Dire Straits VINYL (VERY RARE) Rainbow Sold Out LIVE 1979 3xLP Set Mark Knopfler
£
100
$
132
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Description
Dire Straits – Live at the Rainbow Theatre, London (21 December 1979)
3×LP set – brand new / unplayed
A pristine, factory-fresh copy of the first official release of Dire Straits’ legendary Rainbow Theatre show, recorded in London on 21 December 1979 at the end of the Communiqué tour and newly mixed from the original tapes by Guy Fletcher and captures the band lean, sharp and on fire—then caps the night with a once-only, guest-packed encore.
The Rainbow set is a gem for fans and collectors alike: it includes pre-album/rare performances and an encore featuring Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) and Tony De Meur on four rock’n’roll covers—performances that hadn’t been officially available on vinyl before this release.
What makes this pressing special
First official issue of the full Rainbow ’79 show, newly mixed by Guy Fletcher.
Historic guest encore: Phil Lynott & Tony De Meur join for the last four tracks of the set.
Rare live selections: “Les Boys” (seldom performed live), the early, pre-single outing of “Twisting by the Pool,” and non-album covers (“Good Morning Little Schoolgirl,” “That’s Alright Mama,” “Nadine,” “Keep On Knocking”) that Dire Straits hardly ever put to tape in an official capacity. You can now hear these officially from this very show.
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Condition
Brand new, unplayed.
Vinyl and sleeves are mint; still in original protective packaging (see photos).
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Track list (3×LP)
Side One
1. Down to the Waterline
2. Six Blade Knife
3. Once Upon a Time in the West
4. Lady Writer
Side Two
5. Lions
6. Sultans of Swing
7. Les Boys
8. Portobello Belle
Side Three
9. News
10. What’s the Matter Baby?
11. Setting Me Up
12. In the Gallery
Side Four
13. Solid Rock
14. Southbound Again
15. Where Do You Think You’re Going?
Side Five
16. Wild West End
17. Twisting by the Pool (early live version)
18. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl (with Phil Lynott & Tony De Meur)
Side Six
19. That’s Alright Mama (with Phil Lynott & Tony De Meur)
20. Nadine (with Phil Lynott & Tony De Meur)
21. Keep On Knocking (with Phil Lynott)
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Sound & performance notes
The 1979 four-piece Dire Straits are at full bite—taut grooves, knife-edge dynamics, and Mark Knopfler’s telepathic interplay with the rhythm section. Contemporary reviews of the box highlight Rainbow as one of the big surprises of the campaign, finally letting the complete show shine.
“Les Boys” and “Portobello Belle” are period rarities in setlists; hearing them alongside “Sultans of Swing” and “In the Gallery” gives a great snapshot of the band bridging the first two albums while road-testing material and arrangements.
The last four tracks—with Phil Lynott and Tony De Meur—are a unique, high-energy encore of rock’n’roll standards that fans long knew only from broadcasts/collectors’ tapes; they’re officially available here in top quality.
Provenance / references
Official campaign & store listings confirming the Rainbow 1979 show, Guy Fletcher mix, and guest encore: Rhino/Warner and SDE coverage.
Reviews highlighting the quality and significance of the Rainbow set within the campaign.
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In short
A mint, unplayed 3-LP of Dire Straits at their sharpest, finally presented from the original tapes with a historic guest encore and rare live selections that were not available on official vinyl before this release. Essential for collectors and a superb-sounding snapshot of the band on the cusp of the 1980s.
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