The Ragpicker's Dream

Amazon.com
Even at the peak of Dire Straits' fame, Mark Knopfler's music often seemed informed by a restless worldview as abstruse as his guitar playing was fluid and expressive. This follow-up to his impressive 2000 collection, Sailing to Philadelphia, finds Knopfler chasing a similar musical and lyrical muse, with results that are even more surprising and loose-limbed. "Why Aye Man," the bracing opening chantey that sets much of the album's tone, draws parallels between Geordie pub-speak and Native American chants whilst lamenting economic refugees of Thatcherism forced to ply their blue-collar trades--and keep their Brit pub culture alive--deep in the Fatherland. From there, Knopfler takes us by "A Place Where We Used to Live" for a lounge-y, Jobim-inflected reminder that one can never really go home, drops in on "Quality Shoe" for a tribute to Roger Miller, and gives us a typically dry, so-deadpan-it's-funny rundown of his Circus Sideshow pals on "Devil Baby." "Marbletown," a graveyard folk-blues, showcases the musician at home on solo acoustic guitar, while the loping, laconic "Coyote" draws its good-natured inspiration from a beast named Wile E. But it's the way that Knopfler connects disparate cultures and histories with subliminal, deceptively effortless grace on "Fare Thee Well Northumberland," "You Don't Know You're Born" (both of which feature Knopfler's signature languorous, blues-inflected soloing), the folksy "Hill Farmer's Blues," and the country-fried "Daddy's Gone to Knoxville" that make the album a triumph of understatement. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description
Third solo album from the acclaimed leader of Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, a rootsy American-leaning epic about the working man. 2002. Warner.

The Ragpicker's Dream,Mark Knopfler,Warner Bros / Wea,Adult Contemporary,Guitar Virtuoso,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter

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The Ragpicker's Dream

Average customer rating: The Ragpickers Dream one of the finest singers ever. Oh no ,not at all Mark Knopfler is one of our best!!! earthy, grounded and gifted

The Ragpicker's Dream Mark Knopfler Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Shangri-La Sailing to Philadelphia Golden Heart All the Roadrunning One Take Radio Sessions ASIN: B00006J3T4 Release Date: 2002-10-01

Tracks:

1. Why Aye Man
2. Devil Baby
3. Hill Farmer's Blues
4. A Place Where We Used To Live
5. Quality Shoe
6. Fare Thee Well Northumberland
7. Marbletown
8. You Don't Know You're Born
9. Coyote
10. The Ragpicker's Dream
11. Daddy's Gone To Knoxville
12. Old Pigweed

Amazon.com

Even at the peak of Dire Straits' fame, Mark Knopfler's music often seemed informed by a restless worldview as abstruse as his guitar playing was fluid and expressive. This follow-up to his impressive 2000 collection, Sailing to Philadelphia, finds Knopfler chasing a similar musical and lyrical muse, with results that are even more surprising and loose-limbed. "Why Aye Man," the bracing opening chantey that sets much of the album's tone, draws parallels between Geordie pub-speak and Native American chants whilst lamenting economic refugees of Thatcherism forced to ply their blue-collar trades--and keep their Brit pub culture alive--deep in the Fatherland. From there, Knopfler takes us by "A Place Where We Used to Live" for a lounge-y, Jobim-inflected reminder that one can never really go home, drops in on "Quality Shoe" for a tribute to Roger Miller, and gives us a typically dry, so-deadpan-it's-funny rundown of his Circus Sideshow pals on "Devil Baby." "Marbletown," a graveyard folk-blues, showcases the musician at home on solo acoustic guitar, while the loping, laconic "Coyote" draws its good-natured inspiration from a beast named Wile E. But it's the way that Knopfler connects disparate cultures and histories with subliminal, deceptively effortless grace on "Fare Thee Well Northumberland," "You Don't Know You're Born" (both of which feature Knopfler's signature languorous, blues-inflected soloing), the folksy "Hill Farmer's Blues," and the country-fried "Daddy's Gone to Knoxville" that make the album a triumph of understatement. --Jerry McCulley

Album Description

Third solo album from the acclaimed leader of Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, a rootsy American-leaning epic about the working man. 2002. Warner.

