Ultimate Kylie is the third compilation album by Kylie Minogue, released on 22 November 2004. The collection superseded Kylie's 1992 Greatest Hits compilation and the 2000 compilation Hits+. The album contains work from all nine of her studio albums released up to that point, plus two new tracks, "I Believe in You" and "Giving You Up". Ultimate Kylie was released in different formats, with most countries having the two-disc CD, while other countries included a bonus DVD, and a bonus digital download video of "Dancing Queen", a cover of ABBA.
Ultimate Kylie received positive reviews from music critics, with many noting Kylie's best collection of hits in one album, but some said that some missing hits were disappointing. It was a success commercially, reaching the top ten in Australia, Germany and United Kingdom. The album was promoted through the Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour in 2005. After Kylie was diagnosed with breast cancer, she cancelled the tour and was resumed with another leg in 2006. The album was re-released exclusively in Australia as a set consisting of two CDs and a DVD to coincide with her return to prominence and saw the album re-enter the charts at a peak of number seven.
Background and release[]
Ultimate Kylie is Kylie's second major greatest hits album, the first one being Greatest Hits in 1992. Although not her first hits compilation, Ultimate Kylie is notable as being the first album to include Kylie's Stock Aitken Waterman, Deconstruction and Parlophone Records recordings in one package. Advertisements for the album claimed it contained every single that Kylie had released in the UK. These were misleading, as several of her charting singles were not included. The album contained two new songs, "I Believe in You" and "Giving You Up", which were recorded especially for the Ultimate Kylie release. On Kylie'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. | ” |
The missing singles from Kylie's discography to that point are "It's No Secret", "Word Is Out", "If You Were with Me Now", "Finer Feelings". "What Kind of Fool (Heard All That Before)", "Where Is the Feeling?" and "Some Kind of Bliss".
Other songs that were leftovers from the Body Language recording sessions were considered for inclusion on the album, however only one of those songs, "B.P.M", was released as the B-side to "I Believe in You". "Give Me a Reason" and "I'm Fascinated" are the songs that were thought to be included in this album but they did not make the final cut. Both were written by Kylie & "BiffCo". A track entitled "I Put a Spell on You" is also thought to exist. According to the EMI/Parlophone catalogue it is one of the classic jazz recordings from Kylie.
While working with Xenomania, Kylie recorded "Made of Glass" which was released as the b-side to "Giving You Up". During those sessions, they penned a song named "Loving You". Although it was never properly recorded, a demo of the song was leaked in 2004 just after the release of Ultimate Kylie along with "Everything I Know", which was a demo recorded with the Scissor Sisters.
Release and promotion[]
Ultimate Kylie was released as a two-disc set on 22 November 2004. Three versions were issued; the standard two-disc set, and a digital release through Amazon.com and iTunes Store; as of May 2011, the digital release has been removed from digital stores. The third format was a triple-disc package, with the original two-discs and a bonus DVD, including music video content; this was released in Australia through HMV stores in 2006. A DVD with the same name was simultaneously released which included several music videos that had 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. 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 Kylie's performance at the 2002 BRIT Awards of "Can't Get Blue Monday Out of My Head" – a mix of her song "Can't Get You Out of My Head" and New Order's "Blue Monday".
Many of the singles that were released during her Stock Aitken Waterman and Deconstruction period were not included on the second CD to save room for her bigger hit singles that were produced during her releases with Parlophone. The Japanese release contained three bonus tracks: "Turn It into Love", "Can't Get Blue Monday Out of My Head" and "Slow" (Chemical Brothers Remix).
The album was promoted by the "Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour". The album was repackaged and reissued in October 2006 in Australia only as the Showgirl Tour Special Edition. The repackaged version contains 2 CDs and 1 DVD, originally available separately. Parlophone has not announced any plans of a UK reissue, however, the version was made available online through such retailers as HMV as an import.
Singles[]
"I Believe in You" was released as the first worldwide single from the compilation. The song was released in the UK on 6 December 2004, and was heard on radio stations from 19 October 2004. Jake Shears and Babydaddy from the Scissor Sisters are credited as co-writers and producers. "I Believe in You" reached the number two position in the UK behind "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid and received generally positive reviews from music critics. In December 2005, the song gained Minogue her fourth Grammy nomination for the Best Dance Recording category.
