Don't You Want Me was released in the UK on 27 November 1981. The B side was "Seconds" another track lifted straight from the "Dare" album. Like previous singles, a 12" version was also issued featuring the original version of "Don't You Want Me" and "Seconds" on the A side and an "extended dance mix" lasting seven and a half minutes on the B side. This mix is also features on the "Love and Dancing" album released under the name of The League Unlimited Orchestra in 1982. To the amazement of the band (and especially Oakey), it entered the UK Singles Chart at No.9
I Want You to Want Me #29. Years later, Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson criticized the lightweight production of "I Want You to Want Me" as it originally appeared on their second album, "In Color". Cheap Trick went as far as to mostly re-record that album in 1998. Producer Tom Werman explains: "'I Want You To Want Me' was a fabulous dancehall type of song, and a perfect pop tune, and it was meant to be a little campy. I put the piano on—a guy named Jai Winding played it. I remember asking the band what they thought of it, and Rick Nielsen kind of shrugged