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1985, Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits was putting together the group's "Brothers in Arms" album...and had an extra song that wasn't slated to be included on the disc. Instead, it was earmarked to be a stand-alone "B' side for one of the album's single releases: "So Far Away."
Dire Straits manager Ed Bicknell heard the finished track and insisted that Mark make room for it on the album--which he did. "Walk of Life," however, was still used as the "B" side for "So Far Away," which became a solid international hit in itself.
That was in June of 1985.
In October, it was decided to re-release "Walk of Life" as an "A" side--the FIFTH single from "Brothers in Arms," with belated hopes that it might be a hit on its own.
And it most certainly was!
By January 1986, it had charted in 15 countries, Including the US, where it was a Triple Chart Hit: #4 on the Adult Contemporary Chart, #6 on the Mainstream Rock Chart and #7 on the Hot 100!
Note: The song tells the story of "Johnny, who performs "down in the tunnels, trying to make it pay." In other words. he's a busker in the subway.
Walk of Life by Dire Straits...starting life as a throwaway "B" side, but walking into immortality as a Great Song of 1986! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd9TlGDZGkI
Tomorrow: We begin our yearly look at Great Christmas Songs from the '70s and '80s--and this year, we have a whole new batch to highlight!
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