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Jan 20, 2024 · Harvey Hinsley is the longtime guitarist with the British soul/funk group Hot Chocolate, whose songs were mainstays of the UK charts in the 1970s and early 80s. They were the only artist besides Diana Ross and Elvis Presley to score at least one UK hit record during every year of the seventies.
Learn about the life and career of Harvey Hinsley, who played guitar for the British funk band Hot Chocolate for over four decades. Hear his distinctive riffs on songs like "You Sexy Thing" and "Every 1's a Winner".
- You Sexy Thing (1975) Widely regarded as Hot Chocolate’s most enduring single, You Sexy Thing was initially put out as a B-side to Blue Night, but radio DJs flipped the 45 in favour of playing the upbeat disco jam instead.
- Every 1’s A Winner (1978) Based on a cockney idiom barrow boys used to yell on London street markets, Errol Brown wrote Every 1’s A Winner, imbuing the groove with irresistible swagger and funk-inspired charm.
- Emma (1974) Recorded at Morgan Studios, in Willesden, Emma was a spine-tingling requiem written in memory of Errol Brown’s late mother. Telling the tragic story of an actress who aspires to Hollywood stardom but commits suicide when her dreams go unrealised, the song embraces its haunting topic thanks to producer Mickie Most feeding the strings through a Fender amp, giving it a ghostly vibe.
- So You Win Again (1977) Acquiring a soft rock tune written by Argent songwriter Russ Ballard, producer Mickie Most resisted calls to give So You Win Again to British soul-pop outfit The Real Thing and gifted it to Hot Chocolate instead.
Hinsley drifted into session-work, forming part of a regular team alongside bassist Chas Hodges (also ex-Rebel Rousers and later to be half of Chas & Dave) and guitar genius Albert Lee; with producer Derek Lawrence, this team specialized in recording demos for songwriters without bands.
Get all the lyrics to songs by Harvey Hinsley and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Happy 74th Birthday to HARVEY HINSLEY (born 19 Jan 1948), original member and lead guitarist of the band, Hot Chocolate - the man responsible for all the amazing riffs heard in songs like 'You Sexy Thing' and 'Every 1's a Winner'.
Hot chocolate, also known as hot cocoa or drinking chocolate, is a heated drink consisting of shaved or melted chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and usually a sweetener. It is often garnished with whipped cream or marshmallows.
