"Ultimate Kylie" is the second major greatest hits album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue and her first compilation released under her contract with Parlophone, the record company she worked with from 1999 to 2015. The album was released in multiple formats, including a two-disc edition and a deluxe double disc with a bonus DVD. There was also a separate DVD compilation released with the same name, which accompanied the audio versions of the album. It features two new tracks: the 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 ultimately not included; it was later featured on the physical releases of "Giving You Up."
Ultimate Kylie received positive reviews from contemporary critics, who praised the musical and credible progression in Minogue's career. Some critics, however, were critical of the earlier material in the compilation. The album reached the top ten in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Greece, and Germany. It also charted in other territories such as Spain, Sweden, and New Zealand. Ultimate Kylie was certified platinum by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) for shipping one million copies throughout Europe. "I Believe in You" performed well, debuting inside the top ten in multiple countries, while "Giving You Up" had a more moderate chart performance. The album was promoted through Minogue's Showgirl: The Greatest Hits Tour in 2005. After Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer, she had to cancel the tour, but it was resumed with a second leg in 2006.
This compilation was later superseded by Step Back in Time: The Definitive Collection in 2019, which included a more expansive, 3-CD version of Minogue’s greatest hits. The only song not included on the expanded version of Step Back in Time was "Giving You Up."
Ultimate Kylie is Minogue's ninth greatest hits album, following several previous compilations. These include The Kylie Collection (1988), Greatest Hits (1992), Hits+ (2000), Confide in Me (2001), Greatest Hits 87–97 (2002 and 2003 re-releases), Greatest Hits: 87–99 (2003), and Artist Collection (2004). Greatest Hits and Hits+ were the only two compilations released through Minogue's earlier record labels, PWL and Deconstruction Records. Ultimate Kylie marked her first greatest hits album under her contract with Parlophone, which lasted until her final compilation with them, The Albums 2000–2010 (2011).
Minogue expressed her personal connection to the album, saying on her website, "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."
Ultimate Kylie was released on November 22, 2004, as a standard two-disc set. There were three versions available: the standard two-disc edition, a digital release through Amazon and iTunes (which was removed in May 2011), and a third, special edition released in 2006. The third format was a triple-disc package, which included the original two discs along with a bonus DVD containing music video content. A DVD was also released separately, which included many of Minogue's music videos that had never appeared on DVD before. This compilation also features the completed music video for "I Believe in You," though no video for "Giving You Up" had been produced at the time of the album's release. The DVD also includes Minogue's performance at the 2002 BRIT Awards, where she performed a mix of her song "Can't Get You Out of My Head" and New Order's "Blue Monday." Early copies of the UK DVD suffered from a disc rot issue, where the playing surface would become cloudy or form a cracked pattern. The record label offered replacements to customers who returned their damaged copies. An edited version of "Can't Get You Out of My Head" also appears on the DVD, with the first chorus removed. "Giving You Up" was not filmed at the time, but its instrumental intro is featured on the menu page of the DVD.
