Cook of the House
- Side one
- "Let 'Em In"
- "The Note You Never Wrote"
- "She's My Baby"
- "Beware My Love"
- "Wino Junko"
- Side two
- "Silly Love Songs"
- "Cook of the House"
- "Time to Hide"
- "Must Do Something About It"
- "San Ferry Anne"
- "Warm and Beautiful"
"Cook of the House" is a song written by Paul and Linda McCartney that was first released on Wings' 1976 album Wings at the Speed of Sound. It was also released as the B-side to the number 1 single "Silly Love Songs." The song was included on Linda McCartney's posthumous 1998 solo album Wide Prairie.
Music and lyrics
"Cook of the House" is a "1950s-style rock 'n' roll song."[1] Linda McCartney sings the lead vocal, her first lead vocal performance for Wings.[2] Paul McCartney plays the same double bass Bill Black played on Elvis Presley songs.[3] Other musicians on the song are Denny Laine and Jimmy McCulloch on guitar and Joe English on drums.[3] Either Thaddeus Richard or Howie Casey plays saxophone.[3] The song opens with the sound of bacon and chips frying in the key of E-flat.[2][4] This sound effect is the only part of the song recorded in stereo; most of the track is in mono to enhance the retro feel.[2][3]
"Cook of the House" was inspired during the McCartneys' stay at a rented house in Australia during their 1975 tour, and was written in November of that year.[2][3] A plaque in the kitchen stated "Wherever I serve my guests, they like my kitchen best," which inspired some of the lyrics.[3] Most of the remaining lyrics came from the McCartneys looking at the food in the kitchen and listing the items in the song.[3]
The song was most likely recorded on 20 January 1976.[2]
Reception
"Cook of the House" was largely panned by critics.[1] Rolling Stone called the song a "celebration of scatterbrained wife-in-the-kitchen coziness."[5] Authors Chip Madinger and Mark Easter claim that Paul McCartney's double bass playing is the song's only redeeming value.[2] Author Robert Rodriguez calls it an "embarrassment," and author Tim Riley calls it a "feminist's nightmare."[5][6] Paul McCartney biographer Howard Sounes praised the song's production values but called it a "weak song" which was not sung well.[7] Entertainment Weekly described it as a "simpleminded domestic anthem" and claimed it was "genuinely terrible."[8] On the other hand, Wings' guitarist Jimmy McCulloch was happy for Linda's lead vocal opportunity and considered the song a "tribute to her talent of whipping up a meal in no time."[8] Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine found the song charming, though acknowledging that it is "awkwardly sung."[9] Paul McCartney biographer Chris Welch called it "one of the most popular items" on Wings at the Speed of Sound.[10]
Other appearances
"Cook of the House" appeared as the B-side of Wings' 1976 single "Silly Love Songs."[3] That represented the second time a singer other than Paul McCartney sang the lead vocal on a Wings' single, the first being Denny Laine's vocal on "I Lie Around," the B-side to "Live and Let Die."[8] Linda also sang "Cook of the House" live on Wings' 1979 UK tour.[2][8] "Cook of the House" was included on Linda McCartney's 1998 posthumous solo album Wide Prairie.[11] The Eastmans covered "Cook of the House" on Love in Song: An Atlanta Tribute to Sir Paul McCartney.[12]
Personnel
- Linda McCartney – lead vocals, piano
- Paul McCartney – double bass
- Denny Laine – electric guitar
- Jimmy McCulloch – electric guitar
- Joe English – drums
- Howie Casey – saxophone
- Thaddeus Richard – saxophone
References
- ^ a b Benitez, V.P. (2010). The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years. Praeger. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-313-34969-0.
- ^ a b c d e f g Madinger, C.; Easter, M. (2000). Eight Arms to Hold You. 44.1 Productions. pp. 215, 254. ISBN 0-615-11724-4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Blaney, J. (2007). Lennon and McCartney: together alone: a critical discography of their solo work. Jawbone Press. pp. 113–115. ISBN 978-1-906002-02-2.
