Album of the Day

Dire Straits had long been critical favorites, but it was fifth album BROTHERS IN ARMS that finally gave the U.K. band the stardom they deserved; the collection topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, eventually reaching 30 million in worldwide sales. Part of that success was due to timing – the meticulously recorded set was tailor-made for the then-new CD format, and the video for “Money For Nothing” was tailor-made for MTV (it would become the first video aired on MTV Europe on this day in 1987). But most of the credit goes to songs like opener “So Far Away” and the Top 10 “Walk Of Life,” which rank with the most emotionally resonant and pop-friendly in the Dire Straits catalog. With superb performances led by singer/guitarist Mark Knopfler, the Grammy-winning BROTHERS IN ARMS stands as the group’s finest hour.