You Could Have Been a Lady

"You Could've Been a Lady" is a song by the British soul band Hot Chocolate, written by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson. Written in 1969 and released as a single in 1971, it peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart during a nine-week run.[1]

"You Could've Been a Lady"
Single by Hot Chocolate
B-side"Everybody's Laughing"
ReleasedJanuary 1971 (1971-01)
Length3:42
LabelRak
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mickie Most
Hot Chocolate singles chronology
"Love Is Life"
(1970)
"You Could've Been a Lady"
(1971)
"I Believe (In Love)"
(1971)

Although initially released by Hot Chocolate as a non-album single, the song later appeared on the 2009 reissue of Cicero Park.

In 1976, the band re-recorded the song for their Man to Man album. Boasting a fuller, heavier production than the 3:42 original, it runs for 4:25. Rather than the original single version, a 3:48 edit of the re-recording has appeared on all compilation albums issued both by the band and with various other artists.

"You Could've Been a Lady" has many similarities to "Why Don't You Quit" by American jazz musician Eddie Harris.[2]

April Wine version

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"You Could Have Been a Lady"
 
Single by April Wine
from the album On Record
B-side"Teacher"
Released
  • November 1971 (1971-11) (Canada)
  • March 1972 (1972-03) (US)
  • May 1972 (1972-05) (UK)
GenreHard rock
Length3:20
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Errol Brown
  • Tony Wilson
Producer(s)Ralph Murphy
April Wine singles chronology
"Fast Train"
(1971)
"You Could Have Been a Lady"
(0000000)
"Bad Side of the Moon"
(1972)

The song had further success in North America when it was covered by Canadian rock band April Wine for their 1972 studio album, On Record. Released as the album's first single, it was their first hit, reaching number two on the RPM 100 in Canada and number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ "you could've been a lady | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  2. ^ Similar Rock
  3. ^ Canadian peaks Collections Canada
  4. ^ April Wine - Chart History Billboard