Mark Knopfler has contributed to liner notes in CD booklets from various artists. Apart from these liner notes, Mark has also written forewords for a couple of books. I decicated this section to all these personal words from Mark. Since the section with the forewords covers just a few books, I also added various other books I have about Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler. Most of them are unauthorized but still interesting to have as some contain great photos. I just have a modest selection of what's available. Click on the title of a CD or book to get more details.

Liner notes by Mark Knopfler - CD's

Forewords by Mark Knopfler - books

Various books about Dire Straits / Mark Knopfler

Various artists - The Secret Policeman's Third Ball

The Secret Policeman's Balls is the collective name informally used to describe the long-running series of benefit shows staged in England to raise funds for the human rights organisation Amnesty International. The shows started out in the mid-1970s primarily as comedy galas featuring popular British comedic performers and later expanded to include leading musical performers. Mark Knopfler appeared in this 1987 edition playing two songs with Chet Atkins: I'll see you in my dreams and Imagine. Mark wrote the liner notes for the CD release.

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Mark's liner notes:

Brendan Croker - The Kershaw Sessions

In December 1995, Brendan Croker released his album The Kershaw Sessions. Mark Knopfler plays on four tracks: Please baby, Blues stay away from me, Weapon of prayer, That's where I belong. And Mark also wrote the liner notes for the CD booklet.

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Funny to see that the date of Mark's liner notes is from August 1st 1995 while the CD booklet says the album is from 1994 (which actually should be 1995):

Mike Henderson & The Bluebloods - First blood

In 1996, Mike Henderson released an album called First blood. He asked Mark Knopfler to write the liner notes for the booklet, which Mark did. Years later, Mark invited Mike as being part of the tour band for Mark's second solo tour (Sailing to Philadelphia - 2001). What a great addition that was; slide guitar, harmonica, violin; a perfect addition to the band. Great musician!

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As you can see, the back cover also features one line from Mark's complete liner notes which are pictured below:
 

Elvis Presley - Artist of the century

In various interviews, Mark Knopfler said that he was a fan of Elvis Presley, trying to imitate him when he was young. He also wrote a song about Elvis called Back to Tupelo which can be found on Mark's album Shangri-La from 2004. In 1999, a 3CD set in long box format was released with the greatest hits of Elvis. Many other artists wrote a few words for this occasion which were printed in the first few pages of each of the three booklets.

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Mark's short liner notes can be found on page 5 of the third booklet:ark

Richard Bennett - Themes from a rainly decade

Richard Bennett is one of the 96ers, like Mark Knopfler likes to call his band members from 1996 when he started with his first solo tour. Richard has been on tour with Mark ever since and is a great guitar player which he also shows on this album.

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Mark's liner notes:

Blue Highway - Marbletown

It's quite remarkable to see an album by a band who not only covers one of Mark Knopfler's songs, but also gives the album the name of that covered song. Mark Knopfler likes this cover as can be read in his liner notes.

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As you can see, the back cover also features one line from Mark's liner notes which are pictured below:

Pieta Brown - Mercury

Pieta Brown (together with Bo Ramsey) was the opening act on Mark Knopfler's Get Lucky world tour 2010. See also a nice shot of the complete MK band together with Pieta and Bo, taken on 31st July 2010 in Spain:

In 2011, Pieta released her album Mercury which features Mark Knopfler on the track So many miles. Mark's liner notes can be found on the sticker.


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Mark's liner notes:

Hank Marvin's guitar tutor

A nice book from Hank Marvin in which he learns you to start playing guitar. Allthough the first release of the book was in 1991, it includes two matching cassettes (!) of tuition from the man himself. The book and the two cassettes are housed in an outer carton sleeve. Hank Marvin asked Mark to write the introduction for this book which sure must have been a true pleasure for Mark as Hank and his red Fender Stratocaster has always been a hero to Mark from a young age. Like Mark says in his foreword of "Skiffle: The definitive Inside story" talking about the foreword for this book : "It completes a circuit with the past".

