Yet another 70s disco track is getting the remix treatment. Carl Bean's 1977 Motown version has been remixed several times over the years and has just
been reworked again by Mophlen.
I've always preferred the 1975 original by
Valentino which was his only release and the only release on Gaiee, a label set up by Bunny Jones (who
co-wrote the song with Chris Spierer) which was sold to Motown who released
it on their Gaiee logo. I bought this when it came out but have seldom, if ever, heard it played out anywhere. I think it's a great soulful modern soul dance record.
It got a UK release but did absolutely nothing commercially either side of the pond, probably because the the overtly gay message of the song as we were still living in primitive times in the mid 70s so it probably got very little air-play, especially in the south ... black AND gay! Not even the might of Motown could get Carl Bean's version into the R&B chart.
Valentino [1975] - I Was Born This Way [Gaiee #B 7640]
Carl Bean [1977] - I Was Born This Way [Motown #M 1438F]
2 comments:
their both the same person,valentino & carl bean
Thanks for your comment ... but I don't think your comment is correct. They are two different people Valentino is Charles Harris who was in the musical 'Hair' in Long Island.
Carl Bean was from LA and was a gospel artist on ABC and released a single as Carl Bean & Universal Love 'Gotta Be Some Change; in 1974.
http://www.queermusicheritage.com/jun2002v.html
https://www.out.com/pride/2016/6/23/tbt-original-born-way
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