The AllMusic review by stated "Garland was a professional boxer, and his pugilistic sensibilities are audible in the rough-and-tumble way he approaches the keyboard. ... Captured in flight with his late-'70s working trio of Sam Jones and Al Foster, Garland lays down a bevy of authoritative runs over a propulsive rhythm section. Solid but searching and undeniably soulful, Feelin' Red is Garland in top form".[4]