Thank you so much for posting this. My name is Chris Spierer and I wrote this song with Bunny Jones back in 1974. It has been covered by many artists such as The Pet Shop Boys, Magnus Carlsson, Jimmy Somerville, Johnny Rodriguez, Paul Oskar, Dimitri From Paris, Marty Thomas, Pour Homme, Another Gay Movie as well as Carl Bean..It has also been sampled numerous times. You're hearing Stevie Wonder on drums!! I am playing the guitar along with great musicians from New York. Thanks again. Chris
I first heard this in 1975, and then later heard the Carl Bean version. Val is a very close friend and I am so happy to have him share his version with me! Thanks so much Val.
If I remember correctly, it was stepmother who took me to the studio one day when this was being worked/recorded by Valentino. I was 9 or 10 years old. I never forgot him- He was so fun. I had fun that day. I was excited to find this song and finally put the connection together with the Carl Bean Version I danced to in the 80's at the Paradise Garage. .
Dear Gianni: Let's put it this way......Bunny Jones, the co-writer had a very close connection with Motown Records and Stevie Wonder, thereby successfully arranging to have him perform on the session with us. I will always be grateful to Stevie for doing this. The B side of "I Was Born This Way" was another song I wrote titled "Liberation". It also charted in Europe and in my opinion was also a great song. Valentino did a great job on it !! Again thank you......Chris
That's great keyboard work Marvin, congratulations - and thank you for being part of this uplifting and life affirming record. I first heard 15 years ago on a compilation disc sent to me by producer Richard Dworkin from New York. Loved it immediately and played it on my community radio show (Queer Radio on 4ZZZfm) her in Brisbane several times. It's a catchy tune and lyric which has timeless appeal. You deserve to be very proud to be involved. J.d. Doyle has a page devoted to the story of this record - including press clippings - google "queer music heritage valentino" to find it. xx john
Thank you for playing on this record. I noticed it as a young gay man in Los Angeles, then bought it later on a 12" single by Carl Bean and saw him perform it live. It meant a lot to us young '70s gay guys, some of whom had been kicked out on the streets by their own parents for being gay.. This version was brave and Motown's involvement was startling and confirmed their legendary status as a label that took risks. You can be proud of playing on this recording; records like this were rare but helped many people to accept themselves and live their lives with dignity and pride.
I met Valentino when I was a little girl, I think it was in the studio because I remember him singing this song. Wow, it was cool hanging around him that day.
I bought this 45 single when I was about 16-17 in 1976-1977.I'm not gay but loved the message and the music. Sadly a stupid boyfriend Ihad at the time taunted his elderly parents withthe lyrics and in shock his mother snapped it in pieces-so good to hear this again, also pleasing to realise how much more accepting society is now of different lifestyles
Wow.....I started Club djing in 1972 and received this record thru a distributor. It's the only version I ever heard, for some reason, but, I did play this quite a bit at the club. Thank you for the memories----I haven't heard this since then!!!!!
Valentino's brother is my boss here in Columbus,ohio LOL small world. John just told me about this song!!! Pretty neat. Valetino is all over the place you name it to Valentine's day the movie. CSI and so on and so forth he is getting it!! :-)
Would love those who run Motown to issue a Rainbow CD of this along with other Motown LGBTQ songs -- One Out Of Every Six by Thelma Houston, The Dynamic Superiors, Carl Bean, Sam Harris, Leslie Gore (MoWest), etc.
Never heard the Thelma Houston song and only recently heard that Leslie Gore was gay so thanks for the scoop. The Dynamic Superiors were unreal on stage; their choreography was so smooth it was jaw-dropping. I will add one to your list: "Everyone's Gay in L.A." by The Miracles.
actually not... neither version of this song was played a lot in the gay clubs back in the day, it was more of an "underground" cut. I think the east coast embraced it more than the West. If we had any "anthem" I would say it was "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real" by Sylvester.
