Let Go is the first album by rock singer Avril Lavigne, released on June 4 2002.^[1] It was highly successful, being certified platinum six times in the United States, seven times in Australia, four times in New Zealand, and once in Japan. In Canada it received a diamond award for surpassing sales of 1 million in less than a year (11 months). To this date, Let Go has sold over 15 million copies worldwide.^[2]

Track listing

1. "Losing Grip" (A. Lavigne/C. Magness) – 3:53
2. "Complicated" (A. Lavigne/The Matrix) – 4:05
3. "Sk8er Boi" (A. Lavigne/The Matrix) – 3:23
4. "I'm with You" (A. Lavigne/The Matrix) – 3:44
5. "Mobile" (A. Lavigne/C. Magness) – 3:31
6. "Unwanted" (A. Lavigne/C. Magness) – 3:40
7. "Tomorrow" (A. Lavigne/C. Frasca/S. Breer) – 3:48
8. "Anything but Ordinary" (A. Lavigne/The Matrix) – 4:12
9. "Things I'll Never Say" (A. Lavigne/The Matrix) – 3:43
10. "My World" (A. Lavigne/C. Magness) – 3:27
11. "Nobody's Fool" (A. Lavigne/P. Zizzo) – 3:57
12. "Too Much to Ask" (A. Lavigne/C. Magness) – 3:45
13. "Naked" (A. Lavigne/C. Frasca/S. Breer) – 3:29/4:27 ¹

¹ A longer version of "Naked" was released in several European countries. The song includes longer instrumental parts.

Japan Tour Special Limited Version (with a bonus DVD)

1. "Losing Grip" (A. Lavigne/C. Magness) – 3:53
2. "Complicated" (A. Lavigne/The Matrix) – 4:05
3. "Sk8er Boi" (A. Lavigne/The Matrix) – 3:23
4. "I'm With You" (A. Lavigne/The Matrix) – 3:44
5. "Mobile" (A. Lavigne/C. Magness) – 3:31
6. "Unwanted" (A. Lavigne/C. Magness) – 3:40
7. "Tomorrow" (A. Lavigne/C. Frasca/S. Breer) – 3:48
8. "Anything but Ordinary" (A. Lavigne/The Matrix) – 4:12
9. "Things I'll Never Say" (A. Lavigne/The Matrix) – 3:43
10. "My World" (A. Lavigne/C. Magness) – 3:27
11. "Nobody's Fool" (A. Lavigne/P. Zizzo) – 3:57
12. "Too Much to Ask" (A. Lavigne/C. Magness) – 3:45
13. "Naked" (A. Lavigne/C. Frasca/S. Breer) – 3:29/4:27 ¹
14. "Why" – 4:00
15. "Complicated (Video)"
16. "Sk8er Boi (Video)"
17. "I'm With You (Video)"
18. "Day In The Life (NYC Epk)"

Limited Tour Edition (CD 2)

• "Get Over It" – 3:30
• "Why" – 4:00
• "Unwanted (Live)" – 3:59
• "I'm With You (Live)" – 3:58
• "Nobody's Fool (Live)" – 3:57

Singles

"Complicated" was the first single released from the album. Its release had a major impact on Lavigne's career, and significantly increased sales of the album. The song peaked at number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, number three on the UK Singles Chart, number one in Australia for 6 weeks and number one in New Zealand for 9 weeks. "Complicated" remains Lavigne's second most successful song to date, after "Girlfriend", from The Best Damn Thing.

"Sk8er Boi" was the second single released from Let Go, with a punk edge. The song went top 10 in the US, UK and Australia, New Zealand and top 30 in Canada. Nonetheless, it remains one of Lavigne's biggest songs to date.

After the upbeat songs "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi" had their runs globally, Lavigne decided to release a ballad from her album. "I'm With You" performed a little bit better than "Sk8er Boi", peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, number five in New Zealand, number seven in the UK, and number seventeen in Canada. It also made #1 on the United World Chart

The alternative rock-influenced "Losing Grip" was the fourth single. It barely gained any airplay or video play in the U.S., peaking at number sixty-four on the Billboard Hot 100, more than fifty spots lower than its three predecessors. It managed a twenty-two place in the UK, and went to number twenty in Australia, probably its highest chart position anywhere in the world. Otherwise its release was unsuccessful.

"Mobile" was the fifth single released from the album, and was released in Australia and New Zealand as a radio-only track. It was later used in the 2004 film Wimbledon with Kirsten Dunst. It charted at #26 in New Zealand.

B-Sides

• I Don't Give - 3:38 (B-side of Complicated)
• Why - 4:00 (B-side of Complicated)
• Get Over It - 3:28 (B-side of Sk8ter Boi)
• All You Will Never Know -3:40 (B-side of Mobile)
• Let Go - 4:11 (B-side of Mobile)
• Falling Down - 3:54 (from the soundtrack of Sweet Home Alabama)

Outtakes / Leaked Tracks from the Let Go Sessions

• Take Me Away (Avril Lavigne, The Matrix) - 3:29
• Headset (Avril Lavigne) - 3:35
• Falling Into History (Jessica Sheely, Peter Zizzo) - 4:09
• Tomorrow You Didn't (Keith Follesse, Peter Zizzo) - 4:12
• Once And For Real (Peter Zizzo, Avril Lavigne) - 3:48
• Make Up (Avril Lavigne, The Matrix) - 3:15
• Not The Only One (Curtis Frasca, Harriet Breer) - 3:15
• Stay (Be The One) (Avril Lavigne, Peter Zizzo) - 3:54
• Move Your Little Self On (Avril Lavigne, The Matrix) - 4:12
• You Never Satisfy Me (Avril Lavigne, Clif Magness) - 3:00

Trivia

The first four of Avril's singles earned Grammy nominations though none have garnered her an award.

Since Lavigne's big success, a 'leaked' unmixed version the album appeared online. This set included unmixed versions of Lavigne's tracks which included alternate instruments and alternate vocal takes.

Certifications

Note: for all the certification definations see: Certifications

References

Further reading

• Lyrics