| Ultimate Kylie | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Greatest hits album by | ||||
| Released | 22 November 2004 (2004-11-22) | |||
| Recorded | 1987–2004 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 121:01 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Kylie Minogue chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Ultimate Kylie | ||||
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Ultimate Kylie is the second majorgreatest hits album by Australian singerKylie Minogue, and her first greatest hits released under her contract withParlophone, her record company between 1999 and 2015. The compilation was released in many different formats including a two-disc edition and a deluxe double disc with a bonus DVD. A separate compilation DVDwith the same name, was released to accompany the audio versions. The album includes two new tracks; its lead single, "I Believe in You", and the second single, "Giving You Up". A third track, "Made of Glass", was recorded for the album but not used; it was included on the physical releases of "Giving You Up".
Ultimate Kylie was commended by contemporary critics who noted the musical and credible progression from the start of her career; some critics criticised the earlier material. The album reached the top ten in the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Greece, and Germany, while it charted in several other territories including Spain, Sweden, and New Zealand. The album was certified platinum by theInternational Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) for one million shipments throughout Europe. "I Believe in You" debuted inside the top ten in several countries worldwide, while "Giving You Up" charted moderately in some regions. The compilation was promoted through theShowgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour in 2005. After Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer, she cancelled the tour and was resumed withanother leg in 2006.
This compilation was superseded by 2019'sStep Back in Time: The Definitive Collection with only "Giving You Up" not being included on the expanded, 3-CD version of the latter.
Ultimate Kylie is Minogue's ninth greatest hits album, and her first compilation throughParlophone. The release follows her eight previous greatest hits albums,The Kylie Collection (1988),Greatest Hits (1992),Hits+ (2000),Confide in Me (2001),Greatest Hits 87–97 and its re-release (2002 and 03),Greatest Hits: 87–99 (2003), andArtist Collection (2004).[1][2][3][4][5]Greatest Hits andHits+ are her only compilations released through her signed labels;Greatest Hits was released through her 1987–1992 record label,PWL, andHits+ was released through her 1993–1998 record label,Deconstruction Records.[6][7]Ultimate Kylie is her first greatest hits album under her contract with Parlophone; her final greatest hits release through the contract wasThe Albums 2000–2010 (2011).[8] On Minogue's website, she shared her thoughts on the release:
Since my first hit, I can’t believe how quickly time has passed. This collection is very dear to me and holds a lifetime of memories. There is nothing like time to give you a sense of perspective and I hope the listener gets as much enjoyment out of these tracks as I do. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to experiment throughout the years and that my fans have embraced the need in me to try new approaches. I am just as excited about the new tracks featured here as I am about all the others on the record. At this point in my career, I am happy to celebrate the past and look forward to the future.[9]
On 22 November 2004,Ultimate Kylie was released as a standard two-disc set.[10] Three versions were issued; the standard two-disc set, and a digital release throughAmazon.com andiTunes Store; as of May 2011, the digital release has been removed from digital stores.[11] The third format was a triple-disc package, with the original two-discs and a bonusDVD, including music video content; this was released in Australia throughHMV stores in 2006.[12] A DVDwith the same name was simultaneously released which included several music videos of Minogue that have never appeared on a DVD before. It includes the completed video of the single "I Believe in You", but no video of "Giving You Up" was produced at the album and DVD's release.[13] The DVD contains all the music videos with of the songs with on-screen lyrics (with the exception of "Giving You Up", which had not been filmed at the time of release). It also contains Minogue's performance at the 2002 BRIT Awards of "Can't Get Blue Monday Out of My Head"[14] – a mix of her song "Can't Get You Out of My Head" andNew Order's "Blue Monday". Early versions of the UK DVD were known to suffer fromdisc rot after a short period of time, where the playing surface becomes cloudy or forms a 'cracked' pattern. The record label offered free replacements to those who returned their damaged copies. "Can't Get You Out of My Head" is also featured in edited form with the first chorus removed. "Giving You Up" had not been filmed yet and is represented in the instrumental intro on the menu page.
