Without second guitarist David Knopfler, Dire Straits began to move away from its roots rock origins into a jazzier variation of country-rock and singer/songwriter folk-rock. Naturally, this means that Mark Knopfler's ambitions as a songwriter are growing, as the storytelling pretensions of Making Movies indicate. Fortunately, his skills are increasing, as the lovely "Romeo and Juliet," "Tunnel of Love," and "Skateaway" indicate. And Making Movies is helped by a new wave-tinged pop production, which actually helps Knopfler's jazzy inclinations take hold. The record runs out of steam toward the end, closing with the borderline offensive "Les Boys," but the remainder of Making Movies ranks among the band's finest work. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Dire Straits (Main Performer), John Illsley (Bass), John Illsley (Vocals), Roy Bittan (Keyboards), Greg Calbi (Mastering), Gregg Geller (Remastering), Jeff Hendrickson (Assistant Engineer), Jimmy Iovine (Producer), Mark Knopfler (Guitar), Mark Knopfler (Composer), Mark Knopfler (Vocals), Mark Knopfler (Producer), Mark Knopfler (?), Bob Ludwig (Remastering), Jon Mathias (Assistant Engineer), Sid McGinnis (Guitar), Pick Withers (Drums), Pick Withers (Vocals), Shelly Yakus (Engineer), John Collis (Liner Notes), Neil Terk (Artwork), Neil Terk (Design), Brian Griffin (Photography)
The title of the album comes from a line in the song "Skateaway" and the unreleased song "Making Movies". Rolling Stone ranked the album #52 in their survey of the "100 Best Albums of the 80s". Making Movies was the biggest selling album in Italy in 1981 with one million copies; in Europe the album sold 3.8 million copies.
It was remastered and released with the rest of the Dire Straits catalogue in 1996 for most of the world outside the U.S. and on September 19, 2000 in the United States.
The songs "Making Movies" and "Suicide Towers" were recorded during the sessions and were never officially released. They do however appear on bootlegs.
