It's quite interesting how my collection of Hot Chocolate singles is coming together slowly. All the big hits are in there, but the early stuff is still a matter of searching well and waiting for the right price. This single, 'I believe (in love)' was actually a big hit without me knowing it. And that's not strange, because it didn't chart in the Netherlands.
In the UK, however, this single was their second top 10 hit, after 'Love is life' (1970), which reached number 6 in September 1970. This one peaked at number 8 in 1971.
My collection: 7" single no. 6722 Found: Record fair, Den Haag, 4 June 2022 Cost: €1 Tracks: 'I believe (in love)' / 'Caveman Billy'
The career of Hot Chocolate took off slowly, with a handful of hits in the UK. It was only when they released 'Emma' in 1974 that they became successful in other territories - and landed their first silver certification within the UK.
The single that preceded 'Emma' was 'Rumours', a song penned by the band members Errol Brown and Tony Wilson. The single peaked at number 44 in the UK singles chart and would be the last of eight non-album singles the band released until their debut album 'Cicero Park' in 1974. \
My collection: 7" single no. 6525 Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 25 November 2021 Cost: €2 Tracks: 'Rumours' / 'A man needs a woman'
Hot Chocolate's career really took off with the song 'Emma' in 1974 - their first international hit. But before that, the band already had a string of hits in the UK. However, they were all non-album singles and nowadays pretty hard to find.
'You'll always be a friend' was released in 1972 and reached number 23 in the UK singles chart. The single was released in a RAK Records company sleeve, like all those early singles. Although it has to be noted that in some other territories - Italy and Germany - the record company gave the single an illustrated sleeve.
My collection: 7" single no. 6524 Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 25 November 2021 Cost: €1 Tracks: 'You'll always be a friend' / 'Go go girl'
After Errol Brown left Hot Chocolate in 1986, there must have been some panic at the record company quarters. In 1987 they put together a remix album, using the hits that the band racked up until then to 'update' the tracks to the dance flavours of the time. Confusingly, the remix album was called '2001'
Several singles were released from the remix album, one of which was
this, 'Heaven's in the backseat of my Cadillac', remixed by Al Topo.
Who? Exactly. Meanwhile, the band went on without Errol Brown - but didn't have any chart success with their releases.
Released in early 1975, 'Disco queen' was Hot Chocolate's first big hit since 'Emma', released a year earlier. Three singles were released in the mean time, of which only 'Cheri babe' managed to reach the UK and Dutch top 40.
'Disco queen', written about the most popular music genre of those days, reached number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the US Billboard Hot 100 - their second American hit since 'Emma'. Later in the year Hot Chocolate would immortalise themselves with the single 'You sexy thing'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5248 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011 Cost: 0,8 euro Tracks: 'Disco queen' / 'Bump and dilly down'
I should probably not enjoy a title like this one as much as I do, but I do. 'Heaven is in the back seat of my Cadillac' has got to be the best pickup line from the Seventies. Considering it's now 35 years old, it should probably get back in fashion, and fast. Shame I don't have a car, and I never will.
It was a hit for the band Hot Chocolate, peaking at number 25 in the UK singles chart and number 28 in the German singles chart, but in other territories the single didn't do as well.
My collection: 7" single no. 5247 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 19, 2011 Cost: 0,8 euro Tracks: 'Heaven's in the back seat of my Cadillac' / 'Sex appeal'
Released in the summer of 1975, 'A child's prayer' was Hot Chocolate's fifth top 10 hit in the UK and the last single release before one of the band's best known hits, 'You sexy thing'. This song is very different from that one, however, with quite 'deep' lyrics.
The B-side, by contrast, has a very simple message: 'Everything should be funky'. Well maybe.
My collection: 7" single no. 5198 Found: Record Exchange, London, October 14, 2011 Cost: 50p Tracks: 'A child's prayer' / 'Everything should be funky'
Hot Chocolate had a string of hits during the Seventies. Of course, not all of their singles made it into the top 10, there were some smaller hits inbetween the big ones. Most of their songs were produced by legendary hitmaker Mickie Most and written by band members Brown and Wilson.
'Cheri babe' was one such smaller hits. Released in November 1974, the single reached number 31 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 5164 Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Cheri babe' / 'Sexy lady'
Not to be confused with the Modern Talking song from the Eighties, this single by Hot Chocolate was written by band members Tony Wilson and Erroll Brown and released in April 1973. It's a song about an interracial love affair and a father who does not approve. Founding father of British blues Alexis Korner has a spoken word part in the song.
The single was a hit for the band, peaking at number 7 in the UK singles chart. The song was later covered by the American band Stories, the Quireboys and - unfortunately - Dutch singer Bert Heerink who created a Dutch version called 'Julie July'.