It was announced that "Giving You Up" will be released as the second and last single from the compilation. It was released as a single on 28 March 2005 in the UK. It peaked at six, giving Kylie another top ten hit and received mixed reviews from music critics. It featured "Made of Glass" as a b-side, a song that was leaked to the internet in December 2004. "Giving You Up" was written and produced with Xenomania.
Tour[]
In 2005, Kylie embarked on her first greatest hits tour, entitled Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour. This was based around the album's track listing, which included some non-single songs and unreleased songs ("Dreams" and "In Denial"). The tour was split into seven acts and an encore. Her costumes and shoes were made by Manolo Blahnik, John Galliano, Julien Macdonald and Stephen Jones. Throughout the concert, Kylie had a total of eight costume changes. The performance on 6 May at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London was filmed for DVD.
Kylie was diagnosed with breast cancer after the European leg so was forced to cancel. She recovered over a year and on 11 November she resumed the tour under the name Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour. This featured new outfits and a change to the setlist. This was again divided into seven acts and an encore, with Kylie having eight costume changes. The breaks in between each act were lengthened and the dance routines from the previous tour were reworked to conserve her strength. The performance in Melbourne on 11 December was filmed for DVD.
Track listing[]
| Ultimate Kylie — Disc one | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 1. | ""Better the Devil You Know" (from Rhythm of Love) | Mike Stock · Matt Aitken · Pete Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:53 |
| 2. | "The Loco-Motion" (7" Mix, from Kylie) | Gerry Coffin · Carole King | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:14 |
| 3. | "I Should Be So Lucky" (from Kylie) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:24 |
| 4. | "Step Back in Time" (from Rhythm of Love) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:04 |
| 5. | "Shocked" (DNA 7" Mix featuring Jazzi P; from Rhythm of Love) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman · Pauline Bennett | Stock · Aitken · Waterman · DNA | 3:09 |
| 6. | "What Do I Have to Do" (7" Mix, from Rhythm of Love) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:33 |
| 7. | "Wouldn't Change a Thing" (from Enjoy Yourself) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:14 |
| 8. | "Hand on Your Heart" (from Enjoy Yourself) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:51 |
| 9. | "Especially For You" (with Jason Donovan, from Enjoy Yourself) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:56 |
| 10. | "Got to Be Certain" (from Kylie) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:19 |
| 11. | "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" (from Kylie) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 4:01 |
| 12. | "Give Me Just a Little More Time" (from Let's Get to It) | Edith Wayne · Ronald Dunbar | Stock · Waterman | 3:06 |
| 13. | "Never Too Late" (from Enjoy Yourself) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:21 |
| 14. | "Tears on My Pillow" (from Enjoy Yourself) | Sylvester Bradford · Al Lewis | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 2:29 |
| 15. | "Celebration" (from Greatest Hits) | Robert Bell · James Taylor | Phil Harding · Ian Cunrow | 3:57 |
Total length: |
51:35 | |||
| Ultimate Kylie — Disc two | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "I Believe in You" | Kylie Minogue · Jake Shears · Babydaddy | Shears · Babydaddy | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (from Fever, 2001) | Cathy Dennis · Rob Davis | Dennis · Davis | 3:49 |
