Dire Straits discography

The discography of English rock band Dire Straits consists of six studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums, two extended plays and 31 singles. Dire Straits also have sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists in the world.^[1]

Dire Straits discography
Dire Straits performing live in Norway, October 1985
Studio albums	6
EPs	4
Live albums	4
Compilation albums	3
Singles	31
Music videos	15

Albums

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions										Certifications
		UK [2]	AUS [3]	AUT [4]	CAN [5]	FRA [6]	GER [7]	NED [8]	NZ [9]	SWI [10]	US [11]
Dire Straits	Released: 9 June 1978 Label: Vertigo	5	1	17	2	1	3	3	2	7	2	BPI: 2× Platinum[12] BVMI: Platinum[13] IFPI SWI: 2× Platinum[14] MC: 4× Platinum[15] RIAA: 2× Platinum[16] RMNZ: Platinum[17] SNEP: Platinum[18]
Communiqué	Released: 15 June 1979 Label: Vertigo	5	5	7	14	3	1	3	1	2	11	BPI: Platinum[12] BVMI: Platinum[13] IFPI SWI: 3× Platinum[14] MC: 2× Platinum[15] RIAA: Gold[16] RMNZ: Gold[19] SNEP: 2× Platinum[18]
Making Movies	Released: 17 October 1980 Label: Vertigo	4	6	15	21	6	7	6	3	—	19	BPI: 2× Platinum[12] BVMI: Gold[13] IFPI SWI: Gold[14] MC: 2× Platinum[15] RIAA: Platinum[16] RMNZ: Platinum[20] SNEP: Gold[18]
Love over Gold	Released: 20 September 1982 Label: Vertigo	1	1	1	6	2	4	1	1	—	19	ARIA: 2× Platinum[21] BPI: 2× Platinum[12] BVMI: Platinum[13] MC: 2× Platinum[15] RIAA: Gold[16] RMNZ: Platinum[22] SNEP: Platinum[18]
Brothers in Arms	Released: 17 May 1985 Label: Vertigo	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	BPI: 14× Platinum[12] ARIA: 17× Platinum[23] BVMI: Platinum[13] IFPI AUT: 4× Platinum[24] IFPI SWI: Diamond[14] MC: Diamond[15] RIAA: 9× Platinum[16] RMNZ: Platinum[25] SNEP: Diamond[18]
On Every Street	Released: 9 September 1991 Label: Vertigo	1	1	1	3	1	1	1	1	1	12	BPI: 2× Platinum[12] ARIA: 2× Platinum[23] BVMI: Platinum[13] IFPI AUT: Platinum[24] IFPI SWI: 4× Platinum[14] MC: 2× Platinum[15] RIAA: Platinum[16] RMNZ: Platinum[26] SNEP: Diamond[18]
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions										Certifications
		UK [2]	AUS [3]	AUT [4]	CAN [27]	FRA [6]	GER [28]	NED [8]	NZ [9]	SWI [10]	US [11]
Alchemy: Dire Straits Live	Released: 16 March 1984 Label: Vertigo	3	3	9	26	4	8	1	3	3	46	BPI: Platinum[12] ARIA: Gold[29] BVMI: Gold[13] MC: Gold[15] RIAA: Gold[16] RMNZ: Platinum[30] SNEP: Gold[18]
On the Night	Released: 10 May 1993 Label: Vertigo	4	5	1	33	1	7	2	10	5	116	BPI: Gold[12] ARIA: Gold[23] IFPI AUT: Gold[24] IFPI SWI: Gold[14] RMNZ: Gold[31] SNEP: Platinum[18]
Live at the BBC	Released: 26 June 1995 Label: Windsong	71	98	—	—	13	—	15	—	45	—
Live at the Rainbow, 1979	Released: 3 November 2023 Label: Mercury	81	—	6	—	21 [32]	7	—	—	5	—
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions										Certifications
		UK [2]	AUS [3]	AUT [4]	CAN [33]	FRA [6]	GER [34]	NED [8]	NZ [9]	SWI [10]	US [11]
Money for Nothing	Released: 14 October 1988 Label: Vertigo	1	3	3	—	1	2	4	2	1	62	BPI: 4× Platinum[12] ARIA: 3× Platinum[23] BVMI: Platinum[13] IFPI SWI: 3× Platinum[14] MC: Platinum[15] RIAA: Platinum[16] RMNZ: Platinum[35] SNEP: Diamond[18]
Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits	Released: 19 October 1998 Label: Vertigo	6	4	5	60	1	6	6	6	3	—	BPI: 2× Platinum[12] ARIA: 6× Platinum[23] BVMI: Gold[13] IFPI AUT: Gold[24] IFPI SWI: Platinum[14] RMNZ: Platinum[36] SNEP: Platinum[18]
Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler	Released: 7 November 2005 Label: Mercury	20	35	44	—	4	36	23	17	15	—	BPI: 4× Platinum[12] ARIA: Platinum[23] RMNZ: Platinum[37]
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Box sets

