Hot Chocolate (band)

Hot Chocolate are a British soul band popular during the 1970s and 1980s, formed by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson. The act had at least one hit every year from 1970 to 1984, and their song "You Sexy Thing" made the Top 10 in three decades.[3]

Contents 1 Beginnings 2 Success 3 Later years 4 Personnel 4.1 Members 4.2 Line-ups 5 Discography 5.1 Studio albums 5.2 Compilation albums 5.3 Singles 6 References 7 External links

Beginnings
Formed in 1968, the band initially consisted of vocalist Errol Brown, guitarist Franklyn De Allie, drummer Jim King (shortly thereafter replaced by the unrelated Ian King), percussionist Patrick Olive, and bassist Tony Wilson;[4] with keyboardist Larry Ferguson joining the band in the following year.[5] The band was originally named "Hot Chocolate Band" by Mavis Smith, who worked for the Apple Corps press office. This was quickly shortened first to "The Hot Chocolate" and then to "Hot Chocolate" by Mickie Most. By 1970 the band's line-up had changed again to include Harvey Hinsley and Tony Connor (who was also a member of Audience at the time) replacing De Allie and King respectively.[6]

Hot Chocolate started their recording career making a reggae version of John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance", but frontman Errol Brown was told he needed permission. He was contacted by Apple Records, discovered that Lennon liked his version, and the group was subsequently signed to Apple Records.[7] The link was short-lived as the Beatles were starting to break up; and consequently the Apple connection soon ended.

Later in 1970 Hot Chocolate, with the help of record producer Mickie Most, began releasing tracks that became hits, such as "Love Is Life", "Emma", "You Could Have Been a Lady" (a U.S. and Canadian hit for April Wine), and "I Believe in Love". All those releases were on the Rak record label, owned by Most. Brown and bassist Tony Wilson wrote most of their original material, and also provided hits for Herman's Hermits, "Bet Yer Life I Do", and Mary Hopkin, "Think About Your Children".

Gradually the five-piece Brixton-based outfit started to become UK Singles Chart regulars. "Brother Louie", which featured a guest spoken vocal from Alexis Korner, and "Emma" introduced the act.

Success
It was in the disco era of the mid-1970s that Hot Chocolate became a big success. A combination of high production standards, the growing confidence of the main songwriting team of Wilson and Brown, and tight harmonies enabled them to secure further big hits such as "You Sexy Thing" and "Every 1's a Winner", which were also U.S. hits, peaking at #3 (1976) and #6 (1979), respectively. "Every 1's a Winner" featured a distinctive distorted guitar riff by Harvey Hinsley using a Roland GR-500. After Wilson's departure for a solo career, that included a 1976 album I Like Your Style, Brown assumed all songwriting duties. Wilson was initially replaced by Brian Satterwhite; before Satterwhite departed the band and Olive switched to bass as his primary instrument.[8]

In 1977, after 15 hits, they finally reached Number One with "So You Win Again". It was one of the few of their recordings that was not written, at least partly, by Brown.[9] The track was a Russ Ballard composition.[9]

The band became the only group, and one of just three acts, that had a hit in every year of the 1970s in the UK charts (the other two being Elvis Presley and Diana Ross).[9][10] The band eventually had at least one hit, every year, between 1970 and 1984.[3] Critically, they were often lambasted or simply ignored, and apart from compilations their albums such as Cicero Park sold modestly.

The band continued well into the 1980s, and clocked up another big hit record: "It Started With a Kiss", in 1982, which reached Number 5 in the UK. In all, the group charted 25 UK Top 40 hit singles. Their single "You Sexy Thing" became the only track that made British Top Ten status in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.[3]

Later years
Its renewed appreciation can be credited in part to its appearances in a string of successful films starting with the 1997 comedy The Full Monty, and in a 1989 acne lotion commercial (featuring a young Patsy Palmer).[11] From the late 1980s onwards the group experienced a resurgence of credibility: Urge Overkill, PJ Harvey and the Sisters of Mercy all added Hot Chocolate songs to their live sets,[12] and Cud's cover of "You Sexy Thing" featured in John Peel's Festive 50.

Errol Brown and Larry Ferguson departed the band in 1986; ultimately leading the group to disband. Brown then began a solo career. Two of his singles made the UK Singles Chart - "Personal Touch" and "Body Rockin'". Hot Chocolate had a hit in 1988 in Germany. "Never Pretend" was written by Harvey Hinsley and Susan Stuttard, and the vocalist was Grant Evelyn.[13] The band's enduring popularity was verified when two compilation albums both reached #1 in the UK Albums Chart (see below). In 2003, Errol Brown received the MBE; and in 2004, the Ivor Novello Award for his contribution to British music.

