Let 'Em In
"Let 'Em In" is a song written and performed by Paul McCartney with his band Wings, released as a single on July 23, 1976, from their fifth studio album Wings at the Speed of Sound.[1] The track features a lighthearted pop arrangement built around a knocking rhythm and doorbell sound effects, with lyrics depicting various friends, family members, and celebrities arriving at the door.[2] It became a major hit, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the UK Singles Chart, while topping the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[3][4][2] The song was recorded on February 4, 1976, at Abbey Road Studios in London during sessions for Wings at the Speed of Sound, which was itself recorded live in the studio to capture the band's energy amid their ongoing world tour.[5] McCartney drew inspiration for the lyrics from everyday scenarios and personal connections, creating a whimsical roll call of figures including the Everly Brothers (Phil and Don), his brother Michael, and others that resonated with fans.[1] Notably, lines mentioning "Sister Suzie" and "Brother John" later proved prescient, as they coincidentally aligned with the names of his future wife Nancy Shevell's sister Suzie and brother Jon, whom he married in 2011.[1] "Let 'Em In" was backed by "Beware My Love" on its single release and contributed to the album's commercial success, helping Wings at the Speed of Sound reach number one in both the US and UK.[1] The song's upbeat, accessible style exemplified Wings' shift toward polished pop-rock in the mid-1970s, blending McCartney's melodic gifts with the band's tight instrumentation.[6] It has endured as a staple in McCartney's catalog, performed during his 1989-1990 World Tour and featured in various compilations, underscoring its lasting appeal as a feel-good anthem.[5]Background and Composition
Songwriting and Inspiration
"Let 'Em In" was composed in late 1975 by Paul McCartney in collaboration with his wife Linda McCartney, at their St. John's Wood home in London following Wings' tour.[7] The song emerged amid the band's busy schedule, reflecting McCartney's practice of writing on the road to capture spontaneous ideas. Credited jointly to Paul and Linda, it incorporated contributions from bandmate Denny Laine and even their housekeeper Rose Martin, who suggested the names "Susie and John" during an informal session at their St. John's Wood home.[2] McCartney drew inspiration for the track from a simple, welcoming party theme that evokes childhood simplicity and joy. As McCartney later described, "It sort of said: let’s have a party, why keep ’em outside?"—emphasizing themes of openness and hospitality.[8] The lyrics playfully depict various friends and family members knocking at the door, symbolizing social invitation and inclusivity, with specific references to real-life figures like "Phil and Don" (the Everly Brothers, longtime friends of McCartney), "Martin Luther" (likely alluding to Martin Luther King Jr.), and "Uncle Ernie" (the character from The Who's rock opera Tommy, portrayed by Keith Moon). Other mentions include "Sister Suzie" (a nickname for Linda McCartney) and "Auntie Gin" (Paul's aunt), blending personal connections with cultural nods to create a lighthearted roll call.[2]Recording and Personnel
The recording of "Let 'Em In" took place at EMI Studios (now Abbey Road Studios) in London, during a break in Wings' ongoing world tour, with principal sessions occurring on 3 February 1976 and overdubs the following day.[9][10] The track was produced by Paul McCartney, who handled the majority of creative and technical decisions for the album Wings at the Speed of Sound.[11] Engineering duties were led by Pete Henderson, capturing the band's live energy in the studio.[12] The core lineup of Wings performed the song, emphasizing a collaborative, live-band approach with minimal overdubs to maintain its rhythmic drive. Paul McCartney provided lead vocals, bass guitar, piano, and bells, while also contributing percussion elements.[13] Linda McCartney added keyboards and backing vocals, Denny Laine handled guitar and backing vocals, Jimmy McCulloch played guitar and contributed backing vocals, and Joe English managed drums and backing vocals.[13] No additional session musicians were involved in the track, distinguishing it from other album cuts that featured guest horn players like Howie Casey on saxophone and flute.[13] A notable production detail was the introductory doorbell chime, created using an old doorbell sourced from a junk shop, which McCartney integrated as a percussive motif to echo the song's lyrical theme of arrivals.[5] The full album, including this track, was completed in approximately five weeks of intensive sessions from early January to early February 1976, allowing Wings to refine their sound efficiently before resuming their tour.[7]Musical Elements
