, in the true sense of the word. It tells the tale of the rise and fall of an industrial town.

[@27thangel23]

Greetings from Canada. That was Alan Clarke, formerly with Eric Clapton, on piano. Mandel played assorted keys (on road trips, additional keys were played by their manager, Guy Fletcher). Saw them live- opening act SRV & Double Trouble. Peace, love and bellbottoms.

Alan Clark, definitely.

[@danielmclaughlin9385]

Thanks!

[@L33Reacts]

Thank you Daniel !! 🙏🙏

[@surfwriter8461]

It's incredible to be this well-rehearsed and tight as a unit but still seem so natural, spontaneous and alive with feeling in a lengthy performance that goes through that many changes in pace and mood. It's also remarkable how Mark K can play so many notes and changes without looking at his guitar to keep track of it all. A masterful guitar playing and great work from the other musicians as well, including Terry Williams on drums and Alan Clark on piano and keyboards.

[@matthewstroud4294]

This is as good as it gets for live rock music. All you need to do now Lee is react to Private Investigations from Alchemy, and then you can buy the album.

[@MinistryOfDarkness11]

Calling Elvis from DIRE STRAITS- Live "On The Night" 1993 is also an awesome performance with some surprises at the end. Once Upon A Time In The West from Alchemy is also worth checking out. Cheers all the best from Australia 👍🎸🎸🎸

[@michelfroggy56]

Calling Elvis is a pure eargasm, I saw them live here in Montreal in 93 that was the top track they played that night

[@MinistryOfDarkness11]

@@michelfroggy56 yes indeed. That's awesome. I saw them 4 times in Melbourne, Aust. in '91. John Illsley's bass went right through me in the opening verse. The sound quality was so good.

[@shiannesmith6877]

Oh my god!!! This was amazing thank you for this ❤

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

one of my all time favourites, listening to this on a proper hifi set, its awesome. i love there is nowhere to hide when playing this, and he nails every chord.

[@julianbarber4708]

Mark Knopfler is totally underrated, as both a songwriter and guitarist.

[@billbitterman9487]

Actually not underrated. He is highly regarded especially as a guitarist. He may be underrated as a writer because people don't know the deeper cuts. His solo work is great as well. His Sailing to Philidelphia and Ragpicker's Dream are great albums

[@marcvanderiet5592]

I've played this album a zillion times back in the days of my youth. I drifted in different musical directions along the way, but wow! This brings back memorys , shivers and goose bumbs..

[@ianvincent69]

Me too. One of my favorite albums as a teenager and still is.

[@martinarscott3524]

I shared a room with my brother as a kid, we used to regularly listen to this track at night before sleep (a bit too loud, much to the annoyance of my parents lol)

[@61guitbox]

they totally nailed it on this live version 🫶🏻✌️

[@garrycroft4215]

That was the encore to this gig.

[@everestguy8850]

That was Al Alan Clarke on the keyboards...arguably the greatest live song by Dire Straits

[@YiorgosChronis]

Alchemy album is all a gem! My most favorite live album of all, must have heard it literaly hundrends of times. Also one of the few where the songs seem better than the studio versions. Don't hesitate to hear any song from this album, Tunnel of Love (definately!!), Private Investigations, Romeo and Juliet, Once Upon a Time in the West, you name it !

[@castlew4162]

"Telegraph Road" is my favorites song of theirs and it's on my favorite album of theirs, "Love Over Gold". It's something to listen to start to finish. This is a great live performance, but I think I like the studio recording more since you can hear the piano more clearly since it gets lost in the live mix at times. Also, there's no jerks whistling or shouting during the softer times.

[@ndav5677]

Your perceptive analysis of great music is exemplary Lee............you sure get it!

[@jjc5407]

"If you were putting guitarists together in some kind of diagrams of sorts I don't know where he would fit next to other guitarists." In a Venn Diagram of guitarists you'd have sets of rock guitarists, blues guitarists, classical guitarists, slide guitarists, jazz guitarists etc. Mark Knopfler would be on his own in the dead centre where all the circles overlap.

[@L33Reacts]

I think you are right. It’s crazy. I have no idea where he belongs but he’s a fucking legend LoL

[@russellsearch7925]

Great reaction. I highly recommend Private Investigations from the same gig. Slowed down with a classical feel. It’s very very special, I think you’ll love it.

