View source for It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah
| type       = Studio album
| artist     = [[Black Grape]]
| cover      = BlackGrape GreatWhenYoureStraightYeah.jpg
| alt        = A photo of Carlos the Jackel painted over with bright colours
| released   = {{Start date|1995|8|7|df=y}}
| recorded   = Late 1994 – early 1995
| studio     = * [[Rockfield Studios|Rockfield]] (Wales)
* Chapel (Lincolnshire)
* Boundary Row (London)
| genre      = <!-- sourced in prose -->* [[Dance-pop]]
* [[Funk|pop funk]]
| length     = 46:16
| label      = [[Radioactive Records|Radioactive]]
| producer   = * [[Danny Saber]]
* Stephen Lironi
* [[Shaun Ryder]]
| next_title = [[Stupid Stupid Stupid]]
| next_year  = 1997
| misc         = {{Singles
| name        = It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah
| type        = studio
| single1     = [[Reverend Black Grape]]
| single1date = May 1995
| single2     = In the Name of the Father
| single2date = July 1995
| single3     = Kelly's Heroes
| single3date = March 1996
}}}}
'''''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah''''' is the debut studio album by the English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Black Grape]], released on 7 August 1995 through [[Radioactive Records]]. Following the breakup of [[Happy Mondays]], frontman [[Shaun Ryder]] formed Black Grape with vocalist Paul "Kermit" Leveridge and dancer [[Bez (dancer)|Bez]]. They were put in contact with management company Nicholl and Dime, who secured the band a recording contract with Radioactive Records. After [[Demo (music)|demos]] and the band finalizing their line-up, Ryder met with producers Stephen Lironi and [[Danny Saber]]. Black Grape recorded their debut studio album in late 1994 and early 1995 at [[Rockfield Studios]] in Wales, Chapel Studios in Lincolnshire, and Boundary Row in London. ''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah'' is a [[dance-pop]] and [[Funk|pop funk]] album, with the word “straight” in its title referring to being sober from drugs.
Black Grape's existence was made public in 1995; they played a handful of shows in the United Kingdom, as well as festivals in mainland Europe. "[[Reverend Black Grape]]" was released as the [[lead single]] from ''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah'' in May 1995, followed by the second [[Single (music)|single]] "In the Name of the Father" in July 1995. A tour of the United States was planned for later in the year but was postponed due to the band members' past convictions. Kermit was diagnosed with [[sepsis]] and, as a result, had to miss performances. His role was covered by Carl "Psycho" McCarthy when the band went on a UK tour in early 1996; Bez left shortly after, citing financial disagreements. They embarked on a US tour in April 1996, which was promoted with "Kelly's Heroes", the third single from the album.
''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah'' received generally positive reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]], several of whom saw it as an update to Happy Mondays' sound and highlighted Ryder's lyricism. It topped the [[UK Albums Chart]] for two weeks and reached the top 20 in New Zealand, Scotland, and Sweden. The album went on to sell 100,000 copies in the UK, where it was certified platinum, and 600,000 copies worldwide. "Reverend Black Grape" and "In the Name of the Father" reached the top ten in both Scotland and the UK; "In the Name of the Father" reached the top 40 in the US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Alternative Airplay|Alternative Songs]] chart. "Kelly's Heroes" peaked within the top 20 in Scotland and the UK. ''It's Great When You're Straight'' appeared on album of the year and best of decade lists by ''[[Melody Maker]]'', ''[[NME]]'', and ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''.
==Background==
{{further|Yes Please!#Potential labels and break-up}}
[[Happy Mondays]] released their fourth studio album, ''[[Yes Please!]]'', in September 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/yes-please-mw0000085491|title=...Yes Please – Happy Mondays|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003075709/https://www.allmusic.com/album/yes-please-mw0000085491|url-status=live}}</ref> The band's [[record label|label]], [[Factory Records]], went into [[Administration (law)|administration]] two months later.<ref name=Spence294>Spence 2015, p. 294</ref> Their manager had secured a contract with [[EMI]]; in February 1993, the band met a representative from the label.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 299</ref> Frontman [[Shaun Ryder]] bailed on an interview with the rep; after a band meeting, where they realised it would be difficult to revive interest with the label, they decided to break up.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 300</ref><ref>Middles 1997, p. 157</ref> Following this, Ryder lived in Cheshire, left his long-term girlfriend, and started to date [[Donovan]]'s daughter, Oriole Leitch; dancer [[Bez (dancer)|Mark "Bez" Berry]] became a local celebrity around Manchester.<ref>Middles 1997, pp. 158, 160, 161</ref> Despite Ryder saying he left the music industry, he guested on an [[Intastella]] B-side.<ref>Middles 1997, pp. 161, 162</ref><ref>Warburton; Ryder 2011, p. 42</ref> Ryder formed a band with his brother, bassist [[Paul Ryder]], who would leave shortly after to start a band with his girlfriend.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 305</ref> Bez and [[Ruthless Rap Assassins]] member Paul "Kermit" Leveridge then joined Shaun Ryder's act, which was now named Black Grape.<ref name=Middles168>Middles 1997, p. 168</ref>
Ryder previously worked with Kermit when recording his vocals for ''Yes Please!'', where Kermit guested on "Cut 'Em Loose Bruce".<ref>Spence 2015, p. 285</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Yes Please!|author=[[Happy Mondays]]|year=1992|type=booklet|publisher=[[Factory Records]]|id=FACD 420}}</ref> The pair bonded while on Happy Mondays' final tour and would appear on stage with them during several performances.<ref>Verrico 1998, p. 187</ref> [[Artists and repertoire|A&R]] man [[Gary Kurfirst]], who was friends with ''Yes Please!'' producers [[Chris Frantz]] and [[Tina Weymouth]] and was aware of Happy Mondays, contacted Ryder about his future plans.<ref>Ryder 2012, pp. 306, 307</ref> He recruited Intastella bassist Martin Mittler and guitarist Martin Wright for a demo session at Drone Studios in [[Chorlton-cum-Hardy]], where they laid down versions of "Kelly's Heroes", "[[Reverend Black Grape]]", and "Yeah Yeah Brother".<ref name=Verrico190/> Ryder sent the demos to Kurfirst, who promptly flew him to the United States to sign a [[recording contract]]. John Price of [[Warner Chappell Music]] had sent an offer to Ryder after hearing the demos, but by this time Kurfirst was in talks with him. Kurfirst wanted to sign Ryder as a solo artist, though he preferred working in a band, to his label, [[Radioactive Records]], a subsidiary of [[MCA Records]], as well as control Ryder's publishing and act as his manager.<ref>Ryder 2012, p. 309</ref>