In '75, gay meant joyful happy, the word gay was not used to describe homosexuals, they have just adopted the tune and turned it around to fit to their lifestyle
@@gagsm11 That is not true. I was in college in Indiana in the early '70s. My BF was from California and he introduced me to the word "gay" to refer to same sex attraction. Others used it as well and this was in a conservative religious college. The gay movement had already started before '75. It started during the hippie movement in the '60s. The Stonewall rebellion was in '69. As for this record you are also mistaken. It was written and recorded in a brave and commercially risky effort to present a positive image of homosexuality. The lyrics do indeed refer to being happy because the mainstream still insisted on assuming that gays were tragic figures at that time.. This version was relegated to mostly "underground" status due to its controversy. The people who produced the Motown version had a huge gay following in the dance clubs already and knew it (they were Philly soul producers with acts fully embraced by the gay dance club audience such as The Trammps and First Choice). It was neither odd nor commercially illogical for them to produce a record supporting a posiitve image for gays. The tradiional meaning of the word "gay" had already extensively faded from common use by the early to mid-'70s but could still readily be found in old English novels and the like. We did not have to turn the meaning of this song around to fit our "lifestyle"; it was intended to be a positive anthem for us from the start. P.S. There is no such thing as a gay "lifestyle". Gays are individuals. That term gained traction in the '70s and is used to project the assumption all gays are sexually promiscuous but anyone who was alive in the '70s knows everyone, including heterosexuals, were sexing and partying in that post-war era.
APPROPRIATE now in the United States now as it was in the 70s - marriage equality as well as Pride Month - thank you for posting - Lady Gaga take note !! DAVEDJ
Barely sounds like the same melody as the Carl Bean Motown version. I was aware of this record and bought a copy in the '70s. I loved the lyrics but was not too into the song's arrangement as it wasn't dance music enough for my taste at the time.. I also never heard it played in the clubs. However, I really loved the Philly Sound of Carl Bean's version (later he was known as Rev. Carl Bean who helped found a hospice care facility for black men with AIDS). I saw Carl perform this song live at The Bulllshot dance bar in Hollywood where I also saw Grace Jones and others perform. I thought Motown was very cool for releasing this and a few other non-judgmental tracks in the '70s that dealt with being gay. I bought the 12" single; it's a joy of a record and was produced by the same guys behind The Trammps and First Choice. Both versions were brave releases from a commercial standpoint.
Your An Idiot who should not be allowed near computers or The Public if that's your honest opinion of this song. All Lives 'Matter' and this song recognises you CAN be Gay & Proud....AND happen to be 'Black' too.
Thank you so much for posting this.
My name is Chris Spierer and I wrote this song with Bunny Jones back in 1974.
It has been covered by many artists such as The Pet Shop Boys, Magnus Carlsson, Jimmy Somerville, Johnny Rodriguez, Paul Oskar, Dimitri From Paris, Marty Thomas, Pour Homme, Another Gay Movie as well as Carl Bean..It has also been sampled numerous times.
You're hearing Stevie Wonder on drums!!
I am playing the guitar along with great musicians from New York.
Thanks again. Chris
Thank you for sharing this Awesome Awesome behind the scenes story, i really really like hearing of the origins of Dance music.
Hello Chris, wow, this song was so far ahead of its time!! Congratulations on writing a true classic!!
That’s an amazing bit of history. Thank you 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
did you get paid? or are you poor?
Wow.... thanks for the history.
I first heard this in 1975, and then later heard the Carl Bean version. Val is a very close friend and I am so happy to have him share his version with me! Thanks so much Val.
If I remember correctly, it was stepmother who took me to the studio one day when this was being worked/recorded by Valentino. I was 9 or 10 years old. I never forgot him- He was so fun. I had fun that day. I was excited to find this song and finally put the connection together with the Carl Bean Version I danced to in the 80's at the Paradise Garage. .
Dear Gianni:
Let's put it this way......Bunny Jones, the co-writer had a very close connection with Motown Records and Stevie Wonder, thereby successfully arranging to have him perform on the session with us.
