No doubt about it (Little Tequila-mix) - Hot Chocolate

A Hot Chocolate remix album seemed like a good idea, after Ben Liebrand's remix of 'You sexy thing' had become a top 10 hit in the UK. Unfortunately, not all of the remixes were executed equally well. Al Topo's remix of 'Heaven's in the backseat of my Cadillac' didn't chart at all, and this remix of 'No doubt about it' by a certain Frank Mono (who worked with Al Topo, who plays additional instruments on this remix) was just plain lazy. Adding some instruments to the original track does not a remix make.

I added this single to my collection, because I'm getting ever closer to a complete Hot Chocolate discography. But I think a remix album is still a good idea - if executed with better remixers.

My collection: 7" single no. 7349
Found: Discogs.com, received 28 September 2024
Tracks: 'No doubt about it (Little Tequila-mix)' / 'Gave you my heart  (didn't I)'

Heartache No. 9 - Hot Chocolate

This Hot Chocolate single is a bit of a landmark, because not only does it feature Errol Brown prominently on the sleeve, it is also his last single with the band. The song was released on The very best of Hot Chocolate in 1986, an album that also featured a Ben Liebrand remix of 'You sexy thing'. The single only reached number 76 in the UK and number 52 in Germany.

After 'Heartache No. 9', Errol Brown went solo and a few more remix singles were released. Hot Chocolate continued without Errol Brown for a while, releasing the songs 'Never pretend', 'What about you', 'Get it right', 'Kiss to mean goodbye' and 'Cry little girl' between 1988 and 1993, none of which managed to chart. Hot Chocolate continued to make live appearances in the UK and Europe.

My collection: 7" single no. 7195
Found: Discogs.com, received 10 May 2024
Tracks: 'Heartache No. 9' / 'One life'

Changing world - Hot Chocolate

Another Hot Chocolate single I didn't already have is 1974's 'Changing world'. In this case, it's the Belgian pressing with a picture sleeve - which is just as well, because the UK version came in the same old RAK record company sleeve.

'Changing world' was written, once again, by lead singer Errol Brown and bassist Tony Wilson, and it was taken from the band's debut album Cicero Park. It was released as the follow-up to the massively successful single 'Emma' - a top 10 hit in various countries - but it wasn't as successful. In fact, it only managed to reach number 58 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 7168
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 16 April 2024
Tracks: 'Changing world' / 'Bump and dilly down'

You could've been a lady - Hot Chocolate

With all the Hot Chocolate singles already in my collection, it's always a bit of a surprise when one turns up that I don't already have. 'You could've been a lady' was written in 1969 and released as a single in 1971. The song was written by band members Errol Brown and Tony Wilson.

Although initially released by Hot Chocolate as a non-album single, the song later appeared on the 2009 reissue of the album Cicero Park.  In 1976, the band re-recorded the song for their album Man to Man. Boasting a fuller, heavier production than the 3:42 original, it runs for 4:25. Rather than the original single version, a 3:48 edit of the re-recording has appeared on all compilation albums issued both by the band and with various other artists.

My collection: 7" single no. 7167
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 16 April 2024
Tracks: 'You could've been a lady' / 'Everybody's laughing'

Love is life - Hot Chocolate

It's always great to find a Hot Chocolate single. They released a lot of them in the Seventies, driven by music mogul Mickie Most and his RAK Records label, which demanded hit records from all the artists they signed. 

'Love is life' was the band's first chart success back in 1970. It peaked at number 6 in the UK singles chart during a chart run of 12 weeks. After this, they had two hits every year on average, right until 1983! In the Netherlands their success was more limited; 'Love is life' didn't chart and they only had 13 hits in the same period.

My collection: 7" single no. 7125
Found: Discogs.com, received 20 March 2024
Tracks: 'Love is life' / 'Pretty girls'

I believe (in love) - Hot Chocolate

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'

Rumours - Hot Chocolate

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'

You'll always be a friend - Hot Chocolate

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'

Heaven's in the backseat of my Cadillac (DD mix) - Hot Chocolate

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.

My collection: 7" single no. 6181
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, September 21, 2019
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Heaven's in the backseat of my Cadillac (DD mix)' / 'Brother Louie'

Disco queen - Hot Chocolate

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'

Heaven's in the back seat of my Cadillac - Hot Chocolate

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'

A child's prayer - Hot Chocolate

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'

Cheri babe - Hot Chocolate

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'

Brother Louie - Hot Chocolate

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'

Blue night - Hot Chocolate

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 - Hot Chocolate

'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'

I'm losing you - Hot Chocolate

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 (Ben Liebrand remix) - Hot Chocolate

'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'

You sexy thing - Hot Chocolate

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'

Don't stop it now - Hot Chocolate

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'