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
Don't You Want Me so much that it was relegated to the last track on side two of the (then) vinyl album. Before the release of "Dare", three of its tracks—"The Sound of the Crowd", "Love Action (I Believe in Love)", and "Open Your Heart"—had already been released as successful singles. With a hit album and three hit singles in a row, Virgin's chief executive Simon Draper decided to release one more single from the album before the end of 1981. His choice, "Don't You Want Me", instantly caused a row with Oakey who did not want another single to be released because he