On 28 October 2006, upon resuming her Showgirl tour, the compilation was re-issued as the "Showgirl Homecoming Special Edition" and included the two-disc compilation plus the corresponding DVD in a three-disc set.[15]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [16] |
| About.com |  [17] |
| Billboard | positive[18] |
| Blender | [19] |
| MusicOMH | positive[20] |
| PopMatters | 8/10[21] |
| Stylus | C[22] |
| Yahoo! Music | 8/10[23] |
Ultimate Kylie received a generally positive response from music critics.PopMatters gave it a positive review, saying: "Ultimate Kylie, which seems condensed even at its double-disc length, is one of the best collections of dance music available, even while including her '80s pop hits. It is enough to get her MP3s permanently out of my "guilty pleasures" bin" and gave the album an 8 out of 10 rating, which means that the album was of excellent status and "among the best work of the given artist, or among the best in the given genre".[21]Stephen Thomas Erlewine fromAllMusic gave it a very positive review, awarding it four and a half out of five stars. At first he said "There certainly hasn't been a shortage of Kylie Minogue hits compilations", but finished the album with a positive review and ending saying "it nevertheless gives all the hits, both big and small, in one place, which means that this not only makes this ideal for fans for all levels of dedication, it means that Ultimate Kylie lives up to its billing."[16]Music Week staff noted that "this is a "greatest hits" truly deserving of the name, and offers more hits than you can shake a stick at".[24]
Jason Shawahn fromAbout.com gave it a positive review, awarding it four stars out of five. He praised the album for its inclusion of two new songs, which he feels were "among the finest tracks that Kylie has recorded in years" and show her at her best. He later finished saying "but as far as providing the comprehensive Kylie, the folks at EMI have done a pretty good job."[17] In a review forStylus Magazine, Mark Edwards called the first disc "horribly naff" and full of "squeaky songs". The review also mentioned "every year or two she’ll release another pop gem, sell a squillion more calendars and finally retire as a multi-millionairess with a greatest hits compilation in every household. Because everyone loves Kylie, even if half of this album is terrible."[22] Jaime Gill fromYahoo! Music gave it a positive review, saying "But why not accept it as merely the brand for a shiny double CD of brilliant pop tunes? If she disappeared tomorrow few would really care, but if songs like this did we really, really would."[23] In 2007,The Guardian included the album in their "1000 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" list.[25] In 2006, "I Believe in You" was nominated for aGrammy Award in theBest Dance Recording category at the48th Grammy Awards.[26]
In the United Kingdom,Ultimate Kylie debuted at number four, staying in for thirty-one weeks. The album was certified triple platinum by theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of 900,000 units.[27] The album entered at number five on theAustralian Albums Chart, and stayed in the top fifty for forty-two weeks, Minogue's longest charting greatest hits album.Ultimate Kylie was certified quadruple platinum by theAustralian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), selling over 280,000 copies in the country.[28] In New Zealand, the album entered at thirty-nine on theNew Zealand Albums Chart, and reached thirty-three.
