Let 'Em In

The song starts with the sound of a V. & E. Friedland Maestro Westminster Chime doorbell, an electro-mechanical doorbell with a unique "vibrato resonating" feature, before the rhythm begins.{{cite interview |last=McCartney |first=Paul |subject-link=Paul McCartney |interviewer=Chris Welch |title=Paul McCartney: Pressure Cooking |work=Melody Maker |date= March 27, 1976 |publisher=IPC Magazines |location=London |url=https://www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/interview/mccartney-pressure-cooking/}}{{cite web |url=https://www.electrachime.net/compact-door-chimes/ve-friedland-general-electric-maestro/ |title=V. & E. Friedland Maestro |author= |website=The Doorbell Museum |access-date=September 8, 2024 |quote=Let ‘Em In, a 1976 recording by Paul McCartney and Wings featured the sound of a Friedland Maestro during the intro.}} 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 brother Michael, and Linda McCartney's brother John. Phil and Don of the Everly Brothers are named (the duo covered "Keep A-Knockin'" on their self-titled album), along with Martin Luther,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xWRyBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA536 |page=536 |last=Womack |first=Kenneth |title=The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2014 |isbn=9780313391729}} who is said to have hung his "Ninety-five Theses" on a church door, but, according to McCartney, the name here refers to Martin Luther King. An Uncle Ernie is also named, being the character Ringo Starr sang in the London Symphony Orchestra's recording of the Who's rock opera, Tommy.{{cite news |url= http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2015/8/11/1972-all-star-orchestral-version-of-the-whos-tommy-to-be-rei.html |title=1972 All-Star Orchestral Version of The Who's "Tommy" to Be Reissued Next Month |work=ABC News Radio |date=2015-08-11 |access-date=2016-04-12}}

"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 the piano, drums, brass, including a trombone solo, and wind instruments, featuring flutes, as well as backup vocals from Linda and other members of Wings.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bYxJWNiLO94C&pg=PA71 |pages=71–2 |title=The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years |last=Benitez |first=Vince Perez |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2010 |isbn=9780313349690}}

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."{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=July 3, 1976|page=24 (304)|accessdate=2021-12-11|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1976/Cash-Box-1976-07-03.pdf|newspaper=Cash Box}} Record World said that "with a loping beat and a brisk military drum sound, this should be another chapter in McCartney's success story."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=July 3, 1976|page=1|accessdate=2023-03-04|title=Hits of the Week|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/76/RW-1976-07-03.pdf}}

• Paul McCartney – vocals, piano, backing vocals
• Jimmy McCulloch – bass
• Denny Laine – backing vocals, military drums
• Joe English – drums
• Linda McCartney – backing vocals
• Howie Casey, Thaddeus Richard, Steve Howard, Tony Dorsey – flutes, horns

The song was released worldwide as a 7" single, except in France where it was released as 12" single (the first-ever McCartney 12") with both sides labelled "Special Disco Mix".{{cite web|url=http://www.jpgr.co.uk/r6015.html|title=Let 'Em In |year=2000 |publisher=JPGR |access-date=25 September 2013}}

It was included on the compilation album Wings Greatest (1978), as well as the Paul McCartney compilation albums All the Best! (1987), Wingspan: Hits and History (2001) and Pure McCartney (2016).

; 7" single (R 6015)

1. "Let 'Em In" – 3:42
2. "Beware My Love" – 6:05

; 12" single (2C 052-98.062 y){{Ref label|note_a1|A|}}

1. "Let 'Em In" (Special Disco Mix) – 5:08
2. "Beware My Love" (Special Disco Mix) – 6:05

• A {{Note|note_a1}}Released in France only.

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{{certification Table Entry |title=Let|type=single |artist=Paul Mc Cartney & Wings |relyear=1976 |certyear=1976 |region=United States |award=Gold}}

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• During the 1976 Miss America pageant, MC Bert Parks performed a memorable rendition of the song.{{Citation|title=Bert Parks Sings Wings Let 'Em In 1976 Miss America|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJBDcb7kq_g |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/nJBDcb7kq_g |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2021-09-02}}{{cbignore}}
• The song was covered in 1977 by Billy Paul, substituting a list of notable African-American figures such as Malcolm X and Louis Armstrong in lieu of the people named in the original. This version reached No. 91 on the Billboard Soul chart,{{cite book |title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=452}} and No. 26 on the UK charts.
• "Guess Who's Knockin'", a song written by Prince and released by The New Power Generation on initial pressings of the 1993 Goldnigga album, references "Let 'Em In" without credit.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}
• Ringo Starr used lyrics from "Let 'Em In" in 2003 on "English Garden" from Ringo Rama.{{cite news |first=Len |last=Righi |url=https://www.mcall.com/2003/07/29/ringo-starr-rises-to-his-own-defense/ |title=Ringo Starr rises to his own defense |work=The Morning Call |location=Allentown, PA |access-date=21 July 2013 | date=29 July 2003}}

• List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1976 (U.S.)

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• {{YouTube|C2mnHA51NQE|Paul McCartney & Wings - Let 'Em In}}

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Category:1976 songs

Category:1976 singles

Category:Capitol Records singles

Category:Cashbox number-one singles

Category:Music published by MPL Music Publishing

Category:Paul McCartney songs

Category:Songs written by Linda McCartney

Category:Songs written by Paul McCartney

Category:Song recordings produced by Paul McCartney

Category:Billy Paul songs

Category:Paul McCartney and Wings songs