The band were put in touch with management company Nicholl and Dime, which consisted of Nik and Gloria Nicholls, by Frantz and Weymouth.<ref name=Middles168/><ref name=Verrico189>Verrico 1998, p. 189</ref> Kurfirst helped to orchestrate a signing with them; the pair, though officially [[tour manager]]s, were used to appear as the band's management to avoid looking like a conflict of interest for Kurfirst.<ref name=CMinterview>{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/voodoo-child-shaun-ryder-interviewed/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525003021/https://www.clashmusic.com/features/voodoo-child-shaun-ryder-interviewed/|title=Voodoo Child: Shaun Ryder Interviewed|work=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|author=Harper, Simon|date=12 May 2017|archive-date=25 May 2020|access-date=30 September 2022}}</ref> Nicholl and Dime paid for the band to record home demos; they were unsuccessfully shopped around to multiple labels, many of whom felt it unwise to spend money on Ryder.<ref name=Middles168/><ref name=Verrico189/> Black Grape officially signed to Radioactive Records in March 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-12-1390127|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815234335/https://www.nme.com/news/music/black-grape-12-1390127|title=Blue Monday|work=[[NME]]|date=15 December 1999|archive-date=15 August 2017|access-date=24 October 2021}}</ref> Brendan Bourke, the label's general manager, was a fan of Happy Mondays and was planned to be that band's American manager prior to them breaking up. The contract advance allowed Black Grape to buy equipment and book time in a recording studio.<ref name=Verrico189/> As the heads of Radioactive were impressed by the recordings they had up to this point, they gave Black Grape more money. Demo sessions continued into early 1994; around this time, Mittler and Wright returned to Intastella. Kermit's former bandmate and Ruthless Rap Assassins drummer [[Ged Lynch]], along with Paul "Wags" Wagstaff of [[Paris Angels]], were recruited.<ref name=Verrico190/>
==Recording==
As with Happy Mondays in their early years, Black Grape were unsure of their musical direction.<ref name=Verrico190/> Ryder told Bourke that he wished to make an album that combined the sounds of [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] group [[Cypress Hill]] and rock band [[the Rolling Stones]].<ref name=Verrico190>Verrico 1998, p. 190</ref> Bourke suggested one producer, former [[Altered Images]] member Stephen Lironi, who would help shape Black Grape's song structures.<ref name=Verrico190/> Ryder met Lironi in a London studio in June 1994 to see if they would work well together; they co-wrote "Shake Your Money" in the process.<ref>Verrico 1998, p. 190–1</ref> Bourke then suggested producer [[Danny Saber]], who worked with artists that appealed to Ryder's music taste, such as Cypress Hill, [[House of Pain]], and [[Bobby Womack]].<ref name=Verrico191/> Saber had a publishing deal with [[EMI Music Publishing]], who asked them to send him to the UK.<ref>Millar 2016, event occurs at 17:05–17</ref> Saber went to London, where he was put in touch with a member of EMI, who connected him with Shannon O'Shea.<ref>Millar 2016, event occurs at 17:29–37</ref> O'Shea had the management company SOS Management, whose clients consisted of producers, such as [[Butch Vig]].<ref>Millar 2016, event occurs at 17:37–44</ref> Someone in Black Grape's camp contacted O'Shea with the aim of getting Vig.<ref>Millar 2016, event occurs at 17:59–18:05</ref> O'Shea had worked with Saber on a couple of projects and felt he was a better fit for the band.<ref>Millar 2016, event occurs at 18:06–15</ref> Kurfirst subsequently put Ryder in contact with Saber.<ref name=PBMinterview/>
Ryder and Saber had a writing session at Battery Studios in London, where they came up with "Shake Well Before Opening".<ref>Millar 2016, event occurs at 18:20–37</ref> Bourke said that since Lironi and Saber were multi-instrumentalists, they would be key in helping form Black Grape's debut.<ref name=Verrico191>Verrico 1998, p. 191</ref> Shortly before starting the recording sessions, Saber flew to the UK again, but the label would not acquire him a [[Work permit|work visa]].<ref>Millar 2016, event occurs at 29:57–30:02</ref> His cousin was getting married; the customer service officer at the airport allowed him to stay one night for the wedding before he returned to Los Angeles, California.<ref>Millar 2016, event occurs at 30:05–20</ref> He was worried the band would start recording without him until Ryder called him and reassured him that they would wait.<ref>Millar 2016, event occurs at 30:37–50</ref> A demo session was held with Saber at Spirit Studio in Manchester, where the band and Saber wrote two songs.<ref>Ryder 2012, p. 310</ref> ''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah'' was recorded over the course of seven weeks in late 1994 and early 1995 with Saber, Lironi, and Ryder as producers.<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/><ref name=AMbio>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/black-grape-mn0000091651/biography|title=Black Grape Biography, Songs, & Albums|publisher=AllMusic|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|access-date=21 October 2021|archive-date=17 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017182918/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/black-grape-mn0000091651/biography|url-status=live}}</ref> Ryder said Lironi's involvement as a co-producer came from Radioactive wanting the album to have a rock element to it so as to avoid leaning too heavily into hip hop territory.<ref>Ryder 2012, p. 313</ref>
The sessions began at [[Rockfield Studios]] in Monmouth, Wales; they wanted to record in Ireland until they found it too expensive of a venture. At the same studio, Happy Mondays' contemporaries, [[the Stone Roses]], were working on their second and final studio album, ''[[Second Coming (The Stone Roses album)|Second Coming]]'' (1994). Black Grape would stay in pubs until late afternoon and start recording in the evenings. Across three separate sessions at Rockfield, they came up with guitar-based [[Rock music|rock]] tracks and [[Sampling (music)|sample]]-driven [[Dance music|dance]] songs.<ref name=Verrico191/> Ryder felt Saber was a perfect match with the band, adding that he gave the recordings a poppy sound, comparing them to ''[[Pin Ups]]'' by [[David Bowie]] (1973).<ref name=Verrico191/> Upon leaving Rockfield, Black Grape had finished six songs, with four more in progress.<ref name=Verrico192>Verrico 1998, p. 192</ref> Recording moved to Boundary Row in London and then to Chapel Studios in Alford, Lincolnshire, for three weeks.<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/><ref name=Verrico192/> This was done because the band were short of two songs because Kurfirst rejected material that had too much of a hip hop sound to them.<ref>Ryder 2012, p. 317</ref> Phil Auklt, Saber, Jim Spencer, and Eawn Davis acted as engineers, with additional engineering from Michael Scherchen.<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/> Saber recorded Ryder and Kermit adlibbing, which he would later add to the recordings, such as during the ending of "Little Bob".<ref>Ryder 2012, p. 316</ref> [[Tom Lord-Alge]] mixed the recordings at Encore Studios in Los Angeles before they were mastered by [[Ted Jensen]] at [[Sterling Sound]] in New York.<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/>
==Composition and lyrics==
Musically, the sound of ''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah'' has been described as [[dance-pop]] and [[Funk|pop funk]].<ref>Middles 1997, p. 173</ref><ref name=TITreview/> Author Lisa Verrico wrote in her book ''High Life 'N' Low Down Dirty: The Thrills and Spills of Shaun Ryder'' that with its "funky basslines, stuttering hip hop beats, odd noises, [[Psychedelic music|psychedelic]] effects and jubilant brass section," she dubbed it the "ultimate party album".<ref name=Verrico197/> According to Ryder, the album title refers sarcastically to being [[sobriety|free of mood-altering substances]], despite the band frequently consuming drugs during the time period.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/the-interview--shaun-ryder-pop-star-talks-to-ben-thompson-1575311.html |title=The Interview: Shaun Ryder, Pop Star Talks to Ben Thompson |first=Ben |last=Thompson |date=1 October 1995 |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-date=25 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925054537/http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/the-interview--shaun-ryder-pop-star-talks-to-ben-thompson-1575311.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Ryder 2019, p. 71</ref> Ryder compared the writing process to that of Happy Mondays' third studio album ''[[Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches]]'' (1990), which was partially written in the studio.<ref>Ryder 2019, p. 65</ref> He and Kermit would come up with lyrics by vocally sparring with each other; any lines they thought would work in a song were kept.<ref>Ryder 2019, p. 68</ref> Ryder attributed the various religious imagery across the album to [[Samuel L. Jackson]]'s character Jules in the 1994 film ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'', in the way he would recite Bible passages as well as his own [[Irish Catholics|Irish Catholic]] upbringing.<ref name=PBMinterview>{{cite web|url=https://pennyblackmusic.co.uk/Home/Details?id=24205|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830195806/https://pennyblackmusic.co.uk/Home/Details?id=24205|title=Black Grape - Interview with Shaun Ryder|publisher=Pennyblackmusic|author=Lewis, Richard|date=22 December 2016|archive-date=30 August 2022|access-date=30 August 2022}}</ref><ref>Ryder 2012, p. 311</ref> In addition to the band, other musicians contributed to the recordings: Saber with guitars, bass, keyboards, [[Hammond organ]], and programming; Anthony Guarderas with bass; Lironi with keyboards, Hammond organ, and programming; Dahni Birihani with [[sitar]]; and Michael Scherchen with [[Programming (music)|programming]].<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/>
"Reverend Black Grape" includes several references to religion; Ryder said this was unintentional and attributes this to his [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] upbringing and Kermit's [[Gospel music|gospel]] background. The pair had previously talked about how "ridiculous elements of it were, and that just came through in the lyrics organically". It also includes a reference to how Bez would socialise frequently, which the rest of Happy Mondays saw as negative.<ref>Ryder 2019, p. 66</ref> Part of its chorus section is borrowed from the hymn "[[O Come, All Ye Faithful]]".<ref name=Verrico194/> In the song's demo, instead of a harmonica, they used a [[Casio CZ synthesizers|Casio keyboard]].<ref>Millar 2016, event occurs at 26:34–40</ref> Saber suggested replacing it with a harmonica and had Bledynn Richards, who was found in a local pub, play the part.<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/><ref>Millar 2016, event occurs at 26:43–52</ref> "In the Name of the Father" alludes to Ryder leaving school at an early age and [[Neil Armstrong]] walking on the Moon.<ref>Ryder 2019, p. 69</ref> It includes additional vocals from Emma Day and Carl "Psycho" McCarthy, the latter of whom Kermit knew from the band Moss Side and would later make remixes of "Revered Black Grape".<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/><ref name=Verrico203/><ref name=Ryder329/>
Discussing "Tramazi Parti", Ryder said [[temazepam]] was the band's favourite drug around this time, which they changed the name of to avoid legal issues.<ref>Ryder 2019, p. 72</ref><ref>Ryder 2012, p. 312</ref> It features [[slide guitar]] from Lironi and a saxophone part from [[Martin Slattery]].<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/> "Kelly's Heroes" was named after the [[Kelly's Heroes|1970 film of the same name]]; in its original form, the song leaned towards hip hop in the style of [[Wu-Tang Clan]].<ref name=Ryder76/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/song-story-black-grape-on-kellys-heroes-4695|title=Song Story: Black Grape On Kelly's Heroes|work=NME|author=Cooper, Leonie|date=3 August 2016|access-date=22 October 2021|archive-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023092456/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/song-story-black-grape-on-kellys-heroes-4695|url-status=live}}</ref> The song had its origins during the last Happy Monday rehearsal session, when they met the EMI representative.<ref>Ryder 2012, p. 295</ref> Kurfirst wanted a [[Crossover music|crossover hit]], and after hearing "Kelly's Heroes", had the band add a big guitar riff to appeal to rock fans.<ref name=Ryder76>Ryder 2019, p. 76</ref> Nicholl contributed slide guitar to it.<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/> Part of its lyrics poke fun at [[celebrity culture]] as well as [[Religious perspectives on Jesus|varying perspectives of Jesus' character]]; the last few lyrics are specifically about the white Christian version of him.<ref>Ryder 2019, p. 77</ref><ref>Ryder 2012, p. 314</ref> "Yeah Yeah Brother" is about how the rest of Happy Mondays expressed wishes of never wanting to work with Ryder again and the demise of the band.<ref>Ryder 2019, p. 79</ref> Ryder wrote the song for ''Yes Please!'' but was rejected by the other members of Happy Mondays and theorised that he had "sort of ripped it off some [[reggae]] song".<ref name=Verrico190/><ref name=PBMinterview/>
"A Big Day in the North" includes backing vocals from Helen Vigneau and a sample of a piano part taken from "[[Initials B.B. (song)|Initials B.B.]]" (1968) by [[Serge Gainsbourg]].<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/black-grape-monstrous-amalgamation-genres-7309399|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206125203/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/black-grape-monstrous-amalgamation-genres-7309399|title=Black Grape are a monstrous amalgamation of genres at The Spiegeltent in Dumfries|work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|date=4 February 2016|archive-date=6 February 2016|access-date=23 October 2021}}</ref> Saber created the beat for the track, which initially had a French flavour to it; Ryder had him change it to a "northern English take" on Gainsbourg. Saber's wife spoke French, so Ryder had her translate some of its lyrics into that language, selecting the lines he felt worked best in the song.<ref>Ryder 2019, p. 80</ref> "Shake Well Before Opening" discusses violent crime in Manchester.<ref>Ryder 2019, p. 84</ref> "Submarine" talks about a person taking wrong decisions in their life; its chorus section attempts to emulate the one in "[[Fool to Cry]]" (1976) by the Rolling Stones, while the second verse borrows the melody from "[[A Day in the Life]]" (1967) by [[the Beatles]].<ref>Ryder 2019, p. 87</ref><ref name=Qreview/> It also features slide guitar from Lironi and lifts the drum beat and the guitar riff from the Rolling Stones' "[[Sympathy for the Devil]]" (1968).<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/><ref name=Selectreview/> "Shake Your Money" is about drug-dealing youths; it includes slide guitar from Nicholl and concludes with Ryder yelling expletives.<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/><ref name=Verrico198/><ref name=RSreview/> "Little Bob" includes snippets of "[[Hey Jude]]" (1968) by the Beatles, backed by soul-sounding horns and a saxophone solo from Slattery.<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/><ref name=Selectreview/>
==Release==
In early 1995, the existence of Black Grape was made public; in the two years that Ryder had been out of the public eye, the music scene across the UK had shifted.<ref name=Verrico192/> The British-led [[Britpop]] genre, for which Happy Mondays were one of the influences, replaced the American-driven [[grunge]] scene. In the process, it made [[Independent music|indie]]-focused guitar music mainstream.<ref>Spence 2015, p. 304</ref> Alongside this, the UK saw the rise of [[lad culture]] and magazines such as ''[[Loaded (magazine)|Loaded]]''.<ref name=Verrico193>Verrico 1998, p. 193</ref> After a small series of UK shows, they played a variety of UK and mainland European festivals, including [[Féile (music festival)|Féile]] and [[T in the Park]].<ref>Verrico 1998, pp. 199, 200</ref><ref>Spence 2013, p. 237</ref> The band's live line-up was augmented by Slattery and bassist Danny Williams.<ref>Ryder 2012, p. 325</ref> ''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah'' was released in the UK on 7 August 1995, and in the United States on 10 October 1995.<ref name=Borzillo28>Borzillo 1995, p. 28</ref> The cover art, made by [[Central Station Design]], is a [[pop art]] photo of [[Carlos the Jackal]]. Pat and Matt Carroll of the company liked one particular image of Carlos, though they were unaware of his terrorist activities.<ref>Harrison 1995</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musikexpress.de/reviews/black-grape-its-great-when-youre-straightyeah/|title=Black Grape: It's Great When You're Straight… Yeah (Review & Stream)|work=[[Musikexpress]]|author=Rehm, Stephan|date=5 March 2008|access-date=22 October 2021|language=de|archive-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023092457/https://www.musikexpress.de/reviews/black-grape-its-great-when-youre-straightyeah/|url-status=live}}</ref> It received criticism from the [[Anti-Defamation League]] (ADL), which was claiming the band were using it to promote him as a [[role model]] amongst a younger demographic. The band said they picked it because he was known for using a variety of disguises.<ref name=Verrico196/> The booklet includes a similarly edited photo of a younger [[Michael Jackson]], as well as an image of the band and Saber sitting on the roof of an [[amusement arcade]] in Skegness.<ref>Miles; Scott; Morgan 2016</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/music-interview-shaun-ryder-reforming-black-grape-610818|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023213530/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/music-interview-shaun-ryder-reforming-black-grape-610818|title=Music interview: Shaun Ryder on reforming Black Grape|work=[[The Yorkshire Post]]|author=((The Newsroom))|date=25 November 2016|archive-date=23 October 2021|access-date=23 October 2021}}</ref>
In October 1995, Black Grape appeared on ''[[Later... with Jools Holland]]'', where they played "In the Name of the Father", "Reverend Black Grape", and "Tramazi Parti".<ref>Middles 1997, pp. 174, 175</ref> On 23 October 1995, "In the Name of the Father" was released to [[modern rock]] radio stations in the US.<ref name=Borzillo28/> The band were preparing to tour that territory over the next two months; however, the members' past drug convictions meant that they were denied entry into the country.<ref name=AMbio/><ref name=Borzillo28/> While returning to the UK from Spain, Kermit fell ill.<ref name=Verrico203/> Upon arriving at [[Monsall Hospital]] in Manchester, he was diagnosed with [[sepsis]], which was explained at the time as drinking bad water.<ref name=AMbio/><ref name=Verrico203/><ref name=Ryder328/> Ryder recounted that it actually stemmed from a [[Needle and syringe programmes|dirty needle]].<ref name=Ryder328>Ryder 2012, p. 328</ref> Kermit went into a coma for four days and subsequently lost several stones in weight over the next few weeks. It would take him ten months to fully recover from the illness.<ref name=Verrico203/> As the band were unable to enter the US, Ryder went on holiday with his wife to various locations, including Jamaica, before landing in Cuba in December 1995.<ref name=Verrico203/><ref name=Ryder330>Ryder 2012, p. 330</ref> American journalists were invited to visit and interview the band; it went unsuccessful due to Bez missing his flight, Kermit still recovering, and Ryder falling ill after being in Jamaica.<ref name=Verrico203/><ref name=Ryder330/>
==Tours==
In February 1996, the band went on a UK tour; Kermit's role was covered by Psycho.<ref name=Verrico203>Verrico 1998, p. 203</ref> At the tour's conclusion, he joined the band on a permanent basis.<ref>Cigarettes 1996</ref> Bez departed from the band in March 1996, citing disagreements over finances with the band's label.<ref name=AMbio/><ref name=Verrico203/> Ryder and Bez had previously agreed not to repeat mistakes they had made with Happy Mondays, such as partying or spending massive amounts of money.<ref>Warburton; Ryder 2011, p. 45</ref> Bez had slowly increased his drug consumption from three [[MDMA|ecstasy]] pills a night to ten.<ref>Warburton; Ryder 2011, p. 45–6</ref> The band were also frequently spending £100 per night on the energy drink Ultrafuel for Bez, which he would give to multiple [[Sycophancy|hangers-on]]. Ryder was tired of losing the band's money through these activities and had a fight with Bez around it.<ref>Warburton; Ryder 2011, p. 46</ref> Following an assault on the Nicholls', Bez left the band.<ref>Warburton; Ryder 2011, p. 47</ref> Later in March 1996, Kermit appeared with the band for a performance on ''[[TFI Friday]]''.<ref name=Verrico204/> After seven months of delays, Ryder was granted a visa in the US with assistance from Kurfirst; the next month, they undertook a tour of the US and South America.<ref name=AMbio/><ref name=Verrico204>Verrico 1998, p. 204</ref><ref>Ryder 2012, p. 333</ref> Kermit had to miss the trek as a result of a lung infection.<ref name=RRbio>{{cite web|url=http://www.radioactive.net/BANDS/BLACKG/bio.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970615232655/http://www.radioactive.net/BANDS/BLACKG/bio.html|title=Black Grape Bio|publisher=Radioactive Records|archive-date=15 June 1997|access-date=22 October 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2015, Black Grape went on a celebratory 20th anniversary tour for ''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah''. It was reissued in 2016 and promoted with another tour that same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gigwise.com/news/108256/black-grape-shaun-ryder-remix-milky-bar-kid-new|title=Premiere: Black Grape 'Kelly's Heroes' remixed by Milky Bar Kid|work=[[Gigwise]]|author=Worthington, Daisy|date=30 September 2016|access-date=22 October 2021|archive-date=22 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022202059/https://www.gigwise.com/news/108256/black-grape-shaun-ryder-remix-milky-bar-kid-new|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Videos==
Ryder said various footage of the band shot throughout their career was left off the reissue due to all of it being recorded on various video formats that had not been transferred to a modern format.<ref name=PBMinterview/> The [[music video]]s for "Reverend Black Grape", "In the Name of the Father", and "Kelly's Heroes", the latter of which had two separate versions, were all posted to [[YouTube]] in 2017.<ref>Music videos:
* "Reverend Black Grape": {{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on5TLUz-ag4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/on5TLUz-ag4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Black Grape - Reverend Black Grape (Video)|author=BlackgrapeVevo|date=21 July 2017|via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}
* "In the Name of the Father": {{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prLFqx1fR-k |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/prLFqx1fR-k |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Black Grape - In The Name Of The Father|author=BlackgrapeVevo|date=21 July 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
* "Kelly's Heroes" (bank job version): {{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGTRKy--Iyk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/NGTRKy--Iyk |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Black Grape - Kelly's Heroes (The Bank Job Version)|author=BlackgrapeVevo|date=21 July 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
* "Kelly's Heroes" (funeral version): {{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSEkwEeRwKk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/PSEkwEeRwKk |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Black Grape - Kelly's Heroes (The Funeral Version)|author=BlackgrapeVevo|date=21 July 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
===Singles===
"Reverend Black Grape" was released as a single in May 1995, with "Straight Out of Trumpton" and a remix of "Reverend Black Grape" as its B-sides.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="Reverend Black Grape"|author=Black Grape|year=1995|type=sleeve|publisher=Radioactive Records|id=RAXTD 16}}</ref><ref name=Verrico196>Verrico 1998, p. 196</ref> It was sent to [[modern rock]] radio stations in the US in August 1996.<ref>Ross ed. 1996b, p. 1</ref> The [[music video]] for "Reverend Black Grape" was filmed in [[Ancoats]], Manchester, with some interior shots at a bar in the same city, with director [[Don Letts]]. Kurfirst selected him as he used to manage [[Big Audio Dynamite]], of which Letts was a member. Ryder took a liking to Letts because of his musical style with that band, going as far as to say that the video was highly influenced by Big Audio Dynamite in its religious imagery and cowboy atmosphere.<ref>Ryder 2012, p. 322</ref> It stars Ryder and Kermit dressed as American preachers, intended to tie in with the song's religious references.<ref name=Verrico194>Verrico 1998, p. 194</ref> The video was banned from TV airings due to part of the lyrics accusing the Pope of war crimes, which angered the Catholic Church.<ref>Verrico 1998, p. 195</ref> They performed "Reverend Black Grape" on ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' around this time.<ref>Middles 1997, p. 172</ref>
"In the Name of the Father" was released as a single in July 1995, with "Land of 1000 Karma Sutra Babes" and a remix of "In the Name of the Father" as its B-sides.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="In the Name of the Father"|author=Black Grape|year=1995|type=sleeve|publisher=Radioactive Records|id=RAXTD 19}}</ref><ref name=Verrico197>Verrico 1998, p. 197</ref> It was sent to [[mainstream rock]] and modern rock radio stations in the US in October 1995.<ref>Ross ed. 1995, p. 1</ref> The music video for "In the Name of the Father" was filmed over the course of a week in [[Ocho Rios]], Jamaica, at Letts' suggestion, who returned to direct it.<ref>Middles 1997, pp. 169, 170</ref><ref name=Ryder324>Ryder 2012, p. 324</ref> Letts portrayed the band members as [[Missionary|missionaries]], with Ryder seen floating down a river on a raft and being baptized.<ref name=Ryder324/> "Kelly's Heroes" was released as a radio single in March 1996,<ref>Ross ed. 1996a, p. 1</ref> coinciding with their US tour the following month.<ref>Borzillo 1996, p. 22</ref> Two versions were released on CD: the first with a live version of "Little Bob" and remixes of "Kelly's Heroes", while the second featured live versions of "Kelly's Heroes", "In the Name of the Father", and "Fat Neck".<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="Kelly's Heroes"|author=Black Grape|year=1995|type=sleeve|publisher=Radioactive Records|id=raxtd 22}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media notes|title="Kelly's Heroes"|author=Black Grape|year=1995|type=sleeve|publisher=Radioactive Records|id=raxxd 22}}</ref> Two music videos were filmed for "Kelly's Heroes": the first saw Bez dressed as [[Batman]] and Ryder wearing a wig, filmed in a club in London. The label did not like this one, prompting a second one to be done, revolving around a bank robbery. As Kermit was ill during this second shoot, Psycho filled his role.<ref name=Ryder329>Ryder 2012, p. 329</ref> Prior to the release of the single, a [[writ]] was issued by Intastella, who said they had partially written "Kelly's Heroes" and other songs on the album. That band had [[Music publisher|registered the material]], claiming they were owed royalties for the album and its singles.<ref>Verrico 1998, p. 200</ref> Ryder retorted that Mittler and Wright had only spent 30 minutes at most in a studio with him and settled out of court.<ref>Ryder 2012, p. 326</ref>
==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1      = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=AMreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/its-great-when-youre-straightyeah-mw0000644071|title=It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah - Black Grape {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=6 August 2011|archive-date=22 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622140808/http://www.allmusic.com/album/its-great-when-youre-straightyeah-mw0000644071|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev2      = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=Guardianreview>Sullivan 1005, p. 18</ref>
| rev3      = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>Harris 2016, p. 103</ref>
| rev4      = ''[[NME]]''
| rev4score = 10/10<ref name=NMEreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000011reviews.html|title=Black Grape – It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah|last=Kessler|first=Ted|work=NME|date=5 August 1995|access-date=14 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817222652/http://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews/19980101000011reviews.html|archive-date=17 August 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev5      = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=Qreview>Doyle 1995, p. 113</ref>
| rev6      = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=RSreview>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/cd/review.asp?aid=61449&cf=3203|title=Black Grape: It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah|last=Cohen|first=Jason|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=16 November 1995|access-date=14 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031023225106/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/cd/review.asp?aid=61449&cf=3203|archive-date=23 October 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev7      = ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]''
| rev7score = 5/5<ref name=Selectreview>Higginbotham 1995, p. 93</ref>
| rev8      = ''[[The Sun-Herald]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name=SHreview>Holmes 1995, p. 125</ref>
| rev9      = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
| rev9score = 7/10<ref>Staunton 2016, p. 47</ref>
| rev10      = ''[[Vox (magazine)|Vox]]''
| rev10score = 9/10<ref name=Voxreview>Dalton 1995</ref>
}}
''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah'' was met with generally positive reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]]. Verrico said that some reviewers saw it as an update to Happy Mondays' sound, aided by Saber's beats and Kermit's vocals.<ref name=Verrico198>Verrico 1998, p. 198</ref> ''[[Vox (magazine)|Vox]]''{{'s}} Stephen Dalton said the band "buzz with the life-affirming, innovative, fuck-you spirit of true rock'n'roll". He praised the album for mixing several styles into the band's sound,<ref name=Voxreview/> as had author [[Dave Thompson (author)|Dave Thompson]] in his book ''Alternative Rock'' (2000).<ref name=Thompson410>Thompson 2000, p. 410</ref> Ted Kessler of ''[[NME]]'' expanded on this, saying that it was a "record drenched in so many different styles and influences that it puts the recent achievements of [[Blur (band)|Blur]] and [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] in sharp perspective."<ref name=NMEreview/> [[AllMusic]]'s [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] wrote that ''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah'' omits the "stiff musicianship" that soiled Happy Mondays' work, calling it a "surreal, funky, profane, and perversely joyous album" that is "overflowing with casual eclecticism and giddy humor."<ref name=AMreview/> Chris Adams of ''Lollipop Magazine'' also praised its mix of styles: "Stylistically, this album's all over the fucking place, and like the Beatles' ''[[Revolver (Beatles album)|Revolver]]'', it's all the stronger because of it."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lollipopmagazine.com/1995/12/black-grape-its-great-when-youre-straight-yeah-review/|title=Black Grape – It's Great When You're Straight…Yeah – Review|work=Lollipop Magazine|author=Adams, Chris|date=1 December 1995|access-date=22 October 2021|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924050856/https://lollipopmagazine.com/1995/12/black-grape-its-great-when-youre-straight-yeah-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The Times]]'' writer [[Caitlin Moran]] agreed, stating that "for such an eclectic record," the results were "staggering".<ref name=TimesMoran/> ''[[The Irish Times]]'' writer Tony Clayton-Lea said it "kicked Happy Mondays into touch with a sequence of swaggering dance-pop tunes that still sound like no one else."<ref name=TITreview>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/album-reviews/reissue-of-the-week-black-grape-it-s-great-when-you-re-straight-yeah-1.2853319|title=Reissue of the Week: Black Grape – It's Great when you're Straight . . . Yeah|last=Clayton-Lea|first=Tony|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=3 November 2016|access-date=14 July 2017|archive-date=4 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104152351/http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/album-reviews/reissue-of-the-week-black-grape-it-s-great-when-you-re-straight-yeah-1.2853319|url-status=live}}</ref> Dirty Tapper of ''[[Record Collector]]'' felt that the album "seems to get bored with itself halfway through."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/great-youre-straight-yeah-deluxe-edition|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022172015/https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/great-youre-straight-yeah-deluxe-edition|title=It's Great When You're Straight… Yeah: Deluxe Edition|work=[[Record Collector]]|author=Tapper, Dirty|date=3 November 2016|archive-date=22 October 2021|access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref>
Several reviewers commented on Ryder's vocals and lyrics. ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' writer Jason Cohen wrote that Ryder's "ranting – crisply phrased if somewhat slurry – melds in vibrant harmony with Leveridge's raps, toasts and croons."<ref name=RSreview/> ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' reviewer Tom Doyle added to this, saying that Ryder's words were "still rooted in the wonderful [[John Lennon|Lennon]]esque gobbledygook of yore".<ref name=Qreview/> Erlewine thought Ryder came across as "reinvigorated, creating bizarre rhymes", and called the lyrics "freewheelingly impenetrable".<ref name=AMreview/> Adam Higginbotham of ''[[Select (magazine)|Select]]'' called the lyrics "as chaotic and hilarious as ever";<ref name=Selectreview/> Moran echoed this, saying the words were "utterly, and intentionally, giggle-inducing".<ref name=TimesMoran>Moran 1995</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' critic Caroline Sullivan wrote that Ryder was "fantastically coarse on parts of this LP, shouting, swearing and, undoubtedly, elbowing his mates as he sings".<ref name=Guardianreview/> In a retrospective review for [[Metal Hammer|Louder]], Dalton said Kermit and Ryder's "sharp lyrical skills [remain] especially striking".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/black-grape-its-great-when-youre-straight-yeah-deluxe-ed-album-review|title=Black Grape - It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah: Deluxe Ed. album review|publisher=[[Metal Hammer|Louder]]|author=Dalton, Stephen|date=21 December 2016|access-date=22 October 2021|archive-date=22 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022180100/https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/black-grape-its-great-when-youre-straight-yeah-deluxe-ed-album-review|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Times''{{'}} David Sinclair said Ryder and Kermit spar "each other in a series of loutish bawling matches, the two vocalists lead the troupe [...] although it tends to be Ryder who has the last word";<ref>Sinclair 1995</ref> ''[[The Sun-Herald]]'' writer Peter Holmes found that Ryder's "daggy Mancurian swagger is intact and as enjoyable as ever".<ref name=SHreview/>
''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'' and ''[[CMJ New Music Report]]'' reviewed it.<ref>[https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/1996-01-19/530478/ Review] at ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]''</ref><ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/1995/CMJ-New-Music-Report-1995-10-23.pdf Review] at ''[[CMJ New Music Report]]''</ref>
==Reception==
''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah'' topped the [[UK Albums Chart]] for two weeks.<ref name=UKartist/> It sold over 100,000 copies in its first month of release.<ref name=Verrico197/> The album was certified platinum by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI) the following year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/3422-591-2|title=Black Grape It's Great When You're Straight....Yeah|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|access-date=23 October 2021|archive-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023092457/https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/3422-591-2|url-status=live}}</ref> It ranked at number 41 and 100 on the 1995 and 1996 UK year-end charts, respectively.<ref name=UKYE95chart/><ref name=UKYE96chart/> It also charted at number 2 in Scotland,<ref name=Scotchart/> number 13 in Sweden, and number 20 in New Zealand.<ref name=Swechart/><ref name=NZchart/> The album sold 36,000 copies in the US; it would go on to sell over 600,000 copies worldwide.<ref>Sexton 1998, p. 14</ref><ref>Verrico 1998, p. 206</ref> "Reverend Black Grape" reached number five in Scotland and number nine in the UK.<ref name=UKartist>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/31647/black-grape/|title=Black Grape {{!}} full Official Chart History|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=23 October 2021|archive-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023092457/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/31647/black-grape/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19950604/41/ |title=Reverend Black Grape |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-date=23 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023092458/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19950604/41/ |url-status=live }}</ref> "In the Name of the Father" reached number 5 in Scotland,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19950730/41/ |title=In the Name of the Father |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=25 October 2016 |archive-date=23 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023092459/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19950730/41/ |url-status=live }}</ref> number 8 in the UK, and number 31 on the US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Alternative Airplay|Alternative Songs]] chart.<ref name=UKartist/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/287731/black-grape/chart|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924113154/http://www.billboard.com/artist/287731/black-grape/chart|title=Black Grape - Chart history|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archive-date=24 September 2016|access-date=23 October 2021}}</ref> "Kelly's Heroes" reached number 13 in Scotland and number 17 in the UK.<ref name=UKartist/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19951126/41/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603071326/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/19951126/41/ |title=Kelly's Heroes |publisher=Official Charts Company|archive-date=3 June 2020 |access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref>
