The album was released on December 9, 1963, and features the singles "Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)" (which peaked at No. 12 in the US, US Cashbox and the UK) and "For You", the latter reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 8 on the Cashbox, and No. 14 in the UK in January 1964. Nelson's version of the song was his last top ten hit for eight years before the British Invasion hit the U.S. when the Beatles arrived one month later on February 7, 1964.[1]
The album debuted on the Billboard Top LPs chart in the issue dated January 4, 1964, and remained on the chart for 22 weeks, peaking at number 14.[2] It also debuted on the Cashbox albums chart in the issue dated December 14, 1963, and remained on the chart for a total of 36 weeks, peaking at number 11.[3]
The album was released on compact disc by Ace Records in 1997 as tracks 12 through 24 on a pairing of two albums on one CD with tracks 1 through 12 consisting of Nelson's debut Decca album, For Your Sweet Love.[4]Bear Family included the album in the 2008 For You: The Decca Years box set.[5]
Richie Unterberger thought the album Fools Rush In, with its classic James Burton guitar work, overshadowed everything else on Nelson's second Decca album, which contained another big hit in the title track. The singer moved into some more country-oriented material on cuts like "A Legend in My Time," but as a whole the atmosphere was too sedate and the material was unexceptional, sometimes sounding like inferior derivations of his early-'60s hits for Imperial.[6]
Billboard selected the album for a "Spotlight Album" review, and stated that following hot on the heels of his current hit single, "Fools Rush In" is this designed to please young and old alike, and a generous serving of tunes to please the younger set such as "Hey There, Miss Tease" and "That's All She Wrote".[10]
Cash Box claimed "Jack Haskell has created some stunning, inmaginatve arrangements for a fine batch of evergreens and newer material".[11]
Variety praised Nelson for "His fine handing or such oldies as "For You", "Fools Rush In" and "The Nearness of You"[12]
Record Mirror described the album as "a good pleasing listen".[7]