When the World Knows Your Name is the second studio album by the Scottish rock band Deacon Blue. It was released in 1989 and attained the number 1 chart position in the UK Albums Chart.
"Real Gone Kid" was the band's first Top 10 hit single in the UK Singles Chart, reaching No. 8 in October 1988. "Wages Day", "Fergus Sings the Blues", "Love and Regret" and "Queen of the New Year" also reached the top 30 in the same listing, and all five of the album's singles made the top 10 of the Irish Singles Chart.
Leslie Mathew at AllMusic noted "Deacon Blue isn't on the mark all the time. They have their failings, notably a tendency to get overly precious and self-indulgent when trying too hard to be impressionistic on the slower songs toward album's end. But when they get it right, like on "Queen of the New Year," "Wages Day," "Real Gone Kid," and "Fergus Sings the Blues," their driving melodies and hooks are fine compensation".
All songs written by Ricky Ross, except where noted:
On 22 October 2012, a deluxe remastered reissue of When the World Knows Your Name was released by Edsel Records, featuring two additional discs of bonus material as well as a DVD with bonus videos.