The song peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, and at number one on the Easy Listening chart, reaching the top position for one week in November 1976, Manilow's fifth number one overall on that chart.

[1] An early version of the song appears on Manilow's compilation box set, The Complete Collection and Then Some.... Cash Box said that the song "is perfectly constructed with a commercial feeling in mind" and "a lovely ballad, with touching lyric.

"[2] Record World said that it is "sung with [Manilow's] inimitable flair.

"[3] Chicago radio superstation WLS, which gave the song much airplay, ranked "This One's for You" as the 66th most popular hit of 1976.

[4] It reached as high as number seven on their survey of November 6, 1976.