On this day in music history: March 12, 1975 - “Chocolate City”, the third album by Parliament is released. Produced by George Clinton, it is recorded at United Sound in Detroit, MI in Late 1974 - Early 1975. The album takes its title from the nickname for the city of Washington DC, which has a large African American population, and in tribute to bands loyal fan base there as well as name checking several other “chocolate cities” around the US in the title track. The album initially sells just over 300,000 copies, with half of its sales concentrated in the Washington DC area. It spins off two singles including “Ride On” (#64 R&B) and the title track (#24 R&B, #94 Pop). Following the release of the album, Parliament’s label Casablanca Records establishes a subsidiary label called Chocolate City Records run by label executive Cecil Holmes. In spite of this, all of Parliament’s records continue to be issued on the main Casablanca label. The album is remastered and reissued on CD in 2003, featuring three additional bonus tracks. “Chocolate City” peaks at number eighteen on the Billboard R&B album chart, and number ninety one on the Top 200.