Urban Cookie Collective
Urban Cookie Collective are a British Eurodance band, best known for their 1993 hit single "The Key the Secret".
Urban Cookie Collective | |
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The cover photo of the band's 1993 hit single, "The Key the Secret" | |
Background information | |
Origin | United Kingdom |
Genres | Eurodance |
Years active | 1990 | –present
Members |
|
Past members | Diane Charlemagne |
History
The band was founded by Rohan Heath (born 19 July 1964), the son of Guyanese writer Roy Heath. He learned to play classical piano as a child before switching to the electric piano. He had previous experience with groups such as Yargo and Manchester DJ A Guy Called Gerald. Heath decided on a music career after abandoning a PhD at Vermont University. After a tour of Japan supporting the Happy Mondays, he left the band A Guy Called Gerald to work with the rave band Together. Heath went on to work with Jamaican reggae artist Eek-A-Mouse before concentrating on his new project, Urban Cookie Collective.[1] He was the keyboardist, writer, and producer of their music.
Heath wrote and produced their first hits, "The Key the Secret" and "Feels Like Heaven". He brought in vocalist Diane Charlemagne for many of the group's early tracks. She eventually co-wrote some of the songs and became a major part of the band. The other main members were Simon Bentall (born 17 October 1967), Peter Samson (born 15 May 1968), Johnny Jay, Mark Hadfield and Neil Claxton (later of Mint Royale). Guest rappers occasionally took part in the studio.
The band caused some controversy in 1996 by recording a cover version of the Oasis song "Champagne Supernova". Noel Gallagher, one of the founding members of Oasis, 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 currently tours fronted by singer Danielle Barnett.
In 2014, Charlemagne was diagnosed with kidney cancer.[2] She died of the disease on 28 October 2015, aged 51.[2][3]
Discography
Albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [4] |
AUS [5] |
AUT [6] |
GER [7] |
NDL [8] |
SWE [9] |
SWI [10] | ||
High on a Happy Vibe |
|
28 | 34 | 31 | 43 | 55 | 50 | 28 |
Tales from the Magic Fountain |
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – |
The Very Best of UCC |
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – |
The Very Best Of |
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – |
The Key, the Secret – The Very Best Of |
|
– | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Singles
Year | Single | Chart Position | Album | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [4] |
AUS [5] |
AUT [16] |
BEL [17] |
GER [18] |
IRE [19] |
NDL [20] | |||
1992 | "Pressin' On" (as Urban Cookie) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
1992 | "Lucky Stars" (as Urban Cookie) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
1993 | "The Key the Secret" | 2 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | High on a Happy Vibe[11] |
1993 | "Feels Like Heaven" | 5 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 9 | |
1994 | "Sail Away" | 18 | 49 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 30 | 21 | |
1994 | "High on a Happy Vibe" | 31 | 71 | – | 24 | – | – | 37 | |
1994 | "Bring It On Home (Family)" | 56 | – | – | 48 | – | – | – | |
1995 | "Spend the Day" | 59 | 131 | – | – | – | – | – | Tales from the Magic Fountain |
1995 | "Rest of My Love" | 67 | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
1995 | "So Beautiful" | 68 | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
1996 | "The Key the Secret (Remix)" | 52 | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
1996 | "Champagne Supernova" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | The Very Best of UCC |
1996 | "Witness" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
1997 | "Ain't It a Shame" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
2000 | "Mercedes Benz" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
2004 | "The Key the Secret 2004" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
2005 | "The Key the Secret 2005" | 31 | – | – | – | – | 30 | – | |
References
- "UCC's Biography". Eurodance Encyclopedia. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- 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.
- Coultate, Aaron (28 October 2015). "RIP Diane Charlemagne". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- "Official Charts Company > Urban Cookie Collective". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
- Top 50 peaks: "Urban Cookie Collective in Australian charts". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
- Top 100 peaks: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- "High on a Happy Vibe" (single): "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 26 Jun 1994". Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- "Spend the Day": "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 12 September 2016". Imgur.com. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- "Urban Cookie Collective in der Österreichischen charts" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- "Charts.de: Urban Cookie Collective" (in German). Charts.de. Media Control. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- "GfK Dtch Charts: Urban Cookie Collective (albums)". GfK Dutch Charts Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- "Urban Cookie Collective in Swedish charts" (in Swedish). swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- "Hitparade.ch: Urban Cookie Collective" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- "UCC High On A Happy Vibe Album". Discog. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
- "UCC Tales From The Magic Fountain Album". Discog. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
- "UCC The Very Best Of UCC Album". Discog. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- "UCC The Very Best Of Album". Discog. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- "UCC The Key, The Secret – The Very Best Of Album". Discog. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- "Austrian Chart". Australian Charts. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
- "Ultratop Belgian Charts". Ultratop.be. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
- "Charts.de: Urban Cookie Collective (singles)" (in German). Charts.de Media Control. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- "Irish Charts". Irish Charts. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
- "Nederlandse Top 100: Urban Cookie Collective (singles)". Dutch Top 100. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
External links
- Urban Cookie Collective at The Eurodance Encyclopaedia