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		UK [2]	GER [38]
The Studio Albums 1978–1991	Released: December 2013 (LP) Released: October 2020 (CD)[39][40] Label: Vertigo	9	14
Live 1978–1992	Released: 3 November 2023 Label: Mercury	—	—
"—" denotes items are yet to be released in that territory.

Extended plays

Title	EP details	Peak chart positions										Certifications
		UK [2]	AUS [3]	AUT [4]	CAN [41]	FRA [6]	GER [42]	NED [8]	NOR [43]	SWI [10]	US [11]
ExtendedancEPlay	Released: 10 January 1983 Label: Vertigo	—	—	—	12	—	—	—	—	—	53	MC: Platinum[15]
Live at Knebworth	Released: 1990 Label: Vertigo	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Encores	Released: 10 May 1993 Label: Vertigo	31	47	19	91	1	34	3	10	20	—
The Honky Tonk Demos	Released: 18 April 2015 Label: Vertigo	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions											Certifications	Album
		UK [2]	AUS [3][44]	AUT [4]	CAN [45]	FRA [6][46]	GER [47]	NED [8]	NZ [9]	SWI [10]	US [48]	US Main Rock [49]
1978	"Sultans of Swing"	8	6	—	4	36	20	11	12	—	4	—	BPI: 2× Platinum[12] MC: Gold[15] RMNZ: 5× Platinum[50]	Dire Straits
	"Water of Love"	—	54	—	—	—	—	28	—	—	—	—
1979	"Lady Writer"	51	95	—	51	34	—	18	39	—	45	—		Communiqué
	"Once Upon a Time in the West"[51]	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1980	"Tunnel of Love"	54	62	—	—	52	44	28	—	—	—	—		Making Movies
	"Skateaway"	37	—	—	—	—	—	—	47	—	58	31
1981	"Romeo and Juliet"	8	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	BPI: Platinum[12]
	"Expresso Love"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	39
	"Solid Rock"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	56
1982	"Private Investigations"	2	21	19	—	4	—	1	16	4	—	—	BPI: Silver[12]	Love over Gold
	"Telegraph Road"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Industrial Disease"	—	—	—	18	—	—	—	—	—	75	9
1983	"Twisting by the Pool"	14	2	—	18	29	31	6	1	11	105	12		ExtendedancEPlay
1984	"Love over Gold" (live)	50	46	—	—	15	—	43	29	—	—	—		Alchemy
1985	"So Far Away"	20	22	—	24	20	—	23	25	6	19	29	BPI: Silver[12]	Brothers in Arms
	"Money for Nothing"	4	4	7	1	34	19	35	4	22	1	1	BPI: Platinum[12] MC: Gold[15]
	"Brothers in Arms"	16	57	—	—	—	—	—	5	—	—	—	BPI: Platinum[12]
	"Walk of Life"	2	11	18	7	—	15	17	3	24	7	6	BPI: 2x Platinum[12]
	"One World"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8
1986	"Your Latest Trick"	26	—	—	—	—	—	—	47	—	—	—
	"Ride Across the River"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	21
1988	"Sultans of Swing" (re-release)	62	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		Money for Nothing
	"Brothers in Arms" (re-release)	—	—	—	—	—	—	59	—	—	—	—
1989	"Money for Nothing" (re-release)	—	—	—	—	—	—	23	—	—	—	—
1991	"Calling Elvis"	21	8	8	4	7	8	4	9	2	—	3		On Every Street
	"Heavy Fuel"	55	26	—	17	32	48	25	34	—	—	1
1992	"On Every Street"	42	109	—	—	23	—	42	—	—	—	—
	"The Bug"	67	—	—	21	44	52	24	—	—	—	8
	"You and Your Friend"	—	—	—	—	49	—	62	—	—	—	—
1994	"Ticket to Heaven"	—	—	—	—	—	—	43	—	—	—	—
2005	"Flashing for Money" (with Deep Dish)	—	—	—	—	48	—	—	—	—	—	—		George Is On
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Home video

