Hot Chocolate
If there was a prize for the band who appeared at Coventry Theatre most times, then my guess would be that Hot Chocolate may well be in contention for top spot. They played the venue numerous times during the 1970s and early 80s. Prior to that, and in their very early days, they also appeared at the Chesford Grange a couple of times.
And when you think Hot Chocolate, I think it is fair to say, you think of their charismatic vocalist Errol Brown. But, like with all success stories, there is a bit more to it.
As a youngster I clearly remember being blown away, at my local youth club, by their 1970 Hammond driven hit 'Love is Life' and its follow up, 'I Believe in Love'. And the chart hits continued for the next decade and a half. Unusually Hot Chocolate were primarily a singles band. Apart from greatest hits, they never really had any real album success.
The roots of Hot Chocolate began in London when Errol Brown and Tony Wilson began songwriting during 1968. Bands and artists who used their work included Mary Hopkin and Hermans Hermits. After a cover of John Lennon's iconic song 'Give Peace a Chance' had been sent to Apple Records the duo were given the name Hot Chocolate Band by an Apple secretary.
After the short lived association with Apple, the duo dropped the 'band' part of the suggested name, and went ahead simply known as Hot Chocolate. Soon after, Mickie Most had them signed up to his RAK record label. During those early singles various musicians were used to flesh out the band.
By the time of the bands sixth single, 'You'll always Be a Friend', released during 1972, the 'classic' line up of Brown - vocals, Wilson on bass, Harvey Hinsley on guitar, Tony Connor - drums, Patrick Olive - percussion and Larry Ferguson on keyboards had been established.
Brown and Wilson wrote some heavy lyrics. 'Emma', for example, released during 1974, was a song about a woman's dashed dreams of stardom that tragically ended in suicide. The lyric was thought to have had haunting similarities to Errol's own personal circumstances surrounding his Mother who had passed away when he was just 19.
And when you think Hot Chocolate, I think it is fair to say, you think of their charismatic vocalist Errol Brown. But, like with all success stories, there is a bit more to it.
As a youngster I clearly remember being blown away, at my local youth club, by their 1970 Hammond driven hit 'Love is Life' and its follow up, 'I Believe in Love'. And the chart hits continued for the next decade and a half. Unusually Hot Chocolate were primarily a singles band. Apart from greatest hits, they never really had any real album success.
The roots of Hot Chocolate began in London when Errol Brown and Tony Wilson began songwriting during 1968. Bands and artists who used their work included Mary Hopkin and Hermans Hermits. After a cover of John Lennon's iconic song 'Give Peace a Chance' had been sent to Apple Records the duo were given the name Hot Chocolate Band by an Apple secretary.
After the short lived association with Apple, the duo dropped the 'band' part of the suggested name, and went ahead simply known as Hot Chocolate. Soon after, Mickie Most had them signed up to his RAK record label. During those early singles various musicians were used to flesh out the band.
By the time of the bands sixth single, 'You'll always Be a Friend', released during 1972, the 'classic' line up of Brown - vocals, Wilson on bass, Harvey Hinsley on guitar, Tony Connor - drums, Patrick Olive - percussion and Larry Ferguson on keyboards had been established.
Brown and Wilson wrote some heavy lyrics. 'Emma', for example, released during 1974, was a song about a woman's dashed dreams of stardom that tragically ended in suicide. The lyric was thought to have had haunting similarities to Errol's own personal circumstances surrounding his Mother who had passed away when he was just 19.
Hot Chocolate had, by now, become well known on both sides of the Atlantic. The serious lyrics continued with songs like 'A Child's Prayer' released during 1975. The theme of the song being despair and hunger.
Errol Brown and Tony Wilson enjoyed writing lyrics that people could easily identify with. And 1975 also saw the last collaborative hit as Tony Wilson left the band soon after. That song was the chart topping 'You Sexy Thing'.
The song, unique in as much the featured congas were played through a wah wah pedal, was about a dancer met at a West End Club called Gulliver's. Two years later that dancer became Errol's wife. The pair remained together for almost 40 years until Errol Brown's untimely death during 2015.
Losing Tony Wilson had a profound effect on the bands style but not an adverse effect on their popularity. Hot Chocolate went from strength to strength as they became a more glamorous and commercial band. Additionally, some of their greatest hits were still to come.
Errol Brown moved to the Bahamas and invested in race horses. He also enjoyed his cars and one of the bands next singles, titled 'Heaven is in the Back Seat of my Cadillac', was about one of those cars.
Hot Chocolate also began to collaborate with other songwriters and this proved to be a major success as Russ Ballard's 'So You Win Again' hit number one. The overall sound of their songs became more expansive as 'Put Your Love in Me' proved with its strings and brass sections.
Few bands, if any others, could claim to have had a song in the charts during each year of the 1970s. And this feat continued during the first half of the 1980s as they clocked up a total of 230 weeks in the UK singles chart alone.
'I Gave You My Heart (Didn't I), released during 1984, was to be Errol Brown's last with the band as he left to go solo. Without him Hot Chocolate disbanded during 1986.
But of course through TV commercials and major film releases the legacy and the memory of Hot Chocolate's music is never too far away from earshot. And, if unfamiliar, that Tony Wilson era of the band is well worth delving into.
Errol Brown and Tony Wilson enjoyed writing lyrics that people could easily identify with. And 1975 also saw the last collaborative hit as Tony Wilson left the band soon after. That song was the chart topping 'You Sexy Thing'.
The song, unique in as much the featured congas were played through a wah wah pedal, was about a dancer met at a West End Club called Gulliver's. Two years later that dancer became Errol's wife. The pair remained together for almost 40 years until Errol Brown's untimely death during 2015.
Losing Tony Wilson had a profound effect on the bands style but not an adverse effect on their popularity. Hot Chocolate went from strength to strength as they became a more glamorous and commercial band. Additionally, some of their greatest hits were still to come.
Errol Brown moved to the Bahamas and invested in race horses. He also enjoyed his cars and one of the bands next singles, titled 'Heaven is in the Back Seat of my Cadillac', was about one of those cars.
Hot Chocolate also began to collaborate with other songwriters and this proved to be a major success as Russ Ballard's 'So You Win Again' hit number one. The overall sound of their songs became more expansive as 'Put Your Love in Me' proved with its strings and brass sections.
Few bands, if any others, could claim to have had a song in the charts during each year of the 1970s. And this feat continued during the first half of the 1980s as they clocked up a total of 230 weeks in the UK singles chart alone.
'I Gave You My Heart (Didn't I), released during 1984, was to be Errol Brown's last with the band as he left to go solo. Without him Hot Chocolate disbanded during 1986.
But of course through TV commercials and major film releases the legacy and the memory of Hot Chocolate's music is never too far away from earshot. And, if unfamiliar, that Tony Wilson era of the band is well worth delving into.
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