The following is taken from an interview from Vintage Guitar Magazine, May 2001:
Vintage Guitar Magazine: "Did Hank Marvin make you want to play electric guitar?"
Mark Knopfler: "Yeah. I was eight or nine when I got my first Shadows EP, and that’s why my first electric guitar had to be red! I desperately wanted a Fender, but my dad couldn’t afford one, so I ended up getting a Höfner with a couple of pickups – at least it had a basic Strat shape. And I was in love with that guitar."

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Detail front cover:

Mark Knopfler's foreword:

Chas McDevitt - Skiffle: the definitive inside story

The Skiffle craze captured the imagination of Britains youth in the mid 1950s. It was a re-invention, in strictly British terms, of the American jug and spasm band music played at rent parties and get-togethers in the 20s and 30s. A hybrid music, it mixed the elements of folk, country, jazz and pop in a simple yet rhythmic style. It flourished in coffee bars, jazz clubs and even concert hall; and although eventually overtaken in popularity by Rock n Roll it still has its ardent devotees. Thousands of kids had taken up the washboard, guitar and tea-chest bass and formed these Skiffle groups which became the spawning grounds for future rock legends; the Quarrymen became The Beatles, The Railroaders became The Shadows. Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Albert Lee, Chris Farlowe, Roger Glover, Ralph McTell and Martin Carthy are just a few who acknowledge the influence that Skiffle had on their careers. This book documents the Skiffle craze in the UK, inlcuding 121 photos & illustrations.

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Mark Knopfler's foreword:

Rudy Pensa - Archtop Guitars: The journey from Cremona to New York

This book celebrates the works of famed New Yorks archtop guitar builders John D'Angelico, James D'Aquisto and John Monteleone. The book features wonderful pictures of various violins and guitars, including some great pictures of Mark Knopfler's Monteleone Isabella and Monteleone Autumn. It's a very large and heavy high quality book. In July 2011, I received my limited edition which comes with a clam shell and gold leafing on the edges of the book. The book and clam shell combined are over 5kg in weight! Rudy Pensa personally signed it for me. If you are interested in the book, contact Rudy's Music in New York: http://www.rudysmusic.com
 

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Mark Knopfler's foreword:

Personally signed by Rudy Pensa:

Detail back cover:

Details inside:

Frank Allen - Travelling man: On the road with The Searchers

In 1999 Frank Allen, bass player and front man with The Searchers since 1964, wrote a book on his lifetime of travel. It is not an autobiography as such, but more an amusing and sometimes irreverent look at a lifetime of travel from one of the most popular performers still on the 60's music scene. A must for every Searchers fan, and indeed for anyone who appreciates 60's music, interesting travel tales and a humorous look at a lifetime of bringing enjoyment and entertainment to others. The book is published in hardback form, and contains about 100 photographs. Mark Knopfler is mentioned too in the book and also can be seen on one of the photographs in the book.
 

Front and back cover:

Mark Knopfler's foreword:

The photo including Mark Knopfler, unknown when it was taken:

Michael Oldfield - Dire Straits

This book is written in co-operation with Dire Straits. Michael Oldfield first met Mark Knopfler at college in the late sixties when they were both training to be journalists. Oldfield has since worked on local and national newspapers, but has spent most of his career on Melody Maker, becoming editor in 1980. He saw Dire Straits in their earliest days and has covered the band in Britain and abroad throughout their career. Very ncie book with lots of black and white photos. It covers the Dire Straits story until their Love over Gold world tour 1982-1983.

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The hardcover edition features a nice color version of Oldfield's Access All Areas pass from the Love over Gold world tour 1982-1983:

Michael Oldfield - Dire Straits paperback

This book is written in co-operation with Dire Straits. Michael Oldfield first met Mark Knopfler at college in the late sixties when they were both training to be journalists. Oldfield has since worked on local and national newspapers, but has spent most of his career on Melody Maker, becoming editor in 1980. He saw Dire Straits in their earliest days and has covered the band in Britain and abroad throughout their career. Very ncie book with lots of black and white photos. It covers the Dire Straits story until their Love over Gold world tour 1982-1983.