''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah'' was short-listed for the 1996 [[Mercury Prize]], losing to ''[[Different Class]]'' by [[Pulp (band)|Pulp]].<ref>Sexton 1996, p. 6</ref> "Reverend Black Grape" won the 1995 ''NME'' award for [[NME Single of the Year|Single of the Year]].<ref>Middles 1997, p. 185</ref> ''Select'' ranked "In the Name of the Father" as the 35th best single of 1995.<ref>Male 1996, p. 79</ref> Ryder felt the album's success was the result of contemporary albums having a dated sound to them: "Britpop was just building to a peak, and there were so many boring guitar bands, playing their dads' type of music", making it stand out in comparison.<ref>Ryder 2012, pp. 323–4</ref> In a retrospective article on [[big beat]], Dave McGonigle of ''[[Stylus Magazine]]'' asserted that "no one exemplifies the core kudos of big beat better" than Black Grape. He explained that they had "managed to project the spirit of [[Parliament-Funkadelic|P-Funk]] firmly into the mid 90s. The partyed-up ethos of old funk and new beats was perfectly exemplified by The Grape".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/i-remember-big-beat.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009220855/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/weekly_article/i-remember-big-beat.htm|title=I Remember Big Beat|work=[[Stylus Magazine]]|author=McGonigle, Dave|date=23 May 2005|archive-date=9 October 2008|access-date=30 December 2022}}</ref>
==Track listing==
Writing credits per booklet. All recordings produced by [[Danny Saber]], Stephen Lironi, and [[Shaun Ryder]].<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet/>
{{Track listing
| total_length = 46:16
| title1       = [[Reverend Black Grape]]
| writer1      = {{hlist|Ryder|Paul "Kermit" Leveridge}}
| length1      = 5:12
| title2       = In the Name of the Father
| writer2      = {{hlist|Ryder|[[Danny Saber]]}}
| length2      = 4:21
| title3       = Tramazi Parti
| writer3      = {{hlist|Ryder|Leveridge|Lironi}}
| length3      = 4:45
| title4       = Kelly's Heroes
| writer4      = {{hlist|Ryder|Leveridge}}
| length4      = 4:22
| title5       = Yeah Yeah Brother
| writer5      = Ryder
| length5      = 4:10
| title6       = A Big Day in the North
| writer6      = {{hlist|Ryder|Saber}}
| length6      = 4:10
| title7       = Shake Well Before Opening
| writer7      = {{hlist|Ryder|Saber}}
| length7      = 5:40
| title8       = Submarine
| writer8      = {{hlist|Ryder|Leveridge}}
| length8      = 3:50
| title9       = Shake Your Money
| writer9      = {{hlist|Ryder|Lironi}}
| length9      = 4:13
| title10      = Little Bob
| writer10     = {{hlist|Ryder|Leveridge|Saber}}
| length10     = 5:33
}}
==Personnel==
Personnel per booklet.<ref name=IGWYSYbooklet>{{cite AV media notes|title=It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah|author=[[Black Grape]]|year=1995|type=booklet|publisher=[[Radioactive Records]]|id=RARSD-11224}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Black Grape'''
* [[Shaun Ryder]] – vocals
* Paul "Kermit" Leveridge – vocals
* [[Bez (dancer)|Bez]] – vibes
* Paul "Wags" Wagstaff – guitar
* [[Ged Lynch]] – drums, percussion
'''Additional musicians'''
* [[Danny Saber]] – guitars, bass, keyboards, Hammond organ, programming
* Anthony Guarderas – bass
* Stephen Lironi – keyboards, [[Hammond organ]], slide guitar <small>(tracks 3 and 8)</small>, programming
* Dahni Birihani – [[sitar]]
* Michael Scherchen – programming
* Bledynn Richards – harmonica <small>(track 1)</small>
* Emma Day – backing vocals <small>(track 2)</small>
* Carl "Psycho" McCarthy – additional vocal <small>(track 2)</small>
* [[Martin Slattery]] – saxophone <small>(tracks 3 and 10)</small>
* Nik Nicholl – slide guitar <small>(tracks 4 and 9)</small>
* Helen Vigneau – backing vocals <small>(track 6)</small>
{{col-2}}
'''Production and design'''
* Phil Ault – engineer
* Danny Saber – engineer, producer
* Jim Spencer – engineer
* Ewan Davis – engineer
* Michael Scherchen – additional engineering
* Stephen Lironi – producer
* Shaun Ryder – producer
* [[Tom Lord-Alge]] – mixing
* [[Ted Jensen]] – mastering
* [[Central Station Design|Pat Carrol]] – sleeve design
* [[Central Station Design|Matt Carrol]] – sleeve design
* [[Central Station Design]] – artwork
{{col-end}}
==Charts and certifications==
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for ''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah''
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1995)
! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position
|-
|Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref name="aus2">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/kq0M7Y9 | title=Black Grape ARIA chart history, received from ARIA in May 2024|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date=7 July 2024}}  N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref>
|align="center"|111
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|20|artist=Black Grape|album=It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah|rowheader=true|access-date=14 April 2021|refname=NZchart}}
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|2|date=19950813|rowheader=true|access-date=14 April 2021|refname=Scotchart}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|13|artist=Black Grape|album=It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah|rowheader=true|access-date=14 April 2021|refname=Swechart}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|1|date=19950813|rowheader=true|access-date=14 April 2021}}
|}
{{col-2}}
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for ''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah''
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1995)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref name=UKYE95chart>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19951231/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1995|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=14 April 2021|archive-date=11 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811214406/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19951231/37502/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 41
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1996)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref name=UKYE96chart>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19960107/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1996|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=14 April 2021|archive-date=29 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729180439/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/19960107/37502/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| 100
|}
{{col-end}}
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah''}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=It's Great When You're Straight....Yeah|artist=Black Grape|type=album|award=Platinum|id=3422-591-2}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
==See also==
* ''[[Wonderland (The Charlatans album)|Wonderland]]'' – the 2001 album by the Charlatans, which was also produced by Saber and shares a similar musical style
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Bibliography==
===Books and AV media===
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book|last=Middles|first=Mick|title=Shaun Ryder: Happy Mondays, Black Grape & Other Traumas|date=1997|publisher=Independent Music Press|location=London|isbn=1-897783-11-6}}
