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How to Make Gravy

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( 908 ratings, 129 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
How to Make Gravy by Paul Kelly is a captivating memoir that weaves together stories from the musician's life with insights into the creative process behind his songwriting. Through personal anecdotes, Kelly reflects on his journey, his influences, and the events that have shaped his music. The book offers a behind-the-scenes look at his career and provides an intimate portrait of one of Australia's most beloved artists.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are captivated by the intricate blend of music and storytelling. The author shares rich tales from his life and career in the music industry, offering insights into the creative process, personal anecdotes, and reflections that resonate with fans of music and memoir enthusiasts alike.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

This extraordinary best-selling book had its genesis in a series of concerts first staged in 2004. Over four nights, Paul Kelly performed, in alphabetical order, 100 of his songs from the previous three decades. In between songs, he told stories about them, and from those little tales grew How to Make Gravy, a memoir like no other.

Each of its hundred chapters, also in alphabetical order by song title, consists of lyrics followed by a story, the nature of the latter taking its cue from the former. Some pieces are confessional, some tell Kelly's personal and family history, some take you on a road tour with the band, some form an idiosyncratic history of popular music, some are like small essays, some stand as a kind of how-to of the songwriter's artβ€”from the point of inspiration to writing, honing, collaborating, performing, recording, and reworking.

Paul Kelly is a born storyteller. Give him two verses with a chorus or 550 pages, but he won't waste a word. How to Make Gravy is a long volume that's as tight as a three-piece band.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

How to Make Gravy by Paul Kelly has been praised for its engaging storytelling and unique structure. Reviewers frequently highlight the blend of memoir and song lyrics, appreciating the personal anecdotes and insights into the music industry. Kelly's vivid writing and evocative reflections on his life and career resonate with both fans and newcomers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781926428277

Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 October 2011

Country: Australia

Imprint: Hamish Hamilton

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 43.0mm

Width: 155.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 749g

Pages: 576

About the Author

Paul Kelly is recognised as one of the most significant singer/songwriters in the country. As well as issuing an enduring body of work both solo and with his bands, including The Dots, The Coloured Girls and The Messengers, Kelly has written film scores (Lantana and Jindabyne), and produced albums for and written songs with some of Australia and New Zealand's finest artists. His prose has appeared in Meanjin, The Monthly, Rolling Stone and The Age, and his first book, How To Make Gravy, was published in 2010. He was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 1997 and had two songs included in the Australasian Performing Rights Association's (APRA) 2001 list of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time -- 'To Her Door' and 'Treaty' (written with Yothu Yindi). His hits also include 'Dumb Things' and the classic 'From Little Things Big Things Grow' (with Kev Carmody). His most recent album was 2012's Spring And Fall. In 2011 Paul Kelly received the Ted Albert Award For Outstanding Services to Australian Music at the APRA Music Awards. Paul Kelly lives in St Kilda, Melbourne. Visit Paul online at paulkelly.com.au Follow Paul Kelly's How to Make Gravy tour on Tumblr

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