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Revision as of 21:47, 19 December 2005

For the beverage, see Hot chocolate.

Biography

Hot Chocolate was a British band of the 1960s and 1970s formed by Errol Brown (a Briton born in Jamaica). They were named by Mavis Smith, who worked for the Apple Corps press office.

Errol started with making a reggae version of John Lennon's "Give Peace A Chance", but he was told he needed permission. Much to Errol's surprise he was contacted by Apple Records, since John Lennon loved his version and subsequently signed to Apple Records. Then, with the help of producer Mickie Most, they began releasing minor hits such as "Love Is Life" in 1970. But they did not have a very high profile as an act.

"Brother Louie", and "Emma" were successful singles, and introduced their later distinctive sound.

It was in the disco era of the mid-1970s onwards that Hot Chocolate became such a big success that they are identified with funky disco. They had hits like "You Sexy Thing" and "Every 1's A Winner".

Brown did not have so much solo success but did have another big record: "It Started With A Kiss". In 2003, Brown received the MBE and in 2004, the Ivor Novello Award for his outstanding contribution to British music. The group charted no less than 25 UK top 40 hit singles and continue to tour.

Discography

Albums

• Cicero Park (1974)
• Hot Chocolate (#34) (November 1975)
• Man To Man (#32) (August 1976)
• Greatest Hits (#6) (November 1976)
• Every 1's A Winner (#30) (April 1978)
• 20 Hottest Hits (#3) (December 1979)
• Mystery (#24) (September 1982)
• The Very Best Of Hot Chocolate (#1) (February 1987)
• Their Greatest Hits (#1) (March 1993)

Singles

• Love Is Life (#6) (August 1970)
• You Could Have Been A Lady (#22) (March 1971)
• I Believe (In Love) (#8) (August 1971)
• You'll Always Be A Friend (#23) (October 1972)
• Brother Louie (#7) (April 1973)
• Rumours (#44) (1973)
• Emma (#3) (March 1974)
• Cheri Babe (#31) (November 1974)
• Disco Queen (#11) (May 1975)
• A Child's Prayer (#7) (August 1975)
• Blue Night (1975)
• You Sexy Thing (#2) (November 1975)
• Don't Stop It Now (#11) (March 1976)
• Man To Man (#14) (June 1976)
• Heaven Is In The Back Seat Of My Cadillac (#25) (August 1976)]]}
• So You Win Again (#1) (June 1977)
• Put Your Love In Me (#10) (November 1977)
• Every 1's A Winner (#12) (March 1978)
• I'll Put You Together Again (#13) (December 1978)
• Mindless Boogie (#46) (May 1979)
• Going Through The Motions (#53) (July 1979)
• No Doubt About It (#2) (May 1980)
• Are You Getting Enough Of What Makes You Happy (#17) (July 1980)
• Love Me To Sleep (#50) (1980)
• You'll Never Be So Wrong (#52) (May 1981)
• I'm Losing You (1981)
• Girl Crazy (#7) (April 1982)
• It Started With A Kiss (#5) (July 1982)
• Chances (#32) (September 1982)
• What Kinda Boy You Looking For (Girl) (#10) (May 1983)
• Tears On The Telephone (#37) (September 1983)
• I'm Sorry (1983)
• I Gave You My Heart (Didn't I) (#13) (February 1984)
• Heartache No. 9 (1986)
• You Sexy Thing (Ben Liebrand remix) (#10) (January 1987)
• Every 1's A Winner (Groove Mix) (#69) (April 1987)
• No Doubt About It (remix) (1987)
• Heaven Is In The Backseat Of My Cadillac (remix) (1988)
• Never Pretend (1988)
• It Started With A Kiss (#31) (Re-issue March 93)
• You Sexy Thing (#6) (Re-issue November 1997}
• It Started With A Kiss (#18) (Second Re-issue February 1998}

External link

• Errol Brown's site

• Disco groups
• British musical groups
• 1970s music groups