Ultra Flava
"Ultra Flava" | ||||
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Single by Heller and Farley Project | ||||
Released | 12 February 1996[1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Label | AM:PM | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Heller and Farley Project singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Ultra Flava" on YouTube |
"Ultra Flava" is a house song by British duo Heller and Farley Project (Pete Heller and Terry Farley). After the wide renown with their remix of Ultra Naté's "How Long" in 1994 and M People's "Open Your Heart" in 1995, they released it as a single in 1996. It is a slightly re-worked version of their mix of "How Long", without Naté's vocals. They entitled it "Ultra Flava" as a nod to the track's origins.[2] It was a huge club hit and peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart,[3] while reaching number-one on the UK Dance Singles Chart. In the US, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. A black-and-white music video was also produced to promote the single.
"It's looking very good. Of all the records we've done, this is the most commercial, although I don't think it's that representative of what we do in general."
—Terry Farley talking to Music Week about the song.[4]
Critical reception
[edit]Larry Flick from Billboard declared "Ultra Flava" as a "diamond-hard house gem".[5] On the single review, he wrote, "Mega-hot U.K. production/songwriting team is primed to enjoy matching stateside success with this, a rousing instrumental anthem influenced by legendary disco bands like the SalSoul Orchestra. Partners Pete Heller and Terry Farley prove adept at crafting taut pop hooks while maintaining a credible deep-house edge. A summertime club favorite on import, the domestic pressing of "Ultra Flava" boasts refreshing new interpretations by Mousse T., Ralphi Rosario, Boris Dlugosch, and DJ Sneak. A snug radio edit could easily result in a pop/crossover smash à la Robert Miles' "Children".[6] James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update described it as an "infectious Robin S-ishly plopped progressive wriggly percussion groove".[7]
Impact and legacy
[edit]Mixmag ranked "Ultra Flava" number 33 in its list of the best singles of 1995, "Mixmag End of Year Lists: 1995".[8]
DJ Mag ranked it number 85 in their list of the "Top 100 Club Tunes" in 1998,[9] and in 2016 ranked the song number-one in their list of the "Top 50 Tracks of 1996".[10]
Tomorrowland featured it in their official list of "The Ibiza 500" in 2020.[11]
Track listing
[edit]- UK 12-inch single
- "Ultra Flava" (Original Flava)
- "Ultra Flava" (Grant Nelson's 3 Tier Experience)
- "Ultra Flava" (Vox Version)
- "Ultra Flava" (Pete's Dub)
- UK 12-inch single
- "Ultra Flava" (Rhythm Masters Club Mix)
- "Ultra Flava" (Rhythm Masters Trans Disco Mix)
- "Ultra Flava" (Melody Flava)
- "Ultra Flava" (Bass Flava)
- "Ultra Flava" (Just a Groove)
- UK CD single
- "Ultra Flava" (Vox Edit) – 3:14
- "Ultra Flava" (Original Edit) – 3:55
- "Ultra Flava" (Original Flava) – 7:03
- "Ultra Flava" (Grant Nelson's 3 Tier Experience) – 6:17
- "Ultra Flava" (Vox Version) – 6:43
- "Ultra Flava" (Pete's Dub) – 7:10
- Europe CD maxi
- "Ultra Flava" (Vox Edit) – 3:45
- "Ultra Flava" (Original Edit) – 3:56
- "Ultra Flava" (Original Flava) – 7:03
- "Ultra Flava" (Grant Nelson's 3tier Experience) – 6:16
- "Ultra Flava" (Vox Version) – 6:43
- "Ultra Flava" (Pete's Dub) – 7:10
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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References
[edit]- ^ "Heller & Farley Project – Ultra Flava" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1996-02-17. p. 9. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ "Classic House Series Episode #18 – Ultra Flava – Farley & Heller Project". thekeytothehouse.wordpress.com. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 249. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Ultra Hot Farley & Heller Tune In Bid For Glory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1996-02-10. p. 2. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
- ^ Flick, Larry (1996-01-20). "Dance Trax: Rejuvenating With Dick Clark; Our House On Film" (PDF). Billboard. p. 23. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
- ^ Flick, Larry (1996-11-30). "New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
- ^ Hamilton, James (1996-02-17). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 15. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
- ^ http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mixmag.html#singles
- ^ "DJ Magazine Top 100 Club Tunes (1998)". discogs.com. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
- ^ "Top 50 Tracks of 1996 According to DJ Mag's Hype Chart". DJ Mag. 2016-11-29. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
- ^ "Tomorrowland Ibiza Top 500 (2020)". Spotify. 2020. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 1996-03-02. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
- ^ "Heller & Farley Project - Ultra Flava" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
- ^ "Heller 'N Farley Project - Ultra Flava" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
- ^ "Scottish Singles Chart 18 February 1996 - 24 February 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
- ^ "HELLER 'N FARLEY PROJECT - ULTRA FLAVA (SONG)". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
- ^ "Årslistor > Year End Charts > Swedish Dance Chart 1996" (PDF). Music & Media. 1997-03-15. p. 30 (see appendix to the magazine). Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "Heller & Farley". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
- ^ "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (22 December 1996-28 December 1996)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
- ^ "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1996-11-30. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
- ^ "Årslistor > Year End Charts > Swedish Dance Chart 1996" (PDF). Music & Media. 1997-03-15. p. 30 (see appendix to the magazine). Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ "The RM Club Chart of the Year 96" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1997-01-11. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-05-04.