[4] "Candy Store Rock" was never performed live by the band at Led Zeppelin concerts,[4] except for a brief riff by Page at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 20 April 1977.

However, a one-minute improvisation was played live in concert by Page and Plant as a "Black Dog" introduction on 26 July 1995 at Wembley Arena.

"[5] Record World said that Led Zeppelin "[deviates] from the rigid demands of top 40, but the sound is coordinated to stand up to repeated listenings"[6] In a retrospective review of Presence (Deluxe Edition), Andrew Doscas of PopMatters described "Candy Store Rock" as sounding like "the prequel to 1971's "Rock and Roll"" from their fourth album.

[7] Singer Robert Plant later described "Candy Store Rock", along with "Achilles Last Stand", as the "saving grace[s] of Presence".

[8] Plant said the song's rhythm section was inspiring to him, partly due to the album's tumultuous recording sessions.