| Setting Me Up | |
| Artist: | Dire Straits |
| Album: | Dire Straits |
| Released: | 7 October 1978 |
| Length: | 3:18 |
| Label: | Vertigo |
| Producer: | Muff Winwood |
| Setting Me Up | |
| Cover: | Setting Me Up single label.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Highway 101 |
| Album: | 101² |
| B-Side: | Long Way Down |
| Released: | January 1989 |
| Genre: | Country |
| Length: | 3:49 |
| Label: | Warner Bros. |
| Producer: | Paul Worley Ed Seay |
| Prev Title: | All the Reasons Why |
| Prev Year: | 1988 |
| Next Title: | Honky Tonk Heart |
| Next Year: | 1989 |
"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 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 (1989) | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[8] | 74 | |
| US Country Songs (Billboard)[9] | 97 |