I Don't Know How to Love Him has been universally acclaimed as the high point of the "Jesus Christ Superstar" soundtrack since the album's September 1970 release; in 2003 "The Rough Guide to Cult Pop" would assess Elliman's performance: "It's rare to hear a singer combine such power and purity of tone in one song, and none of the famous singers who have covered this ballad since have come close." The choice for the first single release went, however, to the track "Superstar" by Murray Head. When a cover of "I Don't Know How to Love Him" by Helen Reddy began moving up the charts in the
To Know Him Is to Love Him July 1963 for the "Pop Go The Beatles" radio show and was not officially released until 1994, on their "Live at the BBC" compilation album. John Lennon recorded his own version of the song in 1973 ("To Know Her Is to Love Her"), but it would not see release until the 1986 posthumous compilation "Menlove Ave." Dodie Stevens recorded a version for her 1961 album "Pink Shoelaces". The Shirelles recorded a version which appeared on their 1964 compilation "The Shirelles Sing the Golden Oldies ". British rock star Gary Glitter recorded a version on his second studio album "Touch Me"