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Communiqué (Dire Straits album)

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Communiqué is the second album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 15 June 1979 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album produced the single "Lady Writer", which reached the number 45 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and number 51 on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached the number one position on album charts in Germany, New Zealand, and Sweden, the number 11 position in the United States, and the number five position in the United Kingdom. Communiqué was certified gold in the United States, platinum in the United Kingdom, and double-platinum in France.

Recording

Communiqué was recorded from 28 November to 12 December 1978 at Compass Point Studios in Nassau. The album was produced by Barry Beckett and Jerry Wexler, veteran producers from Muscle Shoals Sound Studio who made legendary recordings with Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, the Staple Singers, The Rolling Stones, Traffic, Elton John, Boz Scaggs, Willie Nelson, and Paul Simon.

Release

Communiqué became the first album ever to enter the German charts at number one in its first week of release. Even more remarkable, this happened while their debut album, Dire Straits was still at the number three position in that country. The album went on to sell over 7 million copies worldwide: in Europe it sold 3.6 million copies, and in the United States it reached gold status.

Communiqué was remastered and released with the rest of the Dire Straits catalogue in 1996 for most of the world outside the United States, and on 19 September 2000 in the United States.

Artwork

The album cover was designed by Phonogram's advertising agency Grant Advertising UK. It won album cover of the year in the NME awards in 1979.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [1]
Robert ChristgauB– [2]

In his review for AllMusic, William Ruhlmann gave the album two and a half out of five stars, writing that the group's sophomore effort "seemed little more than a carbon copy of its predecessor with less compelling material."[1]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mark Knopfler

No.TitleLength
1."Once Upon a Time in the West"5:25
2."News"4:14
3."Where Do You Think You're Going?"3:49
4."Communiqué"5:49
5."Lady Writer"3:45
6."Angel of Mercy"4:36
7."Portobello Belle"4:29
8."Single-Handed Sailor"4:42
9."Follow Me Home"5:50
Total length:42:24

Personnel

Music
Production
  • Barry Beckett – producer
  • Jerry Wexler – producer
  • Jack Nuber – engineer
  • Thelbert Rigby – tape operator
  • Gregg Hamm – mix engineer
  • Bobby Hata – mastering
  • Paul Wexler – mastering supervisor
  • Geoff Halpin – illustrations
  • Bob Ludwig – remastering
  • Alan Schmidt – art direction[3]

Charts and certifications

Albums

Communiqué spent 30 weeks on the UK Albums Chart.

Chart (1979) Peak
Australia Albums Chart 5
Austria Albums Chart 7
Germany Albums Chart 1
Italy Albums Chart 17
Norway Albums Chart 2
New Zealand Albums Chart 1
Sweden Albums Chart 1
UK Albums Chart 5
US Billboard 200 11

Singles

Year Song Billboard
Hot 100 		UK Singles
1979 "Lady Writer" 45 51

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[4] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[citation needed] Platinum 80,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[5] Gold 25,000[5]
France (SNEP)[7] 2× Platinum 509,000[6]
Germany (BVMI)[8] Platinum 500,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[citation needed] Platinum 50,000*
South Africa (RiSA)[citation needed] Platinum 50,000 
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[9] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden (GLF)[citation needed] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[10] 3× Platinum 150,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Platinum 300,000^
United States (RIAA)[12] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

Notes
  1. ^ B. Bear is producer Barry Beckett.
Citations
  1. ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Communiqué". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (2011). "Dire Straits". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  3. ^ Communiqué (booklet). Dire Straits. Burbank, California: Warner Bros. Records. 1979. p. 11. 947770-2. {{cite AV media notes}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |titlelink= (help)CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  4. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Dire Straits – Communique". Music Canada.
  5. ^ a b "Dire Straits" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  6. ^ "Les Albums Double Platine :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  7. ^ "French album certifications – Dire Straits – Communiqué" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  8. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Dire Straits; 'Communiqué')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  9. ^ "Sólo Éxitos 1959-2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979-1990" (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.
  10. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Communique')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  11. ^ id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
  12. ^ "American album certifications – Dire Straits – Communique". Recording Industry Association of America.
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