"Blood & Chocolate" is the eleventh studio album by English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello, released in 1986 by Demon Records in the UK and Columbia Records in the US. This album marks his ninth collaboration with his backing band, the Attractions. After his previous album, King of America (1986), which featured a different lineup of musicians and was produced by T-Bone Burnett, Costello reunited with producer Nick Lowe and his regular band for this release.
The album reached No. 16 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 84 on the Billboard 200. It was ranked ninth in The Village Voice's 1986 Pazz & Jop critics poll and was later included in notable music reference books such as 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005) and Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).
The recording of Blood & Chocolate was fraught with difficulties, as tensions between Costello and the Attractions had increased during the sessions for King of America. The album was recorded live in the studio with minimal takes and overdubs, capturing the band performing at concert-level volume, which Costello felt suited the material well. After the album's release and tour, the Attractions disbanded and did not perform together again for eight years.
Six months after the Los Angeles sessions for King of America, where Costello had collaborated with different musicians outside of his regular band, the Attractions, he reconvened with them to work on Blood & Chocolate. Costello later reflected on the band's relationship during this period as having "soured." He noted that their contribution to the album, specifically the track "Suit of Lights," was created during a time of significant tension and dissatisfaction within the band. The lingering suspicion and resentment from those days affected the recording sessions. As a result, despite their efforts at Olympic Studios in London, Blood & Chocolate became the last album recorded by the Attractions with Costello for eight years.
