Kylie Minogue "Ultimate Kylie"

Ultimate Kylie is the second major greatest hits album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue, and her first greatest hits released under her contract with Parlophone, her record company between 1999-2015. 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 DVD with 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 criticized 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 the International 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 the Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour in 2005. After Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer, she cancelled the tour and was resumed with another leg in 2006.

This compilation was superseded by 2019's Step Back in Time: The Definitive Collection with only three tracks not being included on that 2-CD set.

Ultimate Kylie is Minogue's ninth greatest hits album, and her first compilation through Parlophone. 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), and Artist Collection (2004). Greatest Hits and Hits+ are her only compilations released through her signed labels; Greatest Hits was released through her 1987-1992 record label, PWL, and Hits+ was released through her 1993-1998 record label, Deconstruction Records. Ultimate Kylie is her first greatest hits album under her contract with Parlophone; her final greatest hits release through the contract was The Albums 2000–2010 (2011). 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.

On 22 November 2004, Ultimate Kylie was released as a standard two-disc set. 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 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.

"I Believe in You" was released as the lead single from the compilation. Premiered on radio stations on 14 October 2004, 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?" by Band Aid. It also peaked within the top ten in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Italy and Ireland, also becoming her best entry on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart, after "Slow".

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. It also reached the top ten in Australia, Scotland and Spain, and the top twenty in Denmark, Finland and Ireland.

Track listing

Disc one

1. "Better the Devil You Know" (from Rhythm of Love, 1990) 3:53
2. "The Loco-Motion" (7" mix; from Kylie, 1988) 3:14
3. "I Should Be So Lucky" (from Kylie, 1988) 3:24
4. "Step Back in Time" (from Rhythm of Love, 1990) 3:04
5. "Shocked" (DNA 7" mix featuring Jazzi P; from Rhythm of Love, 1990)  3:09
6. "What Do I Have to Do" (7" mix; from Rhythm of Love, 1990) 3:33
7. "Wouldn't Change a Thing" (from Enjoy Yourself, 1989) 3:14
8. "Hand on Your Heart" (from Enjoy Yourself, 1989) 3:51
9. "Especially for You" (with Jason Donovan; from Ten Good Reasons, 1989) 3:56
10. "Got to Be Certain" (from Kylie, 1988) 3:19
11. "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" (from Kylie, 1988) 4:01
12. "Give Me Just a Little More Time" (from Let's Get to It, 1991) 3:06
13. "Never Too Late" (from Enjoy Yourself, 1989)   3:21
14. "Tears on My Pillow" (from Enjoy Yourself, 1989) 2:29
15. "Celebration" (from Greatest Hits, 1992) 3:57

Total length: 51:35

Disc two

1. "I Believe in You" 3:21
2. "Can't Get You Out of My Head" (from Fever, 2001) 3:49
3. "Love at First Sight" (from Fever, 2001) 3:57
4. "Slow" (from Body Language, 2003) 3:13
5. "On a Night Like This" (from Light Years, 2000) 3:33
6. "Spinning Around" (from Light Years, 2000) 3:27
7. "Kids" (with Robbie Williams; from Light Years, 2000) 4:20
8. "Confide in Me" (Radio Edit; from Kylie Minogue, 1994) 4:26
9. "In Your Eyes" (from Fever, 2001) 3:18
10. "Please Stay" (from Light Years, 2000) 4:04
11. "Red Blooded Woman" (from Body Language, 2003) 4:20
12. "Giving You Up" 3:30
13. "Chocolate" (Radio Edit; from Body Language, 2003) 4:01
14. "Come into My World" (Single Version; from Fever, 2001) 4:06
15. "Put Yourself in My Place" (Radio Edit; from Kylie Minogue, 1994) 4:11
16. "Did It Again" (Radio Edit; from Impossible Princess, 1997) 4:14
17. "Breathe" (Radio Edit; from Impossible Princess, 1997)  3:40
18. "Where the Wild Roses Grow" (with Nick Cave; from Murder Ballads, 1996) 3:57

Total length: 69:26