In 1992 the band reformed with new vocalist Greg Bannis and keyboardists Steve Ansell, Andy Smith, Willy Dowling, and Steve Matthews (the latter two of which departed the band in 1994), and manager and agent Ric Martin took control over the band's bookings and live appearances.[14] Kennie Simon took over lead vocals in 2010 following the departure of Bannis and Hot Chocolate continue to make live appearances in the UK and Europe.[15]

On 6 May 2015, original frontman and principal songwriter Errol Brown died from liver cancer. He was 71.[16]

Personnel
Members

Current membersPatrick Olive - percussion (1968–1984, 1988, 1992-present), bass (1975–1984, 1988, 1992–present) Tony Connor - drums, percussion (1970–1986, 1988, 1992–present) Harvey Hinsley - guitars (1970–1986, 1988, 1992–present) Steve Ansell - keyboards, guitars (1992–present) Andy Smith - keyboards (1992–present) Kennie Simon - vocals, keyboards (2010–present) Former membersErrol Brown - vocals (1968–1986; died 2015) Tony Wilson - bass, vocals (1968–1975) Franklyn De Allie - guitars (1968–1970) Jim King - drums, percussion (1968-1970) Larry Ferguson - keyboards (1969–1986) Derek Lewis - percussion, vocals (1975-1977) Brian Satterwhite - bass, vocals (1975) Grant Evelyn - vocals (1988) Greg Bannis - vocals (1992–2010) Willy Dowling - keyboards, vocals (1992–1994) Steve Matthews - keyboards, vocals (1992–1994)

Line-ups[edit]

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1968-1969

1969-1970

1970-1975

1975

Errol Brown - vocals Franklyn De Allie - guitars Jim King - drums, percussion Patrick Olive - percussion Tony Wilson - bass, vocals Errol Brown - vocals Franklyn De Allie - guitars Jim King - drums, percussion Patrick Olive - percussion Tony Wilson - bass, vocals Larry Ferguson - keyboards Errol Brown - vocals Patrick Olive - percussion Tony Wilson - bass, vocals Larry Ferguson - keyboards Tony Connor - drums, percussion Harvey Hinsley - guitars Errol Brown - vocals Patrick Olive - percussion Larry Ferguson - keyboards Tony Connor - drums, percussion Harvey Hinsley - guitars Brian Satterwhite - bass, vocals Derek Lewis - percussion, vocals

1975-1986

1986-1988

1988

1988-1992

Errol Brown - vocals Patrick Olive - bass, percussion Larry Ferguson - keyboards Tony Connor - drums, percussion Harvey Hinsley - guitars Disbanded Patrick Olive - bass, percussion Tony Connor - drums, percussion Harvey Hinsley - guitars Grant Evelyn - vocals Disbanded

1992-1994

1994-2010

2010-present

Patrick Olive - bass, percussion Tony Connor - drums, percussion Harvey Hinsley - guitars Steve Ansell - keyboards, guitars Greg Bannis - vocals Willy Dowling - keyboards, vocals Steve Matthews - keyboards, vocals Andy Smith - keyboards Patrick Olive - bass, percussion Tony Connor - drums, percussion Harvey Hinsley - guitars Steve Ansell - keyboards, guitars Greg Bannis - vocals Andy Smith - keyboards Patrick Olive - bass, percussion Tony Connor - drums, percussion Harvey Hinsley - guitars Steve Ansell - keyboards, guitars Andy Smith - keyboards Kennie Simon - vocals, keyboards

Discography
Hot Chocolate discography

Studio albums 8

Compilation albums 14

Singles 50

Studio albums

Year

Title

Peak positions

UK [17]

NL [18]

NZ [19]

US [20]

1974 Cicero Park Released: June 1974 Label: Rak, Big Tree Records – – – 55 1975 Hot Chocolate Released: November 1975 Label: Rak, Big Tree Records 34 – – 41 1976 Man to Man Released: August 1976 Label: Rak, Big Tree Records 32 – – 172 1978 Every 1's a Winner Released: April 1978 Label: Rak, Infinity Records 30 14 23 31 1979 Going Through the Motions Released: 1979 Label: Rak, Infinity Records – – – 112 1980 Class Released: 1980 Label: Rak – – – – 1982 Mystery Released: September 1982 Label: Rak, EMI America Records 24 28 27 – 1983 Love Shot Released: October 1983 Label: Rak – 41 – – 1993 Strictly Dance Released: 1993 Label: Polydor Records – – – –

Compilation albums

Year

Title

Peak positions

UK [17]

NL [18]

NZ [19]

