"Alchemy usually doesn’t crack a top 50 list.

And that’s my point — it should."

Right on. Have all their readily available material & followed them from the beginning. Still love their work & Mark Knopfler's independent work since. His album with Chet Atkins, Neck and Neck is a beauty and along with All the roadrunning with Emmy Lou Harris, not to mention the Theme from Local Hero, illustrate the virtuosity you mention and his ability to produce any mood to perfection.

I suppose it's a silly thing to say but I'm glad I've lived at a time when I could hear DS's music and at an age when I was readily invigorated & captured by it.

I don't really care about 'top ... whatever" lists because they are all subjective but I would echo your recommendation to anyone who hasn't listened to these albums, to do so. Perhaps there are some but I can't imagine how anyone could not be appreciative of Dire Straits.

Thanks for posting.