| 3. | "Love at First Sight" (from Fever, 2001) | Minogue · Richard Stannard · Julian Gallagher · Ash Howes · Martin Harrington | Stannard · Gallagher | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Slow" (from Body Language, 2003) | Minogue · Dan Carey · Emilíana Torrini | Sunnyroads | 3:13 |
| 5. | "On a Night Like This" (from Light Years, 2000) | Steve Torch · Graham Stack · Mark Taylor · Brian Rawling | Stack · Taylor | 3:33 |
| 6. | "Spinning Around" (from Light Years, 2000) | Ira Shickman · Osborne Bingham · Kara DioGuardi · Paula Abdul | Mike Spencer | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Kids" (Radio edit, with Robbie Williams, from Light Years, 2000) | Williams · Guy Chambers | Chamber · Steve Power | 4:20 |
| 8. | "Confide in Me" (Radio mix, from Kylie Minogue, 1994) | Steve Anderson · Dave Seaman · Owain Barton | Brothers in Rhythm | 4:26 |
| 9. | "In Your Eyes" (from Fever, 2001) | Minogue · Stannard · Gallagher · Howes | Stannard · Gallagher | 3:18 |
| 10. | "Please Stay" (from Light Years, 2000) | Minogue · Stannard · Gallagher · John Themis | Stannard · Gallagher | 4:04 |
| 11. | "Red Blooded Woman" (from Body Language, 2003) | Johnny Douglas · Karen Poole | Douglas · Poole | 4:20 |
| 12. | "Giving You Up" | Miranda Cooper · Brian Higgins · Tim Powell · Lisa Cowling · Paul Woods · Nick Coler · Minogue | Higgins · Xenomania | 3:30 |
| 13. | "Chocolate" (Radio edit, from Body Language, 2003) | Douglas · Poole | Douglas · Poole | 4:01 |
| 14. | "Come into My World" (Radio edit, from Fever, 2001) | Dennis · Davis | Dennis · Davis | 4:06 |
| 15. | "Put Yourself in My Place" (Radio edit, from Kylie Minogue, 1994) | Jimmy Harry | Harry | 4:11 |
| 16. | "Did It Again" (from Impossible Princess, 1997) | Minogue · Anderson · Seaman | Brothers in Rhythm | 4:14 |
| 17. | "Breathe" (Radio edit, from Impossible Princess, 1997) | Minogue · Dave Ball · Ingo Vauk | Ball · Vauk | 3:40 |
| 18. | "Where the Wild Roses Grow" (with Nick Cave, from Murder Ballads, 1996) | Cave | Tony Cohen · Victor Van Vugt | 3:57 |
Total length: |
69:26 | |||
| Ultimate Kylie — Digital bonus track | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 19. | "Dancing Queen" (Music video, from Intimate and Live) | Benny Andersson · Björn Ulvaeus · Stig Anderson | 3:45 |
Total length: |
73:11 | ||
| Ultimate Kylie — Japanese edition (Disc one) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Better the Devil You Know" (from [Rhythm of Love) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:53 |
| 2. | "The Loco-Motion" (7" Mix; from Kylie) | Gerry Coffin · Carole King | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:14 |
| 3. | "I Should Be So Lucky" (from Kylie) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:24 |
| 4. | "Turn It into Love" (from Kylie) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:36 |
| 5. | "Step Back in Time" (from Rhythm of Love) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:04 |
| 6. | "Shocked" (DNA 7" mix featuring Jazzi P; from Rhythm of Love) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman · Bennett | Stock · Aitken · Waterman · DNA | 3:09 |
| 7. | "What Do I Have to Do" (7" Mix; from Rhythm of Love) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:33 |
| 8. | "Wouldn't Change a Thing" (from Enjoy Yourself) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:14 |
| 9. | "Hand on Your Heart" (from Enjoy Yourself) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:51 |
| 10. | "Especially For You" (with Jason Donovan, from Enjoy Yourself) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:56 |
| 11. | "Got to Be Certain" (from Kylie) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:19 |
| 12. | "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" (from Kylie) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 4:01 |
| 13. | "Give Me Just a Little More Time" (from Let's Get to It) | Edith Wayne · Ronald Dunbar | Stock · Waterman | 3:06 |
