Sultans of Swing

This article is about the Dire Straits song. For the greatest hits album, see Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits. For the Pakistani cricketer nicknamed the Sultan of Swing, see Wasim Akram.

"Sultans of Swing"
Single by Dire Straits
from the album Dire Straits
B-side
  • "Eastbound Train"
  • "Southbound Again"
Released19 May 1978 (UK)[1]
  • January 1979 (US)
RecordedFebruary 1978 (album version)
StudioBasing Street, London
Genre
Length5:47
Label
Songwriter(s)Mark Knopfler
Producer(s)Muff Winwood
Dire Straits singles chronology
"Sultans of Swing"
(1978) 		"Water of Love"
(1978)
Audio sample
Music video
"Sultans of Swing" on YouTube

"Sultans of Swing" is a song by British rock band Dire Straits, written by lead vocalist and guitarist Mark Knopfler. The demo of the song was recorded at Pathway Studios, North London, in July 1977 and quickly acquired a following after it was put in rotation on BBC Radio London. Its popularity soon reached record executives, and Dire Straits were offered a contract with Phonogram Records. The song was then re-recorded in February 1978 at Basing Street Studios for the band's eponymous debut album.

The B-side, "Eastbound Train", is a live track that otherwise only appears on the Live at the Hope & Anchor Front Row Festival album. The single would go on to reach the top 5 in Canada, South Africa, and the United States as well as the top 10 in Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The song has since remained a staple of classic rock radio, and is one of the band's most recognizable songs.[5][6][7]

On 12 September 1980, "Sultans of Swing" was the first song to air on a commercial station on the FM radio band in South Australia as part of a test reel for radio station SA-FM.[citation needed]

  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 47.
  2. ^ All Music Guide: The Definitive Guide to Popular Music (4th ed.). Hal Leonard Corporation. 2001. p. 120. ISBN 0879309237.
  3. ^ Breihan, Tom (26 October 2020). "The Number Ones: Dire Strait's "Money for Nothing"". Stereogum. Retrieved 10 October 2022. ...their drawling, drowsy roots-rock song "Sultans Of Swing"...
  4. ^ Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (17 July 2000). "A Flock of Haircuts: New Wave". Night Moves - Pop Music in the Late 70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-312-19821-3.
  5. ^ Gallucci, Michael (20 July 2013). "Top 10 Dire Straits Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  6. ^ Reespublished, Paul (17 April 2015). "The Top 10 Best Dire Straits Songs". loudersound. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  7. ^ "31 Best Classic Rock Songs Ever Made (All Time Hits)". Music Grotto. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.