Setting Me Up

"Setting Me Up"
"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	Mark Knopfler
Producers	Paul Worley; Ed Seay
Highway 101 singles chronology

"Setting Me Up"
"Setting Me Up"
Song by Dire Straits
from the album Dire Straits
Released	7 October 1978
Genre	Roots rock; country rock;
Length	3:18
Label	Vertigo
Songwriter	Mark Knopfler
Producer	Muff Winwood

"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.

[rs-1] Tucker, K. (January 25, 1979). "Dire Straits Review". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved August 17, 2011.

[2] Darling, C. (January 27, 1979). "Closeup". Billboard Magazine.

[3] Erlewine, S. T. "Just One Night". Allmusic. Retrieved August 17, 2011.

[4] Planer, L. "Hiding". Allmusic. Retrieved August 17, 2011.

[5] 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.

[6] Highway 101 Hot Country Songs Chart History, Billboard.com

[7] "Picks and Pans Review: Highway 101/2". People.com. Retrieved June 1, 2021.

[sc_Canadacountry_-8] "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1039." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. May 15, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.

[sc_Billboardcountrysongs_Highway_101-9] "Highway 101 Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.

[10] "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1989". RPM. December 23, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.

[11] "Best of 1989: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.

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v t e Dire Straits
Mark Knopfler John Illsley Pick Withers David Knopfler Alan Clark Hal Lindes Terry Williams Guy Fletcher Jack Sonni
Studio albums	Dire Straits Communiqué Making Movies Love over Gold Brothers in Arms On Every Street
Live albums	Alchemy On the Night Live at the BBC
Compilations	Money for Nothing Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler
EPs	ExtendedancEPlay Encores
Singles	"Sultans of Swing" "Water of Love" "Lady Writer" "Tunnel of Love" "Skateaway" "Romeo and Juliet" "Private Investigations" "Industrial Disease" "Twisting by the Pool" "Love over Gold" "So Far Away" "Money for Nothing" "Brothers in Arms" "Walk of Life" "Your Latest Trick" "Calling Elvis" "Heavy Fuel" "On Every Street" "The Bug" "You and Your Friend"
Other songs	"Down to the Waterline" "Setting Me Up" "Expresso Love" "Telegraph Road" "When It Comes to You"
Tours	Brothers in Arms Tour On Every Street Tour
Related articles	Discography Band members Omar Hakim Chris White The Notting Hillbillies
Category

v t e Highway 101
Paulette Carlson Nikki Nelson
Studio albums	Highway 101 101² Paint the Town Bing Bang Boom The New Frontier Reunited
Compilations	Greatest Hits
Notable singles	"The Bed You Made for Me" "Whiskey, If You Were a Woman" "Somewhere Tonight" "Cry, Cry, Cry" "(Do You Love Me) Just Say Yes" "All the Reasons Why" "Setting Me Up" "Honky Tonk Heart" "Who's Lonely Now" "Walkin', Talkin', Cryin', Barely Beatin' Broken Heart" "This Side of Goodbye" "Someone Else's Trouble Now" "Bing Bang Boom" "Baby, I'm Missing You"
Related articles	Discography "Feed This Fire" Love Goes On "I'll Start with You"

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"Setting Me Up"
Song by Dire Straits
from the album Dire Straits
Released	7 October 1978
Genre	Roots rock country rock
Length	3:18
Label	Vertigo
Songwriter	Mark Knopfler
Producer	Muff Winwood