Dire Straits, The Honky Tonk Demos (2015)
Here’s another Record Store Day special release I picked up – didn’t rush out the door on the day to get this, but picked it up a few days later. Worth having. It’s an EP (a double EP, or double 7” single) of early Dire Straits demos and if you click on this link you can hear all of it. These four songs are the very earliest of the recorded Dire Straits material; demos from 1977. DJ Charlie Gillett played the version of Sultans of Swing here on his Honky Tonk radio show – from there the band was signed. So, it’s his fault! Oh grow up, the early Dire Straits was a wonderful band, especially the first two records – even the first three…after that the wheels are falling off, sure. I’ll still (always) defend the very best of the Dire Straits material and I love having this double 7” single of the first four songs that put this band out and into the world.

Sample Track: Down To The Waterline (Demo)
The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown