By: Mark Knopfler Average Rating: Binding: Audio CD Format: Enhanced, Extra tracks, Import, Limited Edition Label: Universal Import Number of Discs: 2 Publication Date: 2002 Release Date: October 08, 2002
Album Description: On his third solo album, Mark Knopfler continues his search for what he calls 'musical connection'. Filled with gentle tunes and subtle harmonies, 'The Ragpicker's Dream' will remind you just how good Knopfler's songwriting is. Bonus CD tracks, 'Why Aye Man' (Live), 'Quality Shoe' (Live), 'Sailing To Philadelphia' (Live), 'Brothers In Arms' (Live) & 'Why Aye Man' (Live Video). 17 tracks in all. Mercury. 2002.
Knopfler never disappoints me. If you are a Dire Straits and/or Mark Knopfler fan you will not be disappointed - I have enjoyed him his whole career and this CD is another winner. I love the title tune - great heart and soul.
Quietly Stirring Album This is not over the top rock and roll from Knopfler. While there is clear joy to his music making evident here, this album is quietly thoughtful and sometimes with an edge. Somebody mentioned the Making Movies period of songwriting in speaking about this album. I'd say that this is about right. Think about the way that Knopfler creates a dream-like beauty to some of those songs on the first Dire Straits live album and you'll get a sense about what much of what this album is like. Yet, there are more straight ahead folk works on this album too.
Knopfler's guitar playing, like the music itself, is not over the top but has a spare beauty to it, and there is probably no other guitar player that I know of that can create as beautiful a melodic line as Knopfler.
Soundwise, the CD is quite good, though if you have the ability to play LPs and can find this one on the double-LP set, the LP sounds more real, and has more presence than the CD.
On the other hand, the sound of the live tracks on the bonus CD (in those editions that include it) is wonderful. The sound is practically a demonstration quality disc. That's alot to be said for live recording. The sound is full, dynamic and natural, with deep, tight extended bass (which means that hall acoustic ambiences are more apparent) and the highs are soft and sweet, not boosted or etched. This is about as good as it gets for CD sound. There is a very well filmed video included on the bonus CD of the same live performance of "Why Aye Man." This is Knopfler singing the song with heart and his guitar playing at his sympathetic and lyrical best (I felt my heart being tugged in the quieter moments of the song.). It is clear that all the musicians thoroughly enjoy performing the song, as bittersweet as is the subject matter.
Finally, this album may not GRAB you at first listen, but certainly the more I hear it, the more I am mesmerized by it.
Super album, LIVE bonus tracks worth the extra $$$ If you love Sailing to Philly and Shangri-La, or the great middle period of Dire Straits (Communique, Making Movies, Love Over Gold), you'll probably love this album. If you like/love Ragpicker's Dream by itself, the bonus tracks are worth an extra 5-8 bucks. If you're more into the Money for Nothing/Golden Heart Knopfler, this album won't interest you much.
First, the bonus tracks, since many of you probably already own Ragpicker's Dream. The live "Why Aye Man, "Sailing to Philly," and "Brothers" are all superb, with the final two being special treats. Nothing against James Taylor and his pitch-perfect voice, but it's a revelation to hear "Sailing" sung completely by the guy who's meant to sing it, IMHO. "Brothers" is beautiful, almost whispered by MK with mournful harmonica accompaniment by Mike Henderson. "Quality Shoe" is nice, tho there's not a heck of a lot there to begin with: why they picked that song to release a live version of is beyond me.
The "enhanced" track is a live video of the bonus version of "Why Aye" with a sort-of "Knopfler supergroup," recorded summer 2002 before his traffic accident. It features some wonderful close-ups of his guitar work, some nice sax from (I think) Chris White, and the welcome return of original Straits-er John Illsley on bass.
As for the album itself, again, you probably already have it. I'll just say the first four tracks, along with tracks 6 and 7, show Knopfler at the peak of his powers: merging all sorts of styles into his own, writing and singing wonderfully original lyrics, and playing guitar unlike anyone else in the world. There's a slight dip in the album around "Coyote," but the title track and the closing "Old Pigweed" are among the most heartbreaking songs he's ever recorded.
People will be listening to this stuff in 100 years. Look for a good price and get the bonus tracks, and you'll own one heck of a 2-CD set.
From a listener: This record is the very definition of sublime.. In a desert of musical nothingness, it is a lush oasis of talent, skill and passion. From lighthearted (Coyote) to touching (Hill Farmer's Blues) to heart-wrenching (Ragpicker's Dream) it is such as to make a cynical man tremble and weep. My only regret about this album is not purchashing it sooner. The second CD is not to be missed either.
Great Album This is another great CD from MK. It has some excellent cuts. You might check out Amazon UK for this album for a pleasant surprise.
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