To mark Record Store Day ’24 Mark Knopfler will release an exclusive EP on vinyl on April 20th 2024 on his own British Grove label via EMI/Universal Music Canada. Entitled The Boy, it features 4 beautiful new Knopfler songs, which were recorded during the sessions for his eagerly awaited new album One Deep River (released on 12th April). Produced by Guy Fletcher and Mark Knopfler, The Boy will be available on 12” black vinyl cut at half speed for enhanced audio quality by Miles Showell at Abbey Rd Studios.
As a boy, Mark Knopfler was captivated by the giant funfair held every year on Newcastle Town Moor. The songs on his new EP The Boy connect themes of the fairgrounds and their boxing booths commonplace in the Britain of the 50s and early 60s.
The band on The Boy features Mark Knopfler on guitars, Jim Cox and Guy Fletcher on keyboards, Glenn Worf on bass, Ian Thomas on drums and Danny Cummings on percussion, Richard Bennett on guitar, and Greg Leisz on pedal and lap steel; Mike McGoldrick provides whistle and uilleann pipes, and John McCusker plays fiddle, while the Topolski sisters Emma and Tamsin add backing vocals. The songs are written by Mark Knopfler.
Mark Knopfler, singer-songwriter, record producer and composer, is one of the most successful musicians the UK has ever produced and is often cited as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He first came to prominence in the 80s as leader of Dire Straits, who created many of the signature songs of the era. Knopfler broke up the band in 1995 and set off on a new path as a solo artist. In the ensuing years Knopfler has released nine solo albums of sophisticated rootsy rock and has continued to tour the globe with his band. Over the years, Mark has written the music for several films, including Local Hero, Cal, The Princess Bride, Last Exit To Brooklyn and Wag The Dog and has played and recorded with a number of artists, including Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Emmylou Harris, Tina Turner, Randy Newman and Chet Atkins. Knopfler was made an OBE in 1999 and was given the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ivor Novellos in 2012.
Record Store Day 2024, which takes place on Saturday, April 20th, marks the 17th annual celebration of the unique culture of record shopping, the art of vinyl and the incredible music-loving people behind the counter that serve music to their local communities.
The Tracklisting for The Boy EP:
1. Mr Solomons Said
2. The Boy
3. All Comers
4. Bad Day For A Knife Thrower
