"Let Go" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick, which was released in 1988 as the fourth single from their tenth studio album Lap of Luxury. It was written by guitarist Rick Nielsen and Todd Cerney, and produced by Richie Zito.
As a single, "Let Go" was released on 7" vinyl in Australia only. The B-side, "I Know What I Want", is a live recording, recorded during 1979 at Daytona Beach, Florida. In the US, the song reached No. 35 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart.
Critical reception
Upon release, Ira Robbins of Rolling Stone called the song "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."
Track listing
7" single
"Let Go" - 4:27
"I Know What I Want (Live)" -
Chart performance
Personnel
Cheap Trick
Robin Zander - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Rick Nielsen - lead guitar, backing vocals
Tom Petersson - bass, backing vocals
Bun E. Carlos - drums, percussion
Additional personnel
Richie Zito - producer
Phil Kaffel - engineer, mixer
Jim Champagne, Bernard Frings, Mike Tacci, Bob Vogt, Toby Wright - second engineers