* {{cite book|last1=Miles|first1=Barry|last2=Scott|first2=Grant|last3=Morgan|first3=Johnny|title=The Greatest Album Covers of All Time|year=2016|publisher=[[Pavilion Books|Collins & Brown]]|isbn=978-1911163367|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UFAmEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT503|access-date=22 October 2021|archive-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023092457/https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Greatest_Album_Covers_of_All_Time/UFAmEAAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PT503|url-status=live}}
* {{cite podcast|host=Millar, Mark|title=Xs Noize Music Podcast: Shaun Ryder + Danny Saber - It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah, 21 Years on.|website=Xs Noize|date=18 September 2016|url=https://www.xsnoize.com/16-xs-noize-music-podcast-shaun-ryder-danny-saber-its-great-when-youre-straight-yeah-21-years-on/|access-date=22 October 2021|archive-date=1 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201205828/https://www.xsnoize.com/16-xs-noize-music-podcast-shaun-ryder-danny-saber-its-great-when-youre-straight-yeah-21-years-on/|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last=Ryder|first=Shaun|title=Twisting My Melon: The Autobiography|title-link=Twisting My Melon: The Autobiography|date=2012|publisher=[[Transworld Publishers|Corgi Books]]|location=London|isbn=978-0-552-16547-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Ryder|first=Shaun|title=Wrote for Luck: Selected Lyrics|date=2019|publisher=[[Faber & Faber]]|location=London|isbn=978-0-571-33093-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Spence|first=Simon|title=The Stone Roses: War and Peace|date=2013|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|location=London|isbn=978-0-241-97197-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Spence|first=Simon|title=[[Happy Mondays – Excess All Areas: A Biography]]|date=2015|publisher=[[The Quarto Group|Aurum Press]]|location=London|isbn=978-1-78131-499-9|edition=paperback}}
* {{cite book|last=Thompson|first=Dave|author-link=Dave Thompson (author)|title=Alternative Rock|series=Third Ear: The Essential Listening Companion|year=2000|publisher=[[Miller Freeman, Inc.|Miller Freeman Books]]|location=San Francisco, California|isbn=0-87930-607-6}}
* {{cite book|last1=Verrico|first=Lisa|title=High Life 'N' Low Down Dirty: The Thrills and Spills of Shaun Ryder|date=1998|publisher=[[Ebury Publishing|Ebury Press]]|location=London|isbn=0-09-185419-9}}
* {{cite book|last1=Warburton|first1=John|last2=Ryder|first2=Shaun|title=Hallelujah!: The Extraordinary Story of Shaun Ryder and Happy Mondays|date=2011|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|location=London|isbn=978-0-7535-0781-0}}
{{refend}}
===Journals and magazines===
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Borzillo|first=Carrie|title=Popular Uprisings|magazine=Billboard|date=28 October 1995|volume=107|issue=43|issn=0006-2510|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rA4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA28|access-date=22 October 2021|archive-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023092457/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rA4EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA28&pg=PA28|url-status=live}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Borzillo|first=Carrie|title=Popular Uprisings|magazine=Billboard|date=6 April 1996|volume=108|issue=14|issn=0006-2510|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tw0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22|access-date=22 October 2021|archive-date=22 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022201402/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Tw0EAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA222&pg=PA22|url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last=Cigarettes|first=Johnny|title=Off Me 'Ead, Son!|journal=NME|date=30 March 1996|issn=0028-6362}}
* {{cite journal|last=Dalton|first=Stephen|title=Reviews|journal=[[Vox (magazine)|Vox]]|date=September 1995|issn=0960-300X}}
* {{cite journal|last=Doyle|first=Tom|title=Carefree|journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|issue=108|date=September 1995|issn=0955-4955}}
* {{cite journal|last=Harris|first=John|author-link=John Harris (critic)|title=The wild bunch|journal=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|issue=277|date=December 2016|issn=1351-0193}}
* {{cite journal|last=Harrison|first=Ian|title=Posters|journal=[[Select (magazine)|Select]]|issue=65|date=November 1995|issn=0959-8367}}
* {{cite journal|last=Higginbotham|first=Adam|title=Triumph of the ill|journal=Select|issue=63|date=September 1995|issn=0959-8367}}
* {{cite journal|last=Holmes|first=Peter|title=CD Romp|journal=[[The Sun-Herald]]|date=3 September 1995|oclc=67710301}}
* {{cite journal|last=Male|first=Andrew|title=...And the Top 50 Singles of '95|journal=Select|issue=67|date=January 1996|issn=0959-8367}}
* {{cite journal|last=Moran|first=Caitlin|author-link=Caitlin Moran|title=Grape expectations are happily fulfilled|journal=[[The Times]]|date=21 July 1995|issn=0140-0460}}
* {{cite journal|editor-last=Ross|editor-first=Sean|title=Rock Highlights|journal=Rock Airplay Monitor|date=20 October 1995|volume=2|issue=43|oclc=60627318|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Rock-Airplay/1995/Airplay-Monitor-Rock-1995-10-20.pdf}}
* {{cite journal|editor-last=Ross|editor-first=Sean|title=Modern Rock|journal=Rock Airplay Monitor|date=8 March 1996a|volume=3|issue=11|oclc=60627318|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Rock-Airplay/1996/Airplay-Monitor-Rock-1996-03-08.pdf}}
* {{cite journal|editor-last=Ross|editor-first=Sean|title=Modern|journal=Rock Airplay Monitor|date=2 August 1996b|volume=3|issue=32|oclc=60627318|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Rock-Airplay/1996/Airplay-Monitor-Rock-1996-08-02.pdf}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Sexton|first=Paul|title=Mercury Noms Show Great Depth Of Acts|magazine=Billboard|date=3 August 1996|volume=108|issue=31|issn=0006-2510|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wwcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4|access-date=22 October 2021|archive-date=23 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023092458/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=wwcEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA4&pg=PA4|url-status=live}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Sexton|first=Paul|title=Black Grape Rift Won't Sour Release Plan|magazine=Billboard|date=24 January 1998|volume=110|issue=4|issn=0006-2510|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nA0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14}}
* {{cite journal|last=Sinclair|first=David|title=Pop Album|journal=The Times|date=5 August 1995|issn=0140-0460}}
* {{cite journal|last=Staunton|first=Terry|title=Black Grape: It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah|journal=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]|issue=235|date=December 2016|issn=1368-0722}}
* {{cite journal|last=Sullivan|first=Caroline|title=CD of the week: Black Grape|journal=[[The Guardian]]|date=11 August 1995|issn=0261-3077}}
{{refend}}
==Further reading==
*{{cite book|title=A Brief History of Album Covers|first=Jason|last=Draper|publisher=[[Flame Tree Publishing]]|location=London|year=2008|pages=324–325|isbn=9781847862112|oclc=227198538}}
==External links==
<!-- These are licensed streams for the album, which are allowed under Wikipedia polices -->
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kD7anQ31UB9UYVvQ2U2nsDVxTu4c0Yeog ''It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah''] (deluxe) at [[YouTube]] (streamed copy where licensed)
* {{discogs master|99844}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1995 debut albums]]
[[Category:Black Grape albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Stephen Lironi]]
[[Category:Radioactive Records albums]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Carlos the Jackal]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Danny Saber]]