Title	Video/DVD details	Peak chart positions						Certifications
		UK DVD [52]	AUS DVD [53]	BEL DVD [54]	FIN DVD [55]	NED DVD [56]	SWI DVD [57]
Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits	Released: 21 May 1999 Label: Universal Music	19	9	—	3	2	—	BPI: Gold[12] ARIA: 5× Platinum[58]
On the Night	Released: 14 September 2003 Label: Universal Music	33	18	—	—	6	—	ARIA: Platinum[58]
Alchemy: Dire Straits Live	Released: 14 May 2010 Label: Universal Music	2	1	2	7	5	6	ARIA: Gold[59]
Sultans of Swing: Live in Germany	Released: 5 February 2011 Label: Sony	—	—	—	—	12	—
Stratospheric Sounds: Live in Basel, Switzerland, 1992	Released: 8 April 2011 Label: Showtime	—	—	—	—	—	3
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Music videos

Year	Video	Director	Album
1978	"Sultans of Swing"	unknown	Dire Straits
	"Wild West End"
1979	"Lady Writer"		Communiqué
1981	"Romeo and Juliet"	Lester Bookbinder	Making Movies
	"Skateaway"
	"Tunnel of Love"
1982	"Private Investigations"	unknown	Love over Gold
1983	"Twisting by the Pool"		ExtendedancEPlay
1985	"So Far Away"		Brothers in Arms
	"Money for Nothing"	Steve Barron
	"Brothers in Arms"	Bill Mather
1986	"Walk of Life"	Stephen R. Johnson
1991	"Calling Elvis"	Gerry Anderson	On Every Street
	"Heavy Fuel"	Steve Barron
1992	"The Bug"	Richard Jernigan

References

1. https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/entertainment/music/516848/dire-straits-reunion-not-horizon-says-band-founder-john-illsley-ahead-tayside-gigs/ ^{[bare URL]}
2. "UK chart peaks". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
3. Australian chart peaks:

   • Top 100 (Kent Music Report) peaks to 19 June 1988: Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 90. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988.
   • Top 50 (ARIA Chart) peaks from 26 June 1988: "australian-charts.com > Dire Straits in Australian Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
   • Top 100 (ARIA Chart) peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
4. "Austrian chart peaks". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
5. Canadian studio albums:

   • "Dire Straits" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
   • "Communiqué" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
   • "Making Movies" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
   • "Love over Gold" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
   • "Brothers in Arms" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
   • "On Every Street" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
6. "French chart peaks" (in French). infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
7. German studio albums:

   • "Dire Straits" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
   • "Communiqué" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
   • "Making Movies" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
   • "Love over Gold" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
   • "Brothers in Arms" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
   • "On Every Street" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
8. "Dutch chart peaks". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
9. "New Zealand chart peaks". charts.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
10. "Swiss chart peaks". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 18 October 2016.

