The Groove
Saturday February 11th, 2023 with Elorious Cain
A Black History Month Celebration of HOT CHOCOLATE
There was a group in 1969 that was playing Reggae and Soul songs live to friends in the Brixton section of London, England. One of the founding members of the group was the charismatic ERROL BROWN. He had changed part of the lyrics to JOHN LENNON's "Give Peace A Chance" and the band performed a subtle REGGAE version that people just loved! But Errol was warned that they could get legal trouble from the 'all mighty' BEATLES. They recorded a demo of their version of "Give Peace A Chance" and nervously mailed it to Apple Records.
Not only did JOHN LENNON love their REGGAE version of "GIVE PEACE A CHANCE", he got Apple Records to release it on a 7" single. The problem was that ERROL and his friends didn't really have a name for their group. Somebody at Apple suggested the name the 'HOT CHOCOLATE BAND'. After that historic REGGAE release on Apple Records in 1969, the group's name was simplified to HOT CHOCOLATE.
| GIVE PEACE A CHANCE HOT CHOCOLATE BAND - 7" - APPLE |
| "Living Without Tomorrow" was actually the B-side of "Give Peace A Chance" on the famous Apple label. They were still called the HOT CHOCOLATE BAND then. When EMI released it again on the "A'S B'S & RARITIES" CD, they just listed the group as HOT CHOCOLATE. |
| LIVING WITHOUT TOMORROW HOT CHOCOLATE - A'S B'S & RARITIES (CD) - EMI GOLD |
| LOVE IS LIFE HOT CHOCOLATE - 7" - RAK |
| PRETTY GIRLS HOT CHOCOLATE - A'S B'S & RARITIES (CD) - EMI GOLD |
| EVERYBODY'S LAUGHING HOT CHOCOLATE - 7" - RAK |
| COULD HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE GHETTO (THEME FROM "LOVE HEAD") HOT CHOCOLATE - CICERO PARK (LP) - RAK |
| EMMA HOT CHOCOLATE - A'S B'S & RARITIES (CD) - EMI GOLD |
| CICERO PARK HOT CHOCOLATE - CICERO PARK (LP) - RAK |
| The American ROCK band STORIES did a very successful cover version of the HOT CHOCOLATE song "Brother Louie" in 1973. |
| BROTHER LOUIE HOT CHOCOLATE - 7" - RAK |
| RUMOURS HOT CHOCOLATE - 7" - RAK |
| DISCO QUEEN HOT CHOCOLATE - 20 GREATEST HITS (LP) - ARCADE |
| BUMP AND DILLY DOWN HOT CHOCOLATE - CICERO PARK (LP) - RAK |
| The Canadian ROCK band APRIL WINE did a very successful cover version of the HOT CHOCOLATE song "You Could've Been A Lady" in 1972. |
| YOU COULD'VE BEEN A LADY HOT CHOCOLATE - 7" - RAK |
| YOU'RE A NATURAL HIGH HOT CHOCOLATE - CICERO PARK (LP) - RAK |
| MAN TO MAN HOT CHOCOLATE - MAN TO MAN (LP) - BIG TREE |
| A MAN NEEDS A WOMAN HOT CHOCOLATE - A'S B'S & RARITIES (CD) - EMI GOLD |
| AMAZING SKIN SONG HOT CHOCOLATE - HOT CHOCOLATE (LP) - BIG TREE |
| YOU SEXY THING HOT CHOCOLATE - 7" - BIG TREE |
| CONFETTI DAY HOT CHOCOLATE - EVERY 1'S A WINNER (LP) - INFINITY |
| EVERY 1'S A WINNER HOT CHOCOLATE - 12" - INFINITY |
| GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS HOT CHOCOLATE - 12" - INFINITY |
| MINDLESS BOOGIE HOT CHOCOLATE - 12" - RAK |
| HEAVEN'S IN THE BACK SEAT OF MY CADILLAC HOT CHOCOLATE - MAN TO MAN (LP) - BIG TREE |
| GIRL CRAZY HOT CHOCOLATE - 12" - RAK |
| LOSING YOU HOT CHOCOLATE - CLASS (LP) - RAK |
| IT STARTED WITH A KISS HOT CHOCOLATE - 12" - RAK |
| GREEN SHIRT HOT CHOCOLATE - CLASS (LP) - RAK |
| MYSTERY HOT CHOCOLATE - MYSTERY (LP) - EMI AMERICA |
| LOVE IS A GOOD THING HOT CHOCOLATE - 7" - RAK |
| SEXY CARRIBEAN GIRL HOT CHOCOLATE - LOVE SHOT (LP) - RAK |
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HOT CHOCOLATE was one of my favourite bands when I lived in England growing up! I can't believe that you are doing a special on them. I'm very much looking forward to it. CKCU is the champion source!!
8:09 AM, February 10th, 2023