Classic Track

Money For Nothing

The Brothers In Arms album spent 34 weeks at number 1 on the Australian ARIA Charts, and it remains the longest-running number one album in Australian music history
AMS RMX 16 Digital Reverberation System
EMT 140 Plate Reverb
Sony DRE 2000 Digital Reverberator
Dire Straits
Recorded: October 1984 – February 1985
Released: 13 May 1985
Producer: Neil Dorfman and Mark Knopfler
Recording Engineer: Neil Dorfman
Mix Engineer: Chuck Ainley

Money for Nothing, the hit single from the album Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits, is a timeless classic that enjoyed massive success in 1985, topping the charts as the band’s only number one record. The song received constant airplay on both radio and MTV, quickly becoming one of the most-played tracks in the history of the music channel.

Brothers in Arms was recorded in Montserrat, where the state-of-the-art Air Studios boasted some of the latest and most advanced recording equipment available at the time, including the iconic Neve 8078 console and the innovative 24-track digital multitrack recorder from Sony.

Mark Knopfler’s guitar sound on Money for Nothing was a departure from his signature clean Stratocaster tone, which was prominent on the first two Dire Straits albums. Instead, he opted for a distorted guitar sound reminiscent of Billy Gibbons’ style from ZZ Top. The result was a bold and distinctive sound that instantly caught listeners’ attention.

The recording of Money for Nothing used a variety of reverb units, including EMT plate reverbs, as well as two of the latest digital reverbs at the time, the AMS RMX 16 and the Sony DRE-2000. Although it is unclear which reverb units were used where, it is widely acknowledged that the song heavily relied on the creative use of reverb to achieve its signature sound.

Money for Nothing is a testament to Dire Straits’ musical prowess and innovative use of recording technology. The song’s enduring popularity stands as a testament to its impact and influence on the music industry, making it a classic that remains as relevant today as it was in 1985.