Hot Chocolate

Hot Chocolate is a British soul and pop group from Brixton, London, active from 1969. The group forms around Jamaican-born singer and songwriter Errol Brown, with early members including percussionist Patrick Olive, guitarist Franklyn De Allie, drummer Tony Wilson, bassist Tony Wilson, pianist Larry Ferguson and other later contributors. The line-up changes over the years, and the band continues to make live appearances in the UK and Europe.

History and early recordings

The band first appears in the late 1960s and works with Apple Records for a period. During that time it records a reggae version of “Give Peace A Chance” and backs Mary Hopkin on “Think About Your Children” before the label ends. In 1970, the group signs to Rak Records, the label run by producer Mickie Most.

Chart success

Hot Chocolate becomes one of the best-known British chart groups of the 1970s and 1980s. It has at least one hit every year between 1970 and 1984, and earns 25 UK top 40 singles across its career. Its first UK hit is “Love Is Life”, followed by songs including “I Believe (In Love)”, “Brother Louie”, “A Child’s Prayer”, “Put Your Love In Me”, “No Doubt About It”, “Girl Crazy”, “It Started With A Kiss” and “What Kinda Boy You Looking For (Girl)”.

International profile and later years

The group secures a US recording deal in 1974 with Big Tree Records and releases “Emma”, then moves further towards disco with “Disco Queen”. Its second US album includes “You Sexy Thing”, which reaches number 3 in the US charts. In 1978, the band is associated with Infinity Records in the US and reaches number 6 with “Every 1’s A Winner”. The 1979 album Going Through The Motions continues this dancefloor-oriented direction with “Mindless Boogie”. Errol Brown leaves in 1987, and the band later undergoes a revival in live work under manager and agent Ric Martin from 1992.

Notable songs and legacy

“You Sexy Thing” becomes the group’s best-known recording, reaching the Top 10 in three different decades. Interest in the band’s music rises again after the 1998 film The Full Monty uses the song prominently in its soundtrack. Brown is also known by the nickname “the singing malteser”.

Style

Hot Chocolate is associated with disco, funk, pop, pop rock, pop soul and soul, and is generally described as a 1970s and 1980s British soul band.