Backed with a strong promotional campaign in the United Kingdom, the song reached number 21 on the UK Singles Chart to become Roachford's fourth top-40 hit.

Doe Phillips, the marketing manager of Columbia UK, believed that Roachford's limited commercial success was related to improper communication of the band's image.

To rectify this, the band was scaled down from a six-piece to a quartet for Permanent Shade of Blue, but Phillips was careful not to let Andrew Roachford overshadow the other three members.

[5] Music & Media magazine also compared Roachford's vocals to Lynott's, stating that it is a superior rock-soul song.

Until "The Way I Feel" reached number 20 in 1997, it was the band's second-highest-charting single, behind "Cuddly Toy", and as of 2025, it is their third-longest-charting hit, staying in the top 100 for seven weeks.