    • "Dire Straits". Billboard. 7 July 1979.
    • "Communiqué". Billboard. 21 July 1979.
11. "Dire Straits Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
12. "British certifications – Dire Straits". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 April 2023. Type Dire Straits in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
13. "German Certification" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
14. "Swiss Certification" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
15. "Canadian Certification". Music Canada. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
16. "RIAA Certification". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
17. "New Zealand Certification - Dire Straits". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
18. "French Certification". SNEP. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
19. "New Zealand Certification - Communiqué". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
20. "New Zealand Certification - Making Movies". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
21. "1982 Was A Big Year". Billboard. 25 December 1982. p. TIA-57. Retrieved 27 October 2020 – via Google Books.
22. "New Zealand Certification - Love over Gold". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
23. Australian (ARIA) certifications:

    • certifications awarded between 1988 and 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
    • Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits: "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Albums". ARIA. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
    • Private Investigations (album): "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Albums". ARIA. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
24. "Austrian Certifications". IFPI Austria. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
25. "New Zealand Certification - Brothers in Arms". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
26. "New Zealand Certification - On Every Street". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
27. Canadian live albums:

    • "Alchemy: Dire Straits Live" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
    • "On the Night" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
28. German live albums:

    • "Alchemy - Dire Straits Live" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "On the Night" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "Alchemy - Live (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "Live 1978–1992" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
29. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
30. "New Zealand Certification - Alchemy". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
31. "New Zealand Certification - On the Night". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
32. "Top Albums (Week 45, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
33. Canadian compilation albums:

    • "Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
34. German compilation albums:

    • "Money for Nothing" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "Sultans of Swing - The Very Best of" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "Private Investigations" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
35. "New Zealand Certification - Money for Nothing". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
36. "New Zealand Certification - Sultans of Swing". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
37. "New Zealand Certification - Private Investigations". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
38. German compilation albums:

    • "The Studio Albums 1978-1991" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
39. "Dire Straits / The Studio Albums 1978 – 1991 box set is finally issued on CD – SuperDeluxeEdition". 13 August 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
40. "Dire Straits: "The Studio Albums 1978-1991" erstmals als CD-Box und Vinyl-Reissue". uDiscover Germany. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
41. Canadian extended plays:

    • "ExtendedancEPlay" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
    • "Encores - Your Latest Trick" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
42. German extended plays:

    • "Encores" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
43. "Norwegian chart peaks". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
44. "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing 17 February1992". Bubbling Down Under. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
45. Canadian singles:

    • "Sultans of Swing" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "Lady Writer" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "Industrial Disease" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "Twisting by the Pool" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "So Far Away" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "Money for Nothing" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "Walk of Life" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "Calling Elvis" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "Heavy Fuel" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "The Bug" (PDF). RPM. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
46. "lescharts.com - Les charts français". lescharts.com. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
47. German singles:

    • "Sultans of Swing" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "Tunnel of Love" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "Twisting by the Pool" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "Money for Nothing" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "Walk of Life" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "Calling Elvis" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "Heavy Fuel" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
    • "The Bug" (in German). Gfk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
48. "Dire Straits Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
49. "Dire Straits: Music, Charts & News: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
50. "New Zealand single certifications – Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 10 June 2023. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)^{[dead link]}THE FIELD archive-url MUST BE PROVIDED for NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATION from obsolete website.
51. "Dire straits single US cat no".
52. UK DVD peaks:

    • "Sultans of Swing - The Very Best of DVD". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "On the Night DVD". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "Alchemy DVD". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
53. Australian DVD peaks:

    • "Sultans of Swing DVD" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original on 21 October 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
    • "On the Night DVD" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
    • "The ARIA Report: Issue 1056" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
54. Belgian (Flanders) DVD peaks:

    • "Alchemy DVD". ultratop.be. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
55. Finnish DVD peaks:

    • "Sultans of Swing - The Very Best of DVD". ifpi.fi. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "Alchemy DVD". ifpi.fi. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
56. Dutch DVD peaks:

    • "Sultans of Swing - The Very Best of DVD". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "On the Night DVD". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "Alchemy DVD". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "Sultans of Swing - Live in Germany DVD". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
57. Swiss DVD peaks:

    • "Alchemy DVD". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    • "Stratospheric Sounds - Live In Basel, Switzerland, 1992 DVD". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
58. "The ARIA Australian DVD Certifications". ARIA. Archived from the original on 5 March 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
59. "The ARIA Report: Issue 1056" (PDF). ARIA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2016.

External links

• Dire Straits discography discography at Discogs