Ultimate Kylie had other success in other countries as well. The album managed to peak at number fourteen and thirty-five inBelgium (Flanders) and Belgium (Wallonia), being certificated Platinum there.[29] The album debuted at number forty-nine in Spain, and it eventually peaked at number thirty-four after fifteen weeks in the charts. The album was certificated Gold in the country, selling over 50,000 copies.[30] The album also peaked at number eight on theIrish Albums Chart, and was certificated Platinum by theIrish Recording Music Association (IRMA).[31]
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In order to promoteUltimate Kylie and the single, Minogue performed "I Believe in You" in shows such asTop of the Pops,[32]Nordic Music Awards,[33]Top of the Pops Saturday,[34]Premios Ondas,[35]Star Academy,[36]Hit Machine,[37]Today with Des and Mel,[38] andWetten, dass..?.[39] On 24 October 2004, it was announced that Minogue also would go on tour to promote the compilation.[40] It commenced on 19 March 2005 and ended on 7 May 2005, visiting 14 cities in 11 European countries, totalling 37 concerts.[41] The show was split into six acts and an encore:Showgirl;Smiley Kylie;Denial;What Kylie Wants, Kylie Gets;Dreams;Kyliesque andMinx in Space. After performing in Europe, she travelled to Melbourne, where she was diagnosed with breast cancer and was forced to cancel the tour; she intended to extend the tour to Asia and Australia.[42][43] Two recordings from the tour were released; the first was a video album titledKylie Showgirl, and released in November 2005,[44] whilst the second one was released in December as anextended play with eight tracks from the tour, titledShowgirl.[45]
In November 2005, her tour promoter announced the tour's restart for the end of the following year, with an update from the original version "as a thank you for the patience and understanding of Australian ticket holders".[46] She resumed the tour, entitledShowgirl: Homecoming Tour, in November 2006 with a performance in Sydney. Her dance routines had been reworked to accommodate her medical condition, and slower costume changes and longer breaks were introduced between sections of the show to conserve her strength.[47] The media reported that Minogue performed energetically, with theSydney Morning Herald describing the show as an "extravaganza" and "nothing less than a triumph".[48] The tour was released as a live album, titledShowgirl: Homecoming Live, in January 2007.[49] The Greatest Hits Tour grossed more than US$19.97 million from 23 shows in the United Kingdom alone, and the Homecoming Tour grossed $40.11 million[50]($60.82 million in 2024 dollars)[51].
"I Believe in You" was released as the lead single from the compilation. Premiered on radio stations on 14 October 2004,[52] it was released in the United Kingdom on 6 December 2004. "I Believe in You" reached the number two position in the region, only behind "Do They Know It's Christmas?" byBand Aid.[53] It also peaked within the top ten in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Italy and Ireland, also becoming her best entry onBillboard'sHot Dance Club Songs chart, after "Slow".[54][55][56]
It was announced that "Giving You Up" would be released as the second and last single from the compilation. It was released as a single on 28 March 2005 in the United Kingdom. It peaked at number six on the singles charts, giving Minogue her 30th top ten hit.[53] It also reached the top ten in Australia, Scotland and Spain,[57][58] and the top twenty in Denmark, Finland and Ireland.[57][59]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Better the Devil You Know" (fromRhythm of Love, 1990) | Stock Aitken Waterman | 3:53 | |
| 2. | "The Loco-Motion" (7" mix; fromKylie, 1988) | Stock Aitken Waterman | 3:14 | |
