A new recording contract with Parlophone records, a partnership suggested by long-time friends the Pet Shop Boys, enabled Kylie to go back to what she does best: pure pop. Kylie's aim was to produce a fun pop album, and enjoy making it in the process.
The first single to be released on Parlophone records was Spinning Around in June 2000. It went straight to number one in both the UK and Australia, and throughout the world, and was the start of a huge comeback for Kylie. B-sides were Paper Dolls and Cover Me With Kisses, both written and produced with Steve Anderson.
The next single, On a Night Like This, was released in September (b-side Ocean Blue), and went into the UK charts at number two. This was followed two weeks later by the album Light Years, also entering the charts at number two (kept off the top spot by Madonna - typical!).
The album features collaborations with Robbie Williams and his writing partner Guy Chambers, amongst others, as well as Kylie's duet with Robbie, Kids (originally meant only for Robbie's album, a "toned-down" version, without the rap, features on Light Years). The album also features a hidden track, Password, located before Spinning Around on the CD.
The third single from the album, although treated as a Robbie single, was Kids, the excellent duet with Robbie Williams. This also went to number two (something of a standard chart position for Kylie), kept off the top spot by the first single (Beautiful Day) from U2's new album.
The last single from the album was Please Stay, released in December 2000, and backed with the b-sides cover version Santa Baby (which she performed in Santa outfit on the Christmas Day edition of Top of the Pops), and Good Life, another Steve Anderson track. Please Stay entered the chart at number 10, quite a good position for the 4th (mediocre) single from the album, especially since it was so close to Christmas.
In addition to her own tracks, Kylie recorded a new version of Physical for the film Moulin Rouge, although it will not appear on the film soundtrack. She also duetted with Jimmy Little on Bury Me Deep in Love which featured on the 'Corroborations' album (an album of Australian artists recording with Australian indigenous artists).
The single choices from Light Years were probably the most widely discussed of all by the fans. Popular choices for release were Butterfly (released on promo to clubs prior to the release of Spinning Around to gauge public reaction), Disco Down, Light Years and, in particular, the Robbie-penned Your Disco Needs You (released in Germany, and Australia on limited release). Despite numerous protests to Parlophone, fans opinions were generally ignored.
Buy these related albums at Amazon.co.uk:
Sound clips require the Flash plugin.
Use the links below for more detailed information about single releases related to this era.
Use the links below for more detailed information about album releases related to this era.
Use the links below for more detailed information about DVD/video releases related to this era.