| "Let 'Em In" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) West German picture sleeve | ||||
| Single byWings | ||||
| from the albumWings at the Speed of Sound | ||||
| B-side | "Beware My Love" | |||
| Released | 23 July 1976 | |||
| Recorded | 4 February 1976 | |||
| Studio | Abbey Road, London | |||
| Length |
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| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter | Paul McCartney | |||
| Producer | Paul McCartney | |||
| Wings singles chronology | ||||
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| Wings at the Speed of Sound track listing | ||||
11 tracks
| ||||
"Let 'Em In" is a song byWings from their 1976 albumWings at the Speed of Sound. It was written and sung byPaul McCartney and reached the top 3 in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. It was a No. 2 hit in the UK; in the US it was a No. 3 pop hit and No. 1easy listening hit.[1][2][3] In Canada, the song was No. 3 for three weeks on the pop chart and No. 1 for three weeks on theMOR chart ofRPM magazine. The single was certified Gold by theRecording Industry Association of America for sales of over one million copies.[4] It can also be found on McCartney's 1987 compilation album,All the Best! A demo of the song, featuringDenny Laine on lead vocal, was included as a bonus track on the Archive Collection reissue ofWings at the Speed of Sound.
The song starts with the sound of a V. & E. Friedland MaestroWestminster Chimedoorbell, anelectro-mechanical doorbell with a unique "vibrato resonating" feature, before the rhythm begins.[5][6] The lyric namechecks several famous people, between friends and relatives of McCartney who, without a justified reason, knock on the door or ring the bell of his house and he exclaims "Let 'Em In". They include McCartney's paternal aunt Gin, his brotherMichael, and Linda McCartney's brother John. Phil and Don ofthe Everly Brothers are named (the duo covered "Keep A-Knockin'" on theirself-titled album), along withMartin Luther,[7] who is said to have hung his "Ninety-five Theses" on a church door, but, according to McCartney, the name here refers toMartin Luther King. An Uncle Ernie is also named, being the characterRingo Starr sang in theLondon Symphony Orchestra's recording ofthe Who'srock opera,Tommy.[8]
"Let 'Em In" is also notable for the false fade out, which, however, becomes loud for the last two notes of the song. The song makes use of thepiano,drums,brass, including atrombone solo, andwind instruments, featuringflutes, as well as backup vocals from Linda and other members of Wings.[9]
The 7-inch single version is an edit of the album version. The UK and US pressings of this edit are alike.
Cash Box said that it was a "better, more substantial tune [than 'Silly Love Songs'"] and that "McCartney's voice is at its best, and the rhythm of this one is dangerously addictive."[10]Record World said that "with a loping beat and a brisk military drum sound, this should be another chapter in McCartney's success story."[11]
The song was released worldwide as a 7" single, except inFrance where it was released as 12" single (the first-ever McCartney 12") with both sides labelled "Special Disco Mix".[12]
It was included on the compilation albumWings Greatest (1978), as well as the Paul McCartney compilation albumsAll the Best! (1987),Wingspan: Hits and History (2001) andPure McCartney (2016).
According to The Paul McCartney Project:[13]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[27] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Let 'Em In, a 1976 recording by Paul McCartney and Wings featured the sound of a Friedland Maestro during the intro.
