Confessions of an El Coco nut

[usagi-san]

I first heard El Coco when I bought the 7" single of "Dancing In Paradise/Love In Your Life" in 1979. I had not heard it before but was curious because of the name and the label AVI I had never seen before. Although I loved the songs, my finances and other favorites made it such that it was years later before I got around to trying to buy more of them. Now I have vinyl albums of "Brazil", "Cocomotion", "Dancing In Paradise", and 12" singles of "Just Be You"/"Put On Your Jeans" and "Dancing In Paradise/Love In Your Life" (the latter from U.K.). I also have "Hot Disco Nights Vol. 2" with "Cocomotion '79". On CD I have 5 copies of "Greatest Disco Hits" (the price was right, and I want to give a few away eventually to turn others onto El Coco hopefully...I already gave one away), and the collection "Disko Teka-a collection of Latin influenced club favorites" with an edited "Cocomotion" that segues with 2 other tracks, and "Disco 54-the AVI Collection" with an almost full length "Cocomotion" (minus the final chorus reprise; it fades out on the thump thump thump...it is such a long CD collection...also containing Rinder & Lewis' "Lust"... that I wonder if the reason the end is edited is it just would not have fit). I am looking for El Coco's "Mondo Disco", "Let's Get It Together", the last two, Rinder & Lewis "Seven Deadly Sins" and related albums (maybe I will post about this in the classifieds). I wish the full length "Cocomotion" was on CD somewhere...at least the collection CD includes full length of Paulo faves "Afrodesia" and "Dancing In Paradise". I hope someday there will be more of El Coco on CD. My mom mostly likes classical but she likes "Disco Carnival" too. I was quite surprised to hear the switch to funk on the last collection track "Shake It Down" but not surprised when I learned it was from their last album, in 1982. I enjoyed the Laurin Rinder interview a lot (now I know he's a male :razz:). Of Le Pamplemousse, I only have album "Sweet Magic" and self titled 1980 EP; I haven't even heard "Le Spank"! But I am sure I will find more of my wants eventually, and I only discovered this board recently; wish I could spend all day here.

[BrunoRepublic]

I am looking for El Coco's "Mondo Disco", "Let's Get It Together", the last two, Rinder & Lewis "Seven Deadly Sins" and related albums (maybe I will post about this in the classifieds).



I wish the full length "Cocomotion" was on CD somewhere...at least the collection CD includes full length of Paulo faves "Afrodesia" and "Dancing In Paradise". I hope someday there will be more of El Coco on CD.

I wouldn't count on it, which is why I'm taking matters into my own hands. Audio restoration is my hobby, and there's enough disco to keep me working for years... but I too have a thing for Rinder & Lewis, and cleaning up that AVI vinyl is one fierce challenge! e-mail me at bruce.bartlett@primus.ca if you're interested.

Of Le Pamplemousse, I only have album "Sweet Magic" and self titled 1980 EP; I haven't even heard "Le Spank"!

Le Spank is essential. The first Le Pamplemousse alubm is also very good, although it sounds very different (it has that early Rinder & Lewis sound common to all their productions from before 1977). Mondo Disco is somewhat uneven -- it has some very good moments, a couple of ridiculously cheesy songs, and rather primitive production values. "Let's Get It Together" is good one, it still has the early Rinder & Lewis sound, but more sophisticated. "Revolucion" is okay, good production but most of the songs aren't anything to write home about. The final El Coco album was totally forgettable IMO. Of the albums they released under their own names, "Warriors" is the best overall. Cataclysm is a rather iffy synth-rock concept album, and "Full Circle", which is just plain rock, left much to be desired.



"Rinlew Allstars" is soul/R&B; I just got this one and I haven't had time to really listen to it. They've also done a few one-offs like Midnight Wind, Coney Island Chorus, Sweet Potato Pie... most of these were released only as 7" singles and are quite hard to find today.



And now, if I may, I'm going to gratuitously list my fave RinLew tracks:



1: Masquerade (El Coco)

2: Blue Steel (Rinder & Lewis)

3: Gimmie What You Got (Le Pamplemousse)

4: Cocomotion (El Coco)

5: Lust (Rinder & Lewis)

6: When She Smiles (Le Pamplemousse)

7: Afrodesia (El Coco)

8: Mondo Disco (El Coco)

9: You're My Everything (El Coco)

10: Carry Me (El Coco)

11: Let's Get It Together (El Coco)

12: Le Spank (Le Pamplemousse)

13: Take The Load Off Me (Le Pamplemousse)

14: Sweet Magic [7" mix] (Le Pamplemousse)

15: We Call It Disco (El Coco)

16: French Nights (The Coney Island Orchestra)

17: Willie And The Hand Jive (Rinder & Lewis)

18: One More Minute (Saint Tropez)

19: Love To Michelle (Le Pamplemousse)

20: Caravan (El Coco)

[Paulo]

Hello Usagi san!



Great to see your post. I am also an El Coco fan and if you want any other information you can e-mail me privately at jason66@ig.com.br



There is a post in this list with the El Coco discography. Check it out!



Bruce has already offer to contact him, so you can get the full EL COCO discography on CD. But if you want, you can contact me too. I have some interwiews and rare stuff I can record for you if you wish.



The first 3 albums MONDO DISCO (1974) / BRAZIL CARAVAN (1975) / LET'S GET IT TOGETHER (1976) are a bit more raw, utilising ancient 70's keyboards plus horns, that make them sound really different, but the musicianship of Rinder and Lewis is outstanding. It was the beginning of disco music and the sound was rather diffrent from the late 70's, and even diffrent from all othr disco acts then emerging. I think these 3 albums have a kind of a "tropical feel" to them.



Next is another trilogy: COCOMOTION (1977) / DANCING IN PARADISE (1978) / REVOLUCION (1980). With these 3 I think they have reached the high point of their carrear with a kind of orchestral arrangementes mixed with William Michael Lewis melodic keyboards. The songs are longer and more complex. From 1980 REVOLUCION I think the best track is the underrated SILENT LOVER.



There are also 2 EPs from 1979 LOVE EXCITER/DANCE MAN and COCOMOTION 79 which deserve a mention. The first one has non-LP exclusive songs. The last one has a fantastic remix of AFRODESIA.



And then comes the final step which is their album from 1982, simply called EL COCO. Contrary to Bruce, I like this one very much, but you know: disco was dying... the style just didn't sell anymore, so in order to try to survive, they made a move towards a funk sound leaving behind the old glories they had reached five years before with such brilliant orchestrated tracks like COCOMOTION, AFRODESIA, DANCING IN PARADISE, GOT THAT FEELING, LET'S GET IT TOGETHER, JUST BE YOU, etc...



I am curious Usagi:

What songs are in DISCO NIGHTS VOL II ?

I have never seen this album before.



Please e-mail me



Goodbye and take care

Paulo