It really was a dark and stormy night in 1977 when guitarist Mark Knopfler popped into a tumbledown bar in London and happened upon some song inspiration. Inside, as Knopfler would later recall, was a ...

Released as the first single from Dire Straits‘ eponymous 1978 debut, “Sultans of Swing” hit No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has remained a staple song within the British rockers’ classic catalog.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts. “Sultans of Swing” gives Dire Straits its first streaming hit in ...

Dire Straits earns chart success in the U.K. as two greatest hits albums reenter the Official Albums chart, while “Sultans of Swing” surges once again. AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 01: Photo of DIRE STRAITS ...