The single version is shorter than the album track, is missing the introductory rain sounds and the first piano intro and timpani and gong crash, has a slightly different sequence of the lyrics, and ends on string synthesizers with piano rather than the drum solo, guitar, gong and brass explosion as on the album.

Billboard praised Roger Daltrey's vocal performance, the "dynamic orchestral arrangements" and the "interesting" synthesizer use.

[4] Roger Daltrey's vocal on the track has been widely praised; Mark Deming of Allmusic noted that "Quadrophenia captured him at the very peak of his powers, and 'Love, Reign o'er Me' is one moment where his golden-haired rock-god persona truly works and gives this song all the force it truly deserves.

"[5] Cash Box said that "powerhouse performance from Peter Townshend and the gang, coupled with super lyrics and production make this one the closest thing to an "automatic hit” yet.

When the Who performed Quadrophenia in its entirety in the summer of 1996, the band was joined by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour.

At the Who's 1 July 2002 concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California, the first after the death of bassist John Entwistle, it was brought back and performed on their Quadrophenia and More tour, The Who Hits 50!

"[12] The cover of "Love, Reign o'er Me" made a world premiere on the KISW radio station on 8 January 2007.

The track appears on Pearl Jam's 2006 fan club Christmas single along with a cover of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" featuring Bono and the Edge from U2.

Pearl Jam's version of the song was ranked number 4 in Rolling Stone's list of The 10 Best Covers of the Past Decade.

Pearl Jam first performed its cover of "Love, Reign o'er Me" live at the band's 26 June 2007 concert in Copenhagen, Denmark at the Forum.