Never Too Late (Kylie Minogue song)

Last updated

"Never Too Late"
Kylie Minogue - Never Too Late.png
Single by Kylie Minogue
from the album Enjoy Yourself
B-side "Kylie's Smiley Mix"
Released23 October 1989 (1989-10-23)
Studio London, England
Length3:27
Label PWL
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Stock Aitken Waterman
Kylie Minogue singles chronology
"Wouldn't Change a Thing"
(1989)		"Never Too Late"
(1989)		"Tears on My Pillow"
(1990)
Music video
"Never Too Late" on YouTube

"Never Too Late" is a song written and produced by British production team Stock, Aitken and Waterman for Australian singer Kylie Minogue's second studio album, Enjoy Yourself (1989). Released on 23 October 1989, the song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart (her first not to reach the top three in that country), number one in Ireland, and number 14 in Australia. It was later rerecorded for Minogue's orchestral compilation album, The Abbey Road Sessions , in 2012. Writer Mike Stock says he deliberately composed the song with "old fashioned" lyrical themes, imagining it the style of a 1920s number. [1]

Contents

Background and release

Minogue allegedly wanted the album title track "Enjoy Yourself" to be released as the third single from that album, but Pete Waterman overruled her request and "Never Too Late" was released instead on 23 October 1989. [2] The song debuted at number 17 on the UK Singles Chart and rose to its peak of number four the following week. Its low debut broke Minogue's run of seven consecutive top-two hits, but it became her eighth consecutive top-five hit single and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales over 200,000. [3] [4]

Critical reception

In 2023, Robert Moran of Australian daily tabloid newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald ranked the song as Minogue's 74th best song (out of 183), a song he described a "soaring disco number", adding "Not just a throwback, the energetic breakdown points to Kylie's burgeoning interest in Euro house". [5]

B-side

Called "Kylie's Smiley Mix", the B-side is a continuous mix of her biggest hits from the Kylie album, and the 12-inch version includes these songs in sequence order: "I'll Still Be Loving You", "It's No Secret", "Je ne sais pas pourquoi", "Turn It into Love", "I Should Be So Lucky", "Got to Be Certain", and the whistle from the beginning of the 1988 mix of "The Loco-Motion". The 7-inch mix contains the above tracks omitting "I'll Still Be Loving You" and "It's No Secret". Remixer Tony King admitted to dissatisfaction with the initial mix, which was created under time pressure with limited resources. [1]

Music video

Directed by Pete Cornish, the video showed Minogue in various costumes with her dancers in front of various backdrops – some of the costumes are as a cowgirl, '70s disco, Chinese dress with fans and as a 1920s flapper. The concept for the video was decided during a phone call between Minogue and Cornish, who both confessed they initially had no ideas about what to do next, before brainstorming the toy theatre concept. [1] It was awarded the Logie for the "Most Popular Music Video" at the 32nd Annual TV week Logie Awards held in 1990 in Australia.

Live performances

Minogue performing a medley of "Hand on Your Heart" and "Never Too Late", during her Kiss Me Once Tour (2014) MinogueBercy2014-2.jpg
Minogue performing a medley of "Hand on Your Heart" and "Never Too Late", during her Kiss Me Once Tour (2014)

Since its release, "Never Too Late" has only been performed on four of Minogue's tours. Its first appearance was in the Enjoy Yourself Tour. It featured a small dance before hand and then the original. Its next performance was not for 11 years when Minogue performed it on her On a Night Like This Tour in 2001, which was launched to promote Light Years . It was performed as part of "Hits Medley" which featured 5 songs from her PWL days: "Step Back in Time", "Never Too Late", "Wouldn't Change a Thing", "Turn It into Love" and "Celebration" respectively. It was then set to be part of her KylieFever2002 set list as a space age version to feature as the opening to the act entitled "Cybertronica", but was removed at the last minute. [6] It made an appearance on Minogue's Kiss Me Once Tour in 2014. It featured in the "Dollshouse Medley" which featured four songs from her PWL days: "Hand on Your Heart", "Never Too Late", "Got to Be Certain" and "I Should Be So Lucky" respectively. In this segment of the show, Minogue began in a pink shawl and took a layer off at the beginning of each song, before ending in a corset and knickers to sing "I Should Be So Lucky" in a bath, alluding to a scene in the song's music video. More recently, it is performed on her Summer 2019 Tour.