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Philip Kamin - Dire Straits

Nice book with a lot of pictures, both color and black & white. Comes with a seperate 17" x 22" full-color photo.

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Álvaro Feito - Dire Straits

This book features the story of Dire Straits, lyrics, discography and a few black & white photos.

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Betty Shapiro - Dire Straits -  Studio su testi e musiche

A book with a study of texts and music of various Dire Straits songs. The book also features a couple black & white photos.

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Various authors - Dire Straits

Small book with translations of Dire Straits lyrics. The book also features a couple black & white photos.

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Petra Zeitz - Dire Straits

Very nice book with a lot of pictures, both color and black & white and the story of Dire Straits until just before the release of On every street.

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Giancarlo Passarella - Solid Rock

This Italian fan released a book with the story of Dire Straits, discography, bootleg dicography and concert dates until the final Dire Straits concert in history; 9th October 1992, Zaragoza, Spain.

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Peter Evans - Mark Knopfler Guitar Styles - Volume I

Part I of the two official guitar styles books. With great insight in various guitars of Mark Knopfler with comments from Mark himself as well as from Ron Eve, who has been Mark's guitar technician for a long time. The biggest part of the book consists of guitar transcriptions / tablature of various songs by Dire Straits.

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Peter Evans - Mark Knopfler Guitar Styles - Volume II

Part II of the two official guitar styles books. With great insight in various guitars of Mark Knopfler with comments from Mark himself as well as from Ron Eve, who has been Mark's guitar technician for a long time. The biggest part of the book consists of guitar transcriptions / tablature of various songs by Dire Straits.

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Giancarlo Passarella - Dire Straits Manuali Rock 22

This book features the story of Dire Straits, interviews and the worldwide discography.

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Myles Palmer - Mark Knopfler - An unauthorized biography.

A very nice book about Mark Knopfler, packed with revealing and amusing anecdotes from Mark's schoolfriends, girlfriends, teachers, journalist colleagues and fellow lecturers, and many informed insiders's insights from musicians who played with him, and who toured supporting Dire Straits. The book also features some nice black & white photos, including a couple of young Mark when he was still at school.

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Myles Palmer - Mark Knopfler - An unauthorized biography

A very nice book about Mark Knopfler, packed with revealing and amusing anecdotes from Mark's schoolfriends, girlfriends, teachers, journalist colleagues and fellow lecturers, and many informed insiders's insights from musicians who played with him, and who toured supporting Dire Straits. The book also features some nice black & white photos, including a couple of young Mark when he was still at school.

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Betty Shapiro - Dire Straits - Il pop-rock di Mark Knopfler & Co

A book with a study of texts and music of various Dire Straits songs. The book also features a couple black & white photos.

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Colin Irwin - Dire Straits

Small format book with the history of Dire Straits combined with lots of great photo's.

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Colin Irwin - Dire Straits.

Small format book with the history of Dire Straits combined with lots of great photo's.

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Silvia Grijalba - Dire Straits

This book features the story of Dire Straits, lyrics, discography and various color and black & white photos. The book comes with a free poster.

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Gunther Matejka - Musiker - Selbstportraits

This book is full with self portraits made by various artists. The self portrait of Mark was made in July 2002 when he was being interviewed. I guess it was one of the short interviews he did just before the four charity shows that month. Very nice to see this personal drawing from Mark.

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Mark Knopfler's self portrait:

Andrew Zuckerman - Music

Following the highly acclaimed Wisdom, Andrew Zuckerman now turns his unique photographic perspective to music. This new book includes fifty eminent musicians-artists, composers, producers, and performers from rock, rap, dance, soul, R&B, classical, country, reggae, pop, jazz, world, and more who have made an impact on their genre, contributed to the larger conversation, and have a unique perspective on life.

Each musician is photographed and interviewed on film about the process of making music, the power of music, and the experience of writing, producing, and performing. The group includes emerging artists, as well as legends from a variety of genres, and together, they create a distinctive understanding of the universal language of music. Mark Knopfler is also featured on the official DVD.

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Mark Knopfler's photo inside the book: