Urban Cookie Collective are a British Eurodance group, best known for their 1993 hit single "The Key the Secret". The band was founded by keyboardist/songwriter Rohan Heath.
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 the University of Vermont. 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. He was the keyboardist, writer, and producer of their music.
Heath wrote and produced both their 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 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.
In 2014, Charlemagne was diagnosed with kidney cancer. She died of the disease on 28 October 2015, aged 51. The band still remains active, and tours fronted by Lynsey Shaw.
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.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions UKUK chart peaks:
AUSAustralian (ARIA Chart) peaks: Top 50 peaks: Top 100 peaks and ARIA certifications: "High on a Happy Vibe" (single): "Spend the Day": N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. AUT EUREuropean albums chart peaks: FIN GERGerman albums chart peaks: NED SCOScottish studio albums chart peaks: SWE SWI High on a Happy Vibe Released: 12 July 1993 Label: Pulse-8 (PULSE13) Formats: LP, CS, CD 28 34 31 60 19 43 55 33 50 28 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 Title Album 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 Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album UK AUS AUT EUREuropean singles chart peaks:
FIN GERGerman singles chart peaks:
NED SCOScottish singles chart peaks:
SWE SWI 1992 "Pressin' On" (as Urban Cookie) — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="2" "Lucky Stars" (as Urban Cookie) — — — — — — — — — — 1993 "The Key the Secret" 2 4 7 10 11 5 2 — 23 7 BPI: Silver"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 ARIA: Platinum BVMI: GoldNote: User needs to enter "Urban Cookie Collective" in the "Interpret" field and press Enter High on a Happy Vibe "Feels Like Heaven" 5 10 11 17 13 12 12 — 17 9 ARIA: Gold 1994 "Sail Away" 18 49 24 28 3 25 21 24 35 21 "High on a Happy Vibe" 31 71 — 89 8 — 37 18 — 49 "Bring It On Home (Family)" 56 125 — — — — — 47 — — 1995 "Spend the Day" 59 131 — — — — — 78 — — Tales from the Magic Fountain "Rest of My Love" 67 — — — — — — 70 — — "So Beautiful" 68 — — — — — — 72 — — 1996 "The Key the Secret" (remix) 52 — — — — — — 38 — — "Champagne Supernova" — — — — — — — — — — The Very Best of UCC "Witness" — — — — — — — — — — 1997 "Ain't it a Shame" — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="4" 2000 "Mercedes Benz" — — — — — — — — — — 2004 "The Key the Secret 2004" — — — — — — — — — — 2005 "The Key the Secret 2005" 31 — — — — — — 29 — — "—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
References
External links Urban Cookie Collective at The Eurodance Encyclopaedia