Personnel: Aretha Franklin (vocals, acoustic & electric pianos); David Spinozza, Hugh McCracken (guitar); Ernie Royal (trumpet); Eumir Deodato (electric piano); Kenneth Bichel (synthesizer); Chuck Rainey, Willie Weeks (bass); Rick Marotta, Bernard Purdie (drums); Ralph MacDonald, Pancho Morales (percussion); Margaret Branch, Ann S. Clark, Pat Smith, Judy Clay, Sylvia Shemwell, Myrna Smith, Deidre Tuck (background vocals).
Producers: Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin, Aretha Franklin, Tom Dowd.
Engineers: Phil Ramone, Gene Paul, Lew Hahn, Ron Albert, Howie Albert.
Recorded at Criteria Studios, Miami Beach, Florida on February 16, 1971; A&R Studios, New York, New York on April 9 & 10, 1973; Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, New York in March, August, and September 1973. Originally released on Atlantic (7292). Includes liner notes by David Nathan.
Personnel: Aretha Franklin (vocals, piano, electric piano); Cissy Houston, Myrna Smith, Pat Smith , Ann S. Clark, Gwen Guthrie, Deirdre Tuck Corley, Judy Clay, Sylvia Shemwell, Margaret Branch (vocals, background vocals); Cornell Dupree, David Spinozza, Hugh McCracken (guitar); Arif Mardin (strings, synthesizer); Joe Farrell (flute, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Ernie Royal (trumpet); Richard Tee (piano, electric piano, organ, keyboards); Donny Hathaway (piano, electric piano, keyboards); Deodato (electric piano, keyboards); Bob James & Creations, Bob James (organ, keyboards); Kenneth Bichel (synthesizer); Rick Marotta, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (drums); Pancho Morales, Ralph MacDonald (percussion); Deidre Tuck (background vocals).
Audio Remasterers: Don Hersch; Bill Inglot.
Audio Remixer: Arif Mardin.
Liner Note Author: David Nathan .
Recording information: A & R Studios, New York, NY (02/16/1971-09/07/1973); A&R Studios, New York, NY (02/16/1971-09/07/1973); Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, NY (02/16/1971-09/07/1973); Criteria Studios, Miami Beach, FL (02/16/1971-09/07/1973); Crteria Studios, Miami Beach, FL (02/16/1971-09/07/1973).
Photographer: Joel Brodsky.
Arranger: William Eaton.
After the experimental HEY NOW HEY (THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SKY), a departure from the formula of her phenomenal string of late '60s hits, Franklin returned to familiar form with this 1974 album. Here, the Queen of Soul is reunited with Jerry Wexler, the man who originally signed her to Atlantic, and the music on LET ME IN is appropriately old-school, with driving R&B holding down the spectacular flights of Franklin's gospel-drenched pipes.
The choice of songs is excellent as well, including Ashford and Simpson's "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing," Bobby Womack's "I'm In Love," Leon Russell's "A Song For You," and two of Franklin's fine originals. As always, Franklin belts out songs with the power of a Mack truck. Fine session musicians support her performances throughout. Overall, LET ME IN is a wonderful and often overlooked addition to the Franklin catalogue.