Customer Reviews:

The Ragpickers Dream.......2007-06-18

I really like Mark Knopfler, I think he's one of, if not "the" best guitar players today. I know there's alot of people who said that before I did. He has a unique "Blues-y" vocal quality. This is typical for Mark Knopfler, never a bad CD. This is not my favorite CD of his but it has more than enough of what I like about his music to make it a must-have for Knopfler fans. For me, the import version would not be worth the doubled price for the reason that I have all his CD's and DVD's and the extras are found on other cd's. If you don't have the Sailing To Philadelphia" CD, buy the import, it's worth it for even that one song.

one of the finest singers ever........2006-12-30

i have always loved mark knopfler and he is one of the finest singers ever.i really think that quality shoe is a perfect song for me as well as coyote,coyote has a great driving end..if your having a bad day,why not turn on some mark knopfler and he'll make your day much,much better.

Oh no ,not at all.......2006-08-08

Mark Knopfler is so boring both in Dire Straits and as as well as a solo artist.He only made a single decent song in Sultans of swing.To the reviewer named For whom the bells toll a.k.a Whirligig,your opinion on great bands like LED ZEPPELIN,PINK FLOYD,LYNYRD SKYNYRD and THE ROLLING STONES has not been asked for.Leave those great bands alone and go and listen to your awful Green day and foreigner.Ragpickers dream is very very boring.DONT PURCHASE THIS,BUY LED ZEPPELIN'S FOURTH ALBUM instead.

Mark Knopfler is one of our best!!!.......2006-08-07

I think that Mark Knopfler is one of our best singers, and guitarists that he ranks the top band along with Dire Straits.
All his albums are good...The Ragpicker's Dream is good which includes Coyote. And to Trampled Underfoot, your opinion on great bands is not needed. The bands you love are horrible, and the bands you hate are legends. So leave me alone, please!!!
Anyway, you need to get this along with every CD from Foreigner, Nirvana, GNR, Green Day, Metallica, and Mark Knopfler with Dire
Straits. Do not pay any attention to the 1 star idiot below me and his stupid recommendations.

earthy, grounded and gifted.......2006-07-14

I have to admit that during the 80's I was listening to the likes of Ivie Anderson w/ Duke Ellington and Sidney Bechet, so I'm still asking myself "Just who is Dire Straits?" Someone gave me a cd and I recognized some tunes from the radio, which I've stopped listening to long ago, and I'm just not real impressed with DS. I can't take tv or radio anymore.

Now discovering MK is like discovering in-door plumbing -- I never knew life life could be so sweet. I've got to 'learn' Sailing to Philadelphia but I've taken to Golden Heart more than my friends have. I have to laugh when I slip a cut on a mix of music and they ask "wow, that's great, what album is that from?"

I first discovered Notting Hillbillies and I was hooked -- still am on that album. So far Ragpicker is the only one that has come close. I like the acoustic side of life but I can tell this is far from a simple piece of work. The man is amazing; I've come to appreciate guitar more -- I really like Neck to Neck if anything for Thatian Skies.

Keep your DS, I'll take MK on the rocks and keep exploring his other albums.
The only other guy I've taken this much interest in has been Richard Thompson.

I don't get Coyote yet -- I'll have to get back to some of you on that one.

PS -- I saw one review by another who thought MK purposedly downplayed the release of this cd -- black/white photo, bare notes in the cover -- but still gave it positive reviews. I think MK has the heart of the coyote at play here.

I went in search of the lyrics -- the man is really accomplised at writing. After several listens I'm amazed at how sparse the production is compared to STP -- the bare necessities are here for an incredible piece of work. I think MK wanted the cd to stand on it's own and if you're hooked on it; fine, YOU do the homework and YOU investigate.

