Paul Kelly, How to make gravy

Paul Kelly, How to make gravy

How to make gravy is based on a concert which goes for four days, where Paul Kelly sings his songs from A to Z. The book is an adjunct to this with memoirs around each song. For me 'How to make gravy' was rather nostalgic, much of the music was familiar, released during my teens and beyond.
Song writing
If you are a budding song writer, poet or writer then this book is an excellent primer. Much of the book was taken up with the location and circumstances of how a song was written, often describing the agony of birth getting the right words for a song. What amazed me was the often spontaneousness of a song yet on other times the literal years a song takes to write. Hardly ever was a song written the same time every time. One of the constant themes that came out was there is not that many original ideas out there. Usually just reworked old ideas.
Drugs
One of the early confessions in the book was Paul Kelly's admission of drug use. It rattled me a bit. Paul Kelly has been one of my hero's so the writing about his drug usage tarnished his reputation for me a bit. But it gave me an understanding of drug use and how people can go down that slide. It was interesting also how it distorts reality. All up it was an honest admission which was part of Kelly's past and makes up a large part of him. I suppose there is a lot of people who have drug habits that you don't know about. Usually the prescription type.
Australian place and culture
One of the reasons that I identify with Paul Kelly is his Australian imagery. Many of the places and experiences that he sings about are things which I've experienced. 'Summer rain', the smell of the Australian bush when it rains in summer and that beautiful smell for example. Places, people and history which I can identify with. Australian Cricket hero's, injustice done to aboriginals who were the original owners of the land. In some way it makes me connected to the book.
repetitiveness of tours
Often written about in the book is the tours. There is a certain monotony that come out; the bus, the camaraderie on board, sound checks at the next venue and then moving on. I got the impression that the tour was enlightening with new experience and places yet filled with dread with the distance from routine and loved ones.
Family
I enjoyed how Kelly looked at his past, his family. There was a richness which he knows of his roots which most people don't have any knowledge of. His Catholic upbringing merged with Irish and Italian roots and how it has permeated most of his life, makes for fascinating reading. As well as an understanding of his angle on the songs he writes.
Overall if you have an interest in music and song writing you wont be disappointed. If you enjoy Paul Kelly's music you will love it.