Dire Straits Mark Knopfler's official website
 In 1980 Dire Straits released their third album, Making Movies. This marked a move towards more complex arrangements and production which would continue for the remainder of the band's career until the group's dissolution in the 1990s. Featuring Romeo and Juliet, which became one of the band's best known chart hits, Making Movies saw the departure of David Knopfler while the recording of the album was still in progress; Sid McGinnis filled in on rhythm guitar as the sessions continued. Although Mark played on one track on brother David's first solo album, they did not reconcile over the years.[citation needed] The album also featured keyboardist Roy Bittan from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and was produced by Jimmy Iovine.
Keyboardist Alan Clark and Californian guitarist Hal Lindes joined the lineup for the fourth studio album, Love Over Gold, which was released in 1982 and was the first Dire Straits album produced by Mark Knopfler. Its main chart hit, Private Investigations, gave Dire Straits their first UK top 5 hit single, peaking at number two despite its almost seven-minute length. In other territories, the single Industrial Disease was the album's calling card, particularly in Canada where it was a top 10 hit.
Shortly after the release of Love Over Gold, drummer Pick Withers left the band for a jazz career. His replacement was Terry Williams, formerly of Rockpile.
In 1983 a four-song EP was released, featuring the hit single Twisting By the Pool. This was followed by the double live album, Alchemy, in 1984. During this time Mark Knopfler also wrote the music score for the films Local Hero and Cal. Meanwhile, Dire Straits' biggest hit was yet to come.
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