How to Make Gravy
How to Make Gravy | ||||
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EP by | ||||
Released | 4 November 1996[1] | |||
Recorded | 1996 | |||
Genre | Rock, pop | |||
Length | 15:02 | |||
Label | White | |||
Producer | Paul Kelly, Simon Polinski | |||
Paul Kelly chronology | ||||
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Alternate cover | ||||
How to Make Gravy is a four-track
From Thunderclap Newmans opening riffs of Something in the Air It has also been covered by David Miles, Luca Brasi, From Nowhere, Semicolon, Ghostwriters, Karl Broadie and Lawrence Agar. In September 2010, Kelly titled his memoirs, How to Make Gravy. On 29 September 2012 Kelly performed "How to Make Gravy" and "Leaps and Bounds" at the 2012 AFL Grand Final. A film version is set for release as a Christmas movie by Warner Bros in December, 2023.
"Gravy Day" (21 December, the day on which the prisoner in the song writes the letter) was created by fans and is celebrated by internet memes each year.
Background
Paul Kelly's album, Wanted Man, was released in 1994 and reached No. 11 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Albums Chart.[2] Kelly also composed music for the 1994 film Everynight ... Everynight, directed by Alkinos Tsilimidos, it is set in the notorious H division of Victoria's Pentridge Prison.[3] Kelly's next solo releases were Deeper Water in 1995 and Live at the Continental and the Esplanade in 1996.[4] Between March and May 1995 Kelly undertook a seven-week tour of North America, appearing on several dates with Liz Phair and Joe Jackson.[5]
By 1996, Paul Kelly Band members were Stephen Hadley (bass guitar, ex-
Composition
"How to Make Gravy" is five minutes and ten seconds long.
In 1996 Kelly was approached by Lindsay Field, the guitarist and backing vocalist for
The gravy recipe is genuine – Kelly learnt it from his father-in-law: "Just add flour, salt, a little red wine and don't forget a dollop of tomato sauce".[9]
Late in December 2017 Kelly explained to Luke Wong of ABC Radio Melbourne, "It was a song that doesn't have a chorus, it's set in prison, so I never thought it would be a hit song or anything... Once I start playing that song it lifts you up and takes you along with it." As for Joe, the protagonist, Wong asked, "whatever happened to Joe? Did he ever get out of prison on good behaviour?" with Kelly responding, "He seems to be like the character in some of my other songs; he's a bit like the guy in 'To Her Door'. I think he got out."[16]
Gravy Day
In the lyrics Joe wrote his letter on 21 December, which led fans to dub the day "Gravy Day".[16] A parody account on X called The Gravy Man has helped to spread the word since 2015, posting humorous profanity-laden memes about the song, including about collecting royalties for it.[17]
Cover versions
It was
Film adaptation
In October 2023, it was announced at
Reception
"How to Make Gravy" was nominated as 'Song of the Year' at the
In 2008 John Butler selected the song as his favourite Australian song of the last 20 years:
On 29 September 2012 Kelly performed "How to Make Gravy" and "Leaps and Bounds" at the 2012 AFL Grand Final although most of the performance was not broadcast on Seven Network's pre-game segment.[29] Nui Te Koha of Sunday Herald Sun declared "Kelly, an integral part of Melbourne folklore and its music scene, and a noted footy tragic, deserved his place on the Grand Final stage – which has been long overdue ... broadcaster Seven's refusal to show Kelly's performance, except the last verse of 'Leaps and Bounds', was no laughing matter".[29]
Late in December 2017 and early January 2018 the EP appeared on the ARIA Singles Chart at No. 54.[30] A year later it re-entered the top 100 at No. 37.[31]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Paul Kelly[13][32][33][34]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "How to Make Gravy" | 5:10 |
2. | "I'd Rather Go Blind (Than See You with Another Guy)" | 3:12 |
3. | "I'll Be Your Lover Now" | 3:50 |
4. | "Glory Be to God" | 2:50 |
Personnel
Paul Kelly Band members
- Stephen Hadley – bass guitar ("How to Make Gravy", "I'd Rather Go Blind Than See You with Another Guy")
- Bruce Haymes – keyboard
- Spencer P. Jones – slide guitar ("How to Make Gravy", "I'd Rather Go Blind Than See You with Another Guy", "Glory Be to God"), drawing (tomato sauce bottle on original cover art)[35]
- Paul Kelly – guitar, vocals
- Peter Luscombe – drums
- Shane O'Mara – guitar ("How to Make Gravy", "I'd Rather Go Blind Than See You with Another Guy", "I'll Be Your Lover Now")
- Bill MacDonald – bass guitar ("I'll Be Your Lover Now", "Glory Be to God")
Recording details
- Oscar Gaona – mastering
- Victor Van Vugt – mix engineer ("I'd Rather Go Blind Than See You with Another Guy", "I'll Be Your Lover Now", "Glory Be to God")
- Simon Polinski – sound engineer ("How to Make Gravy", "I'd Rather Go Blind Than See You with Another Guy"), producer ("How to Make Gravy")
- Paul Kelly – producer ("How to Make Gravy", "I'd Rather Go Blind Than See You with Another Guy", "I'll Be Your Lover Now", "Glory Be to God")
Charts
Chart (1997) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[36] | 144 |
Chart (2018–2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[37] | 34 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[38] | 4× Platinum | 280,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Country | Format | Label | Catalogue no. | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | EP | White Label | D1513 | 1996 |
United States | CD single | Vanguard (promotional release) | 740-2 | 1998 |
References
General
- ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the originalon 5 April 2004. Retrieved 9 March 2010. Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
- Nimmervoll, Ed. "Paul Kelly > Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
Specific
- ^ a b "New Releases – Product Available from: 04/11/96 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 350)". ARIA. Retrieved 13 April 2024 – via Imgur.com.
