Mark Knopfler returns with new album Down The Road Wherever

Sharp Dressed Man

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Mark Knopfler has announced details of his ninth solo album.

It’s titled Down The Road Wherever and it’ll launch on November 16 through his own British Grove label via Universal/Virgin EMI on CD, deluxe CD, 2LP and a box set.

The box set will come with the new album on both vinyl and deluxe CD, along with a 12-inch EP containing four bonus tracks, a 12-inch print of the cover art and a 12-inch guitar tablature of a selected song.

The former Dire Straits vocalist and guitarist says: “Down The Road Wherever is a line from One Song At A Time. I remember my pal Chet Atkins once saying that he picked his way out of poverty one song at a time, and it just stuck in my mind.

“You get to an age where you’ve written quite a few songs. But Down The Road Wherever seems to be appropriate for me just because it's what I've always done. I've always tried to make a record and also to keep my own geography happening in the songs.”

Knopfler is joined on the record by a wide range of musicians including Jim Cox and Guy Fletcher on keyboards, Nigel Hitchcock on saxophone, Tom Walsh on trumpet, Trevor Mires on trombone, John McCusker on fiddle, Mike McGoldrick on whistle and flute, bassist Glenn Worf, drummer Ian ‘Ianto’ Thomas, Danny Cummings on percussion, along with guitarists Richard Bennett and Robbie McIntosh

Backing vocals are performed by Imelda May, Lance Ellington, Kris Drever, Beverley Skeete and Katie Kissoon.

eJPdeogpoTepbNqaYaAAXj-650-80.jpg

Mark Knopfler - Down The Road Wherever

1. Trapper Man
2. Back On The Dance Floor
3. Nobody’s Child
4. Just A Boy Away From Home
5. When You Leave
6. Good On You Son
7. My Bacon Roll
8. Nobody Does That
9. Drovers’ Road
10. One Song At A Time
11. Floating Away
12. Slow Learner
13. Heavy Up
14. Matchstick Man

I'm a big fan of Mark's solo career. Looking forward to this album!
 

Lynch

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I like Knopfler, most specifically the stuff in Dire Straits, but always liked him. Have enjoyed many live vids that I've seen of him during his solo career, but I think the only album of his that i ever bought was Golden Heart (first or second solo, can't recall). I remember it being decent, but not memorable enough to say much more about it than that.

However, my tastes have evolved since the time that came out (early or mid 90's I think) and I may have a newfound appreciation for his stuff, so this is a reminder for me to maybe check out some of his other solo albums.

Didn't he do some country stuff for a while, or am I thinking of someone else?
 

Jonny Come Lately

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I'm another big Knopfler fan so I'm very pleased to hear this news. I've just heard his new single Good On You, which sounds pretty good to my ears - some interesting lyrics and the intro guitar means it's near immediately identifiable as Mark's work. There's some electronic touches, but nothing overbearing fortunately.

Good On You Son


I like Knopfler, most specifically the stuff in Dire Straits, but always liked him. Have enjoyed many live vids that I've seen of him during his solo career, but I think the only album of his that i ever bought was Golden Heart (first or second solo, can't recall). I remember it being decent, but not memorable enough to say much more about it than that.

However, my tastes have evolved since the time that came out (early or mid 90's I think) and I may have a newfound appreciation for his stuff, so this is a reminder for me to maybe check out some of his other solo albums.

Didn't he do some country stuff for a while, or am I thinking of someone else?

Golden Heart was released in 1996 and is considered Mark's first 'proper' solo album (not counting his soundtrack albums, with the Local Hero soundtrack dating back to about 1983 I think, so pre-Brothers In Arms). I like Golden Heart, although I definitely don't think it is as good as Sailing To Philadelphia or Shangri-La, which I consider to be his best solo releases. For anyone familiar with Dire Straits who hasn't heard any of his solo work, a good starting point would be Boom Like That from Shangri-La album:

Boom Like That


I don't think this song would sound too out of place on a Dire Straits album. As well as being my favourites, I would definitely recommend Sailing and Shangri-La to newcomers to his solo work as they are a bit closer to the Dire Straits sound than than albums like The Ragpicker's Dream or his last album Tracker, which tend to lean more towards low-key folk music.
 

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