Cook of the House
1976 single by Wings
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"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.
30 April 1976 (UK)
| "Cook of the House" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Single by Wings | ||||
| from the album Wings at the Speed of Sound | ||||
| A-side | "Silly Love Songs" | |||
| Released | 1 April 1976 (US) 30 April 1976 (UK) | |||
| Recorded | 20 January 1976 | |||
| Genre | Rock 'n' roll, rhythm and blues | |||
| Length | 2:37 | |||
| Label | MPL Communications (UK) MPL Communications/Capitol (US) | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Paul McCartney | |||
| Wings singles chronology | ||||
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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
According to The Paul McCartney Project:[13]
- Linda McCartney – lead vocals
- Paul McCartney – backing vocals, double bass, piano, mellotron
- Denny Laine – backing vocals, electric guitar
- Joe English – drums
- Howie Casey – saxophone
- Thaddeus Richard – saxophone