CSPC: Dire Straits Popularity Analysis

Digital Singles Sales

As a reminder, the weighting is done with a 10 to 1,5 ratio between one album and one digital single.

Dire Straits (1978) – 428,000 equivalent albums

Sultans of Swing – 2,470,000
Remaining tracks – 380,000

Communiqué (1979) – 54,000 equivalent albums

All tracks – 360,000

Making Movies (1980) – 230,000 equivalent albums

Tunnel of Love – 380,000
Romeo and Juliet – 920,000
Remaining tracks – 230,000

Love over Gold (1982) – 78,000 equivalent albums

Private Investigations – 270,000
Remaining tracks – 250,000

Brothers in Arms (1985) – 759,000 equivalent albums

So Far Away – 410,000
Money for Nothing – 2,070,000
Walk of Life – 1,030,000
Your Latest Trick – 360,000
Brothers in Arms – 920,000
Remaining tracks – 270,000

On Every Street (1991) – 74,000 equivalent albums

Calling Elvis – 70,000
On Every Street – 240,000
Remaining tracks – 180,000

Orphan – 12,000 equivalent albums

All tracks – 80,000

I would lie if I say that these figures are impressive. In comparison to the remaining big 80s rock bands, digital sales of Dire Straits are fairly modest. Sultans of Swing and Money For Nothing remain popular with more than 2 million downloads a piece.  Then a group of 3 songs continues to appeal, it consists in Romeo and Juliet, Walk of Life and Brothers In Arms.