The song was produced by Morrison with Phil Chill and Cutfather & Joe, and topped the UK Singles Chart a month after its release, then became a European and Australian hit.

[6][7] "Games" by Chuckii Booker was also sampled, as well as fragments from "UFO" by ESG, "Rocket in the Pocket" by Cerrone, and "Feel The Heartbeat" by The Treacherous Three.

[8] Larry Flick from Billboard felt that UK crooner Mark Morrison "energizes a deflated U.S. R&B scene" with the song,[9] noting that he "shows international promise with fresh lyrics and vocals, and classic soul production reminiscent of R&B's '80s heyday.

"[1] Matt Diehl from Entertainment Weekly remarked that Morrison "comes off more like a funked-up Seal, promising revenge to a deceitful lover in a warbly croon.

The end result is an odd but infectious new-jack-swing variation on "Hey Joe", buoyed by bubbly beats and the insistent title refrain.

[10] Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger noted that "the music certainly has his back – the rubbery basslines cocooning the song, the satisfying crunch of the drums, the light keyboard touches helping Morrison glide along his comeback trail."

"[13] Ralph Tee from the Record Mirror Dance Update gave it a top score of five out of five, writing, "This simply is every bit as good as what you would get from an American r&b act on a major label — and the song's better than most of what's coming out from across the pond of late."

He added further, "The urban street production is a perfect vehicle for Mark's Jamaica-style tinged soul vocal on a song that deserves to be a smash, or an anthem at the very least.

It entered the top 10 also in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland (2), the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden (2) and Switzerland, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100 where it peaked at number five.

[20] In December 1996, Melody Maker ranked "Return of the Mack" number nine in their list of "Singles of the Year", writing, "Forever playing in the mini-cab home, smooth and assured and absolutely f**ing diamond-sharp, Mark Morrison ruled supreme.

"[21] In 2007, Stylus Magazine ranked it number 40 on its list of the "Top 50 One-Hit Wonders", stating that "over plush keyboards, fake turntable scratches, and a rhythm track that will be around 'til time immemorial, Morrison relates his griefs with an ex who he's returned to—what?

[23] In 2017, Billboard magazine ranked it number five in their list of "The 100 Greatest Pop Songs of 1997", writing, "From its first seconds, "Return" busts through the wall like the Kool-Aid Man, and just picks up stream from there, more undeniable in its boom-bap strut with each You liiiiiied to me braying and Once again!

It features Mann, Iyaz and Snoop Dogg, at a pool party that starts off in the day into the night and they are surrounded by women.