"The World's Best Rock Read": Let It Rock 1972-75

This article is a case study of an influential British music publication of the 1970s. It traces the origins of the magazine in the nascent rock criticism of the era and discusses its ethos in terms of historical perspective, transatlantic links, and the dichotomy between pop and rock. The content of Let It Rock was broad, including soul, jazz, country, and folk. Many of its writers were new to music journalism and several went on to careers in rock writing or the music industry. As reflected in the letters pages, the readership also included some future music writers. Finally, the article discusses the legacy of Let It Rock as an inspiration for music publications of the 1980s and 1990s.