Urban Cookie Collective

Last updated
Urban Cookie Collective
Origin United Kingdom
Genres Eurodance
Years active1987 (1987)–present
Members
  • Rohan Heath
  • Simon Bentall
  • Neil Claxton
  • Peter Samson
  • Johnny Jay
  • Lynsey Shaw
  • Mark Hadfield
Past members Diane Charlemagne

Urban Cookie Collective are a British Eurodance band, best known for their 1993 hit single "The Key the Secret". [1] The band was founded by keyboardist/songwriter Rohan Heath.

Contents

History

The band was founded by Rohan Heath (born 19 July 1964), [1] the son of Guyanese writer Roy Heath. He learned to play classical piano as a child before switching to the electric piano. [1] He had previous experience with groups such as Yargo and Manchester DJ A Guy Called Gerald. [1] Heath decided on a music career after abandoning a PhD at the University of Vermont. [1] [2] After a tour of Japan supporting the Happy Mondays, he left the band A Guy Called Gerald to work with the rave band Together. [1] Heath went on to work with Jamaican reggae artist Eek-A-Mouse, before concentrating on his new project, Urban Cookie Collective. [3] He was the keyboardist, writer, and producer of their music.

Heath wrote and produced all their hits, "The Key the Secret" and "Feels Like Heaven". [1] He brought in vocalist Diane Charlemagne for many of the group's early tracks. [1] She eventually co-wrote some of the songs and became a major part of the band.

The band caused some controversy in 1996 by recording a cover version of the Oasis song "Champagne Supernova". Noel Gallagher of Oasis, and the writer of the song, claimed that he had not given permission and legal action stopped the track from being given a full release. The band still remains active, and tours fronted by Lynsey Shaw.

In 2014, Charlemagne was diagnosed with kidney cancer. [4] She died of the disease on 28 October 2015, aged 51. [4] [5]

Heath's current band, Kiiōtō, consist of him and Mercury Prize-nominated singer songwriter Lou Rhodes, also singer and co-founder of the band Lamb. Their first album is due out on Nude Records in July 2024. Kiiōtō (Instagram: @we_are_kiioto) will be headlining the Timber Festival in July. [6]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
UK
[7]
AUS
[8]
AUT
[9]
EUR
[10]
FIN
[11]
GER
[12]
NED
[13]
SCO
[14]
SWE
[15]
SWI
[16]
High on a Happy Vibe
  • Released: 12 July 1993
  • Label: Pulse-8 (#PULSE13)
  • Formats: LP, CS, CD
28343160194355335028
Tales from the Magic Fountain
  • Released: 1 January 1995
  • Label: Pulse-8 (#PULSE21)
  • Formats: CS, CD
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

TitleAlbum details
The Very Best of UCC
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Eagle (#EAG 307-2)
  • Formats: CD
The Very Best Of
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: Amazon (#AMAZCD2)
  • Formats: CD, DVD
The Key, the Secret – The Very Best Of
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Music Club Deluxe (#MCDLX122)
  • Formats: CD

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[7]
AUS
[8]
AUT
[9]
EUR
[17]
FIN
[11]
GER
[18]
NED
[13]
SCO
[19]
SWE
[15]
SWI
[16]
1992"Pressin' On" (as Urban Cookie)Non-album singles
"Lucky Stars" (as Urban Cookie)
1993"The Key the Secret"247101152237High on a Happy Vibe
"Feels Like Heaven"5101117131212179
  • ARIA: Gold [8]
1994"Sail Away"1849242832521243521
"High on a Happy Vibe"3171898371849
"Bring It On Home (Family)"5647
1995"Spend the Day"5913178Tales from the Magic Fountain
"Rest of My Love"6770
"So Beautiful"6872
1996"The Key the Secret" (remix)5238Non-album single
"Champagne Supernova"The Very Best of UCC
"Witness"
1997"Ain't it a Shame"Non-album singles
2000"Mercedes Benz"
2004"The Key the Secret 2004"
2005"The Key the Secret 2005"3129
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feels Like Heaven (Urban Cookie Collective song)</span> 1993 single by Urban Cookie Collective

