Dire Straits is the debut studio album by British rock band
Dire Straits, released on 7 October 1978 by
Vertigo Records internationally, and by
Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album produced the hit single "
Sultans of Swing", which reached the number 4 position on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart, and number 8 on the
UK Singles Chart. The album reached the number one position on album charts in Germany, Australia and France, the number two position in the United States, and the number five position in the United Kingdom.
Dire Straits was certified double-platinum in both the United States and the United Kingdom.