You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties

"You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties" is a song by English singer-songwriter Jona Lewie. It was written by Lewie and Keef Trouble,^[2] and was released as a single in 1980. The song entered the UK Singles Chart in May, reaching number 16 and staying for 11 weeks on the chart.^[3][4] The song experienced the greatest success in New Zealand, where it reached No. 3 in October for two weeks, remaining in the top 40 for 17 weeks.^[5]

"You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties"
Single by Jona Lewie
B-side	"Bureaucrats"
Released	1980
Genre	Synth-pop[1]
Length	2:41
Label	Stiff Records
Songwriter(s)	Keith Trussell, Jona Lewie
Producer(s)	Bob Andrews
Jona Lewie singles chronology
"God Bless Whoever Made You" (1979) "You'll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties" (1980) "Big Shot - Momentarily" (1980)
Music video
"You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties" on YouTube

Lewie added a new storyline ending to Trouble's lyrics. He wrote the melody on a multi-timbre polyphonic Polymoog^[6] in his home eight-track studio, and played on and recorded the backing track entirely himself, apart from bass guitar from Norman Watt-Roy^[7] and additional hi-hat percussion from Bob Andrews. It has been claimed that the female backing vocal is by Kirsty MacColl,^[8] but Lewie has confirmed that during the recording of the song they were done by the wives of producer Andrews and Dave Robinson, the owner of Stiff Records.^[9] MacColl did however appear as a backing vocalist during live performances.^[10]

In 2010, the track was used to advertise kitchens for IKEA. The advert, the full version of which ran to three minutes, features the group Man Like Me walking around a party in a house comprising only kitchens while singing a new version of the song. Lewie himself appeared as the host of the party.^[11] The song returned to the UK Singles Chart in 2010 reaching number 71.^[12]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1980)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13][14]	21
New Zealand	3
UK (Official Charts Company)	16

Year-end charts

Chart (1980)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[13]	90

References

1. Unterberger, Richie. "Various Artists – If It Ain't Stiff...A Stiff Records Collection". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
2. "You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties". www.discogs.com. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 133. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
4. "You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties The Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
5. "JONA LEWIE - YOU'LL ALWAYS FIND ME IN THE KITCHEN AT PARTIES (SONG)". Retrieved 30 December 2017.
6. "Not Just For Christmas". www.brightonsource.co.uk. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
7. "Norman Watt-Roy". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
8. "Backing Vocals". www.kirstymcccoll.com. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
9. "An Interview with Jona Lewie". www.jonalewie.com. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
10. "You'll Always Find Me in The Kitchen at Parties". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
11. "IKEA Kitchen Party". www.theinspirationroom.com. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
12. "you'll always find me in the kitchen at parties". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
13. "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". Kent Music Report. 5 January 1981. Retrieved 17 January 2022 – via Imgur.
14. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 176. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.