Ultra Flava

"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]

"Ultra Flava"
Single by Heller and Farley Project
Released12 February 1996[1]
Genre
LabelAM:PM
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Terry Farley
  • Pete Heller
  • Wilkinson
Heller and Farley Project singles chronology
"From the Dat Vol. 1"
(1995)		 "Ultra Flava"
(1996)		 "From the Dat Vol. 2"
(1998)
Music video
"Ultra Flava" on YouTube

Critical reception

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

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
  • UK 12-inch single
  1. "Ultra Flava" (Original Flava)
  2. "Ultra Flava" (Grant Nelson's 3 Tier Experience)
  3. "Ultra Flava" (Vox Version)
  4. "Ultra Flava" (Pete's Dub)
  • UK 12-inch single
  1. "Ultra Flava" (Rhythm Masters Club Mix)
  2. "Ultra Flava" (Rhythm Masters Trans Disco Mix)
  3. "Ultra Flava" (Melody Flava)
  4. "Ultra Flava" (Bass Flava)
  5. "Ultra Flava" (Just a Groove)
  • UK CD single
  1. "Ultra Flava" (Vox Edit) – 3:14
  2. "Ultra Flava" (Original Edit) – 3:55
  3. "Ultra Flava" (Original Flava) – 7:03
  4. "Ultra Flava" (Grant Nelson's 3 Tier Experience) – 6:17
  5. "Ultra Flava" (Vox Version) – 6:43
  6. "Ultra Flava" (Pete's Dub) – 7:10
  • Europe CD maxi
  1. "Ultra Flava" (Vox Edit) – 3:45
  2. "Ultra Flava" (Original Edit) – 3:56
  3. "Ultra Flava" (Original Flava) – 7:03
  4. "Ultra Flava" (Grant Nelson's 3tier Experience) – 6:16
  5. "Ultra Flava" (Vox Version) – 6:43
  6. "Ultra Flava" (Pete's Dub) – 7:10

Charts

References
  1. "Heller & Farley Project – Ultra Flava" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1996-02-17. p. 9. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  2. "Classic House Series Episode #18 – Ultra Flava – Farley & Heller Project". thekeytothehouse.wordpress.com. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 249. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. "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.
  5. Flick, Larry (1996-01-20). "Dance Trax: Rejuvenating With Dick Clark; Our House On Film" (PDF). Billboard. p. 23. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  6. Flick, Larry (1996-11-30). "New & Noteworthy" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  7. Hamilton, James (1996-02-17). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 15. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  8. http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mixmag.html#singles
  9. "DJ Magazine Top 100 Club Tunes (1998)". discogs.com. Retrieved 2017-03-04.
  10. "Top 50 Tracks of 1996 According to DJ Mag's Hype Chart". DJ Mag. 2016-11-29. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  11. "Tomorrowland Ibiza Top 500 (2020)". Spotify. 2020. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  12. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 1996-03-02. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  13. "Heller & Farley Project - Ultra Flava" (in Dutch). top40.nl. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  14. "Heller 'N Farley Project - Ultra Flava" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
  15. "Scottish Singles Chart 18 February 1996 - 24 February 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  16. "HELLER 'N FARLEY PROJECT - ULTRA FLAVA (SONG)". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  17. "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.
  18. "Heller & Farley". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  19. "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (22 December 1996-28 December 1996)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  20. "The RM Club Chart" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 1996-11-30. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  21. "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.
  22. "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.
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