"Setting Me Up" | |
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Song by Dire Straits | |
from the album Dire Straits | |
Released | 7 October 1978 |
Genre | |
Length | 3:18 |
Label | Vertigo |
Songwriter(s) | Mark Knopfler |
Producer(s) | Muff Winwood |
"Setting Me Up" | ||||
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Single by Highway 101 | ||||
from the album 101² | ||||
B-side | "Long Way Down" | |||
Released | January 1989 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 3:49 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) | Mark Knopfler | |||
Producer(s) | Paul Worley Ed Seay | |||
Highway 101 singles chronology | ||||
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"Setting Me Up" is a song written by Mark Knopfler. It was originally recorded by British rock group Dire Straits on their self-titled debut album but not released as a single. Ken Tucker in Rolling Stone described the song as a "heavenly number" combining humor with bitterness, despite having a typical messed-up romance theme.[1] Tucker noted that the song's impact is enhanced by the growling tone in Knopfler's singing voice and by the song's country music-style guitar solo.[1] Carly Darling in Billboard Magazine praised the song's rockabilly guitar but criticizes the lyrics.[2]
The song appeared on Eric Clapton's 1980 double live album Just One Night, with Albert Lee singing lead vocals.[3] Albert Lee also covered the song on his album Hiding, with backing harmonies sung by Don Everly.[4]
"Setting Me Up" is one of five songs that Knopfler's publisher made country demos of without the songwriter's approval, leading to a number of country covers of this and other songs.[5] American country music group Highway 101 covered the song for their 1988 album 101² and released it as the album's third single in January 1989. The song reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in April 1989.[6] Their version features a shared lead vocal by Paulette Carlson and bassist Curtis Stone.[7]