After a string of commercially overlooked albums through the late 1970s and early 1980s Reputation finally managed to resurrect Springfield's career and belatedly resulted in her being re-evaluated and recognised by both music critics and the general public as the UK's foremost 'blue-eyed soul' singer.

In late 1987, Springfield was beginning to look back towards the UK as a source of recording work, due in large part to her collaboration with Pet Shop Boys on their single "What Have I Done to Deserve This?".

A brand new greatest hits album, Dusty – The Silver Collection, also proved highly popular, achieving Platinum status and charting in the UK at No.

Both singles were included on Reputation, and Pet Shop Boys collaborated with Springfield on half the album's tracks, which made up side B of the original vinyl edition.

Critics gave Reputation very favourable reviews, saying it was a long overdue return to form for Springfield, and the album spawned two further single releases, the title track "Reputation", written by Brian Spence, and the ballad "Arrested by You", written by Rupert Hine and Jeanette Obstoj, previously recorded by Hine for the Better Off Dead soundtrack.

A three-disc expanded deluxe collector's edition of Reputation was released in August 2016 on Strike Force Entertainment, a division of Cherry Red Records.