Dire Straits discography

Dire Straits discography

The discography of the British rock band Dire Straits consists of six studio albums, five live albums, three compilation albums, four extended plays, 31 singles and 15 music videos. Dire Straits also have sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music artists in the world.

Albums

Studio albums

<table><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Album details</th><th>Peak chart positions</th><th>Certifications</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>UK</td><td>AUS</td><td>AUT</td><td>CAN</td><td>FRA</td><td>GER</td><td>NED</td><td>NZ</td><td>SWI</td><td>US</td></tr><tr><td>Dire Straits</td><td></td><td>5</td><td>1</td><td>17</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>7</td><td>2</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Communiqué</td><td></td><td>5</td><td>5</td><td>7</td><td>14</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>11</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Making Movies</td><td></td><td>4</td><td>6</td><td>15</td><td>21</td><td>6</td><td>7</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>—</td><td>19</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Love over Gold</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>—</td><td>19</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Brothers in Arms</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>On Every Street</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>12</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Live albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Certifications
UK	AUS	AUT	CAN	FRA	GER	NED	NZ	SWI	US
Alchemy: Dire Straits Live		3	3	9	26	4	8	1	3	3	46
On the Night		4	5	1	33	1	7	2	10	5	116
Live at the BBC		71	98	—	—	13	—	15	—	45	—

Various artists live albums

Title	Album details
Live at Knebworth

Compilation albums

<table><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Album details</th><th>Peak chart positions</th><th>Certifications</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>UK</td><td>AUS</td><td>AUT</td><td>CAN</td><td>FRA</td><td>GER</td><td>NED</td><td>NZ</td><td>SWI</td><td>US</td></tr><tr><td>Money for Nothing</td><td></td><td>1</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>—</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>4</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>62</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits</td><td></td><td>6</td><td>4</td><td>5</td><td>60</td><td>1</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>6</td><td>3</td><td>—</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler</td><td></td><td>20</td><td>35</td><td>44</td><td>—</td><td>4</td><td>36</td><td>23</td><td>17</td><td>15</td><td>—</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Box sets

<table><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Album details</th><th>Peak chart positions</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>UK</td><td>GER</td></tr><tr><td>The Studio Albums 1978–1991</td><td></td><td>9</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Live 1978–1992</td><td></td><td>81</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>"—" denotes items are yet to be released in that territory.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Extended plays

Dire Straits discography

<table><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>EP details</th><th>Peak chart positions</th><th>Certifications</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>UK</td><td>AUS</td><td>AUT</td><td>CAN</td><td>FRA</td><td>GER</td><td>NED</td><td>SWI</td><td>US</td></tr><tr><td>ExtendedancEPlay</td><td></td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>12</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>53</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Encores</td><td></td><td>31</td><td>47</td><td>19</td><td>91</td><td>1</td><td>34</td><td>3</td><td>20</td><td>—</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>The Honky Tonk Demos</td><td></td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Singles

Dire Straits discography

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

Other certified songs

Dire Straits discography

<table><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Year</th><th>Certifications</th><th>Album</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>"Six Blade Knife"</td><td>1978</td><td></td><td>Dire Straits</td></tr><tr><td>"Wild West End"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>"Down to the Waterline"</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>"Telegraph Road"</td><td>1982</td><td></td><td>Love over Gold</td></tr></tbody></table>

Home video

Dire Straits discography

<table><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Video/DVD details</th><th>Peak chart positions</th><th>Certifications</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>UK DVD</td><td>AUS DVD</td><td>BEL DVD</td><td>FIN DVD</td><td>NED DVD</td><td>SWI DVD</td></tr><tr><td>Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits</td><td></td><td>19</td><td>9</td><td>—</td><td>3</td><td>2</td><td>—</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>On the Night</td><td></td><td>33</td><td>18</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>6</td><td>—</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Alchemy: Dire Straits Live</td><td></td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>2</td><td>7</td><td>5</td><td>6</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sultans of Swing: Live in Germany</td><td></td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>12</td><td>—</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Stratospheric Sounds: Live in Basel, Switzerland, 1992</td><td></td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>3</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Various artists home video

Dire Straits discography

Title	Video/DVD details
Live at Knebworth

Music videos

Dire Straits discography

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