Brother Louie Makes The Scene...
Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 08/21/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This UK-only December 2004 EMI Gold Label CD contains 20 tracks from the first six years of Hot Chocolate's extraordinary 30-year chart career. Covering 1969 to 1975, most of the songs on here were released on Mickie Most's hugely successful RAK label in the UK. Many of these tracks are non-album and 10 make their CD debut on this release.
Here's the breakdown (75:16 minutes):
Tracks 1 and 2 are the A&B of Apple Records APPLE 18 issued Oct 1969
Tracks 3 and 4 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 103 issued August 1970
Tracks 5 and 6 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 110 issued February 1971
Tracks 7 and 8 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 118 issued August 1971
Tracks 9 and 10 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 127 issued March 1972
Tracks 11 and 12 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 139 issued October 1972
Tracks 13 and 14 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 149 issued April 1973
Tracks 15 and 16 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 157 issued August 1973
Tracks 17 and 18 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 168 issued March 1974
Tracks 19 and 20 are the A&B of Rak Records RAK 199 issued April 1975
(Tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 18 and 20 are first time on CD)
Their 1st UK 7" single (credited as HOT CHOCOLATE BAND) is an awful reggae version of John Lennon's "Give Peace A Chance" coupled with a slightly better original Tony Wilson/Errol Brown song on the B. As you can see, it's on the highly collectable Beatles label APPLE and is a £40 + rarity. The remaining 18 songs were all issued on RAK and as you scan down the names, many of the huge hits will be familiar.
However, there's a few things worth noting. "I Believe (In Love)" is a previously unreleased stereo mix, while "Mary-Anne" and its B-side "Ruth" is one of the only times that the soulful Hot Chocolate ventured into bubble-gum pop! Horrifying for a soul group I know, but both tracks are actually pretty good. In the undiscovered gem corner is "Go Go Girl". With its Kinks-style opening guitar riff and rough 'n' ready production, this completely forgotten non-album B-side has recently been played in some London clubs as a 6T's dancer and beat tune (check it out on iTunes). And the `honky' talking lines at the end of "Brother Louie" is spoken by Alexis Korner - with John Cameron doing the superb string arrangements - both from the much-loved and revered CCS (another Rak label act). The last curio is Track 20, the mid 1975 original version of "You Sexy Thing" (RAK 199). It was initially put out as a B-side to "Blue Night" which was one of Mickie Most's rare mistakes. But as luck would have it, it was flipped by an American DJ who spotted what a cracker `Sexy" was. Hot Chocolate then re-recorded it and released it as the familiar chart hit we all know and love in October of that year (RAK 221). It's been their signature tune ever since. The original version here is excellent, but you can't help feel they made the right choice with the re-released re-recording.
The 12-page booklet has superb and detailed liner notes by PHIL HENDRICKS and the sound quality is up there with all EMI releases - clear, warm and punchy.
It's not all Picasso of course, and it may be too lightweight-soul for some, but rehearing "Emma", "Brother Louie" and "You Could Have Been A Lady" in this superb sound quality has been a blast - just 'so' enjoyable.
Recommended!!
PS:
Other 70's acts in the "A's B's & Rarities" series are:
C.C.S., PILOT, THE ARROWS, SUZI QUATRO and MUD
(all of these artists were on the RAK label in the UK - except PILOT who were on EMI)"
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1