The Party's Over was released on 12 July 1982 by record label EMI.

In the United Kingdom, the album's single "Today" was a top-twenty hit.

In the United States the album entered the Billboard Top 200, reaching number 132, while the single "Talk Talk" peaked at number 75.

[9] Upon its release, Smash Hits reviewer Neil Tennant wrote: "One sad mood permeates the whole LP as though they're compensating for the fact that they'd like to say something important but can't think of anything to say.

Still, attractive tunes and synthesizer phrases plus sliding bass-playing prosper in the big, careful production.