Let It Loose (Chris Rea song) explained

Let It Loose
Cover:	Chris Rea Let It Loose 1983 single cover.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Chris Rea
Album:	Water Sign
B-Side:	Urban Samurai
Released:	1983
Length:	3:37 5:45 (extended remix)
Label:	Magnet
Producer:	Chris Rea, Dave Richards
Prev Title:	Every Beat of My Heart
Prev Year:	1982
Next Title:	I Can Hear Your Heartbeat
Next Year:	1983

"Let It Loose" is a song by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea, which was released in 1983 as the lead single from his fifth studio album Water Sign. The song was written by Rea, and produced by Rea and Dave Richards.^[1] "Let It Loose" reached No. 85 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the Top 100 for four weeks.^[2]

Critical reception

On its release, Simon Tebbutt of Record Mirror wrote, "With all the jibes about dire Rea, I wouldn't have thought 'Let It Loose' was a very wise choice for a title. Another silly synth dirge that goes snap, crackle and... plop!"^[3] In a retrospective review of Water Sign, Sharon Mawer of AllMusic noted the song's "driving rock beat".^[1] In a 2021 retrospective on Rea's "30 best tracks for the open road", Dig! picked "Let It Loose" as number 27 on the list. They noted the song's "80s synth beats" and Rea's "soft-spoken voice".^[4]

Track listing

7" single

1. "Let It Loose" – 3:37
2. "Urban Samurai" – 4:31

7" single (French release)

1. "Let It Loose" – 3:37
2. "Hey You" – 4:00

7" single (UK, with special four-track sampler EP)

1. "Let It Loose" – 3:37
2. "Urban Samurai" – 4:31
3. "Fool If You Think It's Over" – 4:47
4. "The Closer You Get" – 3:31
5. "Diamonds" – 4:51
6. "Guitar Street" – 3:58

12" single

1. "Let It Loose" (Special Extended Remix) – 5:45
2. "Sierra Sierra" – 5:38
3. "Urban Samurai" – 4:31

12" single (UK, with special 7" four-track sampler EP)

1. "Let It Loose" (Special Extended Remix) – 5:45
2. "Sierra Sierra" – 5:38
3. "Urban Samurai" – 4:31
4. "Fool If You Think It's Over" – 4:47
5. "The Closer You Get" – 3:31
6. "Diamonds" – 4:51
7. "Guitar Street" – 3:58

12" single (French release)

1. "Let It Loose" (Special Extended Remix) – 5:45
2. "Hey You" – 4:00

Personnel

Production

• Chris Rea, Dave Richards – producers of "Let It Lose", "Urban Samurai" and "Sierra Sierra"
• Gus Dudgeon – producer of "Fool If You Think It's Over", "The Closer You Get" and "Diamonds"
• Jon Kelly, Chris Rea – producers of "Guitar Street"

Other

• Mike Laye – photography

Notes and References

1. Web site: Water Sign - Chris Rea | Songs, Reviews, Credits . AllMusic. 1 June 2021.
2. Web site: CHRIS REA - full Official Chart History . Official Charts Company . 9 May 2021.
3. Tebbutt. Simon. Singles: Chris Rea – "Let It Loose" review. Record Mirror. 12 March 1983. 15 November 2022. 18. London. Spotlight Publications Ltd.. World Radio History. 0144-5804. https://web.archive.org/web/20220402000241/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/83/Record-Mirror-1983-03-12-OCR.pdf. 2 April 2022.
4. Web site: Chris Rea Songs: The 30 Best Tracks for the Open Road. Dig!. 3 March 2021. 9 May 2021.