Structure and Lyrics
"Let 'Em In" employs a classic verse-chorus form typical of mid-1970s pop-soul, opening with an instrumental intro featuring simulated knocking and doorbell sounds that establish the theme of arrival. The structure includes two verses, each followed by a pre-chorus buildup, a repeating chorus centered on the titular hook, a bridge that introduces a slight harmonic shift, and a fade-out repetition of the chorus for closure. This arrangement builds a sense of accumulating guests, mirroring the lyrical content, with the song clocking in at approximately 5 minutes and 10 seconds.[2] The song is composed in B-flat major, providing a bright, welcoming tonality that complements its hospitable theme. It maintains a moderate tempo of 88 beats per minute, driven by a soul-influenced groove featuring steady piano bass lines and rhythmic brass accents.[14] Harmonically, the verses rely on a straightforward I-IV-V progression in B-flat major—primarily B♭, E♭/B♭, and F/B♭ chords—creating a simple, repetitive foundation that emphasizes the narrative flow. The chorus introduces a call-and-response dynamic between McCartney's lead vocals and backing harmonies, with the progression tightening to reinforce the hook's catchiness, occasionally dipping to E♭m/B♭ for subtle tension before resolving. This elemental harmonic language underscores the song's accessible, feel-good appeal without complex modulations.[15] For lyrics, the structure revolves around a repetitive chorus hook—"Let 'em in, let 'em in"—that serves as the song's emotional core, repeated four times per instance to drive home the invitation. The verses function as a roll call, with the first listing everyday sounds of visitors and the second enumerating an eclectic mix of names including family members (Brother John, Sister Suzy), cultural icons (Phil and Don, referencing the Everly Brothers), and historical figures (Martin Luther, likely alluding to Martin Luther King Jr.), alongside personal nods like Brother Michael, Auntie Gin, Uncle Ernie, and Uncle Ian. This listing technique creates a rhythmic, chant-like quality, blending humor with familiarity.[2] Interpretively, the lyrics explore themes of hospitality and inclusivity, portraying the act of opening one's door as a metaphor for embracing diverse influences and acquaintances in life. The humorous inclusions of figures like "the milkman" and "the garbage man" alongside celebrities add lighthearted social commentary on equality and community, without delving into allegory, instead celebrating a casual, welcoming ethos influenced by soul traditions. McCartney has described the song as a simple expression of openness, drawing from everyday interactions rather than deeper narrative intent.[2]Production Techniques
The production of "Let 'Em In" emphasized a lively, collaborative studio environment to capture the band's live energy, recorded during a brief session on 4 February 1976 at Abbey Road Studios in London.[10] Paul McCartney handled production duties, focusing on a democratic approach that highlighted contributions from all Wings members, resulting in a track that blended pop accessibility with rhythmic drive. The intro innovatively integrates a doorbell chime sound effect to set the theme of arrival, followed by percussive knocking elements that simulate door taps, amplified for emphasis and providing a playful, percussive foundation to the rhythm section.[10] Vocals were layered using multitrack recording techniques, with Paul McCartney on lead and backing vocals, joined by Linda McCartney and Denny Laine to create a rich, choral "let 'em in" refrain that evokes a sense of communal invitation and group harmony.[10] Instrumentation centered on McCartney's prominent piano lines driving the melody, complemented by Paul McCartney's solid bass foundation and steady drumming from Joe English, while subtle guitar fills from Laine and Jimmy McCulloch and a punchy horn section (featuring Howie Casey, Thaddeus Richard, Steve Howard, and Tony Dorsey on flutes and horns) added textural depth without overpowering the core groove. An unidentified vibraphone contributes occasional shimmering accents, enhancing the song's upbeat, welcoming tone.[10][16] The mixing adopted a bright, polished aesthetic typical of mid-1970s pop production, with McCartney prioritizing the rhythm section's clarity and punch to boost danceability, as the album was crafted amid a hectic tour schedule to retain onstage vitality in the studio.[16] Post-production involved no significant edits or overdubs beyond the initial takes, reflecting the album's rapid two-week recording timeline; final mastering for the single format accentuated mid-range frequencies to ensure radio-friendly warmth and presence.[16]Release and Promotion
