In 1967, the record's producers urged Paul Drew, program director at the station, to consider the tune for rotation.

For much of the 1960s and 1970s, CKLW was credited with launching hit records via its powerful signal, blanketing the Great Lakes region.

Drew did not warm to the song at first, but accepted an invitation to hear it live at the Roostertail, where Valli was performing a weeklong stint with the Four Seasons.

"[11] Cash Box called the single a "smooth, gentle, softly spoken romancer".

In 1982, San Francisco-based post-disco band Boys Town Gang released a dance version of the song which reached the top spot in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain and number four on the United Kingdom singles chart.

[36][37] Due to the popularity of the song it was added as a hidden track on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

[42] Academy Award–winning actor Forest Whitaker was inspired to name his daughter True, after hearing Hill's version of the song.