Released 1988 Length 4:27 Producer(s) Richie Zito | Genre Rock, Power Pop Label Epic Records | |
Writer(s) Rick Nielsen, Todd Cerney | ||
"Let Go" is a song by American rock band Cheap Trick, released as the fourth single from their commercially successful 1988 album Lap of Luxury. The song was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen and American songwriter/musician Todd Cerney, who also co-wrote the Lap of Luxury album track "Wrong Side of Love" and the 1994 Woke up with a Monster album track/single "Didn't Know I Had It".
Contents
The song peaked at #35 on the American Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. The song was not edited and remained the same length as the full album version.
The song was produced by Richie Zito who had produced the entire Lap of Luxury album as well as the band's follow-up 1990 album Busted.
Background
Considered as the band's comeback album following the commercial failure of the 1986 album The Doctor, Lap of Luxury spawned three top 40 hit singles and one minor hit single. "The Flame" topped the American Billboard Hot 100 whilst a cover of Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel" peaked at #4. After the third single, "Ghost Town" peaked at #33, "Let Go" appeared on the Mainstream Rock chart.
No music video was created for the song although unofficial footage exists of the band performing the track live on numerous occasions around the time of the album's release.
Track listing
- "Let Go" - 4:27
Critical reception
Ira Robbins of Rolling Stone Magazine called it a "first-rate, a tough-talking put-down with a honking horn bridge and a guitar hook that is reminiscent of the Beatles' 'If I Needed Someone.'" Robbins also wrote for Trouser Press that "Let Go" gets Lap of Luxury off to a "fine start." Music writers Mike Hayes and Ken Sharp compare the song's riff to another Beatles' song, saying that "Let Go"'s riff combines that of "Day Tripper" with the riff of Cheap Trick's own song "I Don't Love Here Anymore." Hayes and Sharp credit the song with "a catchy chorus, understated piano work and an unexpected sax break."