Formats and track listings

CD single [7]

  1. "Never Too Late" – 3:59
  2. "Never Too Late" (extended) – 6:11
  3. "Kylie's Smiley Mix" (extended) – 6:17

7-inch single [7]

  1. "Never Too Late" – 3:21
  2. "Kylie's Smiley Mix" (7-inch version) – 3:59

12-inch single [7]

  1. "Never Too Late" (extended) – 6:11
  2. "Kylie's Smiley Mix" (extended) – 6:17

Australian 7-inch single [7]

  1. "Never Too Late" – 3:21
  2. "Made in Heaven" (Heaven Scent Mix) – 4:43

Australian 12-inch and cassette single [7]

  1. "Never Too Late" (extended) – 6:11
  2. "Made in Heaven" (Heaven Scent Mix) – 4:43

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [4] Silver200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Kylie</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Kylie Minogue

Kylie is the debut studio album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue, released on 4 July 1988 by Mushroom Records. Minogue had established herself as a child actress before signing to the record label in early 1987. The success of her debut single, "Locomotion", resulted in her working with Stock Aitken Waterman, who produced the album and wrote nine of its ten tracks. Their recording sessions, commencing in October 1987 in London and Melbourne, coincided with Minogue's filming schedule for the soap opera Neighbours.

<i>Enjoy Yourself</i> (Kylie Minogue album) 1989 studio album by Kylie Minogue

Enjoy Yourself is the second studio album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue, released on 9 October 1989 in the United Kingdom by Pete Waterman Entertainment (PWE), and in Australia on 6 November by Mushroom Records. In the United States, it was released in January 1990 by Geffen Records. Following the success of her self-titled debut album, Minogue reunited with the producers Stock Aitken Waterman, who produced and wrote nine of the album's ten tracks, in London in February 1989. The recording sessions took place there from February until July, coinciding with Minogue filming her first feature film The Delinquents.

<i>Rhythm of Love</i> (Kylie Minogue album) 1990 studio album by Kylie Minogue

Rhythm of Love is the third studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was released in the United Kingdom on 12 November 1990 by Pete Waterman Limited (PWL) and in Australia on 3 December 1990 by Mushroom Records. Recording sessions took place in London and Los Angeles during early-to-mid 1990. Minogue started to become more involved in the writing and production of the album; she was credited as co-writer for the first time, while Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) were the primary producers along with new producers and collaborations, including Keith Cohen, Stephen Bray and Michael Jay.

<i>Lets Get to It</i> 1991 studio album by Kylie Minogue

Let's Get to It is the fourth studio album by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue. It was the final studio album with Pete Waterman Limited (PWL), being released by the record label in the United Kingdom on 14 October 1991. Mushroom Records distributed the album in Australia on 25 November 1991. After Matt Aitken left the trio Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) in early 1991, the remaining producers wanted to make another album with Minogue, although it was not a contractual obligation for her. Mike Stock and Pete Waterman agreed to share their songwriting credits with Minogue for the first time on six tracks. They spent months recording at PWL Studios, more time than any of her previous studio albums.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (1992 Kylie Minogue album) 1992 greatest hits album by Kylie Minogue

Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. The album was released on 24 August 1992 as Minogue's final release under Pete Waterman Limited (PWL). The record contains nineteen singles from the singer's first four studio albums, as well as three new songs recorded specifically for inclusion on this album. The album was largely written and produced by the Stock Aitken Waterman team, and its release marked the end of Minogue's professional relationship with them. It contained all her single releases to date including the Japan-only single, "Turn It into Love", featured on Kylie's first studio album in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Should Be So Lucky</span> 1987 single by Kylie Minogue

