Scored the final The Wych Elm album from a seller/shop in Iowa. Since they had a couple of other J-related records I asked, and indeed they knew J and miss him.
The last records that J was a part of (as part of his First Punic War project) that I don’t have all seem to be unobtainium.
Missing J today. Wish he was here so we could talk about Hot Chocolate—while I had known the hits he got me to get into the deep cuts.
This is very much Hot Chocolate leaning into the disco sound, at the tail-end of disco's cultural significance. The thing is, Hot Chocolate was never just a disco/funk band. Their first 3 records have a lot of range. There are flavors British Invasion, psychedelic, funk, northern soul, throughout their catalog.
Still, I would describe this as a "dance record" which at that time meant disco. But in practically also meant soul/funk. But it's still a Hot Chocolate record. Instead of disco strings there are funky synths. The bass playing is amazing. Side 2 is stronger, more funk with a bit of new wave in there. This is not my favorite Hot Chocolate record but it will be in rotation and if I have a dance party it will be getting some play.
C Puffer