"Your Latest Trick" is a song by British rock band

Dire Straits Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals, lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Pick Withers (drums, percussion). Th ...

, the fourth track on their fifth studio album, '' Brothers in Arms'' (1985). It was released as the album's fifth and final single in April 1986 by

Vertigo Records Vertigo Records is a British record company. It was a subsidiary of the Philips/Phonogram record label, launched in 1969 to specialise in progressive rock and other non-mainstream musical styles. Today, it is operated by Universal Music Group#B ...

. It later appeared on the

live album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track or cassette), or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th centur ...

On the Night ''On the Night'' is the second live album by the British rock band Dire Straits, released on 10 May 1993 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album features many of the band's later hits, incl ...

''; the same live version is on '' Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits''. The full-length studio album version was included on the compilation '' The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations''.

Music

Randy Brecker Randal Edward Brecker (born November 27, 1945) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock music, rock, and R&B. Early life Brecker was ...

played the trumpet intro on the CD version, but it is missing on the vinyl version. After that, there is a saxophone intro, played by

Michael Brecker Michael Leonard Brecker (March 29, 1949 – January 13, 2007) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He was awarded 15 Grammy Awards as a performer and composer, received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in ...

, who also plays the saxophone solo. Chris White played the saxophone part on the live version on the ''Brothers in Arms'' and ''On Every Street'' world tours. A cover of the

saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed on a mouthpiece vibrates to p ...

introduction was used as the theme music for the 1992-1997

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series ''

File of Justice The File of Justice (壹號皇庭) is a series of Hong Kong legal drama produced by TVB. There were 5 seasons produced, the first was aired in 1992 spanning 13 episodes. The series revolves around a group of lawyers and legal personnel with storie ...

'' in Hong Kong. This version features an original bridge and interlude. According to ''Classic Rock'' critic Paul Rees, the song was originally done at a faster, jazzier tempo, but Dire Straits' manager

Ed Bicknell Ed Bicknell is a British music manager and drummer, best known for managing rock band Dire Straits, as well as Mark Knopfler, Gerry Rafferty, Bryan Ferry, Scott Walker and The Blue Nile. Career Ed Bicknell (born 1948, Yorkshire) was Chairman ...

suggested slowing it down to the "stately bossa nova" that was released.

Single release

"Your Latest Trick" was released as a 12" maxi single in April 1986 as the fifth and final single from the "Brothers in Arms" album in the UK, as well as in other selected territories including Brazil. The single did not have a US release. It peaked at #26 on the UK charts. The other songs featured on the single were "Irish Boy" and "The Road," both credited as solo efforts by Mark Knopfler.

Reception

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' described the song as "bittersweet" and said that it has hints of

Tina Turner Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...

's song "

Private Dancer ''Private Dancer'' is the fifth solo studio album by singer Tina Turner. It was released on May 29, 1984, by Capitol Records and was her first album released by the label. After a challenging start to her solo career after divorcing Ike Turner, ...

," which was written by Knopfler and originally intended for Dire Straits' previous album '' Love over Gold''. ''

Spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spin (physics) or particle spin, a fundamental property of elementary particles * Spin quantum number, a number which defines the value of a particle's spin * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thr ...

'' wrote, "A sinewy sax intro from one of the Brecker brothers sets up perfectly the string of surreal city images Knopfler intones in his husky, Dylanesque drawl. Most likely Knopfler's recent work with Dylan on ''

Infidels An infidel (literally "unfaithful") is a person who is accused of disbelief in the central tenets of one's own religion, such as members of another religion, or irreligion, irreligious people. Infidel is an Ecclesiology, ecclesiastical term in Ch ...

'' was inspirational." Paul Rees rated "Your Latest Trick" to be Dire Straits' 10th greatest song, saying that it "stirs up the humid, smoky atmosphere of a Latino cantina at midnight."

Track listings

* 7" # "Your Latest Trick" # "Irish Boy" by Mark Knopfler # "The Road" by Mark Knopfler * 12" maxi # "Your Latest Trick" – 6:28 # "Irish Boy" by Mark Knopfler – 4:36 # "The Long Road" by Mark Knopfler – 7:13

Charts

¹ EP "Your Latest Trick" / "Encores"

Certifications

References

{{Authority control 1986 singles 1993 singles 1985 songs Dire Straits songs SNEP Top Singles number-one singles Songs written by Mark Knopfler Song recordings produced by Mark Knopfler Vertigo Records singles