- ^ "Discography Paul Kelly". australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2010. Note: based on information supplied by ARIA.
- ^ "Everynight... Everynight". National Film and Sound Archive. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ a b Holmgren, Magnus. "Paul Kelly". Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
- ^ "Paul Kelly Past Tour Dates (March – May 1995)". Australian Music Web Site. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ McFarlane, 'Paul Kelly' entry. Archived from the original on 20 September 2004, retrieved 14 March 2010.
- ^ "1998 Music Awards Nominations". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ Blanda, Eva (2007). "Paul Kelly – Discography – Part III – Everything Else". Other People's Houses (Eva Blanda). Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-926428-22-2.
- ^ Knox, David (5 May 2022). "Warner Bros TV to adapt 'How to Make Gravy' into Christmas drama". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ Blanda, Eva (2007). "Paul Kelly – Discography – Part IIa – The Recordings of Paul Kelly as a Solo Artist". Other People's Houses (Eva Blanda). Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
- ^ "Paul Kelly – 'How to Make Gravy' Sheet Music – Product Information". Musicnotes, Inc. (Kathleen Marsh). Retrieved 29 February 2012.
- ^ Australasian Performing Right Association(APRA). Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ Kruger, Debbie (December 2002). "Paul Kelly Words Are Never Enough". APRAP (Australasian Performing Right Association). Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "The A – Z Recordings". iTunes. Apple Inc. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ a b Wong, Luke (22 December 2017). "Paul Kelly shares story behind Christmas prison song 'How to Make Gravy'". ABC News. ABC Radio Melbourne (Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)). Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ Wedesweiler, Madeleine (20 December 2023). "The internet loves 'Gravy Day'. Here's the story behind an Australian Christmas anthem". SBS News. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- ^ "James Reyne – ...And The Horse You Rode In On". Liberation Blue Acoustic series. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
- ^ "Karl Broadie Discography". Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
- ^ "Before Too Long". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
- ^ Newstead, Al (27 October 2023). "Who's gonna make the gravy? Hugo Weaving and Briggs to star in Paul Kelly inspired film". abc.net.au. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ Dalagarno, Paul (26 October 2023). "How to Make Gravy: cast named for Paul Kelly-inspired Binge film". screenhub.com.au. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ Knox, David (26 October 2023). "2024 Upfronts: Foxtel / Binge / Kayo". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ Laidlaw, Kyle (27 October 2023). "BINGE announces first original feature film HOW TO MAKE GRAVY, starring HUGO WEAVING and DANIEL HENSHALL". tvblackbox.com.au. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Awards: History: Winners by Award: Song of the Year". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "ARIA Awards: History: Winners by Award: Best Male Artist". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ Hallet, Tome. "Words & Music – Paul Kelly – Review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ Shedden, Iain (20 September 2008). "Your Songs". The Australian. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
- ^ News Corporation. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
- ^ Wallace, Ian (1 January 2018). "Week Commencing ~ 1st January 2018 ~ Issue #1453" (PDF). The ARIA Report (1453). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA): 2, 4, 11, 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Paul Kelly Discography". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ "'I'd Rather Go Blind Than See You with Another Guy' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ "'I'll Be Your Lover Now' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- Australasian Performing Right Association(APRA). Retrieved 28 March 2010.
- ^ "Everything You Need to Know About Gravy Day". Triple M. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022. Note: content in "Triple M's Paul Kelly Gravy Day Special" podcast.
- ^ "ARIA Singles Chart w/c 27-1-1997". ARIA. Retrieved 13 April 2024 – via Imgur.com.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- ^ "Feb Single Accreds 2024" (PDF). ARIA. March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.