[@sharondavid-melly1498]

Watched an emotional Mark minutes ago ( Bros in Arms)- this is grounding but still connected. Thanks Love Dire Straits

[@brianshickey]

Great reaction video! I agree with your analysis. Sometimes it’s easy to pick a Dire Straits member who stands out (Terry Williams on Sultans Alchemy) but in this live version of Telegraph, absolutely everyone shined. As you put it, ‘A Family’. This symbiosis was incredible. If I had to pick one member it would be Alan Clark’s piano work which was flawless. My favourite Dire Straits live performance period.

[@dawntucker5052]

Mark could really bring it all together ❤

[@fineasfogg1461]

I never knew how great Dire Straits really was. What is played on the radio was never as wonderful as this that I recall.

[@L33Reacts]

The “hits” they had were so big that it overshadowed the even better material they had on their albums. At least it seems that way!

[@fineasfogg1461]

@ I have to agree with you. I remember the big things, but nothing like this.

[@michaelbaucom4019]

Need to do Tunnel Of Love from Alchemy next. Beyond spectacular Alan Clarke the primary keyboard player

[@richardhargrave6082]

As I said after Sultans, I was there and it still gives me goose bumps It was Alan on the keys, epic. We thought it wasn't going to be played at the gig, its too complicated, so epic. They saved it until the end, except the encore, The killed it, all of them. Still love Terry's drumming!

[@catbyte0679]

It's Telegraph Road in Detroit, MI, which is a main thoroughfare. Their tour bus was stuck in traffic when the idea came to Knopfler. I can relate, lol. I've been stuck there many times.

[@corbe1970ify]

You will never witness anything quite like this again 😮🥺

[@Orbitalmercury]

I love the bit of tremolo , i think its called, he plays not long after terry the drummer does the 1 arm swing with the drum stick. It adds more emotion in just a couple of seconds

[@bradpalmer2953]

Alan Clark is the main keyboard player, was in the band from the start. If you enjoyed the interaction here,, you GOTTA watch Tunnel of love, live at Wembly. MKs the only person who Clapton has kinda taken a back seat to at the Mandela concert. Great reaction bro, liked n' subbed. ✌

[@vibetone355]

Saw the drummer Terry Williams in 1973 in a Welsh called Man, thought to myself he’s an awesome drummer, the rest is history 👍👍👍👍

[@MrWishud]

Man were fricking awesome. Best Welsh band ever. Never Say Nups to Nepalese.

[@vibetone355]

@@MrWishud blew my head when l saw them in 73 I’d never heard of them, be good to yourself at least once a day, back to the future,

[@MrWishud]

@@vibetone355 Saw them loads in the 70's living in Newport. They were always playing on the Welsh south coast. The list of great tracks is huge but a highlight since I first bought it in 1972 is the Greasy Truckers live version of Spunk Rock. I'd love to see a reaction to that. Or maybe Bananas. haha. Two bottleneck guitars playing in unison live on The Ride and The View in a Newport pub is a great memory. Got to love Man. Those guys should have been massive.

[@vibetone355]

@@MrWishud never forget the album that opened out to a map guys pushing England away on boats, l use to look at that cover for hours, l had live at the pageant rooms, H Samuel a stand out track,

[@jjc5407]

"If there's any other songs from this concert you think I should check out leave them down below." All of them!

[@SPGhettus]

I've come to love the words "Telegraph Road", because every time he says them, wonderful guitar sounds follow. The album version is almost as long and has a better build-to-climax in the final solo, well worth a listen.

[@vibetone355]

You can hear the Dylan influence in his voice

[@brucek5578]

One of the greatest tracks ever.

[@brigittereimprecht8334]

Good reaction and I'm glad you like it, DS were so good live and the Alchemy concert was awesome. And this song is a masterpiece, every single one was great and the harmony in the group was perfect. Terry was the best drummer the band had for me, so perfect and powerful, Jonathan was a god on the piano. Make sure you watch "Tunnel of Love" Live at Wembley

[@patrickwouters6568]

Terry Williams is great too!

[@alundavies1016]

Williams the Drums!

[@pegasus00]

Long line Mark Knopfler. Such greatness.

[@juergenblaas6573]

it' s Alan Clark on piano

[@erink7960]

Hi Lee, I absolutely love your reactions! you totally get it! Please try ‘Once upon a Time in the West’ from the same Alchemy Live and a must is Tunnel of Love, live at Wembley… you will love them! there are many more after that but I do recommend you always listen to Dire Straits live, they’re another level! ❤

[@RadCenter]

Masterpiece

[@ziovit]

A Masterpiece. Go, listen all the album (s)

[@L33Reacts]

I might just do it. These guys are my favorite find of the past month or two!

