1977 Hot Chocolate: So You Win Again

Always a dependable brand, Hot Chocolate had been having a hit a year since 1970 (and would do so until 1978). Mention the band's name to anyone and like as not it's the sweat funk workouts of 'You Sexy Thing' or 'Every 1's A Winner' that folk will remember. And that's fair enough because they're memorable songs, but in-between the smiley dance fun, Hot Chocolate weren't averse to dropping the occasional misery bomb to keep people on their toes.

Written by Mickey Most, 'So You Win Again' (their sole number one to date) found singer Errol Brown at a low ebb after his woman has gone and left him; though 'low ebb' may be an understated way to describe the verbal beating up he's giving himself. Exactly why she left we're never told, but Brown spares himself no quarter in the blame stakes: "Being the fool I am", "Here I stand again, the loser", "I'm a fool there's no denying" he goes on before muttering the title over and over again to himself in a mantra of self flagellation. The bizarre thing is he seems to enjoy wallowing in his self pity; just listen to his tongue wrapping around 'the looosserrr' and that key change plead of "when will my heartaches end" at 3:18. And what's with the so you win 'again'? How many times has she done this to the sucker?

All the while, the band try to cheer him up/take the piss through locking into an inappropriately solid funk groove that dances around, trying to nudge him up onto his feet when he'd probably rather be left on his own. It's an odd juxtaposition and it's one that serves to put 'So You Win Again' up on a high wire that straddles the band's upbeat singles (the above mentioned) and their more downbeat songs like 'Emma'. It's an awkward balance and that they never once slip is testament to the watertight quality of the playing. And while it's all part of the same circus, it's no fun watching something that leaves you with your heart in your mouth when all you wanted was to watch the clowns lark about with buckets of water. Not their best single, but an enjoyable one nonetheless.