Chocolate (The Time song)
Encyclopedia
"Chocolate" is a song from The Time
's 1990 album Pandemonium
. The song was originally recorded in mid-April, 1983 by Prince
at Sunset Sound studios during sessions for Ice Cream Castle
. Prince originally performed all instruments and vocals (backing vocals by Wendy & Lisa
) and this recording remains unreleased, but circulates among collectors. The song was reworked in late 1989 for inclusion on Pandemonium and contains input by the band. Part of Prince's original vocals were edited and included to be a humorous account between Morris Day and a feisty waiter.
"Chocolate" is a pop-funk offering driven by a drum machine
pattern and infectious bassline
. The drum pattern is very similar to Prince's "Lady Cab Driver" from 1999
, and several lines from the Prince outtake "Cloreen Baconskin" (from Crystal Ball
) were re-used throughout the song. Added to the mix are the familiar keyboard replacements for horns and funky rhythm guitar, with a bluesy solo toward the end of the song. The title refers to sex; "gimme some of your chocolate" is a euphemism
for African-American vagina
. The song is a humorous number, with Day recounting a woman allowing him to spend money on her without giving up the "chocolate".
The song was released as the second single from Pandemonium with "My Drawers" from Ice Cream Castle as a B-side. A maxi-single was also released with several remixes of the song. The song only achieved moderate success, reaching #44 on the R&B charts.
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
's 1990 album Pandemonium
Pandemonium (The Time album)
Pandemonium is a 1990 album by The Time. Much like the three previous albums, the album consists of music in the funk-pop or ballad genre, although this album breaks the 6-song album tradition. Originally, the album began life as Corporate World, with nearly all of the material written and...
. The song was originally recorded in mid-April, 1983 by Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
at Sunset Sound studios during sessions for Ice Cream Castle
Ice Cream Castle
Ice Cream Castle is a 1984 album by The Time. Much like the two previous albums, the album consists of six tracks in the funk-pop or ballad genre and it was produced and arranged by Prince as "The Starr ★ Company"...
. Prince originally performed all instruments and vocals (backing vocals by Wendy & Lisa
Wendy & Lisa
Wendy & Lisa are a music duo consisting of Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. They began working with Prince in the early 1980s and were part of his band The Revolution, before branching out on their own and releasing their debut album in 1987...
) and this recording remains unreleased, but circulates among collectors. The song was reworked in late 1989 for inclusion on Pandemonium and contains input by the band. Part of Prince's original vocals were edited and included to be a humorous account between Morris Day and a feisty waiter.
"Chocolate" is a pop-funk offering driven by a drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
pattern and infectious bassline
Bassline
A bassline is the term used in many styles of popular music, such as jazz, blues, funk, dub and electronic music for the low-pitched instrumental part or line played by a rhythm section instrument such as the electric bass, double bass, tuba or keyboard...
. The drum pattern is very similar to Prince's "Lady Cab Driver" from 1999
1999 (album)
1999 is the fifth studio album by Prince, released on October 27, 1982. It was his first top ten album on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States and became the fifth best-selling album of 1983. 1999 was Prince's breakthrough album, but his next album Purple Rain would become his most...
, and several lines from the Prince outtake "Cloreen Baconskin" (from Crystal Ball
Crystal Ball (album set)
Crystal Ball is the twentieth studio album by Prince . Crystal Ball is a four-disc set containing a three CD set of the same name featuring a much anticipated collection of "previously bootlegged" material, with The Truth, the twenty-first studio album by Prince which is a bonus disc of 12 new...
) were re-used throughout the song. Added to the mix are the familiar keyboard replacements for horns and funky rhythm guitar, with a bluesy solo toward the end of the song. The title refers to sex; "gimme some of your chocolate" is a euphemism
Euphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
for African-American vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
. The song is a humorous number, with Day recounting a woman allowing him to spend money on her without giving up the "chocolate".
The song was released as the second single from Pandemonium with "My Drawers" from Ice Cream Castle as a B-side. A maxi-single was also released with several remixes of the song. The song only achieved moderate success, reaching #44 on the R&B charts.
Maxi single
- "Chocolate" (7" Remix / Edit) – 4:35
- "Chocolate" (12inch Remix) – (7:59)
- "Chocolate" (Tootsie Roll Club Mix) – (6:11)
- "Chocolate" (Instrumental) – (7:29)
- "Chocolate" (Percapella) – (7:23)
- "My Drawers" – (3:57)