This has long been one of my favorite albums. It is unfortunate that this album's lukewarm reception here in the U.S. contributed to Kylie's exile from our radio stations. It is true that Kylie's second release isn't a groundbreaking, breakthrough achievement, and indeed it does reflect the pop music so popular in the late 1980s. It is only natural that today's listeners would view this album as a product of its times, but to criticize it for being what it is seems silly to me. Some might call this bubble gum pop, but I am not ashamed to say I have always loved that kind of music. These songs are all fun to listen to and never grow old. Had I an ounce of rhythm in my body, I would be compelled to dance to these songs; "Hand On Your Heart" and "Wouldn't Change a Thing" in particular have a great beat. As a young person contemplating the wonders of the fairer sex, upbeat tunes such as "Never Too Late" and "Nothing to Lose" often lifted my spirits. "Heaven and Earth," "Tell Tale Signs," and "Especially For You" are wonderful ballads, and Kylie's cover of "Tears On My Pillow" is enjoyable. "Enjoy Yourself" basically sums up the whole album--this is an upbeat album filled with tunes encouraging you to forget your troubles and just enjoy life. There are no bad songs to be found here; I cannot listen to one or two songs without listening to the entire album. Some may think the lyrics are sappy and shallow, but one must keep in mind that Kylie was only about 20 years old when "Enjoy Yourself" was released. I think this CD is much better than Kylie's debut, and I would hope that fans just now discovering this wonderful singer will seek out this early material and give it a chance.

In 1980's Britain, the most successful pop record producers were the team of Stock, Aitken and Waterman. Many of their singers faded from popularity as quickly as they emerged, leaving a legacy of doubtful importance. A few did rise above the rest but the star that shone the brightest was Kylie.

This album was produced entirely by Stock, Aitken and Waterman, who wrote all the songs except for Tears on my pillow (the Little Anthony fifties classic). This cover helped to convince me that Kylie should be taken seriously - it is brilliant. I've heard several versions including Reba McEntire's. Kylie should be proud of her cover, which went all the way to number one in Britain, even though I slightly prefer Reba's. Hand on your heart (number one), Wouldn't change a thing (number two) and Never too late (number four) were the other UK hits from this album.

While many will continue to dismiss Kylie (especially these early albums), she is much better than many of the singers she is sometimes compared to, and has proved it by lasting longer than any of her critics thought possible.

Note that this CD is also available via the boxed set - Kylie Minogue x3. It's only three individual CD's wrapped in a cardboard slipcase but it's much cheaper than buying the three separately.

Kylie's second album with PWL marks a significant progression from the most basic pop tunes which characterized her debut. Songs such as 'Hand on Your Heart', 'Never Too Late' and 'Wouldn't Change A Thing' are perfect examples of straight- forward pop music at it's best and these tracks show more strength than her earlier efforts. The album does tend to get bogged down by ballads however, and whilst they are all perfectly respectable tunes, they don't represent the 'real' hi-energy Kylie that made her a superstar. Upbeat tracks 'Nothing To Lose' and 'I'm Over Dreaming (Over You)' are better and more suited to Kylie's persona. Whilst it's not perfect, Kylie's vocals and charisma more than make up for the imperfections and it is good fun overall. The album's closing offers a taster of what was to come in her follow-up release (the brilliant 'Rhythm of Love') with the fantastic title track 'Enjoy Yourself', and this undoubtedly remains one of the strongest tracks she ever recorded with Stock Aitken and Waterman.

Smilin' Kylie was never quite the sensation here in the U.S. that she was in Euro-swapping parts of the world. While that's not particularly surprising (given the abundance of thin-voiced blondes and Madonna wannabees), this unfailingly upbeat album offers some evidence that Americans need to lighten up. It's not quite the sugary, manufactured "product" that so-called serious critics label it, but truly enjoying it (as Kylie does) amounts to a guilty pleasure.

At least four tracks here were remixed and released as dance club singles, and those imports helped to push the domestic copy of "Enjoy Yourself," which is now out of print. Though none of these songs were as successful as "The Locomotion" in the U.S., this album is a distinct improvment upon Kylie's debut. The in-house SAW/PWL production team lends this recording a melodic edge that rides perkily atop the usual mid-tempo SAW rhythm track. And just in case those insistent, ingratiating beats start to annoy, there's a handful of "beatless" tunes that Kylie performs to the best of her ability.

In my opinion, it's the SAW melodies that make this an enjoyable record; they could have been performed by any number of vocalists in the SAW stable. Of course, not even Bananarama could duplicate the unpretentious sweetness that Kylie provides here in abundance; even when she's singing a sad tune you get the feeling she's pleased with how her hair turned out that day.

"Enjoy Yourself" isn't a meaty (much less meaningful) album, but it is a throwback to the carefree Pop of the '60s and early '70s, when Pop music was little more than memorable melodies and entertaining vocalists. The dance beats are little more than a nod to the fashion of '80s Pop, but most of the songs are still quite danceable. If you can shake the stigma attached to such a guilty pleasure, by all means take Kylie's advice and enjoy yourself.

-Mic

What can I say about this album. This album is very happy especially on the orignal album cover with her with the golden hat not her with her with the jean jacket on

Hand On Your Heart has the flavor of a freestyle beat very cheerful song especially with the chorus but I like the Great Aorta Mix

Wouldn't Change a Thing, very cute song especially the video of her playing with the Puppy.

Never Too Late is a very cute song espcially thw silliest video at the beginning.

This song should've been a hit single Nothing To Lose which takes on Donna Summer's This Time I Know It's For Real also produced by SAW

Tall tale Signs never liked

Especially for You was intended to be on her debut album but it is a very great love song I love this song so Much.

My Secret Heart is very gloomy and its sounds like it is at a carnival but I love the song.

I'm over Dreaming(Over You) should Have been a hit. i love the cheerfulness of the song. overall its a very fun album