"Lady Writer"
UK release picture sleeve
Single by Dire Straits
from the album Communiqué
B-side"Where Do You Think You're Going?"
ReleasedJuly 1979[1]
GenreRock
Length3:45
LabelVertigo
Songwriter(s)Mark Knopfler
Producer(s)
Dire Straits singles chronology
"Sultans of Swing"
(1978) 		"Lady Writer"
(1979) 		"Romeo and Juliet"
(1980)

"Lady Writer" is a 1979 song by Dire Straits, which appears on the band's second album Communiqué.

Overview

When asked what the song was about, lead singer Mark Knopfler said that he was watching TV one day, and there was a lady writer on the TV, and that's basically where the idea for the song came from. Because the song says the writer is "talking about the Virgin Mary", some have speculated that the writer in question is Marina Warner, a view shared by Warner herself.[2]

Reception

Billboard described the song as a "hypnotic rocker" with "sizzling instrumentation" and "distinctive vocals."[3] Cash Box described it as being "very similar musically to Sultans of Swing, with guitarist/singer Knopfler's invigoratingly unique picking and vocal style."[4] Record World said that "Knopfler's transcendent writing & guitar skills work well with the magic of Muscle Shoals."[5] Smash Hits said, "This is SO like "Sultans of Swing" it's not true. Look, the only way you'll want this is if you've got (a) more money than sense, and (b) a memory like a sieve."[6] Ultimate Classic Rock agreed it was, "a fast and nimble piece that matches 'Sultans of Swing'."[7]

Charts

Chart (1979) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8] 95
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[9] 51
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] 18
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 18
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] 39
Spain (AFE)[13] 26
UK Singles (OCC)[14] 51
US Billboard Hot 100[15] 45
US Cash Box[16] 63

References

  1. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (1995). The Great Rock Discography. p. 227. ISBN 9780862415419.
  2. ^ Gleick, Elizabeth (24 May 1999). "Books: Boo! (Scared Yet?)". Time. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  3. ^ "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. 28 July 1979. p. 59. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Singles Reviews > Feature Picks" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XLI, no. 11. 28 July 1979. p. 13. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. 28 July 1979. p. 1. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  6. ^ Starr, Red (26 July 1979). "Singles". Smash Hits. No. 17.
  7. ^ Asregadoo, Ted (15 June 2015). "When Dire Straits Stuck to the Formula with 'Communique'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4399b." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 33, 1979" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  11. ^ "Dire Straits – Lady Writer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  12. ^ "Dire Straits – Lady Writer". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  13. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  14. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  15. ^ "Communiqué – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  16. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending SEPTEMBER 1, 1979". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 16 September 2011.


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