| 3. | "I Should Be So Lucky" (fromKylie) |
| Stock Aitken Waterman | 3:24 |
| 4. | "Step Back in Time" (fromRhythm of Love) |
| Stock Aitken Waterman | 3:04 |
| 5. | "Shocked" (DNA 7" mix featuringJazzi P; fromRhythm of Love, 1990) |
|
| 3:09 |
| 6. | "What Do I Have to Do" (7" mix; fromRhythm of Love) |
| Stock Aitken Waterman | 3:33 |
| 7. | "Wouldn't Change a Thing" (fromEnjoy Yourself, 1989) |
| Stock Aitken Waterman | 3:14 |
| 8. | "Hand on Your Heart" (fromEnjoy Yourself) |
| Stock Aitken Waterman | 3:51 |
| 9. | "Especially for You" (withJason Donovan; fromTen Good Reasons, 1989) |
| Stock Aitken Waterman | 3:56 |
| 10. | "Got to Be Certain" (fromKylie) |
| Stock Aitken Waterman | 3:19 |
| 11. | "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" (fromKylie) |
| Stock Aitken Waterman | 4:01 |
| 12. | "Give Me Just a Little More Time" (fromLet's Get to It, 1991) |
|
| 3:06 |
| 13. | "Never Too Late" (fromEnjoy Yourself) |
| Stock Aitken Waterman | 3:21 |
| 14. | "Tears on My Pillow" (fromEnjoy Yourself) |
| Stock Aitken Waterman | 2:29 |
| 15. | "Celebration" (fromGreatest Hits, 1992) |
| 3:57 | |
| Total length: | 51:35 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Believe in You" |
| 3:21 | |
| 2. | "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (fromFever, 2001) |
| 3:49 | |
| 3. | "Love at First Sight" (fromFever) |
|
| 3:57 |
| 4. | "Slow" (fromBody Language, 2003) |
| Sunnyroads | 3:13 |
| 5. | "On a Night Like This" (fromLight Years, 2000) |
|
| 3:33 |
| 6. | "Spinning Around" (fromLight Years) |
| Mike Spencer | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Kids" (radio edit; withRobbie Williams; fromLight Years) |
|
| 4:20 |
| 8. | "Confide in Me" (radio edit; fromKylie Minogue, 1994) |
| Brothers in Rhythm | 4:26 |
| 9. | "In Your Eyes" (fromFever) |
|
| 3:18 |
| 10. | "Please Stay" (fromLight Years) |
|
| 4:04 |
| 11. | "Red Blooded Woman" (fromBody Language) |
|
| 4:20 |
| 12. | "Giving You Up" |
|
| 3:30 |
| 13. | "Chocolate" (radio edit; fromBody Language) |
|
| 4:01 |
| 14. | "Come into My World" (single version; fromFever) |
|
| 4:06 |
| 15. | "Put Yourself in My Place" (radio edit; fromKylie Minogue) | Jimmy Harry | Harry | 4:11 |
| 16. | "Did It Again" (single version; fromImpossible Princess, 1997) |
| Brothers in Rhythm | 4:14 |
| 17. | "Breathe" (radio edit; fromImpossible Princess) |
|
| 3:40 |
| 18. | "Where the Wild Roses Grow" (withNick Cave; fromMurder Ballads, 1996) | Cave |
| 3:57 |
| Total length: | 69:26 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19. | "Dancing Queen" (music video; fromIntimate and Live, 1998) | 3:45 | |
| Total length: | 73:11 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Better the Devil You Know" (fromRhythm of Love) | 3:53 |
| 2. | "The Loco-Motion" (7" mix; fromKylie) | 3:14 |
| 3. | "I Should Be So Lucky" (fromKylie) | 3:24 |
| 4. | "Turn It into Love" (fromKylie) | 3:36 |
| 5. | "Step Back in Time" (fromRhythm of Love) | 3:04 |
| 6. | "Shocked" (DNA 7" mix featuring Jazzi P; fromRhythm of Love) | 3:09 |
| 7. | "What Do I Have to Do" (7" mix; fromRhythm of Love) | 3:33 |
| 8. | "Wouldn't Change a Thing" (fromEnjoy Yourself) | 3:14 |
| 9. | "Hand on Your Heart" (fromEnjoy Yourself) | 3:51 |
| 10. | "Especially for You" (with Jason Donovan; fromTen Good Reasons) | 3:56 |
| 11. | "Got to Be Certain" (fromKylie) | 3:19 |
| 12. | "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" (fromKylie) | 4:01 |
| 13. | "Give Me Just a Little More Time" (fromLet's Get to It) | 3:06 |
| 14. | "Never Too Late" (fromEnjoy Yourself) | 3:21 |
| 15. | "Tears on My Pillow" (fromEnjoy Yourself) | 2:29 |
| 16. | "Celebration" (fromGreatest Hits) | 3:57 |
| 17. | "Did It Again" (single version; fromImpossible Princess) | 4:14 |
