Last fall, Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler released an acclaimed double album, 'Privateering.' Or should we say he released it everywhere but in the U.S. due to legal snafus with Knopfler's stateside record company, Warner Bros.

But now, thanks to a worldwide deal with Universal Music Group's Verve Records, 'Privateering' will finally be released in the U.S. on Sept. 10.

“Mark has long been one of the most innovative and successful artists in music," Max Hole, chairman and CEO of UMG International, said in a press release. "We’re thrilled he’s decided to sign to Verve so that we are now working with him everywhere across the world.”

'Privateering' (available for pre-order now) is the first double album of Knopfler's 35-year career, but it may not be his last. “The older I get, the more I want to write,” he said. “I’m enjoying the process more than ever, writing, recording and playing live, I enjoy all of it. I’m almost tripping over songs.

“I chose to make a double album this time just because of the sheer volume of material," he continued. "I didn’t want to separate songs into genres, and I didn't want to leave too many songs on the shelf. I just wanted it to be a reflection of the fantastic sessions we had."

The record features many musicians Knopfler has worked with for years, including Guy Fletcher (keyboards), Richard Bennett (guitar), Jim Cox (piano), Glenn Worf (bass), Mike McGoldrick (whistle and flute), John McCusker (fiddle) and the recent addition of Ian Thomas (drums). Special guests include Paul Franklin (pedal steel), Kim Wilson, (harmonica), Tim O’Brien (mandolin) and the Wailin’ Jennys' singer Ruth Moody.

"With a great bunch of players, it’s the same as a great group of actors reading a script from the page, the thing can come alive in ways it just never has before," Knopfler added. "This is the band I have been working toward my whole life.”

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