Not sure if this has been asked before but my son was wondering if  the three letters COD mean anything like vip means very important person.  

 

Compulsive obsessive disorder which some of us collectors might suffer from 😉 

 

9 minutes ago, Midnight Drifter said:

Compulsive obsessive disorder which some of us collectors might suffer from 😉 

 

My son said it is a play on ocd which I have.  😆.  It's not my fault everything in food cupboard is in alphabetical order with the labels facing the front lol

1 hour ago, Greedy Mick said:

Not sure if this has been asked before but my son was wondering if  the three letters COD mean anything like vip means very important person.  

 

Cash On Delivery 

It is none of the above explanations.  The name is derived from the guy who signed them Bill Cody.

5 minutes ago, Chalky said:

It is none of the above explanations.  The name is derived from the guy who signed them Bill Cody.

As always your knowledge is invaluable.  Thank you 😊.  I'll let my son know.  

7 hours ago, Chalky said:

It is none of the above explanations.  The name is derived from the guy who signed them Bill Cody.

Then why not The Codys or The Billys?

I appreciate that being called The Codys or even The Cods would be somewhat odd to say the least, but the fact that the group is known as "The C.O.D's" indicates explicitly that while it might be derived from the Cody name, it was was meant to be interpreted by the general record-buying public as what was then a common abbreviation.

At the same time, I'm sure you could well be right and would very much like to be pointed towards your source. 

7 hours ago, Chalky said:

It is none of the above explanations.  The name is derived from the guy who signed them Bill Cody.

That could be true....

Ed

8 hours ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Then why not The Codys or The Billys?

I appreciate that being called The Codys or even The Cods would be somewhat odd to say the least, but the fact that the group is known as "The C.O.D's" indicates explicitly that while it might be derived from the Cody name, it was was meant to be interpreted by the general record-buying public as what was then a common abbreviation.

At the same time, I'm sure you could well be right and would very much like to be pointed towards your source. 

A couple of sources over the years but Robert Pruter is one and more credible than anyone on here. Sometimes some look for something that isn’t there and the explanation is far more simple. 

4 hours ago, Chalky said:

A couple of sources over the years but Robert Pruter is one and more credible than anyone on here. Sometimes some look for something that isn’t there and the explanation is far more simple. 

Hmm, the extract from Pruter's book Chicago Soul states Bill Cody gave the group its name - not that it's derived from his own name. I'm sticking with Cash On Delivery - it is the simplest explanation.

2 hours ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Hmm, the extract from Pruter's book Chicago Soul states Bill Cody gave the group its name - not that it's derived from his own name. I'm sticking with Cash On Delivery - it is the simplest explanation.

Pretty obvious where COD came from given who gave them the name. 

2 hours ago, Chalky said:

Pretty obvious where COD came from given who gave them the name. 

As said, if you have any sources to confirm...

Interestingly, the same question was asked on here back in 2014. 

 

3 hours ago, Chalky said:

Pretty obvious where COD came from given who gave them the name. 

I agree Chalky!  If they were really naming the group after Cody, they'd have been named "The Codys" or "Codies".  They KNEW that the public would interpret C.O.D.s as Cash on Delivery (ies).  Cody was their choreographer, who was important to them, but they weren't known mostly for their dance moves (like The Contours and Vibrations).  But as their founder, producer and inspiration was Ace Leon Singleton, it would have been a little insulting to name the group after Cody.  Maybe they tested "Singleton" and it wasn't very inspiring towards a name.  But "The Three Aces" would have been okay.  THEN, they tried "Cody", and the COD in the name led them to "The C.O.D.s".  But, in any case, The C.O.D.s implies that, when it comes to singing, this group delivers the goods (cash)!  Thus, they found their group name.

 

16 hours ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

As said, if you have any sources to confirm...

Interestingly, the same question was asked on here back in 2014. 

You and Rob are only using an assumption though, highly plausible I admit. Robert Pruter was the source, I’ve messaged him again for some clarification, will see if he responds. Cody’s as a name sounds too country music IMO

1 hour ago, Chalky said:

You and Rob are only using an assumption though, highly plausible I admit. Robert Pruter was the source, I’ve messaged him again for some clarification, will see if he responds. Cody’s as a name sounds too country music IMO

As I said earlier, it might well be that the name was derived from Cody, but presenting it in that specific abbreviated form - with fullstops after each letter - directly connects it to what was back then a very common way of doing business - Cash On Delivery.

Anyway, I feel we're starting to go round in circles. Well done for messaging Pruter. It'll be interesting to learn what he has to say. 

In probability both are right, named after Cody but The Cods is hardly an inspiring name so put a full stop after each letter and you get a name that is in everyday use and also still  incorporating the name of Bill Cody in a round about way.