Actually if you search Google enough there are some pretty neat, simple recipes around. Mind you, there are also some awesome specialty cupcake cookbooks in bookstores worth checking out if you really like baking and collecting cookbooks.
Nigella Lawson Cupcakes - 246034 - Recipezaar
That recipe there is the best vanilla cupcake recipe I've ever used. Mind you I would actually use about 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract as opposed to the 1/2 a teaspoon that the recipe calls for.
Once you have this recipe you probably don't need any more other cake recipes ever.
I say this because I'm not really a fan of chocolate cake though but I'm pretty sure there's a way to turn vanilla cake into chocolate. You may just need to take out two tablespoons of the flour and substitute it with two tablespoons of cocoa powder or something. Probably worth Googling.