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Chocolate is the eighth track (sixth song) on The Time’s fourth and final album Pandemonium, and, around a month after the album’s release, Chocolate was released as the album’s second and final single.
The song was written and produced by Prince, but was credited to The Time. Prince plays most instruments on the track, and appears in character as a waiter during the track (as he did on Chili Sauce (originally recorded three days earlier).
Basic tracking took place on 17 April 1983 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California (the day after basic tracking of If The Kid Can’t Make You Come, the day before Prince fired Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis from The Time, and three days before recording Velvet Kitty Cat). The track features Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman, but they are not credited on the released version, despite their contributions remaining intact.
Morris Day’s vocal overdubs were recorded during a session on 22 April 1983. A few lines of the song (I'd make it so nice if only I could / Don't you want to see my Tootsie Roll?) were from Prince’s performance of How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore during the 1999 Tour which ended a week before this song was recorded. Prince’s original call-outs to (Wendy) "Melvoin" in the lyrics were changed to Morris Day calling out Jesse Johnson, although the guitar part is still Wendy Melvoin’s solo; Jesse Johnson was heavily involved in choosing this track for Pandemonium, however, so it is surprising he did not re-record the guitar solo in 1989.
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Recording Information
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Recording Sessions
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| Date
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Studio
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Additional info
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| 17 April 1983
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Sunset Sound - Studio 2,
Hollywood, CA, USA
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Tracking
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| 21 April 1983
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Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
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Vocal overdubs by Prince, Jill Jones, Wendy Melvoin, and Lisa Coleman (assumed)
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| 22 April 1983
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Sunset Sound- Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
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Vocal overdubs by Morris Day
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| Late 1989
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Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
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Additional recording by The Time
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| 1990
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Larrabee Sound Studios,
North Hollywood, CA, USA
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Remixes and additional production by Keith "K.C." Cohen
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Recording Personnel
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The Time version
- Morris Day - lead vocals, "cool"
- Prince - background vocals and instruments, except where noted (uncredited)
- Wendy Melvoin - guitar, background vocals (uncredited)
- Lisa Coleman - background vocals (uncredited)
- Jill Jones - background vocals
- Jellybean Johnson - credited for drums and backing vocals, but not involved
- Jesse Johnson - credited for guitar and backing vocals, but not involved
- Jimmy Jam - credited for keyboards and backing vocals, but not involved
- Monte Moir - credited for keyboards and backing vocals, but not involved
- Terry Lewis - credited for lead vocals, bass guitar and backing vocals, but not involved
- Jerome Benton - credited for percussion, "mirror and holler", but not involved
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Versions
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Released Versions
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Video Versions
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| Title
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Length
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Released
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Version
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Additional info
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| Chocolate
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4:34
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Promotional release only
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Promo video
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See Chocolate video for details; uses Chocolate (7" Remix / Edit)
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| Chocolate
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0:37
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Graffiti Bridge DVD
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Studio
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Part of the original instrumental version
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Unreleased Versions
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| Title
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Version
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Additional Info
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| Chocolate
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Demo
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Original recording with Prince lead vocals
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