"Setting Me Up"
Song by Dire Straits
from the album Dire Straits
Released7 October 1978
Genre
Length3:18
LabelVertigo
Songwriter(s)Mark Knopfler
Producer(s)Muff Winwood
"Setting Me Up"
Single by Highway 101
from the album 101²
B-side"Long Way Down"
ReleasedJanuary 1989
GenreCountry
Length3:49
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Mark Knopfler
Producer(s)Paul Worley
Ed Seay
Highway 101 singles chronology
"All the Reasons Why"
(1988) 		"Setting Me Up"
(1989) 		"Honky Tonk Heart"
(1989)

"Setting Me Up" is a song written by Mark Knopfler. It was originally recorded by British rock group Dire Straits on their self-titled debut album but not released as a single. Ken Tucker in Rolling Stone described the song as a "heavenly number" combining humor with bitterness, despite having a typical messed-up romance theme.[1] Tucker noted that the song's impact is enhanced by the growling tone in Knopfler's singing voice and by the song's country music-style guitar solo.[1] Carly Darling in Billboard Magazine praised the song's rockabilly guitar but criticizes the lyrics.[2]

The song appeared on Eric Clapton's 1980 double live album Just One Night, with Albert Lee singing lead vocals.[3] Albert Lee also covered the song on his album Hiding, with backing harmonies sung by Don Everly.[4]

"Setting Me Up" is one of five songs that Knopfler's publisher made country demos of without the songwriter's approval, leading to a number of country covers of this and other songs.[5] American country music group Highway 101 covered the song for their 1988 album 101² and released it as the album's third single in January 1989. The song reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in April 1989.[6] Their version features a shared lead vocal by Paulette Carlson and bassist Curtis Stone.[7]

Chart performance: Highway 101 single

Chart (1989) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[8] 4
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] 7

Year-end charts

Chart (1989) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[10] 74
US Country Songs (Billboard)[11] 97

References

  1. ^ a b Tucker, K. (January 25, 1979). "Dire Straits Review". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  2. ^ Darling, C. (January 27, 1979). "Closeup". Billboard Magazine.
  3. ^ Erlewine, S. T. "Just One Night". Allmusic. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  4. ^ Planer, L. "Hiding". Allmusic. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  5. ^ Brown, A. & Mansfield, B. (2008). Make Me a Star: Industry Insiders Reveal How to Make It in Music. Thomas Nelson, Inc. p. 161. ISBN 978-1-4016-0404-2.
  6. ^ Highway 101 Hot Country Songs Chart History, Billboard.com
  7. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Highway 101/2". People.com. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1039." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. May 15, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  9. ^ "Highway 101 Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  10. ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1989". RPM. December 23, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
  11. ^ "Best of 1989: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.


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