[4] The album had sold 968,341 copies in the United Kingdom by May 2016,[5] earning a triple platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on 22 July 2013.

[8] The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on 5 December 2006,[9] and had sold 1.9 million copies in the US by January 2010.

[12] While some critics perceived filler as a weakness of the album, Bailey Rae earned positive comparisons to female recording artists such as Billie Holiday, Norah Jones, Erykah Badu, Minnie Riperton, and Macy Gray.

[13] Los Angeles Times writer Natalie Nichols compared Bailey Rae's music to that of Sade and Stevie Wonder.

[15] MusicOMH writer Michael Hubbard called the debut "exceptional in every way" and "a breath of fresh air"[24] Preston Jones of Slant Magazine was more lukewarm, saying "Rae’s amiable competence marks her as a talent worth keeping tabs on, but the strength of Corinne Bailey Rae is fleeting, a triumph of mood over tangible substance.

"[3] In contrast, Neil Spencer of The Observer gave the album a scathing review, saying "Beyond her calling card single, 'Like a Star', however, she shows a lack of ambition.

[26] Bailey Rae received a nomination for Best UK & Ireland Act at the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards.