Let My Love Open the Door

"Let My Love Open the Door" is a song written and performed by Pete Townshend from his 1980 album Empty Glass. It reached the top ten in the United States in that same year, reaching number nine.[2][3] It reached number five in Canada.[4]

"Let My Love Open the Door"
Single by Pete Townshend
from the album Empty Glass
B-side"Greyhound Girl"
ReleasedJune 4, 1980 (US)
RecordedMarch 1980
Genre
Length2:44
LabelAtco
Songwriter(s)Pete Townshend
Producer(s)Chris Thomas
Pete Townshend UK singles chronology
"Rough Boys"
(1980)		 "Let My Love Open the Door"
(1980)		 "A Little Is Enough"
(1980)
Pete Townshend US singles chronology
"Keep Me Turning"
(1977)		 "Let My Love Open the Door"
(1980)		 "A Little Is Enough"
(1980)

Background

Although Townshend is a devotee to the religious guru Meher Baba, he claimed in the liner notes of his Anthology CD that "Jesus sings" on the track.[5]

"Let My Love Open the Door" was released as the second single from Empty Glass in Britain, where it was backed with the non-album tracks "Classified" and "Greyhound Girl." The song was a minor British hit, reaching number 46.[6] The song saw more success when it was released as the debut single from Empty Glass in America, where the song reached number nine.[7] It was Pete Townshend's only solo top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, but The Who's song "I Can See for Miles," which was written by Townshend, reached the same position on the chart 13 years earlier.

Initially, Townshend's manager despised the track due to it "not sounding like Townshend," and wanted it to be removed from Empty Glass.[5] However, upon the song's chart success, his manager called to apologize.

Despite the song's critical and commercial success, Pete Townshend did not consider it one of his best songs. He told Rolling Stone in an interview that "Let My Love Open the Door" was "just a ditty," also claiming that he preferred his minor U.S. hit "A Little Is Enough" from the same album.[5]

In 1996, Townshend released a new version of the song, called "the E. Cola mix", turning the song into a ballad. This version appeared in different television shows and film soundtracks.

Personnel

Chart performance

Covers

In media

The song has been used frequently in film, most notably the comedy genre, often as trailer music for Jerry Maguire and How Do You Know. It has been featured in closing credits song for Mr. Deeds, Look Who's Talking, Jersey Girl, Along Came Polly, Red Dog and Old Dogs. In Dan in Real Life, the song is performed by Steve Carell and Dane Cook in addition to being covered by Sondre Lerche for the film's soundtrack.[14]

References
  1. "80 best love songs of the 1980s". Cleveland. August 31, 2018.
  2. Unterberger, Richie (2012-06-14). "Let My Love Open the Door". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  3. "Pete Townshend, 'Empty Glass' | 100 Best Albums of the Eighties". Rolling Stone. 1989-11-16. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  4. Canada, Library and Archives (July 17, 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca.
  5. "Let My Love Open the Door". Songfacts.com.
  6. "Pete Townshend UK charts". Official Charts.
  7. "Pete Townshend US charts". Billboard.
  8. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 312. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  10. "Collectionscanada.gc.ca". Archived from the original on April 25, 2016.
  11. Musicoutfitters.com
  12. "The Covers EP: Various artists: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  13. "Help us open the door to better cancer care | #LetMyLoveOpenTheDoor". Firstcitizens.com. Retrieved 2016-10-16.
  14. Grimm, Bob. "Dan in Real Life". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
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