I will always be grateful to Stevie for doing this.
The B side of "I Was Born This Way" was another song I wrote titled "Liberation".
It also charted in Europe and in my opinion was also a great song.
Valentino did a great job on it !!
Again thank you......Chris
I just want to say it was the first time that I did a record and the first time I played a real piano...thank you Bunny, R.I.P.
That's great keyboard work Marvin, congratulations - and thank you for being part of this uplifting and life affirming record. I first heard 15 years ago on a compilation disc sent to me by producer Richard Dworkin from New York. Loved it immediately and played it on my community radio show (Queer Radio on 4ZZZfm) her in Brisbane several times. It's a catchy tune and lyric which has timeless appeal. You deserve to be very proud to be involved. J.d. Doyle has a page devoted to the story of this record - including press clippings - google "queer music heritage valentino" to find it. xx john
Thank you for playing on this record. I noticed it as a young gay man in Los Angeles, then bought it later on a 12" single by Carl Bean and saw him perform it live. It meant a lot to us young '70s gay guys, some of whom had been kicked out on the streets by their own parents for being gay.. This version was brave and Motown's involvement was startling and confirmed their legendary status as a label that took risks. You can be proud of playing on this recording; records like this were rare but helped many people to accept themselves and live their lives with dignity and pride.
did you get paid ? or are you poor?
I met Valentino when I was a little girl, I think it was in the studio because I remember him singing this song. Wow, it was cool hanging around him that day.
I bought this 45 single when I was about 16-17 in 1976-1977.I'm not gay but loved the message and the music. Sadly a stupid boyfriend Ihad at the time taunted his elderly parents withthe lyrics and in shock his mother snapped it in pieces-so good to hear this again, also pleasing to realise how much more accepting society is now of different lifestyles
This was a record we played on Sun 92.8 in 1975. I guess we were ahead of our time, but the 70s was ahead of its time.
Wow.....I started Club djing in 1972 and received this record thru a distributor. It's the only version I ever heard, for some reason, but, I did play this quite a bit at the club. Thank you for the memories----I haven't heard this since then!!!!!
Bought this in the 70s. Love it, great message, well worth sharing to everyone whatever their sexuality.
WOWOWOWOWOWWWW!!! I've never heard your version, Val, and I absolutely LOVE IT!!! And love YOU, my Friend! ❤
Awesome -- I've been wanting to hear the original original version. More '70s Soul than disco. Lo0ve the Carl Bean version but this is very very nice.
Love this song...And the man singing it!
Heard this for the first time yesterday.. Absolutely blown me away... Wow.... Its magnificent.. The music arrangement.. The voice and those lyrics.. 👌
Just found this record,tucked inside an album, forgot I had it
✊👏👏😀Ted HX 👏
Valentino's brother is my boss here in Columbus,ohio LOL small world. John just told me about this song!!! Pretty neat. Valetino is all over the place you name it to Valentine's day the movie. CSI and so on and so forth he is getting it!! :-)
Valentine's Day ??? In the music score or acting???
Would love those who run Motown to issue a Rainbow CD of this along with other Motown LGBTQ songs -- One Out Of Every Six by Thelma Houston, The Dynamic Superiors, Carl Bean, Sam Harris, Leslie Gore (MoWest), etc.
Never heard the Thelma Houston song and only recently heard that Leslie Gore was gay so thanks for the scoop. The Dynamic Superiors were unreal on stage; their choreography was so smooth it was jaw-dropping. I will add one to your list: "Everyone's Gay in L.A." by The Miracles.
ok boomer
Excellent choon
How bout the Miracles "Ain't Nobody Straight in L.A." ... 1975 i think?
How could your list not include "I'm Coming Out" by Miss Ross???
Thank you for sharing.
I met Carl Bean, a wonderful wonderful human being. RIP
I feel it could use a good remixing, nothing too too much, definitely jazzy/R&B with a hint of HOUSE all while keeping that ol'skool feeling
Love it!!!!
