Tonight, I’m featuring an electric fingerpicker: Mark Knopfler, better know as the lead guitarists for one of my favorite bands, Dire Straits. Back about 1980-81, a haunting song came on the radio entitled Sultans of Swing. The guitar rift was distinctive and hooked me. To this day, it’s one of my favorite songs. I spent six years in Kuwait working with the World Health Organization from 1984 to 1990 and spent a lot of time listening to Dire Straits. My other favorite of Knopfler’s is Money for Nothing. I have a memory of sitting behind the wheel of a friend’s Porsche 959 ripping through a set of twisting turns as the intro played, and just as Mark hit that opening riff, coming out of the last turn and accelerating to 165 mph down a long, straight highway out into the desert. What a rush! That memory always pops up when I hear it. Check out Mark’s style. It’s unique among rock guitarists.
Sultans of Swing (original): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SEULZIHru0&feature=related
Sultans of Swing Guitar later version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2nQZPC2uTs&feature=related
Money for Nothing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlPjxz4LGak&feature=fvw
Brothers in Arms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XVVZPefbR4
Ride Across the River: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hHfCMh-G-s&feature=related
Where Do You Think You’re Going: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZXui-dcTt0&feature=related
Down to the Waterline: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylaynrlTEOI&feature=related
In the Gallery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3D7DmKiDsA&feature=related
Six Blade Knife: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hWLjRiLCQk&feature=related
When the economy is in “Dire Straits” zinfandel sales seem to rise. People have less discretionary income to spend on wine and zinfandels top out around $40.00 a bottle with the exception of a few exclusive brands. I’m always on the lookout for good buys as in getting a premium priced wine for under my $25.00 price limit here. Perusing my local grocery store’s stock, I found that they had an overstock sale on 2006 Rosenblum Lake County Zinfandel from Snows Lake Vineyard. The wine normally sells for about $35.00 but I got it for $20.00. Rosenblum Cellars is know for their zins. They’re big fruity wines and this was no exception.
One suggestion: let the bottle breath for a half hour and it’ll really open up. Dark purple color. Explosive dark fruit, chocolate, and coffee on the nose. The taste is powerful, full of deep, dense, blackberry, black raspberry and dark chocolate flavors augmented by soft tannins. It’s a juicy, almost sweet wine with a long, jammy finish. Really nice. I liked it so much I snuck back and bought four more bottles. And if no one discovers it by Saturday, I’ll buy a few more. Enjoy!
Cheers!
The Death Whisperer Series
The Death Whisperer Series available at https://www.amazon.com/author/dmichaelolive
1 comment:
Mike,
Thanks for submitting to the Public Query Slushpile. I usually check out the profiles of submitters (when available) and three wrods caught my attention on yours:
- Wine
- Victor
- Wooten
I have a glass of Dynamite Zin right now, it's a steal at $9.99 a bottle.
We took the kids out hiking today and for the hour ride to the park we listened to Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. My younger son is named Victor; my wife and I were listening to this same CD about 5 years ago and decided on the name a few months before he was born.
I play bass as my primary instrument. I also play rhythm/lead guitar and I can get my way around a keyboard, but not with great proficiency.
I met Victor Wooten briefly after one of the Flecktone's shows in Cleveland. He's a really nice guy, and the sounds he can produce with a bass are simply amazing.
Post a Comment