Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, “Let It Loose” is an emotional gospel blues ballad with a fervent religious feeling, the song being one of the band’s most prominent forays into soul and gospel during the Exile era after Jagger had attended the services of the Reverend James Cleveland and remained deeply impressed by the singing of the gospel choir.
In an interview with Uncut magazine in April 2010, Jagger was asked about this song’s lyrical content; he replied: “I think Keith wrote that, actually.
I didn’t really understand what it was about, after the event.” However, in the same article Richards says “I would never take Mick’s recollection of anything seriously.”[2] Recording began in June and July 1970 at Olympic Studio in London and at Nellcote in the summer of 1971 and with overdubs added at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles in early 1972.
Bass is performed by Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts on drums, Nicky Hopkins on piano and Mellotron, Bobby Keys on tenor saxophone, and Jim Price plays both trombone and trumpet.
Russell Hall in the 20 February 2008 edition of Gibson Lifestyle describes Jagger’s strident, heart-wrenching singing on “Let It Loose” as his finest vocal achievement.