"[6] Originally released in October 1982 in the United Kingdom,[7] "Love Is a Stranger" debuted on the UK Singles Charts at number 70 for the week dated 20 November 1982.

[10][11] The single release was accompanied by a music video directed by Mike Brady, in which Stewart acts as chauffeur for Lennox, who plays the role of a high-class prostitute.

Lennox removes a curly blonde wig to reveal much shorter red hair, though slicked back rather than the buzz cut seen in the subsequent music video for "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)".

[12] Cash Box said that "the commanding vocals of Annie Lennox and hazy, electronically inflected backing combine to make 'Love Is a Stranger' a challenging yet already familiar sound.

"[13] Smash Hits felt that "Love Is a Stranger" effectively integrated Lennox's "cultured" vocals into a modern musical arrangement.