Uploaded July 2009 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Ok, here is my attempt at playing drums along to one of my favorite tracks, by any artist, of all time. This is the original, 13 minute version, from their 'Love Over Gold' album. This is Part 1 of a two part video. Don't forget to watch Part 2!
I am sorry, but I had to cut out the first minute or so. There are no drums, and I run the risk of having the video blocked if I use too much of the original audio track - apologies.
I have a feeling that this video will provoke some mixed reactions. Dire Straits fans will hopefully enjoy and appreciate it. However, I have a slightly sinking feeling that many others will perhaps find it boring and/or will not appreciate the subtlty and beauty of the original drum part. Lets see!
When I was around 15, I used to drum along to Telegraph Road all the time, in my own inexperienced way. Then I stopped drumming along, or even listening to it, for about 25 years! Re-learning it again has been great fun, and quite a challenge. I had forgotten how intricate the various sections are, and how obscure some of the drum parts are. And with my more experienced ear, I can hear an awful lot more going on than I used to realise was there!
For me, this drum cover is all about what you DONT play. There is just loads of SPACE. In lots of places, the original drummer (Pick Withers) left out bass drum notes that you find your foot is desperate to play! And a key thing about this track is that there are hardly any cymbal crashes. They are all very muted, or non-existent! Some of the fills are especially odd, like the one that has a huge floor tom roll, but ends with a few 32nd notes on the ride! And in the epic outro, there are two fills in particular that are just totally unique, in my view - no less than SIX off-beat crashes and a bass drum double to end it, but with no big crash to end it in on; and the same thing but with rapidly opening and closing hi hats on another.
For me, Pick Withers played a sublime drum part to this sublime Dire Straits track. It is so tasteful, so subtle, so perfect for the moment. I LOVE the rimshot sound and the gorgeous sounding hi hats. I love the way the bass drum is so laid back and unused. There is a huge feeling of space throughout the whole track. Its incredible.
I love the little push Pick does with bass drum at 3'08. Perfect! At 3'20 there is a lovely change from snare on 2 and 4 to rimshots on 3. And soooo much space with the bass drum!! The big floor fill at 5'05 is awesome BECAUSE of the ride cymbal 'flourish' at the end of it. I have never played a fill that ends with three 32nd notes on the ride!!! Wonderful! And again, there are the gorgeous bass drum pushes at 6'36. Makes me want to purr like a contented cat! Perfect drum part by Pick. Perfect.
Anyway, despite all of that, I am expecting a somewhat different reaction to this video! It is going to be interesting to see what happens. I know the reaction will be different, because for reasons I cannot quite fathom, I am actually nervous about posting this. Watching it back I can see that the un-initiated might think it is all rather easy and dull - and I would agree that for the large part it is not the most exciting drum cover to watch. But as I said at the start, this is all about subtlety, and space, and there is actually an awful lot to memorise. Drumming is not always about playing huge flashy grooves and fills! I am happy enough with my playing on the video, and the sound levels are quite good considering there is a huge contrast in background music volume, but but.well, anyway..lets see what you lot make of it :-)
BTW, for me, I have always considered this original version to be far superior to the live version on 'Alchemy'. The live version does not seem to get the same mood, which is a real shame. I always thought that this would be epic live, but it never quite seemed to translate, for me :-)
Don't forget to watch Part 2!
Ok, here is my attempt at playing drums along to one of my favorite tracks, by any artist, of all time. This is the original, 13 minute version, from their 'Love Over Gold' album. This is Part 1 of a two part video. Don't forget to watch Part 2!
I am sorry, but I had to cut out the first minute or so. There are no drums, and I run the risk of having the video blocked if I use too much of the original audio track - apologies.
I have a feeling that this video will provoke some mixed reactions. Dire Straits fans will hopefully enjoy and appreciate it. However, I have a slightly sinking feeling that many others will perhaps find it boring and/or will not appreciate the subtlty and beauty of the original drum part. Lets see!
When I was around 15, I used to drum along to Telegraph Road all the time, in my own inexperienced way. Then I stopped drumming along, or even listening to it, for about 25 years! Re-learning it again has been great fun, and quite a challenge. I had forgotten how intricate the various sections are, and how obscure some of the drum parts are. And with my more experienced ear, I can hear an awful lot more going on than I used to realise was there!
For me, this drum cover is all about what you DONT play. There is just loads of SPACE. In lots of places, the original drummer (Pick Withers) left out bass drum notes that you find your foot is desperate to play! And a key thing about this track is that there are hardly any cymbal crashes. They are all very muted, or non-existent! Some of the fills are especially odd, like the one that has a huge floor tom roll, but ends with a few 32nd notes on the ride! And in the epic outro, there are two fills in particular that are just totally unique, in my view - no less than SIX off-beat crashes and a bass drum double to end it, but with no big crash to end it in on; and the same thing but with rapidly opening and closing hi hats on another.
For me, Pick Withers played a sublime drum part to this sublime Dire Straits track. It is so tasteful, so subtle, so perfect for the moment. I LOVE the rimshot sound and the gorgeous sounding hi hats. I love the way the bass drum is so laid back and unused. There is a huge feeling of space throughout the whole track. Its incredible.
I love the little push Pick does with bass drum at 3'08. Perfect! At 3'20 there is a lovely change from snare on 2 and 4 to rimshots on 3. And soooo much space with the bass drum!! The big floor fill at 5'05 is awesome BECAUSE of the ride cymbal 'flourish' at the end of it. I have never played a fill that ends with three 32nd notes on the ride!!! Wonderful! And again, there are the gorgeous bass drum pushes at 6'36. Makes me want to purr like a contented cat! Perfect drum part by Pick. Perfect.
Anyway, despite all of that, I am expecting a somewhat different reaction to this video! It is going to be interesting to see what happens. I know the reaction will be different, because for reasons I cannot quite fathom, I am actually nervous about posting this. Watching it back I can see that the un-initiated might think it is all rather easy and dull - and I would agree that for the large part it is not the most exciting drum cover to watch. But as I said at the start, this is all about subtlety, and space, and there is actually an awful lot to memorise. Drumming is not always about playing huge flashy grooves and fills! I am happy enough with my playing on the video, and the sound levels are quite good considering there is a huge contrast in background music volume, but but.well, anyway..lets see what you lot make of it :-)
BTW, for me, I have always considered this original version to be far superior to the live version on 'Alchemy'. The live version does not seem to get the same mood, which is a real shame. I always thought that this would be epic live, but it never quite seemed to translate, for me :-)
Don't forget to watch Part 2!
