Diana Ross, having just left The Supremes after a decade of serving as that group's lead singer, went through a difficult situation trying to piece a solo album together.

With Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson writing and producing for her, and Paul Riser arranging,[1] Ross recorded "Reach Out and Touch", which carried a heavy gospel influence, and was one of the few songs the singer recorded to express her social conscience, previously experimented with Supremes singles such as "Love Child" and "I'm Livin' in Shame".

During her concert performances of the song, Ross often had the whole crowd turn to their neighbors, and "reach out and touch" their hands.

Ross also performed this song as the finale for the Nobel Peace Prize Concert held in Oslo, Norway, in 2008.

Cash Box said that "Diana Ross takes hold of a slow blues-waltz message ballad and turns it into something all her own," and praised the vocal performance and the production.