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
  • Danielle Barnett
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, consists of him and Mercury Prize-nominated singer songwriter Lou Rhodes, also singer and co-founder of the band Lamb. Kiiōtō's first album came out on Nude Records in July 2024. [6]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
UK
[7]
AUS
[8] [9]
AUT
[10]
EUR
[11]
FIN
[12]
GER
[13]
NED
[14]
SCO
[15]
SWE
[16]
SWI
[17]
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
168
"—" 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] [9]
AUT
[10]
EUR
[18]
FIN
[12]
GER
[19]
NED
[14]
SCO
[20]
SWE
[16]
SWI
[17]
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)"5612547
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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corona (band)</span> Italian Eurodance band

Corona is an Italian Eurodance project. Initially as a group formed by Brazilian-Italian singer and model Olga Maria de Souza and producer Francesco "Checco" Bontempi, they found commercial success with the worldwide hits "The Rhythm of the Night" (1993) and "Baby Baby" (1995). After the second album, Bontempi left the group and was replaced by Francesco Conte and Paolo Dughero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture Beat</span> German musical group

Culture Beat is a German Eurodance project formed in 1989 by Torsten Fenslau. The act has gone through a number of lineup changes over the years; they achieved the most success whilst fronted by singer Tania Evans and rapper Jay Supreme. Their 1993 single "Mr. Vain" was a number-one hit in eleven European countries, and the act claims to have sold more than 10 million records worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twenty 4 Seven</span> Dutch Eurodance group

Twenty 4 Seven is a Dutch Eurodance group formed in 1989 by Dutch producer Ruud van Rijen. The project is best known in Europe for the hit singles "I Can't Stand It", "Are You Dreaming?", "Slave to the Music", "Is It Love" and "Take Me Away."

Kent Lövgren, better known as Melodie MC, is a Swedish recording artist, performing as a rapper on Eurodance tracks, who was active in music between 1992 and 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bananarama discography</span>

English group Bananarama have released 12 studio albums, two live albums, 16 compilation albums, two extended plays, 51 singles and four video albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garbage discography</span>

Garbage is a Scottish and American rock band formed in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1993. The group's discography consists of seven studio albums, three compilation albums, one remix album, one extended play, 37 singles, four promotional singles, three video albums, and 38 music videos. The line-up consists of Scottish vocalist Shirley Manson and Americans Duke Erikson, Steve Marker, and Butch Vig. They have amassed worldwide album sales of over 17 million units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanna Get Up</span> 1998 single by 2 Unlimited

"Wanna Get Up" is a 1998 song recorded by Belgian/Dutch Eurodance band 2 Unlimited. It was released as the debut single from the band to feature Romy van Oojen and Marjon van Iwaarden as the lead vocalists. It was also the lead single from 2 Unlimited's fourth studio album, II. Romy and Marjon were picked out of 150 candidates at various auditions in Holland, Belgium and the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Benatar discography</span>

This is the discography of American singer Pat Benatar. It consists of 11 studio albums, nine live albums, 27 compilation albums, 39 singles, and 34 music videos.

Diane Charlemagne was a British jazz, soul, funk and electronic dance music singer and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collective Soul discography</span>

The discography of American rock band Collective Soul consists of twelve studio albums, one live album, one compilation album, two extended plays, 38 singles, and 23 music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pulp discography</span>

The discography of Pulp, an English Britpop band, consists of seven studio albums, nine compilation albums, two live albums and 26 singles. They were formed in 1978 by Jarvis Cocker and had a continuously rotating band membership until 1991. Between 1991 and their hiatus on 15 December 2002, their line-up was largely settled. They rose to prominence during the Britpop era in the early 1990s with their album His 'n' Hers (1994).

<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 British director Lindy Heymann, featuring the band performing on the beach.

<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, featuring the group in an indoor botanical garden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A1 discography</span>

The discography of A1, British/Norwegian boy band. Their first single, "Be the First to Believe", entered the UK singles chart at No.6 in early 1999. They had relative success in the charts with two number 1s and six other top 10 hits. Adding to this they also won a BRIT Award for "British Breakthrough Act" in 2001. A1's journey came to an end when original member Paul Marazzi left in 2002 and the band subsequently decided to split.

Rozalla Miller, better known as simply Rozalla, is a Zimbabwean electronic music performer who was born in what was then Northern Rhodesia. She is best known for her three 1991/92 hit singles "Faith ", "Are You Ready to Fly", and particularly "Everybody's Free ", which has been remixed and re-issued several times. In December 2016, Billboard magazine ranked her as the 98th most successful dance artist of all-time.

<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.

Rage was an English dance music group composed of producers Barry Leng and Duncan Hannant, had drummer Hans Greeve and fronted by vocalists Tony Jackson (1992–1993) and Steve Lee (1995). The group were renamed En-Rage in Germany to avoid confusion with the German band Rage.

<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">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.

This is the discography of English new wave/synth-pop band Heaven 17.

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 "Urban Cookie Collective ARIA chart history complete". ARIA. Retrieved 20 July 2024 via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  10. 1 2 "Austrian chart peaks" (in German). austriancharts.at. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  11. European albums chart peaks:
  12. 1 2 "Finnish chart peaks". suomenlistalevyt. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  13. German albums chart peaks:
  14. 1 2 "Dutch chart peaks". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  15. Scottish studio albums chart peaks:
  16. 1 2 "Swedish chart peaks" (in Swedish). swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  17. 1 2 "Swiss chart peaks" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  18. European singles chart peaks:
  19. German singles chart peaks:
  20. Scottish singles chart peaks:
  21. "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
  22. 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.