Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

It is Labor Day on this Monday in the U.S. where we take a moment to celebrate the efforts of the American worker. Whatever the profession, whatever hours are worked and wherever that work takes place, working for a living is a status most of us share.

Today’s song tells the story of a couple of delivery men who imagine a much easier life if only they had “learned to play the guitar” instead of spending their days using physical labor and power tools.

This track was the #1 song in the country 40 years ago, hitting the top spot on Sept 21, 1985. It stayed in that position for three consecutive weeks & was the second single from the album, Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits, which was released in May 1985.

The tune also became the unofficial theme song for the channel every music lover wanted thanks to its battle cry, “I want my MTV!” And the video gave us some great-for-its-time animated storytelling and a cautionary tale about sweatbands.

“We got to install microwave ovens
Custom kitchen deliveries
We got to move these refrigerators
We got to move these color TVs“.

Top: Dire Straits circa 1985 (L-R): Keyboardists Alan Clark and Guy Fletcher, guitarist Jack Sonni, bassist John Illsley, lead guitarist, singer & primary songwriter Mark Knopfler (standing with guitar) and drummer Pick Withers. Bottom: A still of a worker “moving color TV’s” from the landmark video of today’s song. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Dire Straits: “Money For Nothing” (1985, written by Mark Mark Knopfler and Sting).

Stay safe & well.