You Could've 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 in 1969. Released as a single in 1971, it peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart during a nine-week run.^[1] Although initially released by Hot Chocolate as a non-album single, the song later appeared on the 2009 reissue of Cicero Park.

"You Could've Been a Lady"
Portuguese 7" vinyl single cover
Single by Hot Chocolate
B-side	"Everybody's Laughing"
Released	January 1971 (1971-01)
Length	3:42
Label	Rak
Songwriter(s)	Errol Brown Tony Wilson
Producer(s)	Mickie Most
Hot Chocolate singles chronology
"Love Is Life" (1970) "You Could've Been a Lady" (1971) "I Believe (In Love)" (1971)

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

"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)
Genre	Hard rock
Length	3:20
Label	Aquarius (Canada) Big Tree (US) Pye (Europe)
Songwriter(s)	Errol Brown Tony Wilson
Producer(s)	Ralph Murphy
April Wine singles chronology
"Fast Train" (1971) "You Could Have Been a Lady" (00000011) "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]