Dire Straits: Making Movies

Making Movies marks the turning point where Dire Straits graduated from promising band to major act. Released in 1980 and produced by Jimmy Iovine with Mark Knopfler, the album went double platinum in the UK and platinum in the US. The departure of rhythm guitarist David Knopfler and the arrival of Bruce Springsteen pianist Roy Bittan expanded the sonic palette beyond the stripped down debut. "Tunnel of Love," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Skateaway" became FM staples. The first five tracks function as a mini suite united by theme and spirit. Iovine and Knopfler's production puts it over the top.

The Sound
This pressing was manufactured at RTI before MoFi opened their own Fidelity Record Pressing facility in 2023. RTI's work here is exceptional. Dead quiet surfaces. Ruler flat. Perfectly centered. It could be one of the quietest vinyl records we have. No pops, no clicks. Surface noise so low it's nearly inaudible during quiet passages and approaches CD silence.

The 45 RPM treatment across four sides provides previously unattainable detail, information, and soundstaging. "Tunnel of Love" opens with organ and piano intertwining with Knopfler's coil spring guitar twang. The three dimensional, full bodied presentation of his Fender Vibrolux and Music Man HD130 amplifiers is worth the price alone. The sound is crisp, rich, and balanced.

Dynamics are excellent considering the master tapes are over 40 years old. The bottom end and bass lines are solid, clean, and extended. Frequency response is strong though slightly shy on top end brightness. Image depth is mediocre with only the drum kit showing significant depth perspective. The wide soundstage and instrument separation exceed anything previously available on vinyl for this album.

MoFi succeeded at making the music explode from the black background. Bass has impact and weight. Wide open soundstage with exquisite layering and texture. He rates it the best pressing from the Dire Straits catalog period.

The Vinyl Verdict
If you're an analog purist who considers any digital step unacceptable, this pressing isn't for you regardless of how it sounds. The use of an analog copy rather than the original master for side one compounds the issue.

If you care primarily about sonic results, this represents the best Making Movies has sounded on vinyl. The RTI pressing quality is reference level. The 45 RPM format maximizes what the grooves can deliver. The mastering extracts detail and separation that other versions obscure.

Making Movies remains a magnificent album that deserves quality treatment. Whether this pressing delivers that in an acceptable manner depends on where you stand on the analog versus digital debate. The sound quality is exceptional. The process transparency came too late.💰

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