Mrs. Vandebilt

Album This song officially appears on the Band On The Run (UK version) Official album.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1973

Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions




"Band On The Run" sessions #3

Late October / Early November 1973


Related interviews


Paul's fun on the run

Dec 08, 1973 • From Disc and Music Echo


Impossible Fan Q&A - Four Extra Questions

Dec 29, 2014 • From paulmccartney.com


You Gave Me The Answer (2016)

2016 • From paulmccartney.com


Spread the love! If you like what you are seeing, share it on social networks and let others know about The Paul McCartney Project.

Song facts

From Wikipedia:

“Mrs. Vandebilt” is a song by the British–American rock band Paul McCartney and 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 subsequently changed 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 Lagos, Nigeria. The studio suffered a power outage during the session, but the recording continued with backup generators. Additional overdubs were later done in London.

The forced laughter that closed “Mrs Vandebilt” was influenced by Charlie Chester’s effects on his studio audience. Wings added more laughter in London’s AIR Studios after returning from Lagos, Nigeria. McCartney recalled: “The laughing? It started off in Africa. We were doing sort of daft laughs at the end. When we got back we eventually overdubbed this crowd of people who were laughing. It was great listening to the tapes, trying to select the little bit of laughter that we would use. Most of it was us, but we need a little bit to cushion it up. It was great listening to a roomful of people laughing in stereo. They were getting into all these laughing bits, and we were on the floor.”

Live performances

McCartney had not played the song live until a free concert on 14 June 2008 in Kyiv, Ukraine, on account of it receiving the most requests in a web poll. 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. It became a fixture in 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, his On the Run Tour in 2011-12, and most of his Out There Tour in 2013. It was dropped for the performances in Japan at the end of the latter tour in November 2013. […] […]

This was recorded during a power cut in Lagos. Suddenly everything went black, and eventually, we found ourselves doing it on EMI generator power, and just hoping the hum wouldn’t come over on the record. There’s a phrase on this track that is also on a song I wrote for Rod Stewart, one he’s just recorded. It fitted so well into this one, too, that I pinched it! So the phrase is in both songs.

Paul McCartney – From interview with Disc Magazine, 1973

Last updated on March 19, 2022

The book "The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present", published in 2021, covers Paul McCartney's early Liverpool days, the Beatles, Wings, and solo careers, by pairing the lyrics of 154 of his songs with first-person commentaries of the circumstances in which they were written, the people and places that inspired them, and what he thinks of them now.

"Mrs. Vandebilt" is one of the 154 songs covered.

Lyrics

Down in the jungle living in a tent
You don't use money you don't pay rent
You don't ever know the time
But you don't mind

Ho Hey Ho . . .

When your light is on the blink
You never think of worrying
What's the use of worrying?
When your bus has left the stop
You'd better drop your hurrying
What's the use of hurrying?
Leave me alone Mrs Vandebilt
I've got plenty of time of my own
What's the use of worrying?
What's the use of hurrying?
What's the use of anything?

Ho Hey Ho . . .

What's the use of worrying?
What's the use of hurrying?
What's the use of anything?

Ho Hey Ho . . .

When your pile is on the wane
You don't complain of robbery
Run away don't bother me
What's the use of worrying?
What's the use of anything?
Leave me alone Mrs. Washington
I've done plenty of time on my own

What's the use of worrying?
What's the use of hurrying? (no use!)
What's the use of anything?

Ho Hey Ho...

Officially appears on


Band On The Run (US version)

Official album • Released in 1973

4:41 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Percussion (?), Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion (?)
Howie Casey :
Sax
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Late October / Early November 1973
Studio :
Kingsway Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Band On The Run (UK version)

Official album • Released in 1973

4:41 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Percussion (?), Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion (?)
Howie Casey :
Sax
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Late October / Early November 1973
Studio :
Kingsway Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Band On The Run (1993)

Official album • Released in 1993

4:41 • Studio versionA1993 • 1993 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Percussion (?), Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion (?)
Howie Casey :
Sax
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant engineer
Peter Mew :
Remastering

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Late October / Early November 1973
Studio :
Kingsway Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Band On The Run (DTS 5.1)

Official album • Released in 1996

4:41 • Studio versionB • DTS Mix / Quadraphonic version

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Percussion (?), Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion (?)
Howie Casey :
Sax
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant engineer

