Let's Go

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Let's Go
Studio album by Rancid
Released	June 14, 1994
Recorded	October 1993 – March 1994 at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California
Genre	Punk rock
Length	44:12
Label	Epitaph
Producer	Brett Gurewitz
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau link
Rancid chronology
Radio Radio Radio EP (1993) Let's Go (1994) ...And Out Come the Wolves (1995)
Singles from Let's Go
"Nihilism" Released: 1994 "Salvation" Released: 1995

Let's Go is a 1994 album by the American punk rock band Rancid.

Released on the influential indie label Epitaph Records, Let's Go initially achieved little mainstream success, though it appealed to the band's fanbase. However, the surprise success of punk rock bands like The Offspring, Green Day and Bad Religion in the mid-1990s brought forth more mainstream interest in the album, and it ultimately reached #97 on the Billboard 200.

Until Rancid (2000), Let's Go was the only Rancid album to be produced by Brett Gurewitz, although he engineered the band's next album, ...And Out Come the Wolves, which is regarded as a classic from the golden age of the 1990s punk rock in California.

Writing and production

This section requires expansion.

As soon as second guitarist Lars Frederiksen joined the band, Rancid returned to the studio in October 1993^[1] with producer Brett Gurewitz to begin work on their second album, booking five months of studio time in which to record the album.

Reception

This section requires expansion.

Let's Go was released on June 14, 1994 and peaked at number 97 on the Billboard 200 album chart.^[2] The album was certified gold by the RIAA on July 7, 2000.^[3]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic described the album as "sheer energy". He praised the music as a "less-serious, party-ready version of The Clash". The album received a rating of four out of five stars, while "Salvation" earned Rancid its first moderate success.^[4]

Track listing

All songs written by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman unless otherwise noted.

1. "Nihilism" – 2:02
2. "Radio" (T.Armstrong/B.Armstrong/Freeman) – 2:51
3. "Side Kick" – 2:01 (Armstrong/Erica White)
4. "Salvation" – 2:54
5. "Tenderloin" – 1:32
6. "Let's Go" – 1:26
7. "As One" – 1:34
8. "Burn" (Armstrong/Freeman/Eric Raider) – 2:11
9. "The Ballad Of Jimmy & Johnny" – 1:39
10. "Gunshot" – 1:50
11. "I Am The One" – 1:57
12. "Gave It Away" – 1:13
13. "Ghetto Box" – 1:11
14. "Harry Bridges" – 2:21
15. "Black & Blue" – 1:59
16. "St. Mary" (Armstrong/Freeman/Frederiksen) – 2:09
17. "Dope Sick Girl" – 2:15
18. "International Cover-Up" – 1:44
19. "Solidarity" – 1:31
20. "Midnight" – 1:55
21. "Motorcycle Ride" – 1:20
22. "Name" (Armstrong/Freeman/Eric Dinn) – 2:12
23. "7 Years Down" – 2:35

Credits

• Tim Armstrong – vocals, guitar, art direction
• Lars Frederiksen – guitar, vocals
• Matt Freeman – bass, back up vocals, lead vocals on tracks 5, 10 and 15
• Brett Reed – drums
• Brett Gurewitz – producing, engineering
• Mackie – art direction
• Billie Joe Armstrong – Green Day lead singer that co-wrote and played guitar on track 2

Notes/trivia

• Let's Go was originally intended to be a double-album, but was condensed to 23 tracks on one CD. On vinyl, it is a double album on two 10" mini-LPs.^[5]
• The album's release date, June 14, 1994, was also bassist Matt Freeman's 28th birthday.
• "Salvation" is featured in the videogame Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360
• "Side Kick" is about a dream where Tim accompanies the superhero Wolverine on his adventures.

References

1. ^ The exact date that the recording of Let's Go began is uncertain.
2. ^ "Let's Go's entry at Billboard.com". Billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=33491&aid=155363. Retrieved 2008-01-17. 
3. ^ "RIAA Certification". RIAA. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH. Retrieved June 23, 2007. 
4. ^ "Let's Go". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:2unyxdkboolg. Retrieved 2008-01-17. 
5. ^ "Rancid - Let's Go". Discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/release/854957. Retrieved March 25, 2007.