Written by: Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
Recorded: 28 August; 17 October 1975; 22, 23, 26 January; 10, 11 February 1976
Producer: Paul McCartney
Released: 26 March 1976 (UK), 22 March 1976 (US)
Available on:
Wings At The Speed Of Sound
Wings Over America
Personnel
Paul McCartney: vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, harmonium, ARP synthesizer
Linda McCartney: vocals, Moog synthesizer
Denny Laine: vocals, bass guitar
Jimmy McCulloch: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Joe English: drums
‘Beware My Love’ is the fourth song on Wings’ fifth studio album Wings At The Speed Of Sound.
In the studio
Wings initially recorded the song on 28 August 1975 at Olympic Sound Studios in London. Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham guested on drums in the absence of Joe English.
John was a good friend of mine, and I was a great admirer of his. I would always say that my top three drummers were Ringo, Keith Moon and Bonham. I really liked the power of John. I hooked up with him that one time and said, ‘Fancy recording something? I’ve got this song.’ We just went into the studio and decided to play together I got on the piano, and he thrashed his drums.
Wings At The Speed Of Sound deluxe edition liner notes
Wings re-recorded the song with their full line-up at Abbey Road on 17 October 1975. The basic track had Paul McCartney on vocals and piano, Linda McCartney on Moog synthesizer, Denny Laine on bass guitar, Jimmy McCulloch on electric guitar, and English on drums.
Following rehearsals in the studio on 22 January, Wings re-recorded the song again on the following day. They taped 21 new takes, numbered 15-35, although only nine were complete.
A further 17 takes were recorded on 26 January. Take 53 was marked ‘good’, but McCartney decided instead to revisit the 23 January recordings. An edit containing the beginning and end of take 19 and the middle of take 20 was then made, onto which lead and backing vocals were overdubbed.
Jimmy McCulloch added a lead guitar part on 10 February, and the song was completed the following day when McCulloch added more lead guitar, Joe English recorded a new drum track, two tracks of clapping were recorded, and Linda McCartney overdubbed Moog and ARP synthesizer parts.
The release
‘Let ’Em In’ was the second single issued from Wings At The Speed Of Sound. It was released in June in the US, and the following month in the UK, with ‘Beware My Love’ on the b-side.
The single reached number two in the UK, and three on the US Billboard Hot 100. It topped the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart. It also topped the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary chart, and reached number three on the Top Singles chart.
‘Let ‘Em In’, with its German artwork and ‘Beware My Love’ on the b-side, was included on the 2022 box set The 7″ Singles Box.
Live performances
Wings performed ‘Beware My Love’ during their Wings Over The World Tour in 1976.
A recording from the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver on 7 June 1976 appears on the live album Wings Over America.