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Early 1974
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Band On The Run (25th Anniversary)

Official album • Released in 1999

4:41 • Studio versionA1999 • 1999 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Percussion (?), Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion (?)
Howie Casey :
Sax
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer, Remastering
Monday :
Assistant engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant engineer
Greg Calbi :
Remastering

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Late October / Early November 1973
Studio :
Kingsway Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Good Evening New York City

Official live • Released in 2009

4:40 • LiveL1 • Could have been record on 17, 18 or 21 July 2009

Paul McCartney :
Executive producer
Performed by :
Paul McCartneyRusty AndersonAbe Laboriel Jr.Paul WickensBrian Ray
Geoff Emerick :
Audio mixing
Paul Hicks :
Audio mixing
Jonas Westling :
Additional engineering
Richard Lancaster :
Additional engineering
John Henry :
Recording engineer

Concert From the concert in New York, USA on Jul 17, 2009


Band On The Run - Archive Collection

Official album • Released in 2010

4:41 • Studio versionA2010 • 2010 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Percussion (?), Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion (?)
Howie Casey :
Sax
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant engineer
Steve Rooke :
Remastering
Simon Gibson :
Remastering
Sam Okell :
Remastering

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Late October / Early November 1973
Studio :
Kingsway Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Pure McCartney

Official album • Released in 2016

4:41 • Studio versionA2010 • 2010 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Percussion (?), Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion (?)
Howie Casey :
Sax
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant engineer
Steve Rooke :
Remastering
Simon Gibson :
Remastering
Sam Okell :
Remastering

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Late October / Early November 1973
Studio :
Kingsway Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Pure McCartney (Deluxe)

Official album • Released in 2016

4:41 • Studio versionA2010 • 2010 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Percussion (?), Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion (?)
Howie Casey :
Sax
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant engineer
Steve Rooke :
Remastering
Simon Gibson :
Remastering
Sam Okell :
Remastering

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Late October / Early November 1973
Studio :
Kingsway Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Band On The Run (Limited White LP)

Official album • Released in 2017

4:41 • Studio versionA2010

Paul McCartney :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Percussion (?), Producer, Vocals
Linda McCartney :
Backing vocals, Keyboards
Denny Laine :
Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Electric guitar (?), Percussion (?)
Howie Casey :
Sax
Geoff Emerick :
Mixing engineer, Recording engineer
Monday :
Assistant engineer
Pete Swettenham :
Assistant engineer
Steve Rooke :
Remastering
Simon Gibson :
Remastering
Sam Okell :
Remastering

Session Recording:
September 1-23, 1973
Studio :
EMI Studios, Lagos, Nigeria

Session Overdubs:
October 1973
Studio :
AIR Studios, London, UK

Session Mixing:
Late October / Early November 1973
Studio :
Kingsway Studios, London, UK

Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon


Bootlegs


MoMac's Hidden Tracks Vol. 5

Unofficial album

4:42 • Studio version





Together On Stage: "Adopt-A-Minefield"

Unofficial live • Released in 2001

1:40 • Radio show • "Wingspan Memorial Day Special"


Live performances

“Mrs. Vandebilt” has been played in 122 concerts and 16 soundchecks.

Latest concerts where Mrs. Vandebilt has been played


Paul McCartney in Casual Conversation from LIPA

Jul 25, 2018 • United Kingdom • Liverpool • Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts




Outside Lands Festival

Aug 09, 2013 • Part of Out There Tour



Going further


Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989

With 25 albums of pop music, 5 of classical – a total of around 500 songs – released over the course of more than half a century, Paul McCartney's career, on his own and with Wings, boasts an incredible catalogue that's always striving to free itself from the shadow of The Beatles. The stories behind the songs, demos and studio recordings, unreleased tracks, recording dates, musicians, live performances and tours, covers, events: Music Is Ideas Volume 1 traces McCartney's post-Beatles output from 1970 to 1989 in the form of 346 song sheets, filled with details of the recordings and stories behind the sessions. Accompanied by photos, and drawing on interviews and contemporary reviews, this reference book draws the portrait of a musical craftsman who has elevated popular song to an art-form.

Shop on Amazon

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musicman707 2 years ago

Who does Mrs. Vandebilt refer to? Is this about a real person?


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