Nine tracks for the album were completed in August 1984, after Adams and Clearmountain flew to New York City to record some vocal overdubs at Power Station.

This prompted Adams and Vallance to return to Vancouver and re-record two songs: "One Night Love Affair" and "Summer of '69", as well as writing "Kids Wanna Rock"; the album was eventually completed later that month.

[12][13] "Heaven" was the third single issued from Reckless, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks in June 1985; the song previously peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart in February 1984, due to its inclusion in the A Night in Heaven soundtrack.

[6][12] In June 2008, the original master tape recordings for Reckless was destroyed in a backlot fire at Universal Studios.

[15] To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the album, an expanded 30th Anniversary edition was released on 10 November 2014; the first disc includes seven previously unreleased tracks, while disc two includes live concert audio from his 1985 tour, recorded at Hammersmith Odeon, London on 20 April 1985 by BBC Radio 1.

[5] The album has received positive reviews from critics since its release, highlighting Clearmountain's production and Adams' songwriting.

Ryan Healy of uDiscover Music described the album as a "stadium-sized classic" that showcased Adams' "working-class ethos" and "Springsteen-style knack for storytelling".

[32] Healy also noted that Adams and his longtime collaborator Jim Vallance "masterfully" tapped into the "pop/rock, radio-friendly vibe of the middle eighties".

Classic Rock Review described it as a "particularly strong showcase for the layered guitars of Keith Scott", praised the "pristine sonic quality" of the album, and highlighted "Run to You" as having "just a tinge of surreal darkness".

[33] Dave Everley of Louder noted Reckless as "the one that turned [Adams] from upstart into champ", remarking that "may not have invented arena rock, but he certainly perfected it".

Everley also complimented Adams' ability to write "catchy, memorable hooks" and "sing with passion and conviction".

[34] In a less positive review, Christopher Connelly of Rolling Stone praised Adams' "born-to-rock" vocals and Clearmountain's production work, but expressed contempt at the songwriting in "Run to You" and "Kids Wanna Rock", with the latter being unfavorably compared to "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" by Billy Joel.