| 14. | "Never Too Late" (from Enjoy Yourself) | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 3:21 |
| 15. | "Tears on My Pillow" (from Enjoy Yourself) | Bradford · Lewis | Stock · Aitken · Waterman | 2:29 |
| 16. | "Celebration" (from Greatest Hits) | Bell · Taylor | Harding · Cunrow | 3:57 |
| 17. | "Did It Again" (single version; from Impossible Princess) | Minogue · Anderson · Seaman | Brothers in Rhythm | 4:14 |
| 18. | "Breathe" (Radio edit from Impossible Princess) | Minogue · Ball · Vauk | Ball · Vauk | 3:40 |
| Ultimate Kylie — Japanese edition (Disc two) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "I Believe in You" | Minogue · Shears · Babydaddy | Shears · Babydaddy | 3:21 |
| 2. | "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (from Fever) | Cathy Dennis · Rob Davis | Dennis · Davis | 3:49 |
| 3. | "Love at First Sight" (from Fever) | Minogue · Stannard · Gallagher · Howes · Harrington | Stannard · Gallagher | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Slow" (from Body Language) | Minogue · Carey · Torrini | Sunnyroads | 3:13 |
| 5. | "On a Night Like This" (from Light Years) | Torch · Stack · Taylor · Rawling | Stack · Taylor | 3:33 |
| 6. | "Spinning Around" (from Light Years) | Shickman · Bingham · DioGuardi · Abdul | Spencer | 3:27 |
| 7. | "Kids" (with Robbie Williams; from Light Years) | Williams · Chambers | Chamber · Power | 4:20 |
| 8. | "Confide in Me" (Radio mix, from Kylie Minogue) | Anderson · Seaman · Barton | Brothers in Rhythm | 4:26 |
| 9. | "In Your Eyes" (from Fever) | Minogue · Stannard · Gallagher · Howes | Stannard · Gallagher | 3:18 |
| 10. | "Please Stay" (from Light Years) | Minogue · Stannard · Gallagher · John Themis | Stannard · Gallagher | 4:04 |
| 11. | "Red Blooded Woman" (from Body Language) | Douglas · Poole | Douglas · Poole | 4:20 |
| 12. | "Giving You Up" | Cooper · Higgins · Powell · Cowling · Woods · Coler · Minogue | Higgins · Xenomania | 3:30 |
| 13. | "Chocolate" (Radio edit, from Body Language) | Douglas · Poole | Douglas · Poole | 4:01 |
| 14. | "Come into My World" (Radio edit, from Fever) | Dennis · Davis | Dennis · Davis | 4:06 |
| 15. | "Put Yourself in My Place" (Radio edit, from Kylie Minogue) | Harry | Harry | 4:11 |
| 16. | "Where the Wild Roses Grow" (with Nick Cave; from Murder Ballads) | Cave | Cohen · Van Vugt | 4:14 |
| 17. | "Can't Get Blue Monday Out of My Head" | Dennis · Davis | 4:07 | |
| 18. | "Slow" (Chemical Brothers remix) | Minogue · Carey · Torrini | 3:57 | |
Notes
· The German edition replaces "Please Stay" with "Your Disco Needs You" (Casino Radio & Club Mix)
Charts[]
| Albums discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | Kylie · Enjoy Yourself · Rhythm of Love · Let's Get to It · Kylie Minogue · Impossible Princess · Light Years · Fever · Body Language · X · Aphrodite · Kiss Me Once · Kylie Christmas · Golden · Disco · Tension · Tension II |
| Re-issues | The Kylie Collection · Snow Queen Edition · Guest List Edition · Fully Wrapped |
| EPs | Live and Other Sides · Other Sides · Money Can't Buy · Darling · Pink Sparkle · A Kylie Christmas · A Christmas Gift · Performance · North American Tour · Sleepwalker · Kylie + Garibay · At Home with Kylie Minogue |
| Compilations | Greatest Hits · Hits+ · Confide in Me · Greatest Hits: 87-97 · Greatest Hits: 87-99 · Artist Collection · Ultimate Kylie · Confide in Me: The Irresistible Kylie · Hits · The Best of Kylie Minogue · The Abbey Road Sessions · Confide in Me · Step Back in Time: The Definitive Collection |
| Box sets | The Albums 2000–2010 · K25 Time Capsule |
| Live albums | Intimate and Live · KylieFever2002: Live in Manchester · Showgirl · Showgirl Homecoming Live · Live in New York · Aphrodite Les Folies: Live in London · Kiss Me Once: Live at the SSE Hydro · Golden: Live in Concert · Infinite Disco · Tension Tour//Live 2025 |