Tropic Nights received positive reviews in the early 1940s. Stage commended both Ríos' performance and Morand's orchestra: "Miss Rios displays perfect diction, great charm, and above all, a lovely voice. The orchestra accompanies in the best Latin tradition".[1]Harper's Bazaar described the album's tracks as "Mexican and Cuban melodies smolderingly interpreted by Elvira Rios".[2]Commonweal recommended it: "Decca has a good album called Tropic Nights, Mexican songs suavely delivered by Elvira Rios".[3]
Decca reissued the album in the late 1940s and 1950s. In his 1947 book Records for Pleasure, music editor John Ball, Jr. wrote: "Miss Rios has mastered completely the intimate style of half-voice singing that can make of a Spanish song a most potent and intoxicating brew".[4] In 1952, High Fidelity reviewed the album and highlighted Ríos' talent and prestige:
"If you enjoy Latin American music in a quiet vocal presentation, you may enjoy this record. Miss Rios brings admirable restraint of performance to these eight south-of-the-border standards and takes her place as an outstanding vocalist along with some of the well-known [Mexican] males: Nestor Chayres, Tito Guizar, and others".[5]
