Money for Nothing
Greatest hits album by
Dire Straits
Released17 October 1988
Recorded1978–1985
GenreRock
Length66:18
LabelVertigo
Warner Bros. (US)
ProducerVarious
Dire Straits chronology
Brothers in Arms
(1985) 		Money for Nothing
(1988) 		On Every Street
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Robert ChristgauB−[2]
Number One[3]

Money for Nothing is a greatest hits album by British rock band Dire Straits released on 17 October 1988, featuring highlights from the band's first five albums. The vinyl edition omits the song "Telegraph Road" and has a different running order.

Details

The first track on the album, "Sultans of Swing", which was the group's first hit single, was re-released as a single in the UK in November 1988 to promote the album.[4]

The album was remastered and reissued with the rest of the Dire Straits catalogue in 1996 for most of the world outside the United States, before being deleted in 1998 and replaced by another compilation, Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits.

The cover art is a screenshot taken from the "Money for Nothing" music video. The version of the song included on the album omits the controversial Verse 2 lyrics entirely.

A newly-remastered version of the compilation was issued in the UK to streaming platforms and on vinyl on 17 June 2022.[5] This reissued vinyl includes the live version of "Telegraph Road" omitted from the original vinyl release. The version issued to streaming services originally included an alternate version of "Sultans of Swing" used for release as a single in 1978, before being replaced with the album version.

Track listing

All songs written by Mark Knopfler, except the intro to "Tunnel of Love" (extract from "The Carousel Waltz" by Rodgers & Hammerstein) and "Money for Nothing" by Mark Knopfler and Sting.[6]

Original 1988 CD release
No.TitleOriginal releaseLength
1."Sultans of Swing"Dire Straits, 19785:46
2."Down to the Waterline"Dire Straits4:01
3."Portobello Belle – Live"Previously unreleased outtake from Alchemy: Dire Straits Live, 19844:33
4."Twisting by the Pool (Remix)"ExtendeDancEPlay, 19833:30
5."Tunnel of Love"Making Movies, 19808:10
6."Romeo and Juliet"Making Movies5:56
7."Solid Rock" (Japanese release only)Making Movies3:19
8."Where Do You Think You're Going?" (Alternative mix)Previously unreleased mix; original mix on Communiqué, 19793:30
9."Walk of Life"Brothers in Arms, 19854:08
10."Private Investigations" (Single edit)Love over Gold, 19825:50
11."Telegraph Road – Live (Remix)"Alchemy: Dire Straits Live11:59
12."Money for Nothing" (Single edit)Brothers in Arms4:06
13."Brothers in Arms" (Single edit)Brothers in Arms4:49


Original 1988 vinyl release
Side 1
No.TitleLength
1."Sultans of Swing" 
2."Down to the Waterline" 
3."Portobello Belle (Live)" 
4."Twisting by the Pool (Remix)" 
5."Romeo And Juliet" 
6."Where Do You Think You're Going?" 
Side 2
No.TitleLength
7."Walk of Life" 
8."Private Investigations" 
9."Money for Nothing" 
10."Tunnel of Love" 
11."Brothers in Arms" 


Remastered 2022 release
Side 1
No.TitleLength
1."Sultans of Swing"5:48
2."Down to the Waterline"4:01
3."Portobello Belle (Live) (Alternative outtake)"4:23
Side 2
No.TitleLength
4."Twisting by the Pool (Remix)"3:33
5."Tunnel of Love"8:12
6."Romeo and Juliet"5:59
Side 3
No.TitleLength
7."Where Do You Think You're Going? (Alternative mix)"3:33
8."Walk of Life"4:06
9."Private Investigations"5:56
Side 4
No.TitleLength
10."Telegraph Road (Live) (Remix)"12:00
11."Money for Nothing (Single edit)"4:08
12."Brothers in Arms (Edit)"4:58

