Better the Devil You Know (album)

Better the Devil You Know is the eleventh studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue, released on 8 October 1990 by PWL. Often cited as a pivotal album in Minogue's career, it represents a shift from her earlier teen-pop sound towards a more mature and sophisticated pop-dance style.

The album was largely produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, although Minogue had more creative input compared to her previous albums. She contributed to the songwriting process, aiming to explore themes of love, relationships, and self-discovery, albeit within the constraints of the PWL production style.

Better the Devil You Know spawned four singles: "Better the Devil You Know," "Step Back in Time," "What Do I Have to Do," and "Shocked." All of the singles achieved commercial success, particularly in the United Kingdom and Australia, solidifying Minogue's position as a pop icon.

The album's title track, "Better the Devil You Know," is considered a defining song in Minogue's discography. Its music video, featuring a more provocative image for Minogue, contributed to her shedding her "girl next door" image and establishing her as a credible and evolving artist.

Better the Devil You Know is considered a significant album for influencing the direction of Minogue's music in the following years. It helped establish her as a dance-pop artist and paved the way for her later, more experimental and critically acclaimed work. The album has been re-released multiple times in various formats, including special editions with bonus tracks and remixes.