| 18. | "Breathe" (radio edit; fromImpossible Princess) | 3:40 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Believe in You" | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (fromFever) | 3:49 |
| 3. | "Love at First Sight" (fromFever) | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Slow" (fromBody Language) | 3:13 |
| 5. | "On a Night Like This" (fromLight Years) | 3:33 |
| 6. | "Spinning Around" (fromLight Years) | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Kids" (radio edit; with Robbie Williams; fromLight Years) | 4:20 |
| 8. | "Confide in Me" (radio edit; fromKylie Minogue) | 4:26 |
| 9. | "In Your Eyes" (fromFever) | 3:18 |
| 10. | "Please Stay" (fromLight Years) | 4:04 |
| 11. | "Red Blooded Woman" (fromBody Language) | 4:20 |
| 12. | "Giving You Up" | 3:30 |
| 13. | "Chocolate" (radio edit; fromBody Language) | 4:01 |
| 14. | "Come into My World" (single version; fromFever) | 4:06 |
| 15. | "Put Yourself in My Place" (radio edit; fromKylie Minogue) | 4:11 |
| 16. | "Where the Wild Roses Grow" (withNick Cave; fromMurder Ballads) | 3:57 |
| 17. | "Can't Get Blue Monday Out of My Head" | 4:03 |
| 18. | "Slow" (Chemical Brothers remix) | 3:57 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Should Be So Lucky" | 3:28 |
| 2. | "Got to Be Certain" | 3:20 |
| 3. | "The Loco-Motion" (7" mix) | 3:22 |
| 4. | "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" | 3:22 |
| 5. | "Especially for You" (with Jason Donovan) | 3:44 |
| 6. | "Hand on Your Heart" (video mix) | 3:44 |
| 7. | "Wouldn't Change a Thing" | 3:19 |
| 8. | "Never Too Late" | 3:26 |
| 9. | "Tears on My Pillow" | 2:33 |
| 10. | "Better the Devil You Know" | 3:59 |
| 11. | "Step Back in Time" | 3:09 |
| 12. | "What Do I Have to Do?" (7" mix) | 3:39 |
| 13. | "Shocked" (DNA 7" mix) | 3:13 |
| 14. | "Give Me Just a Little More Time" | 3:09 |
| 15. | "Celebration" | 4:04 |
| 16. | "Confide in Me" (master mix) | 6:02 |
| 17. | "Put Yourself in My Place" (radio edit) | 4:12 |
| 18. | "Where the Wild Roses Grow" | 4:08 |
| 19. | "Did It Again" (radio edit) | 3:53 |
| 20. | "Breathe" (radio edit) | 3:40 |
| 21. | "Spinning Around" | 3:32 |
| 22. | "On a Night Like This" | 4:12 |
| 23. | "Kids" (with Robbie Williams) | 4:49 |
| 24. | "Please Stay" | 4:08 |
| 25. | "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (radio edit) | 3:16 |
| 26. | "In Your Eyes" | 3:23 |
| 27. | "Love at First Sight" | 4:01 |
| 28. | "Come into My World" (single version) | 4:18 |
| 29. | "Slow" | 3:59 |
| 30. | "Red Blooded Woman" | 4:14 |
| 31. | "Chocolate" (radio edit) | 4:09 |
| Total length: | 118:27 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 32. | "I Believe in You" | 3:25 |
| 33. | "Can't Get Blue Monday Out of My Head" (live at the Brit Awards) | 4:11 |
| Total length: | 7:36 | |
Notes
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
Decade-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[87] | 4× Platinum | 280,000^ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[88] | Gold | 15,000* |
| Belgium (BRMA)[29] | Platinum | 50,000* |
| Ireland (IRMA)[31] | 3× Platinum | 45,000^ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[30] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[89] | 3× Platinum | 900,000* |
| United States | — | 50,000[90] |
| Summaries | ||
| Europe (IFPI)[91] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina (CAPIF)[92] | Platinum | 8,000^ |
| Australia (ARIA)[93] | 3× Platinum | 45,000^ |
| France (SNEP)[94] | Gold | 10,000* |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[95] | 2× Platinum | 100,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| Compilation albums | |
| Remix albums | |
| Live albums | |
| Concerts |
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| Video | |
| Acting roles | |
| Books | |
| Fragrances | |
| Related articles | |
