Mark Knopfler Soundtracks Local Hero

The soundtrack to Local Hero, the first-rate 1983 Scottish film directed by Bill Forsyth that depicted an American oil company with a mission in the fictional village of Ferness on the west coast of Scotland, actually outsold the film itself. It was written by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits (who also scored and performed soundtracks for Comfort and Joy, Cal, and Last Exit to Brooklyn) and is counted as some of his best work. This is such an outstanding film from the ’80s, with simple but witty dialogue, quirky characters, and lots of heart. A little masterpiece even. Though quiet, it’s got real screen magic.

An American oil billionaire named Happer sends Mac to a remote Scottish village to secure property right for an oil refinery, but on the way to closing the deal, the town—its eccentric people, Northern Lights in the night sky, and beautiful scenery—takes hold of Mac, changing his outlook on his job there. He spends time drinking, collecting seashells, meeting a soulful woman, and even throws his calendar watch into the sea. Instead of negotiating the deal, Mac works on one for himself, by trading his high-rise apartment, Porche, and oil-company job for his new friend Gordon’s more fulfilling life of bartender, innkeeper, and community representative. The film is shot forth with both sadness and humor, all which is found portrayed in Knopfler’s winsome, aurora-inspired and yet sometimes heart-wrenching soundtrack.

Mark Knopfler : Knopfler's laid-back sounds sweet

Mark Knopfler fessed up to an injury early on during his performance at Massey Hall on Thursday night.
Seated for the entire two-hour-and-five minutes, the former Dire Straits frontman dryly explained: "I'm not doing any somersaults or cartwheels tonight because I've pinched something. It'll be okay. I like this. It has benefits."
It turned out, in the end, it didn't matter.
The 60-year-old Knopfler still managed to wow the sold-out crowed with his fluid finger-picking guitar style, laid-back, easy, no-fuss manner, and seven "master musicians," as he called his touring band.
Lucky for us.
The group - who included a flute player, fiddler, accordion player and at least two mandolin players - easily finessed whatever was thrown at them - rock, country, Celtic, and bluegrass.
Interestingly, Dire Straits percussionist Danny Cummings is now Knopfler's drummer.
And while there really wasn't a showman among them - Knopfler was the evening's undisputed star - he proved to be a generous leader, happily sharing the spotlight during longs jams and solos, like during Sailing To Philadelphia, where he and multi-instrumentalist Tim O' Brien traded verses.
Touring in support of his latest solo album, 2009's Get Lucky, the Scottish-born, British-raised Knopfler kicked off the night with the Celtic-tinged Border Reiver from that disc on a stripped down stage where the biggest effect all night was a backdrop of stars in the sky.
But he didn't delve too much into the record for the remainder of the evening only performing two other songs - the title track, and the poignant show-ender Piper To The End.
Instead, it was a mixed bag of songs from both his time with seminal '80s band Dire Straits, who split up n 1985, and varied older solo material like such highlights as What It Is, the bluegrass-feeling Prairie Wedding - which The Del McCoury Band has since recorded - Marbletown, and Donegan's Gone, and the rocking showstopper Speedway At Nazareth complete with strobe lights.
Still, it was the one-two punch of the Dire Straits signature songs Romeo and Juliet and Sultans Of Swing, which struck the biggest chord, the latter prompting the first standing ovation of the night for Knopfler's staggering solo, and So Far Away From Me, which prompted the second ovation during the encore.
"You're very sweet," said Knopfler, after the first time the crowd jumped to their feet.
No Mark, you are, sweet-sounding that is.