The Hits & Beyond

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 to launch before a studio album. 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 made up of Minogue's highest charting singles (UK Top 25), 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 singles "You Won't Forget About Me", "Perfection" and "So Under Pressure" are also included. These would later be included on Minogue's fifth studio album, Club Disco.

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 Club Disco which would be released a year later.

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 at 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.

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 Get into You and blamed its unchronological order for lack of cohesion.

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 No. 67 on the ARIA Chart.

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.

• DanniiMusic.com — official website.