My appreciation has increased tenfold. "A Place Where Where We Use to Live" is near perfect in the past we are painfully aware of but "Hill Farmer's Blues" is a sucker punch in comparison.

I'm amazed at how well Brits are better at nailing the American formula for writing traditional country (Paul Kennerly comes to mind and I know they're associates). But hey, more power to the men.

This is music for a mature audience and no American Idol noise where the only thing that sticks out is the veins in their neck while they wail to over produced, amped, star solo vehicle material.

Clearly MK likes to play with other musicans and I think I dearly love Guy Fletcher, that mysterious, busy man in the background.

Yes, Coyote is growing on me -- hasn't overtaken me yet.

Average customer rating: Quietly Stirring Album Super album, LIVE bonus tracks worth the extra $$$ From a listener: Great Album Not a 'Sailing to Philadelphia' but....

Ragpicker's Dream Mark Knopfler Manufacturer: Umvd Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Sailing to Philadelphia One Take Radio Sessions Shangri-La Golden Heart Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler ASIN: B00006JSGQ Release Date: 2002-10-08

Tracks:

1. Why Aye Man
2. Quality Shoe
3. Sailing To Philadelphia
4. Brothers In Arms
5. Quality Shoe
6. Fare Thee Well Northumberland
7. Marbletown
8. You Don't Know You're Born
9. Coyote
10. The Ragpicker's Dream
11. Daddy's Gone To Knoxville
12. Old Pigweed

Tracks:

1. Why Aye Man
2. Devil Baby
3. Hill Farmer's Blues
4. A Place Where We Used To Live
5. Quality Shoe
6. Fare Thee Well Northumberland
7. Marbletown
8. You Don't Know You're Born
9. Coyote
10. The Ragpicker's Dream
11. Daddy's Gone To Knoxville
12. Old Pigweed

Album Description

On his third solo album, Mark Knopfler continues his search for what he calls 'musical connection'. Filled with gentle tunes and subtle harmonies, 'The Ragpicker's Dream' will remind you just how good Knopfler's songwriting is. Bonus CD tracks, 'Why Aye Man' (Live), 'Quality Shoe' (Live), 'Sailing To Philadelphia' (Live), 'Brothers In Arms' (Live) & 'Why Aye Man' (Live Video). 17 tracks in all. Mercury. 2002.

Album Details

The Former Lead Singer and Gifted Guitarist's Third Solo Album Contines to Strive to Achieve What He Deems "The Musical Connection Between the Delta and the Tyne". An Album of Subtle Pleasure and a Continuing Testament to One of the World's Premier Instrumentalists.

Customer Reviews:

Quietly Stirring Album.......2006-02-24

This is not over the top rock and roll from Knopfler. While there is clear joy to his music making evident here, this album is quietly thoughtful and sometimes with an edge. Somebody mentioned the Making Movies period of songwriting in speaking about this album. I'd say that this is about right. Think about the way that Knopfler creates a dream-like beauty to some of those songs on the first Dire Straits live album and you'll get a sense about what much of what this album is like. Yet, there are more straight ahead folk works on this album too.

Knopfler's guitar playing, like the music itself, is not over the top but has a spare beauty to it, and there is probably no other guitar player that I know of that can create as beautiful a melodic line as Knopfler.

Soundwise, the CD is quite good, though if you have the ability to play LPs and can find this one on the double-LP set, the LP sounds more real, and has more presence than the CD.

