In the US, "It Hurts to Be in Love" spent 16 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. Also reaching No. 7 on the Cash Box Top 100, and No. 6 on Record World's "100 Top Pops". The song also made No. 2 on Canada's RPM Top 40-5s and No. 36 on the UK's Record Retailer chart.

Although not characteristic of Pitney's pop sound, as heard in "Town Without Pity" and "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance," AllMusic noted that "It Hurts to Be in Love" was about as close as any of his major hits came to straight-ahead rock & roll. Thank you for listening to my cover.