1976 XIV Greatest Hits Released: November 1976 6 – – 1979 20 Greatest Hits – 3 – 20 Hottest Hits Released: December 1979 3 25 10 1987 The Very Best of Hot Chocolate Released: February 1987 1 – 22 2001 Note: Remix album – – – 1993 Their Greatest Hits Released: March 1993 1 – 3 Platinum (The Very Best Of) Released: October 1993 – 9 – 1996 The Most of Hot Chocolate Released: March 1996 – – – 1999 Greatest Hits Part Two Released: January 1999 – – – 2000 Best of the 70s – – – 2002 Brother Louie – – – 2004 The Essential Collection – – – A's B's & Rarities – – – 2009 Hottest Hits Note: promo CD given by The Daily Mail on Sunday January 25, 2009[3][21] – – –

Singles

Year

Single

Peak chart positions

Certifications (sales thresholds)

Album

UK [17]

AU

BEL [22]

GER [23]

IE [24]

NL [18]

NZ [19]

US [20]

1969 "Give Peace a Chance" (as Hot Chocolate Band) – – – – – – – – — 1970 "Love Is Life" 6 – – – 13 – – – 1971 "You Could Have Been a Lady" 22 – – – – – – – "I Believe (In Love)" 8 – – – – – – – 1972 "Mary-Anne" – – – – – – – – "You'll Always Be a Friend" 23 – – – – – – – 1973 "Brother Louie" 7 36 – – 19 – – – "Rumours" 44 – – – – – – – 1974 "Emma" 3 6 2 19 7 2 – 8 UK: Silver[25] Cicero Park "Changing World" – – – – – – – – "Cheri Babe" 31 68 26 – – 10 – – — 1975 "Blue Night" – – – – – – – – "Disco Queen" 11 – – 48 16 – – 28 Cicero Park "A Child's Prayer" 7 92 – – 6 – – – Hot Chocolate "You Sexy Thing" 2 4 15 8 4 5 2 3 UK: Silver[25] US: Gold[26] 1976 "Don't Stop It Now" 11 – – 18 12 – – 42 Man to Man "Man to Man" 14 – – 13 17 – – – "Heaven Is in the Back Seat of My Cadillac" 25 32 – 28 19 – – – 1977 "So You Win Again" 1 12 6 6 2 5 8 31 UK: Silver[25] Every 1's A Winner "Put Your Love In Me" 10 90 29 7 19 20 – – UK: Silver[25] 1978 "Every 1's a Winner" 12 12 29 14 11 10 7 6 US: Gold[26] "I'll Put You Together Again" 13 12 20 15 8 14 31 – — 1979 "Mindless Boogie" 46 – – 48 21 46 – – Going Through the Motions "Going Through the Motions" 53 – – 43 – 49 33 53 1980 "No Doubt About It" 2 56 – 3 2 9 – – UK: Silver[25] — "Are You Getting Enough of What Makes You Happy" 17 – – 25 15 – – 65 "Love Me to Sleep" 50 – – 42 – – – – Class 1981 "Gotta Give Up Your Love" – – 21 – – 42 – – "I'm Losing You"/"Children of Spacemen" – – – – – – – – "You'll Never Be So Wrong" 52 – – 73 – 15 – – Mystery 1982 "Girl Crazy" 7 9 2 13 11 4 – – "It Started with a Kiss" 5 15 1 11 5 7 2 – UK: Silver[25] "Chances" 32 85 – 42 8 – – – 1983 "What Kinda Boy You're Lookin' For (Girl)" 10 – 12 23 4 17 – – — "Tears on the Telephone" 37 – 6 21 22 18 – – Love Shot "I'm Sorry" 89 – – 57 – – – – 1984 "I Gave You My Heart (Didn't I)" 13 – – – 12 – – – 1986 "Heartache No. 9" 76 – – 52 – – – – — 1987 "You Sexy Thing (Ben Liebrand Remix)" 10 – 20 5 8 56 – – The Very Best Of Hot Chocolate "Every 1's a Winner (Groove Mix)" 69 – – – – 59 – – 2001 "No Doubt About It (Tequila-Mix)" – – – – – – – – 1988 "Heaven Is in the Backseat of My Cadillac (D.D. Mix)" – – – – – – – – "Never Pretend" – – – 50 – – – – — "What About You" – – – – – – – – "Get It Right" – – – – – – – – 1993 "It Started with a Kiss" (re-issue) 31 – – – – – – – "Kiss To Mean Goodbye" – – – – – – – – Strictly Dance "Cry Little Girl" – – – – – – – – 1997 "You Sexy Thing (Ben Liebrand Remix)" (re-issue) 6 – – – 19 – – – — 1998 "It Started with a Kiss" (second re-issue) 18 – – – – – – –