Single Release
"Let 'Em In" was issued as a single by Wings in the United States on June 28, 1976, through Capitol Records (catalogue number 4293), with "Beware My Love"—also from the Wings at the Speed of Sound album—as the B-side.[17] The UK release followed on July 23, 1976, via MPL Communications (catalogue number R 6015), retaining the same B-side.[1] The single was distributed in the standard 7-inch vinyl format. In the US market, it featured a picture sleeve displaying photographs of the band members, enhancing its visual appeal for collectors and fans.[18] Promotion for the single aligned with the North American leg of Wings' Wings Over the World tour, which began on May 3, 1976, following the tour's overall start in September 1975, and included performances across the US and Europe, where the song was showcased live to build audience familiarity. Capitol also produced a shortened edit specifically for radio stations, capitalizing on the track's upbeat, welcoming melody to encourage airplay.[19] The single was also released in other markets, including Canada and Australia, supporting international promotion.Album Context and Formats
"Let 'Em In" appears as the opening track on side one of Wings' fifth studio album, Wings at the Speed of Sound, released on March 25, 1976, by Capitol Records in the United States and MPL in the United Kingdom.[11][7] The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, with sessions spanning September-October 1975 and January-March 1976, amid breaks in the band's ongoing Wings Over the World tour, which aimed to infuse the studio recordings with the live performance energy honed on the road.[20][13] This approach marked the first time since 1973's Red Rose Speedway that Paul McCartney had recorded an album in the UK, emphasizing the band's cohesive lineup and featuring lead vocals from each member on at least one track to showcase their collective dynamism.[11][20] The original release of Wings at the Speed of Sound was issued in standard formats of the era, including vinyl LP and 8-track cartridge, with the song sequenced as the album's energetic starter to set a welcoming, rhythmic tone reflective of Wings' touring vitality.[13] Subsequent digital transitions included initial CD editions in 1989 via Capitol Records, followed by remastered versions in 1993 as part of "The Paul McCartney Collection" series, which added bonus tracks but retained the original album sequencing without alternate takes of "Let 'Em In."[21][7] In 2014, the album received an expanded reissue through the Paul McCartney Archive Collection, available in multiple configurations such as a two-CD set with bonus content (including outtakes and a DVD of related footage), a vinyl edition, and digital downloads; however, no variant recordings of "Let 'Em In" were included, preserving the 1976 master.[22][23] Regional editions of the original album featured minor artwork variations, such as subtle differences in the bottom-right corner design between UK and US pressings, though the audio content, including "Let 'Em In," remained identical across markets.[13]Commercial Performance
Chart Positions
"Let 'Em In" achieved significant commercial success upon its release, reaching high positions on major international charts and demonstrating Wings' global popularity during their 1976 Wings Over the World tour. In the United States, the single peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in August 1976 and remained on the chart for a total of 14 weeks. In the United Kingdom, it reached number 2 on the Singles Chart in July 1976, held back from the top spot by Elton John and Kiki Dee's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," and spent 10 weeks in the top 40. The song performed strongly in other key markets, peaking at number 3 on Canada's RPM Top Singles chart while topping the Adult Contemporary chart there. It peaked at number 65 in Australia and number 25 in the Netherlands, underscoring its broad appeal across English-speaking and European territories. The following table summarizes peak positions in select top markets:| Country/Chart | Peak Position | Weeks at Peak | Total Weeks on Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 3 | 3 | 14 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles | 3 | - | - |
| Australia Kent Music Report | 65 | - | - |
| Netherlands Single Top 100 | 25 | - | - |