I, honestly, thought that Carl Bean was the first person to record this song. Your version is nice.
great post! b side is killer!!!
amen
FRANKIE CROCKER(WBLS) IN NYC.BROKE THIS SONG FEB.1975
Carl Bean brought me here.
A letra é realmente parecida com " Born this way" de Lady Gaga!
The anthem of the gays since 1975
actually not... neither version of this song was played a lot in the gay clubs back in the day, it was more of an "underground" cut. I think the east coast embraced it more than the West. If we had any "anthem" I would say it was "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real" by Sylvester.
In '75, gay meant joyful happy, the word gay was not used to describe homosexuals, they have just adopted the tune and turned it around to fit to their lifestyle
@@gagsm11 That is not true. I was in college in Indiana in the early '70s. My BF was from California and he introduced me to the word "gay" to refer to same sex attraction. Others used it as well and this was in a conservative religious college. The gay movement had already started before '75. It started during the hippie movement in the '60s. The Stonewall rebellion was in '69. As for this record you are also mistaken. It was written and recorded in a brave and commercially risky effort to present a positive image of homosexuality. The lyrics do indeed refer to being happy because the mainstream still insisted on assuming that gays were tragic figures at that time.. This version was relegated to mostly "underground" status due to its controversy. The people who produced the Motown version had a huge gay following in the dance clubs already and knew it (they were Philly soul producers with acts fully embraced by the gay dance club audience such as The Trammps and First Choice). It was neither odd nor commercially illogical for them to produce a record supporting a posiitve image for gays. The tradiional meaning of the word "gay" had already extensively faded from common use by the early to mid-'70s but could still readily be found in old English novels and the like. We did not have to turn the meaning of this song around to fit our "lifestyle"; it was intended to be a positive anthem for us from the start. P.S. There is no such thing as a gay "lifestyle". Gays are individuals. That term gained traction in the '70s and is used to project the assumption all gays are sexually promiscuous but anyone who was alive in the '70s knows everyone, including heterosexuals, were sexing and partying in that post-war era.
Where is Valentino today?
APPROPRIATE now in the United States now as it was in the 70s - marriage equality as well as Pride Month - thank you for posting - Lady Gaga take note !! DAVEDJ
Dear gianni: I got your message...how can I help you.
Chris
Barely sounds like the same melody as the Carl Bean Motown version. I was aware of this record and bought a copy in the '70s. I loved the lyrics but was not too into the song's arrangement as it wasn't dance music enough for my taste at the time.. I also never heard it played in the clubs. However, I really loved the Philly Sound of Carl Bean's version (later he was known as Rev. Carl Bean who helped found a hospice care facility for black men with AIDS). I saw Carl perform this song live at The Bulllshot dance bar in Hollywood where I also saw Grace Jones and others perform. I thought Motown was very cool for releasing this and a few other non-judgmental tracks in the '70s that dealt with being gay. I bought the 12" single; it's a joy of a record and was produced by the same guys behind The Trammps and First Choice. Both versions were brave releases from a commercial standpoint.
@jorial6675 So you see? Never trust Mr. Bean.
(LMAO)
This is something of a song!!! Like Carl Bean version better. It's too much going on here. Ijs
I like the carl bean version better.
i like the beat but he ruined it with a gay azz message
Oh yeah, you're from Texas. So, closeminded of course. Douchebag.
Oh but honey,
I'm happy, I'm carefree, and I am gay!
And boy am I proud to hold my head up high!
Your An Idiot who should not be allowed near computers or The Public if that's your honest opinion of this song.
All Lives 'Matter' and this song recognises you CAN be Gay & Proud....AND happen to be 'Black' too.
There are Nice People, White/Black, Gay & Straight IN Texas.
Fascists Judge By Appearance & your doing it now by Post-code ?
😑
Fabulous comments on here, thank you everybody involved for this great record!!!!!