My collection: 7" single no. 5165 Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Brother Louie' / 'I want to be free'
Many people, including myself, are unaware that one of Hot Chocolate's biggest hits, 'You sexy thing', started life as the B-side of another single. And this is it: 'Blue night', released in 1975.
Producer Mickie Most put 'You sexy thing' on the flip-side of this single as he was not convinced that it could be a hit. The song was remixed at a later date by Most, who re-released it as an A-side some months later on his RAK label. The song was a hit and ultimately became the group's most well-known song. Oh, and by the way: 'Blue night' never charted...
My collection: 7" single no. 5127 Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Blue night' / 'You sexy thing'
'Going through the motions' was the title track of Hot Chocolate's 1979 album, released as a single in July 1979.
Despite its haunting atmosphere and lyrics, the song did not catch on: it only managed to reach number 53 in the UK singles chart and failed to chart in the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 4793 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Going through the motions' / 'Stay with me'
Another single from their 1981 album 'Class', 'I'm losing you' is one of those many infectious Hot Chocolate tunes.
The track was written by Russ Ballard, writer of many hit singles throughout the Eighties. However, this particular single failed to reach the charts in any territory.
My collection: 7" single no. 4776 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'I'm losing you' / 'Children of spacemen'
'You sexy thing' was originally a hit for Hot Chocolate in 1975. Dutch DJ Ben Liebrand, who already made a career for himself remixing tracks for Dutch radio and also for record releases, took on the task of remixing the track for a 1987 single release. His effort didn't go by unnoticed: the single reached number 10 in the UK singles chart.
When the original version of 'You sexy thing' was re-released in 1997 and reached number 6 in the UK singles chart, the track became the only Hot Chocolate track to become a top 10 hit in the Seventies, the Eighties and the Nineties. It's almost a shame the song didn't achieve this once again in the Noughties.
My collection: 7" single no. 4797 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'You sexy thing (Ben Liebrand remix)' / 'Every 1's a winner'
Frankly, I was very surprised when I played this single for the first time after buying it. Everyone knows Hot Chocolate's 'You sexy thing', with the near-falsetto lead vocals by Errol Brown. But this version of the song sounds very different. So what happened? You tell me, I couldn't find any information about it on the web.
'You sexy thing' was released in the autumn of 1975 and reached number 5 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 2 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4773 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'You sexy thing' / 'A warm smile'
Ever since I decided to complete my Hot Chocolate singles collection, I keep finding titles I never knew existed. Granted, I only have a basic knowledge of this band's output, but there also seems no end to their singles discography.
'Don't stop it now' was released in March 1976 as the follow-up to one of their biggest hits, 'You sexy thing'. In the UK, the single reached number 11, but in the Netherlands this single failed to chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 4772 Found: Record fair, Utrecht, April 10, 2010 Cost: 0,5 euro Tracks: 'Don't stop it now' / 'Beautiful lady'
Released in July 1980, 'Are you getting enough of what makes you happy?' was the second single from Hot Chocolate's 1980 album 'Class'. During a seven week chart run in the UK singles chart, it reached number 17.
As usual, the single was written by lead singer Errol Brown and produced by Mickie Most.
My collection: 7" single no. 4655 Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Are you getting enough of what makes you happy?' / 'I've got you on my mind'
'I'm sorry' is one of the lesser known Hot Chocolate singles, released in November 1983. It was a commercial disappointment. After 'Tears on the telephone' reached number 37 in the UK singles chart, this single stalled at number 89.
The single was taken from Hot Chocolate's 1983 album 'Love shot', which was produced by Mickie Most.
My collection: 7" single no. 4654 Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'I'm sorry' / 'Love is a good thing'
After the single 'No doubt about it', the band Hot Chocolate lingered on the theme of visitors from outer space some more on their next single, 'Gotta give up your love', albeit on the B-side, 'Children of spacemen'.
'Gotta give up your love' was released in February 1981 but failed to chart in any territory. The B-side resurfaced as the B-side of the later single 'I'm losing you'.
My collection: 7" single no. 4653 Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Gotta give up your love' / 'Children of spacemen'
Released in September 1982,'Chances' was a single taken from Hot Chocolate's album 'Mystery'. As usual, the tracks on this single were produced by Mickie Most and written by frontman Errol Brown.
The single reached number 32 in the UK singles chart, but failed to chart in the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 4652 Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Chances' / 'A night to remember'
Hot Chocolate's 1976 single 'Man to man' was remarkable for its lyric: it's about a man who confronts the new lover of his wife and mother of their two children, asking him to 'love her' and 'love our children too'. It's a remarkable thing to do, especially for men at that time.
The single managed to reach number 14 in the UK singles chart as the third single from Hot Chocolate's 1975 self-titled album.
My collection: 7" single no. 4651 Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010 Cost: 1 euro Tracks: 'Man to man' / 'Eyes of a growing child'