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Money for Nothing
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[28] 3× Platinum 210,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[29] Platinum 400,000[29]
Canada (Music Canada)[30] Platinum 100,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[31] Gold 77,842[31]
France (SNEP)[32] Diamond 1,000,000*
Germany (BVMI)[33] Platinum 500,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[34] Platinum 20,000*
Italy
sales 1988-1989 		— 500,000[35]
Netherlands (NVPI)[37] 2× Platinum 318,563[36]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[38] Platinum 15,000^
Portugal (AFP)[39] Gold 20,000^
Singapore — 10,000[40]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[41] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[42] 3× Platinum 150,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] 4× Platinum 1,200,000^
United States (RIAA)[44] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Money for Nothing - Dire Straits | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: dire straits". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Review: Dire Straits — Money for Nothing (Phonogram)". Number One. No. 287. London: IPC Magazines Ltd. 14 December 1988. p. 37.
  4. ^ "Dire Straits | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  5. ^ Peacock, Tim (11 May 2022). "Newly-Remastered Edition Of Dire Straits' 'Money For Nothing' Comp Due In June". U Discover Music. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  6. ^ Japan release contained an additional track 'Solid Rock', placed between 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Where Do You Think You're Going'
  7. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Dire Straits – Money for Nothing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  8. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Dire Straits – Money for Nothing" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Dire Straits – Money for Nothing" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  10. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Dire Straits – (({album))}" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  11. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1991. 2. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 26 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Dire Straits".
  13. ^ "Charts.nz – Dire Straits – Money for Nothing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Dire Straits – Money for Nothing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  15. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Dire Straits – Money for Nothing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  16. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Dire Straits – Money for Nothing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  17. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  18. ^ "Dire Straits Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  19. ^ "Ultratop.be – Dire Straits – Money for Nothing" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1989". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1989". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  22. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". Offiziellecharts.de (in German). Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  23. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1989". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  24. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1989". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  25. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1990". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  26. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1991". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  27. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1992". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  28. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  29. ^ a b Tarik de Souza (12 September 1991). "Volta os campeões de audiência". Jornal do Brasil (in Portuguese). p. 38. Retrieved 23 October 2023 – via National Library of Brazil. Alam da platina tripla pelos 750 mil copias de Brothers in Arms, a banda de Mark Knopfler garimpou entre nos duas platina dimples de 250 mil cada (Alchemy, o primeiro que estourou, em 84, e coletânea Money for Nothing, de 8) e um disco de ouro (no LP de estreia Dire Straits, de 79)
  30. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Dire Straits – Money for Nothing". Music Canada. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  31. ^ a b "Dire Straits" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  32. ^ "French album certifications – DIRESTRAITS – Money for Nothing" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 9 March 2013. Select DIRESTRAITS and click OK. 
  33. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Dire Straits; 'Money for Nothing')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  34. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1990". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  35. ^ Caroli, Daniele (9 December 1989). "Italy > Talent Challenges" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 101, no. 49. p. I-8. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 25 July 2020 – via World Radio History.
  36. ^ Hoos, Willem (16 December 1989). "Group Has Sold More Than 2 Mil Disks - Dutch Delight In Dire Straits - Dutch Delight in Dire Straits" (PDF). Billboard. p. 67. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  37. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Dire Straits – Money for Nothing" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Money for Nothing in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  38. ^ "New Zealand Certification – Money for Nothing". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  39. ^ Pinheiro De Almeida, Luis (14 January 1989). "Platinum in Portugal" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 2. p. 11. Retrieved 26 July 2020 – via World Radio History.
  40. ^ Leo, Christie (24 December 1988). "Singapore Set For Dire Straits" (PDF). Billboard. p. 82. Retrieved 6 May 2021 – via World Radio History.
  41. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 926. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  42. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Money for Nothing')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  43. ^ "British album certifications – Dire Straits – Money for Nothing". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  44. ^ "American album certifications – Dire Straits – Money for Nothing". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
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