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"Mrs Vandebilt" is a song by Paul McCartney & Wings from the album Band on the Run. The track was not issued as a single in the UK or US, but was a single in Continental Europe and Australia.


Writing and recording[]

The opening lines of the song are taken from the catchphrase of English music hall performer Charlie Chester. Chester's catchphrase was "Down in the jungle living in a tent, better than a bungalow, no rent"; the lyrics changed this to "Down in the jungle living in a tent, You don't use money you don't pay rent".

Howie Casey is featured with a saxophone solo.

The song was recorded during the album sessions in LagosNigeria. The studio suffered a power outage during the session, but the recording continued with backup generators. Additional overdubs were later done in London.[3]

[edit]Live[]

McCartney had not played the song live until a 2008 free concert in Kiev, on account of it receiving the most requests in a web poll.[4] McCartney played the song in his concert for Quebec City, and then at Hayarkon Park in Tel Aviv, Israel, on 25 September 2008, his first show in Israel. He seems to have made it a permanent addition to his setlist, as he also performed the song in Halifax, the first show of his 2009 summer tour, as well as in his three July 2009 performances at the Citi Field in New York City. In addition, the song was featured in his Up and Coming Tour in 2010, and throughout the opening weekend of his On the Run Tour, which commenced at Yankee Stadium 15 and 16 July 2011.

Various elements from the song, such as the lyrics "ho, hey ho", were sampled in the track "Ho' Is Short for Honey" on 88-Keys' 2008 album, The Death of Adam.

[edit]Personnel[]

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