According to Legends of Rock Guitar, on this album and the follow-up, Crash and Burn (1980), the duo of Travers and Thrall bridged the gap between what it calls "dramatic changes" in metal in the late 1970s: Travers emblematized "the blues-rock sound of sixties and seventies metal" whereas Thrall's playing represents the newer wave in metal (represented by Eddie van Halen): "The combining of the two players' solos during this time showed a rare detente between two generations of hard rockers and, although short-lived, it was extremely exciting.

[4] Besides praising the guitar playing of Travers and Thrall, critics have also hailed Tommy Aldridge, a drumming pioneer who after leaving the Pat Travers Band played with Ozzy Osbourne; one critic called him "the definitive double bass drummer" on the basis of this album.

It came recommended by Billboard magazine,[6] and received positive reviews in the Los Angeles Times[7][8] and The Daily Collegian.

[9] Years after its release, the live album is often referred to by critics as the pinnacle of Pat Travers' career.

In July 2007, a forum of Guitar Player magazine readers voted Live!