"I Should Be So Lucky" is a 1987 song performed by Australian singer and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her debut studio album, Kylie (1988). Released on 29 December 1987 by Mushroom Records and PWL Records, the song became a worldwide breakthrough hit. The image of Minogue on the front cover of the single was shot by David Levine. The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman for Minogue, whom went on to produce Minogue's initial four studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Je ne sais pas pourquoi</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue

"Je ne sais pas pourquoi" (English: "I Do Not Know Why"), also known as "I Still Love You (Je ne sais pas pourquoi)" in Australia and New Zealand, is a song by Australian recording artist and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her debut studio album Kylie (1988). Released as a single on 10 October 1988 by PWL, the song has subsequently appeared on most of Minogue's hits compilations including Greatest Hits (1992), Ultimate Kylie (2004) and, most recently, Step Back in Time: The Definitive Collection, released in 2019. Like most of Minogue's material between 1988 and 1992, it was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Especially for You</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan

"Especially for You" is a song performed by Australian recording artists Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan from Donovan's debut album, Ten Good Reasons (1989). The song was released as his album's second single on 28 November 1988 and was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turn It into Love</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue

"Turn It into Love" is a single released by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was taken from her debut studio album Kylie (1988). The single was released in December 1988 in Japan only. The B-side was a new song "Made in Heaven", which also served as the B-side to both "Je ne sais pas pourquoi" and "It's No Secret" in other international territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hand on Your Heart</span> 1989 single by Kylie Minogue

"Hand on Your Heart" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her second studio album, Enjoy Yourself (1989), and released as its lead single on 24 April 1989. Much like her previous releases up to Let's Get to It (1991), the song was written and produced by English songwriting and record production trio Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW). Referenced tracks during composition included "This Old Heart of Mine" by the Isley Brothers and "That's the Way Love Is" by Ten City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Better the Devil You Know</span> 1990 single by Kylie Minogue

"Better the Devil You Know" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, taken from her third studio album Rhythm of Love (1990). The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman and was released as the album's lead single on 30 April 1990 by PWL and Mushroom Records. "Better the Devil You Know" is known as the song that re-invented Minogue with more sex appeal, as her previous albums were presented with her "girl next door" persona. Her music onwards presented a more independent approach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got to Be Certain</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue

"Got to Be Certain" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her debut studio album, Kylie (1988). Written and produced by English songwriting and record production trio Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW), the song was released as the second single from Kylie in most territories outside Australia, and was released on 2 May 1988 in Australia and the United Kingdom. In Australia, "Got to Be Certain" was Minogue's third single release. "Got to Be Certain" was a commercial success, peaking at number one in Minogue's native Australia and number two on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Step Back in Time</span> 1990 single by Kylie Minogue

"Step Back in Time" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her third studio album, Rhythm of Love (1990). It was released as the album's second single on 22 October 1990, and distributed by PWL and Mushroom as a CD single, cassette tape and 12-inch and 7-inch singles. The track was written, arranged, and produced by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman, who are collectively known as Stock Aitken and Waterman, and was recorded in London, United Kingdom. Musically, it is a disco song that lyrically pays tribute to 1970s' culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Loco-Motion</span> 1962 song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King

"The Loco-Motion" is a 1962 pop song written by American songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King. "The Loco-Motion" was originally written for R&B singer Dee Dee Sharp, but Sharp turned the song down.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Do I Have to Do</span> 1991 single by Kylie Minogue

"What Do I Have to Do" is a song performed by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue from her third studio album, Rhythm of Love (1990). The song was written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman. Originally, the song was planned to be released after the single "Better the Devil You Know", but instead "Step Back in Time" was released and this was released as the third single on 21 January 1991 by PWL and Mushroom. The song received positive reviews from most music critics, who thought the song was an instant rave classic. Its music video was directed by Dave Hogan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shocked (song)</span> 1991 single by Kylie Minogue