"Feels Like Heaven" is a song by British dance music band Urban Cookie Collective, released on 1 November 1993 by Pulse 8 as the second single from their debut album, High on a Happy Vibe (1994). As the follow-up to "The Key the Secret", it was both written and produced by Rohan Heath, and peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart, staying in the chart for nine consecutive weeks. The vocals were by Diane Charlemagne, who had provided the vocal for the band's previous hit and their subsequent singles. Its accompanying music video was directed by Lindy Heymann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Key the Secret</span> 1993 single by Urban Cookie Collective

"The Key the Secret" is the debut single by British group Urban Cookie Collective, released in June 1993 by Pulse 8 from the group's debut album, High on a Happy Vibe (1994). The song features vocals by British singer Diane Charlemagne and peaked at number one in the Netherlands. It was a top 5 hit also in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, and the UK, where it reached number two. Its music video was directed by Lindy Heymann.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sail Away (Urban Cookie Collective song)</span> 1994 single by Urban Cookie Collective

"Sail Away" is a song by British band Urban Cookie Collective, released in February 1994 as the third single from their debut album, High on a Happy Vibe (1994). Written by producer Rohan Heath, the vocals were by Diane Charlemagne. It was a top 10 hit in Finland and Switzerland and a top 20 hit the UK. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 28. Outside Europe, the song was a top 20 hit in Israel and a top 50 hit in Australia. The accompanying music video was directed by British director Lindy Heymann. It was A-listed on Germany's VIVA in March 1994.

<i>High on a Happy Vibe</i> 1994 studio album by Urban Cookie Collective

High on a Happy Vibe is the debut album by British Eurodance band Urban Cookie Collective, released in 1994. The album includes the singles "The Key, the Secret", "Feels Like Heaven", "Sail Away", "High on a Happy Vibe" and "Bring It on Home (Family)".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockin' for Myself</span> 1993 single by Motiv8

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">High on a Happy Vibe (song)</span> 1994 single by Urban Cookie Collective

"High on a Happy Vibe" is a song by British band Urban Cookie Collective, released in April 1994 by Pulse 8 as the fourth single from the band's debut album by the same name (1994). Written and composed by Rohan Heath, the vocals were by Diane Charlemagne, who also provided the vocal for the band's three previous hit singles. The song was a top 20 hit in Scotland (18), and a top 30 hit in Belgium (24), Ireland (30) and the Netherlands (27). In the UK, "High on a Happy Vibe" peaked at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart, but was more successful on the UK Dance Singles Chart, reaching number 12. The accompanying music video for the song sees the band performing on a flying carpet.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Colin Larkin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 356. ISBN   0-7535-0252-6.
  2. "Rohan Heath Biography". Eurodance Encyclopedia. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  3. "UCC's Biography". Eurodance Encyclopedia. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  4. 1 2 Salewicz, Chris (30 October 2015). "Diane Charlemagne: Vocalist who rose to fame with Urban Cookie Collective before helping Goldie to change the face of drum'n'bass". The Independent . Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  5. Coultate, Aaron (28 October 2015). "RIP Diane Charlemagne". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  6. "KIIŌTŌ". Timber Festival. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  7. 1 2 UK chart peaks:
  8. 1 2 3 4 Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
  9. 1 2 "Austrian chart peaks" (in German). austriancharts.at. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  10. European albums chart peaks:
  11. 1 2 "Finnish chart peaks". suomenlistalevyt. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  12. German albums chart peaks:
  13. 1 2 "Dutch chart peaks". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  14. Scottish studio albums chart peaks:
  15. 1 2 "Swedish chart peaks" (in Swedish). swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  16. 1 2 "Swiss chart peaks" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  17. European singles chart peaks:
  18. German singles chart peaks:
  19. Scottish singles chart peaks:
  20. "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 17 October 2020. Note: User needs to enter "Urban Cookie Collective" in the "Search BPI Awards" field and press Enter
  21. Note: User needs to enter "Urban Cookie Collective" in the "Interpret" field and press Enter "German Certification (The Key the Secret)". Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 17 October 2020.