| "Setting Me Up" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Dire Straits | |
| from the album Dire Straits | |
| Released | 7 October 1978 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:18 |
| Label | Vertigo |
| Songwriter(s) | Mark Knopfler |
| Producer(s) | Muff Winwood |
| "Setting Me Up" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Highway 101 | ||||
| from the album 101² | ||||
| B-side | "Long Way Down" | |||
| Released | January 1989 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:49 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Mark Knopfler | |||
| Producer(s) | Paul Worley Ed Seay | |||
| Highway 101 singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Setting Me Up" is a song written by Mark Knopfler. It was originally recorded by British rock group Dire Straits on their self-titled debut album but not released as a single. Ken Tucker in Rolling Stone described the song as a "heavenly number" combining humor with bitterness, despite having a typical messed-up romance theme.[1] Tucker noted that the song's impact is enhanced by the growling tone in Knopfler's singing voice and by the song's country music-style guitar solo.[1] Carly Darling in Billboard Magazine praised the song's rockabilly guitar but criticizes the lyrics.[2]
The song appeared on Eric Clapton's 1980 double live album Just One Night, with Albert Lee singing lead vocals.[3] Albert Lee also covered the song on his album Hiding, with backing harmonies sung by Don Everly.[4]
"Setting Me Up" is one of five songs that Knopfler's publisher made country demos of without the songwriter's approval, leading to a number of country covers of this and other songs.[5] American country music group Highway 101 covered the song for their 1988 album 101² and released it as the album's third single in January 1989. The song reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in April 1989.[6] Their version features a shared lead vocal by Paulette Carlson and bassist Curtis Stone.[7]
Chart performance: Highway 101 single
| Chart (1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[8] | 4 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 7 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1989) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[10] | 74 |
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[11] | 97 |
References
- ^ a b Tucker, K. (January 25, 1979). "Dire Straits Review". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ Darling, C. (January 27, 1979). "Closeup". Billboard Magazine.
- ^ Erlewine, S. T. "Just One Night". Allmusic. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ Planer, L. "Hiding". Allmusic. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
- ^ Brown, A. & Mansfield, B. (2008). Make Me a Star: Industry Insiders Reveal How to Make It in Music. Thomas Nelson, Inc. p. 161. ISBN 978-1-4016-0404-2.
- ^ Highway 101 Hot Country Songs Chart History, Billboard.com
- ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Highway 101/2". People.com. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1039." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. May 15, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ^ "Highway 101 Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1989". RPM. December 23, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ^ "Best of 1989: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
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