I Heard Cocomotion-El Coco on WABC!

[peppertree5706]

This weekend I listened to a 1978 (I think January) aircheck of George Michael (DJ) on WABC, New York. He was playing one disco song after another, all short versions. These were the big, top of the chart hit disco songs. I could not believe it when he played Cocomotion by El Coco. At first I thought he was playing Thank God It's Friday, but then he announced Cocomotion by El Coco.

This is probably my all time favorite disco record. It has it all, all that a disco song should have. The only station I remember hearing it on was WCAU-FM. They played the long version. I listened to WABC back then (in Philadelphia) and I never remember hearing it.

This song was around #39 on billboard. Does anyone remember hearing it on the radio?

About WABC. For a while they played nearly all disco. They mixed disco with a few oldies, but it was such a joy to listen to them back them. Even though the aircheck is scoped, I heard the begining and ending of so many great disco songs on that aircheck.

Yeh, Cocomotion. I can listen to that all day, it is so good.

[markydefad]

Thanks for the warning. :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

WARNING/DANGER: This song may cause SUGAR overload...Diabetics beware. Listen with caution and a needle filled with insulin.

:P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P

[paul]

Hey Peppertree.
I just love this song too. I know Marky and Quinny puke at the thought of hearing it all day, I don't. In fact I've done that a few times. :D
I lived in Connecticut when it was out. The commercial FM stations sucked in the Hartford area so I don't think they played it. The local college stations did play it however.

[QUINNY]

Just to give you a good laugh, I've actually played El Coco (short version) on the radio. I used it as a tune to get me up to the news, so listeneers may have got 30 seconds or more or less the full 7" record. I may hate the record, but I knew what was hip at the time.

[NickNack]

See, we people from Brooklyn have TASTE! :D I don't know how I'm gonna get Marky's feet to move to this. One day...

I know I've heard the full version of Cocomotion on WKTU, New York. And, if Levan was playing it the Garage, then WBLS was playing it on the radio. Crocker would not be out done. :)

[peppertree5706]

Originally Posted by QUINNY

Just to give you a good laugh, I've actually played El Coco (short version) on the radio. I used it as a tune to get me up to the news, so listeneers may have got 30 seconds or more or less the full 7" record. I may hate the record, but I knew what was hip at the time.

I had a disco show in 1998 and during breaks (when I would talk) and sometimes over PSA's without music I played "The Chase" by Giorgio.

I thought it was a good song to have in the backround.

[usagi-san]

I recently played the full version of "Cocomotion" on my KFJC college radio show, 89.7 FM, Los Altos Hills. (I've played lots of other El Coco and disco songs on my shows, too.) Unfortunately, the song did not get as high as #39 on the pop chart. It would have been great if Casey Kasem's American Top 40 could have acknowledged El Coco. But it peaked at #44, though it was on the pop chart for 15 weeks. It is one of my most favorite disco tracks too, and sadly I think it has never been officially released in its complete form on CD anywhere. If anyone disagrees, please tell me.

[paul]

How long is the longest version?

[peppertree5706]

That song is as good as disco gets. I do not have the record here with me. Just from memory, and this is approximate, the album has it in two parts. There is no pause, just a continuation of the song. I think it runs about 14 minutes.


To Usagi-san,

I would like an aircheck of your show. Particularly, the one where you play Cocomotion. I have recordings of all of my disco shows on KOOP-91.7 (from 1998). I can send you an aircheck of my show when I played Cocomotion.

[paul]

Guess what I'll be playing during my commute back home :lol:
So there is a 14 minute version out there on vinyl. Gee, and I was happy with the just over 8 minute version I had on cd.
Now I've got to add that to my must have.

[peppertree5706]

I am dying to make some disco trades. Do you want the album recorded to casette?

[paul]

You talkin' to me pepper? :)
If so, I'm not sure what I have you would in trade. Umm, maybe we better discuss this separately. I don't want Bernie or Nicky to get their respective panties in a bunch :D
Oh, there is also the RIAA Gestapos lookin' at key words like "trade" and "music" on the internet. 8)
Of course I'm assuming your talkin' to me.

[EmileJ]

I never knew that Cocomotion ran for that long...14 minutes. Wow! You can, however find a version of Cocomotion running just over 10 minutes in length on the CD "Disco 54: The AVI Collection", from around 1997. Quite a nice CD, it contains several El Coco tracks.

Emile

[jazz_pilgrim]

Originally Posted by usagi-san

I recently played the full version of "Cocomotion" on my KFJC college radio show, 89.7 FM, Los Altos Hills. (I've played lots of other El Coco and disco songs on my shows, too.) Unfortunately, the song did not get as high as #39 on the pop chart. It would have been great if Casey Kasem's American Top 40 could have acknowledged El Coco. But it peaked at #44, though it was on the pop chart for 15 weeks. It is one of my most favorite disco tracks too, and sadly I think it has never been officially released in its complete form on CD anywhere. If anyone disagrees, please tell me.

It peaked at #31 on the UK pop charts, but that was back in the day when only the Top 30 were featured in the main playlists.

So when the "oldies" radio stations feature their commercial disco shows eg London's Heart FM playing Club Classics each and every Friday and Saturday night, you will never hear the likes of Cocomotion. Their loss, IMHO! :P

In terms of versions of Cocomotion, I have the original LP (parts 1 and 2 run together) which clocks in at 11 mins approx, and then there was a 12-inch remix in 1979. (b/w an excellent jazzy (sax) version of Let's Get It Together). I do not know how long that version was. Unfortunately I lent that 12-inch to someone who never gave it back ... but at least I have it on cassette somewhere. But it was very long. (10 mins +)

[BrunoRepublic]

Originally Posted by EmileJ

I never knew that Cocomotion ran for that long...14 minutes.

The full-length version is about 10 and a half minutes long. Same goes for Rick Gianatos' remix.

Wow! You can, however find a version of Cocomotion running just over 10 minutes in length on the CD "Disco 54: The AVI Collection", from around 1997.

This is 98% of the song. For some reason, they faded it out early; it should go on for another few bars.

Quite a nice CD, it contains several El Coco tracks.

Love the tracklisting. Unfortunately this CD suffers from seriously squashed dynamics.