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
I Don't Know How to Love Him cachet of performing as Mary Magdalena in that stage production it was her single which became the hit, besting Lyngstad's "Allting Skall Bli Bra"/"Vad Gör Jag Med Min Kärlek?" and also a cover version of "Vad Gör Jag Med Min Kärlek?" by . "I Don't Know How to Love Him" has also been recorded (with parent album) by Madeline Bell (on multi-artist album "Musical Cocktail" – 1995), Debra Byrne (credited as Debbie on multi-artist album "Young Talent Time" by Young Talent Team – 1973), Mary Byrne ("...with Love" – 2011), Chelsia Chan ("Dark Side of Your Mind" – 1975), Judy