Mark Knopfler Sailing To Philadelphia CD

This CD/DVD-A title is his first pop-song album in 4 years. The CD features 13 tracks. The DVD-A includes 48KHz/24-bit Surround, 88.s KHz/24-bit Stereo, Dolby Digital sound, and a 26-minutes EPK video.

Personnel includes: Mark Knopfler (vocals, guitar); James Taylor, Van Morrison, Gillian Welch, Glenn Tilbrook, Chris Difford, Chris Rodriguez, Tim Davis (vocals); Richard Bennett (guitar); Paul Franklin (lap steel, pedal steel); Mike Henderson (mandolin); Aubrey Haynie (violin); Jim HOrn (tenor & baritone saxophone); Wayne Jackson (trumpet); Mike Haynes (flugelhorn); Jim Cox (piano, keyboards); Guy Fletcher (keyboards, background vocals); Frank Ricotti (marimba); Glenn Worf (bass); Chad Cromwell (drums); Danny Cummings (percussion).
Personnel: Mark Knopfler (vocals, guitar); Chris Difford, Gillian Welch, Glenn Tilbrook, James Taylor , Van Morrison (vocals); Richard Bennett (guitars); Paul Franklin (pedal steel guitar); Jim Hoke (autoharp, harmonica); Mike Henderson (mandolin); Aubrey Haynie (violin); Jim Horn (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Harvey Thompson (tenor saxophone); Wayne Jackson (trumpet); Mike Haynes (flugelhorn); Jim Cox (piano, keyboards); Guy Fletcher (keyboards); Frank Ricotti (marimba); Glenn Worf (bass guitar); Chad Cromwell (drums); Danny Cummings (percussion).
Mark Knopfler's second solo album might as well be called Dire Straits' eighth studio album, though Knopfler abandoned the group name back in 1996, dispensing with hefty sales in the process. There was never much doubt that the fame and lifestyle coincident with platinum sales made him uncomfortable, and discontinuing the Dire Straits billing was a means of walking away from all that. It also allowed him to indulge his love for various musical genres more, and that process continues on Sailing to Philadelphia. True, Knopfler's basic approach remains the same -- as a guitarist, he is still enamored of the minor-key finger-picking style of J.J. Cale, and as a singer/songwriter, he remains enthralled with Bob Dylan. But in one song after another on this album, you get the feeling that he started out playing some familiar song in a specific genre and eventually extrapolated upon it enough to call it an original. Knopfler has grafted his own lyrical concerns to these songs, often playing up the lives of humble people (especially musicians), and putting down powerful people (especially rock stars). There are also story-songs on wide-ranging subjects, but the theme of life on the road and the dichotomy between the rich and famous (what Knopfler is) and the poor and powerless (those he identifies with) predominate. Working with a two-guitars, two-keyboards, bass and drums band (like Dire Straits), Knopfler brings in a variety of sympathetic guests, notably James Taylor, Van Morrison, and Squeeze leaders Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford. These guest stars provide pleasant contrast to Knopfler's modest vocal talents, but they never steal the spotlight from the leader. (Well, okay, Morrison does.) His ability to hold his own is some indication that, however self-effacing he may be, he remains a star. [In 2005 Sailing to Philadelphia was reissued with a bonus DVD that featured "behind the scenes" footage" as well as interviews with Knopfler and his band.] ~ William Ruhlmann
Having crafted such a singular sound for himself both in Dire Straits and as a respected film composer, it's gratifying to hear that Mark Knopfler's consummate musicianship has only gotten better on what is only his second solo album in a career that began in the mid- '70s. For SAILING TO PHILADELPHIA, Knopfler once again looks to America for inspiration, starting with the stirring title track that draws from Thomas Pynchon's fictionalized account of English adventurers/surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon and which finds James Taylor playing Mason to Knopfler's Dixon. Other numbers benefiting from this American muse are the ethereal "Sands of Nevada," the Farfisa-drivenRolling Stone (1/4/01, p.106) - Ranked #7 in Rolling Stone's Top 10 Albums of 2000.
Rolling Stone (10/26/00, p.116) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...A welcome flashback....evoking some of the granduer of prime Dire Straits."
Q (10/00, p.119) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...A model of tasteful understatement. SAILING is all country and blues flavors, hushed melodies and drowsy vocals..."
CMJ (10/16/00, p.53) - "...Impressive and inspired..."