- ^ Fong-Torres, B. (1999). Not Fade Away: A Backstage Pass to 20 Years of Rock & Roll. Hal Leonard. pp. 236–237. ISBN 9780879305901.
- ^ a b Rodriguez, R. (2010). Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years 1970–1980. Hal Leonard. p. 216. ISBN 978-0-87930-968-8.
- ^ Riley, T. (2002). Tell Me Why. Da Capo. p. 359. ISBN 9780306811203.
- ^ Sounes, H. (2010). Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney. Random House. p. 327. ISBN 9780385667036.
- ^ a b c d McGee, G. (2003). Band on the Run. Taylor Trade. pp. 91, 131, 152, 178, 201. ISBN 0878333045.
- ^ Erlewine, S.T. "Wings at the Speed of Sound". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ Welch, C. (1984). Paul McCartney: the definitive biography. Proteus. p. 106. ISBN 9780862761257.
- ^ Erlewine, S.T. "Wide Prairie". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- ^ "Love in Song: An Atlanta Tribute to Sir Paul McCartney". Allmusic. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
- v
- t
- e
- Wild Life (1971)
- Red Rose Speedway (1973)
- Band on the Run (1973)
- Venus and Mars (1975)
- Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976)
- London Town (1978)
- Back to the Egg (1979)
- Wings over America (1976)
- Wings over Europe (2018)
- One Hand Clapping (2024)
- Wings Greatest (1978)
- Cold Cuts (unreleased)
- Wingspan: Hits and History (2001)
- "Give Ireland Back to the Irish"
- "Mary Had a Little Lamb" / "Little Woman Love"
- "Hi, Hi, Hi" / "C Moon"
- "My Love"
- "Live and Let Die" / "I Lie Around"
- "Helen Wheels" / "Country Dreamer"
- "Mrs. Vandebilt" / "Bluebird"
- "Jet" / "Mamunia"
- "Let Me Roll It"
- "Band on the Run" / "Zoo Gang"
- "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five"
- "Junior's Farm" / "Sally G"
- "Listen to What the Man Said" / "Love in Song"
- "Letting Go" / "You Gave Me the Answer"
- "Venus and Mars"/"Rock Show" / "Magneto and Titanium Man"
- "Silly Love Songs" / "Cook of the House"
- "Let 'Em In" / "Beware My Love"
- "Maybe I'm Amazed" / "Soily"
- "Seaside Woman"
- "Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School"
- "With a Little Luck" / "Backwards Traveller"/"Cuff Link"
- "I've Had Enough" / "Deliver Your Children"
- "London Town" / "I'm Carrying"
- "Goodnight Tonight" / "Daytime Nighttime Suffering"
- "Old Siam, Sir"
- "Getting Closer"
- "Arrow Through Me" / "Old Siam, Sir"
- "Rockestra Theme"
- "Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)"
- "Mama's Little Girl"
- "Big Barn Bed"
- "Little Lamb Dragonfly"
- "No Words"
- "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)"
- "Call Me Back Again"
- "She's My Baby"
- "Must Do Something About It"
- "Warm and Beautiful"
- "Girlfriend"
- Wings University Tour (1972)
- Wings Over Europe Tour (1972)
- Wings 1973 UK Tour (May 1973)
- Wings Over the World tour (1975-1976)
- Wings UK Tour 1979 (1979)
- Wings Over the World (1979)
- Concert for Kampuchea (1980)
- Rockshow (1980)
- Back to the Egg (1981)
- Wingspan – An Intimate Portrait (2001)
- 1972 Wings Tour Bus
- Discography
- Songs
- McGear
- Concerts for the People of Kampuchea (album)
- Japanese Tears
- Standard Time
- Suzy and the Red Stripes
- The Oriental Nightfish
- Wide Prairie