"Shocked" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her third studio album, Rhythm of Love (1990). Written and produced by Stock Aitken and Waterman, "Shocked" was released as the album's fourth and final single in May 1991 by Mushroom and PWL. The song later appeared on most of Minogue's major compilations including Greatest Hits (1992), Ultimate Kylie (2004) and Step Back In Time: The Definitive Collection (2019). The DNA 7-inch mix of the song also includes a rap in the bridge by Jazzi P.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Word Is Out</span> 1991 single by Kylie Minogue

"Word Is Out" is a song written by English musical duo Stock and Waterman for Australian singer Kylie Minogue's fourth studio album, Let's Get to It (1991). Produced by Mike Stock and Pete Waterman, it was released as the first single from Let's Get to It on 26 August 1991. The track aimed to replicate the swingbeat sound, with "New Jack City" by Guy serving as the main plot track. The artwork for the cover was photographed by Ellen Von Unwerth in 1991 for the British edition of Esquire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Many Broken Hearts</span> 1989 single by Jason Donovan

"Too Many Broken Hearts" is a song by Australian singer and actor Jason Donovan, released on 20 February 1989 as the third single from his debut album, Ten Good Reasons (1989), and 1991's Greatest Hits album and again on a later collection in 2006. The song reached number-one in the United Kingdom and Ireland in March 1989. The song additionally peaked within the top 10 in Australia, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain. British magazine Classic Pop ranked "Too Many Broken Hearts" number 19 in their list of "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs" in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Guess I Like It Like That</span> 1991 promotional single by Kylie Minogue

"I Guess I Like It Like That" is a 1991 promotional single written by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue and British producers Mike Stock and Pete Waterman for Minogue's fourth album Let's Get to It. The song samples 2 Unlimited's "Get Ready for This" written by Phil Wilde, Jean-Paul de Coster and Ray Slijngaard. On the 2015 UK re-release of the Let's Get to It album, Wilde and de Coster were credited as co-authors of the song (Stock/Waterman/Minogue/DeCoster/Wilde). The song also samples Freestyle Orchestra's "Keep On Pumping It Up" and the Salt-N-Pepa song "I Like It Like That".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wouldn't Change a Thing (Kylie Minogue song)</span> 1989 single by Kylie Minogue

"Wouldn't Change a Thing" is a song performed by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, recorded for her second studio album Enjoy Yourself (1989). The song was written by Stock Aitken Waterman, and was released on 24 July 1989 by Mushroom and PWL Records. The song was released as the second single off the album.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 51: Never Too Late to When Love Takes Over You on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "New Singles". Music Week . 21 October 1989. p. 41.
  3. 1 2 "Kylie Minogue: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  4. 1 2 "British single certifications – Kylie Minogue – Never Too Late". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  5. ↑ Moran, Robert; Ross, Annabel (25 September 2023). "Every Kylie Minogue song ranked". The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney. ISSN   0312-6315 . Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  6. ↑ "KylieFever2002 review". Archived from the original on 4 December 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 mix.kylie.co.uk
  8. ↑ "Kylie Minogue – Never Too Late". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  9. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media . Vol. 6, no. 47. 25 November 1989. pp. IV–V. OCLC   29800226.
  10. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Kylie Minogue". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 173. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Kylie Minogue – Never Too Late" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  12. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Never Too Late". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  13. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 50, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  14. ↑ "Kylie Minogue – Never Too Late" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  15. ↑ "Kylie Minogue – Never Too Late". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  16. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  17. ↑ "Kylie Minogue – Never Too Late". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  18. ↑ "Top Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week . 18 November 1989. p. 18. Retrieved 30 August 2023– via World Radio History.
  19. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kylie Minogue – Never Too Late" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  20. ↑ "Year End Singles". Record Mirror . 27 January 1990. p. 44.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.