You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning

Chart Performance: Pop (#3) and R&B (#6); 1967

Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne

John Lennon personally signed duo Errol Brown and Tony Wilson, a label secretary came up with a group name for them, and in 1969 the Hot Chocolate Band released their version of Lennon & McCartney’s Give Peace A Chance (Apple #1812).

With Lennon’s endorsement, Brown and Wilson next hooked up with one of England’s most successful producers, Micki Most. Their first hit single on Most’s RAK label reached the U.K. Top 10 in 1970, with the five member group now called simply Hot Chocolate. Hot Chocolate’s songs frequently dealt with social issues (in 1973 Stories covered Brother Louie, their song about racism) powered by Brown’s distinctive voice.

A 1975 single, Blue Night, failed to chart in the U.K., however, when Night‘s B-side – You Sexy Thing – was released as an A-side later on, it scored on both sides of the Atlantic. It returned to #10 in 1987 (in a remixed version) and #6 in 1997 (after its inclusion in The Full Monty soundtrack); making it the only record to make the UK Top 10 in the 1970’s, 80’s, and 90’s.

This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.

Produced by:

  • Mickie Most

Lyrics Written by:

  • Errol Brown
  • Tony Wilson

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Ed Osborne

Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).