Released in late 1988, as everyone was waiting for the follow-up for Brothers in Arms, the 12-track Money for Nothing does an adequate job of summarizing hits and highlights from Dire Straits. Since the group only released one studio album after this compilation, and that really didn't produce any blockbusters, Money for Nothing winds up being a pretty good career summary. Far from perfect, though: too many album rock hits, such as "Expresso Love" and "Skateaway," are missing, plus there're two live cuts and the new cut "Where Do You Think You're Going?" doesn't go anywhere. Discounting these, the remainder of the compilation does hit many of the big songs, relying heavily on Brothers in Arms. Sultans of Swing, the post-On Every Street collection, is a better overview, yet this still has enough of the best-known tracks to satisfy the majority of casual fans. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine