Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero

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"Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero"
Single by Mark Knopfler
from the album Local Hero
Released4 March 1983
Genre
Length5:00 (album version); 3:58 (single version)
LabelVertigo
Songwriter(s)Mark Knopfler
Music video
"Going Home"

"Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero" is an instrumental rock track by Mark Knopfler, and the closing track from the 1983 film Local Hero soundtrack.[2] It was the debut solo single by Knopfler, and charted at number 56 in the UK,[3][4] at number 26 in the Netherlands and at number 18 in New Zealand.[5] The soundtrack album also features a reprise called "Wild Theme", which consists of Knopfler's acoustic guitar interpretation of the song's melody. Despite its rather modest chart position in Knopfler's native UK, "Going Home" remains one of the artist's most popular songs. The saxophone piece was played by the American jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker. The song is popular among fans of English football, in particular those of Knopfler's home town club, Newcastle United, as it is played as the team runs out before every home game.[6]

The music video features footage of Knopfler playing on the New York City waterfront (with the Twin Towers and Empire State Building visible), intercut with footage from the film.

Other releases[edit]

Besides its popularity in Knopfler's solo live set, "Going Home" had become a live staple also for Dire Straits, entering the band's repertoire since its release,[7] and indeed the song's popularity grew thanks to its inclusion in the live album Alchemy: Dire Straits Live.[8] The studio version of the song was included on the 1993 solo compilation Screenplaying (which also included "Wild Theme")[9] and on the 2005 compilation Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler, both on the single disc and double disc edition.[10][11]

2024 studio version[edit]

A supergroup, referred to as Mark Knopfler's Guitar Heroes, recorded "Going Home" to support the Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America. The recording, released 15 March 2024, was Jeff Beck's final recording before his death. Sir Peter Blake, who designed the sleeve for The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, created the single's artwork; a collage of all the contributors, plus Local Hero actors Peter Riegert and Burt Lancaster,[12] in front of "Hanks", the famous guitar shop in London's Denmark Street.[13] The sessions were recorded at British Grove Studios although some performances were submitted remotely.[14][15]

Produced by former Dire Straits keyboardist, Guy Fletcher, more than sixty musicians, mostly guitar players, participated in the nine minute recording. All musicians listed below played electric guitar except where noted:

Charts[edit]

1983 chart performance for "Going Home"
Chart (1983) Peak
position
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] 26
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 18
UK Singles (OCC)[18] 56
2024 chart performance for "Going Home"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[19] 32
UK Singles (OCC)[20] 18
UK Indie (OCC)[21] 4

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Lesley Duncanson, Mark Knopfler: A Life in Songs
  2. ^ "Local Hero [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] – Mark Knopfler | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "Mark Knopfler | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  4. ^ "Mark Knopfler Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com.
  5. ^ "Mark Knopfler - Going Home: Theme Of The Local Hero" – via hitparade.ch.
  6. ^ Sexton, Paul (April 16, 2020). "'Local Hero': Mark Knopfler's First Soundtrack Resonates Far And Wide".
  7. ^ David Nieri. "Mark Knopfler – The Long Highway". pp. 38–43.
  8. ^ Paul Sexton, They were different days
  9. ^ "Screenplaying - Mark Knopfler | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  10. ^ "Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler - Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  11. ^ "Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler - Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler | Release Info". AllMusic.
  12. ^ Horsley, Jonathan (February 8, 2024). ""Eric came in, played great, just one tasty lick after another. Jeff Beck's contribution was spellbinding": Mark Knopfler enlists Clapton, Townshend, Iommi, Slash and dozens more for all-star charity single". Guitar World. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  13. ^ Nissim, Jonathan Horsley (February 8, 2024). "Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler assembles guitar heroes supergroup for Local Hero remake". Gold Radio UK. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  14. ^ Kaufman, Gil (February 8, 2024). "Mark Knopfler Roped 60 Guitar Heroes For 'Going Home' Charity Single, Including Bruce Springsteen, Slash, Pete Townshend". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  15. ^ Greene, Andy (February 8, 2024). "Mark Knopfler Unites With Over 60 Guitar Gods for 'We Are The World'-Style Charity Single". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "Mark Knopfler – Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Mark Knopfler – Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  18. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  19. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 March 2024.

External links[edit]

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