The Hits & Beyond

The Hits & Beyond
Greatest hits album by Dannii Minogue
Released 19 June 2006
7 August 2006 (Australia)
Recorded 1990–2006
Genre Pop–dance
Label All Around the World Records
Universal Records
Producer Lee Monteverde, Soul Seekerz, Flower Power, Neimo & Al Stone, Korpi & Blackcell, Riva, Flexifinger, Metro, Brian Higgins & Matt Gray, Tim Lever, Mike Percy, Steve 'Silk' Hurly, Les Adams, Emma Freilich, Andy Whitmore, Alvin Moody, Vincent Bell, Dancin' Danny D
Dannii Minogue chronology

Neon Nights
(2003)		 The Hits & Beyond
(2006)		 Unleashed
(2007)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic link
BBC link
MSN Entertainment (not rated) link

The Hits & Beyond is a compilation album by Australian singer-songwriter Dannii Minogue. It released by All Around the World Records on 16 June 2006 in Ireland and the United Kingdom on 19 June 2006. The album was then released by Central Station Records in New Zealand on 4 August 2006 and Australia on 7 August 2006.

The compilation is Minogue’s first release with All Around the World Records and second greatest hits album; the first being the 1998 Australian-only budget release, "The Singles". The Hits & Beyond consists of fifteen previously released singles making up the ‘hits’ and five new tracks representing the ‘beyond’.

Upon its release, the album received mixed views with many criticizing the absence of some of Minogue’s earlier work. The compilation received moderate success in the UK where it charted at number 17. The album’s release was preceded by the single’s "You Won't Forget About Me", "Perfection" and its lead single, "So Under Pressure".

Background and composition

Minogue began working on her fifth studio album in 2004, which would be the follow-up to the successful Neon Nights. After a record company reshuffle, Minogue subsequently left her label London Records and signed with All Around The World where she continued to work on new material. This resulted in the track "You Won’t Forget About Me", which was released as a single in 2004 and "Perfection" which was released the following year.

In 2006, after the success of the previous singles, All Around The World arranged to release a greatest hits compilation with new material to support it. Minogue was asked to come up with a new single to launch the compilation. After a writing session with Terry Ronald and producers LMC, the song "So Under Pressure" was conceived and subsequently released as the lead single from The Hits & Beyond in June 2006.

The fifteen previously released 'hits' are among Minogue’s highest charting singles, including four singles from her debut album "Love And Kisses", one track from her second album "Get Into You", three singles from her third album "Girl" and all four singles from her fourth and most successful album, "Neon Nights".

The compilation is also supported by five new recordings which represent the 'beyond'. This includes the single "I Can't Sleep at Night" which was released in January 2007. These tracks, along with the three previously released singles were recorded as part of Minogue’s fifth studio album "Club Disco" which would be released a year later. "Club Disco" is Minogue’s only full-length studio album with All Around The World.

Release and promotion

Prior to the release of the compilation, Minogue promoted the album across Europe and Oceania. This included a series of television and radio appearances, club and festival gigs as well as in-store appearances. Throughout 2004 and 2005, Minogue appeared on CD:UK, Top of the Pops and Popworld as well as performing at club such as G-A-Y in London as support for the singles "You Won’t Forget About Me" and "Perfection".

Upon the release of the album in 2006, Minogue appeared on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and Popworld to perform "So Under Pressure". She also performed the track as well as other previously released singles at T4 on the Beach. Minogue also performed another gig as G-A-Y where her sister Kylie joined her on stage, handed her flowers and made a short speech before performing a short impromptu duet of "Jump to the Beat".

Minogue then went on a promotional trip to Australia where she appeared on Rove Live and on the breakfast-show Sunrise performing "So Under Pressure" and a "Neon Nights" medley. She also appeared on Mornings with Kerri-Anne performing "So Under Pressure" and the Afterlife Lounge Mix of "I Can't Sleep at Night". Minogue also performed at Home Night Club and made in-store appearances in Sydney and Melbourne.

Critical reception

The Hits & Beyond received mixed reviews from critics. Many observed Minogue’s significance as a club artist considering her string of number ones of the UK Dance Chart and deemed the album her most retrospective. John Lucas of AllMusic.com stated her earlier hits now 'sound dated' but praised the Steve "Silk" Hurley remixed "Baby Love".

He also noted the lack of tracks from the "Get Into You" album and absence of singles such as the house infused "This Is the Way". He also praised her more recent singles, "All I Wanna Do", "Disremembrance", "Who Do You Love Now?", "Put the Needle on It" and "I Begin to Wonder" noting their significance on the compilation.

The singles "You Won’t Forget About Me", "Perfection" and "So Under Pressure" were commended by critics with many praising the Eurodance, synthesised style of the tracks. However many highlighted that the compilation did not feature many singles from the "Get Into You" album and blamed its unchronological order for lack of cohesion.

Commercial and chart performance

The Hits & Beyond was released on 19 July 2006 in the UK and peaked at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart. The compilation was also released in Australia on 7 August 2006 by Central Station Records. It entered the charts on 14 August 2006 and peaked at #67 on the ARIA Chart.

Track listing

  1. "Put the Needle on It"
  2. "I Begin to Wonder" (Radio Version)
  3. "So Under Pressure"
  4. "You Won't Forget About Me" (Vocal Radio Edit)
  5. "All I Wanna Do"
  6. "This Is It" (7" Mix)
  7. "Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling" (Al Stones Radio Version)
  8. "Baby Love" (Silky 70's 7" Mix)
  9. "Everything I Wanted" (Radio Edit)
  10. "Disremembrance" (Flexifingers Radio Edit)
  11. "Jump to the Beat" (7" Remix)
  12. "Love and Kisses" (Dancin' Danny D 7" Remix)
  13. "$ucce$$" (Bruce Forest 7" Remix)
  14. "Perfection" (Radio Edit)
  15. "Who Do You Love Now?" (Original Radio Edit)
  16. "Love Fight"
  17. "Sunrise"
  18. "I Can't Sleep at Night"
  19. "Gone"
  20. "Good Times"

The mixes of "Baby Love" and "Who Do You Love Now?" found on the album had previously been unreleased in the UK, the latter only previously available on the Dutch CD single.

Bonus DVD

All bonus music videos appear on the special edition of The Hits and Beyond.

  1. "Love and Kisses"
  2. "$ucce$$"
  3. "Jump to the Beat"
  4. "Baby Love"
  5. "This is It"
  6. "All I Wanna Do"
  7. "Everything I Wanted"
  8. "Disremembrance"
  9. "Who Do You Love Now?"
  10. "Put the Needle on It"
  11. "I Begin to Wonder"
  12. "Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling"
  13. "You Won't Forget About Me"
  14. "Perfection"
  15. "So Under Pressure"
  16. "I Can't Sleep at Night"

Chart positions

Chart (2006) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[1] 17
Australian ARIA Albums Charts[2] 67

Release history

Country Label Release date
Ireland All Around The World 16 June 2006
United Kingdom All Around The World 19 June 2006
New Zealand Central Station 4 August 2006
Australia Central Station 7 August 2006

References

  1. ↑ "Dannii Minogue Discography". Chartstats.com. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
  2. ↑ ARIA Report: 14 August 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2008.

External links