[@ziovit]

@@L33Reacts I lived those times, I was 15-16 years old at that time. I was at that concert. I know every note, and I’m a musician, so I’ll give you that suggestion. Mark is a genius, it was wonderful times, we were surrounded by fantastic bands. That music is gone. I feel sorry for young people, today. A big hug from Italy. Andy

[@lewismaddox4132]

Leave it to a British bloke to teach us about our history, in this case about the genesis of Detroit.

[@jmpmusva]

Nice job on the video and editing. This song showed me how some of the guitar riffs, don't actually come from Mark,

[@toniw725]

I prefer the Wembley 1985 version of Tunnel of Love, but the Alchemy version is good too. Private Investigations from 1993 On the Night live is very dramatic and showcases another side of Dire Straits. Calling Elvis is another good one from that same concert. At some point you will want to check out the original iteration of the band with Pick Withers on drum and David Knopfler on rhythm guitar. 1979's Rockpalast has songs like In the Gallery, Water of Love, and Wild West End. Mark is a true genius!❤

[@goncalocarvalho4917]

great reaction

[@L33Reacts]

Thank you my friend! I appreciate that so much

[@huskytully3887]

Check Out Mark with Emmylou Harris "Why worry" live - just divine ... 🫸🏻🙏🏻🫷🏻

[@dbradx]

Mark and Emmylou are a match made by the gods, they sound fantastic whenever they work together.

[@roypries2387]

This concert was really something else 😂

[@martinezq1]

Once upon a time in the west from Alchemy have nice drum. Btw check early drums from Uriah Heep band : Alex Napier and Lee Kerslake

[@DavidTateVA]

While this is maybe the best live performance of anything I've ever seen, the studio album (Love Over Gold) is also stunning, end-to-end. It's a different sound from their earlier hits, and different from the hugely successful (and brilliant) Brothers In Arms, but it's my favorite of all their albums.

[@deepermind4884]

You HAVE to do "Private Investigations" from the "On the Night" album! In fact ANYTHING from that album is Stellar. The sound production on the album is crystalline!

[@Orbitalmercury]

Thats allan clark 9n the main piano and keys, tommy is the second keyboard player with only 3 rows of keys, allan has the piano and 4 keyboards

[@MassiAlbert]

Hy... I suggest you "Love over the gold" from the same live Alchemy and "Calling Elvis", "Brother in arms" and "On every street" from "On the night Live" (1993). Amazing!

[@roelslegers2688]

About Mark Knopfler I would say: the coolest guitar player.

[@garyrobets6147]

Terry Williams .Drummer use to play for MAN... The Best 👌

[@jaynicholas523]

Great reaction yet again bro now you gotta check out tunnel of love live 1985 full version trust me won't he disappointed

[@L33Reacts]

I got plenty DS to do it seems. I’m down. This shit is incredible

[@stevebrownlow2606]

Dire Straits are from Newcastle in the UK proud Gordies

[@dexstewart2450]

Terry Williams is a Swansea Jack

[@highpath4776]

I think this might have been played as an encore

[@dexstewart2450]

Knopfler - Scots born, Williams - Swansea

[@garrycroft4215]

Try “Romeo & Juliet”

[@StevenQ74]

The version fron "On the night" is great kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGXZp4tsYsmSgLs

[@CharlyDS]

This is of course a great performance but the album version is amazing, gets me everytime. The greatest epic for me. Really like a movie.

[@Jahbs]

You really should watch the whole Alchemy Live gig, even if it’s only for yourself! So many, Private Investigations, Romeo and Juliet, Tunnel of Love ☮️ ❤️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@L33Reacts]

I’ll probably do one or two more for the channel and then I’m watching the whole thing for myself LOL

[@Jahbs]

@@L33Reacts trust me, you’ll be hooked 😉 Welcome to my world ☮️❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@micamaimoun]

Alchemy is the best album of DS for me, Roméo and juliette, expression love....

[@L33Reacts]

I just posted that one on my patreon on today! Made me cry 😢 lol

[@vibetone355]

I recommend watching just the drummer in the band on KZbin

[@cletushouse906]

Aren’t you glad you started doing these reactions?

[@RickTrain-m3z]

No! Alan Carter on main keyboards and piano 👍👍👍

[@SashanMusArt]

ALAN CLARK

[@marianmcguire9023]

Saw it live so you’re opinion matters 🤪🤪

[@jaynicholas523]

Bro please react to tunnel of love live 1985 and give me a shout out But need to listen to the full version

[@JB-Deadskins]

Calling Elvis

[@JohnnyLarsen-i3z]

Is this reactor on drugs.. or very very tired ??

[@NormanGnome11]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegraph_Road_(song)