On the other hand, the sound of the live tracks on the bonus CD (in those editions that include it) is wonderful. The sound is practically a demonstration quality disc. That's alot to be said for live recording. The sound is full, dynamic and natural, with deep, tight extended bass (which means that hall acoustic ambiences are more apparent) and the highs are soft and sweet, not boosted or etched. This is about as good as it gets for CD sound. There is a very well filmed video included on the bonus CD of the same live performance of "Why Aye Man." This is Knopfler singing the song with heart and his guitar playing at his sympathetic and lyrical best (I felt my heart being tugged in the quieter moments of the song.). It is clear that all the musicians thoroughly enjoy performing the song, as bittersweet as is the subject matter.

Finally, this album may not GRAB you at first listen, but certainly the more I hear it, the more I am mesmerized by it.

Super album, LIVE bonus tracks worth the extra $$$.......2006-01-16

If you love Sailing to Philly and Shangri-La, or the great middle period of Dire Straits (Communique, Making Movies, Love Over Gold), you'll probably love this album. If you like/love Ragpicker's Dream by itself, the bonus tracks are worth an extra 5-8 bucks. If you're more into the Money for Nothing/Golden Heart Knopfler, this album won't interest you much.

First, the bonus tracks, since many of you probably already own Ragpicker's Dream. The live "Why Aye Man, "Sailing to Philly," and "Brothers" are all superb, with the final two being special treats. Nothing against James Taylor and his pitch-perfect voice, but it's a revelation to hear "Sailing" sung completely by the guy who's meant to sing it, IMHO. "Brothers" is beautiful, almost whispered by MK with mournful harmonica accompaniment by Mike Henderson. "Quality Shoe" is nice, tho there's not a heck of a lot there to begin with: why they picked that song to release a live version of is beyond me.

The "enhanced" track is a live video of the bonus version of "Why Aye" with a sort-of "Knopfler supergroup," recorded summer 2002 before his traffic accident. It features some wonderful close-ups of his guitar work, some nice sax from (I think) Chris White, and the welcome return of original Straits-er John Illsley on bass.

As for the album itself, again, you probably already have it. I'll just say the first four tracks, along with tracks 6 and 7, show Knopfler at the peak of his powers: merging all sorts of styles into his own, writing and singing wonderfully original lyrics, and playing guitar unlike anyone else in the world. There's a slight dip in the album around "Coyote," but the title track and the closing "Old Pigweed" are among the most heartbreaking songs he's ever recorded.

People will be listening to this stuff in 100 years. Look for a good price and get the bonus tracks, and you'll own one heck of a 2-CD set.

From a listener:.......2004-02-18

This record is the very definition of sublime.. In a desert of musical nothingness, it is a lush oasis of talent, skill and passion. From lighthearted (Coyote) to touching (Hill Farmer's Blues) to heart-wrenching (Ragpicker's Dream) it is such as to make a cynical man tremble and weep. My only regret about this album is not purchashing it sooner. The second CD is not to be missed either.

Great Album.......2002-12-01

This is another great CD from MK. It has some excellent cuts. You might check out Amazon UK for this album for a pleasant surprise.

Not a 'Sailing to Philadelphia' but...........2002-09-30

.....stands it's own among the current crop. My favourite song is 'Devil Baby'. Sounds something off a Nick Drake album, except ofcourse for the extra instruments.

Average customer rating:

The Ragpicker's Dream Mark Knopfler ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000A28UA0 Release Date: 2002-10-08

Tracks:

1. Why Aye Man
2. Devil Baby
3. Hill Farmer's Blues
4. Place Where We Used to Live
5. Quality Shoe
6. Fare Thee Well Northumberland
7. Marbletown
8. You Don't Know You're Born
9. Coyote
10. Ragpicker's Dream
11. Daddy's Gone to Knoxville
12. Old Pigweed

Tracks:

1. Why Aye Man [Live]
2. Quality Shoe [Live]
3. Sailing to Philadelphia [Live]
4. Brothers in Arms [Live]
5. Why Aye Man [Enhanced Video][Live]

Average customer rating:

Ragpicker's Dream Mark Knopler Manufacturer: 404 Music Group ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0000DEMC3 Release Date: 2002-10-01

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