[3] Love Bites was recorded and mixed by Buzzcocks with producer Martin Rushent over a two-and-a-half-week period in July and August 1978, less than six months after the release of their début album, Another Music in a Different Kitchen.

"Nostalgia" was also recorded by Newcastle band Penetration, who in 1978 accompanied Buzzcocks on the "Entertaining Friends" tour of England.

The hand-drawn script on the album sleeve is a conscious reference to paintings by Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte.

"[15] AllMusic wrote: "More musically accomplished, more obsessively self-questioning, and with equally energetic yet sometimes gloomy performances, Love Bites finds the Buzzcocks coming into their own.

"[5] In March 1994, a CD version of the original album was released by EMI, containing four additional tracks: "Love You More"; "Noise Annoys"; "Promises"; and "Lipstick".