Carl Bean – I Was Born This Way

The original record was first released back 1977 on Motown Records.

<b>CD LINER NOTES</b>

A Message from West End Records CEO, Mel Cheren

I would like to share with so many old as well as new friends of West End a very proud addition to the West End Classics Series: Carl Bean's "I Was Born This Way." After ten years of working to acquire the publishing rights in order to re-release this record, the paperwork — and a beautiful remix — are done!

"I Was Born This Way" is a song which, in my estimation, ranks with the very best of the danceable R&B tracks to come out of Philadelphia in the mid-to-late Seventies. It's right up there with songs like "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye, "Love Is the Message" by MFSB and "I'll Always Love My Mama" by The Intruders — three of my personal all-time favorites.

The original version of this record — the Tom Moulton mix (included here) — was produced by Ron Kersey, Norman Harris, & T.G. Conway for the Harris Machine & Co. Kersey and Harris, who were in the Salsoul Orchestra, were together and individually responsible for producing many of the greatest classic R&B artists out of Philadelphia, such as Loleatta Holloway ("Love Sensation," "Dreamin," "Hit & Run,") First Choice ("Doctor Love," "Let No Man Put Asunder") and MFSB ("Love Is the Message.")

The lyrics to "I Was Born This Way" are as relevant today — perhaps even more so in the current political and social climate — than they were when this record was first released back in 1977. What makes the message of these lyrics even more significant is that they were written by Bunny Jones (along with Chris Spierer) — a straight black woman who was a real music woman from "back in the day." Bunny once told me, "I don't know how I could write such a socially significant message song since I am a heterosexual woman." Bunny had owned hair salons in Harlem before entering the music business. She came to love many of her employees who were gay and, out of love and empathy, she wrote this song.

I was honored when Bunny and her son Chris Jonz — with whom I worked at Scepter Records in the early Seventies and is still a good friend — agreed to sell me the master and 75% of the publishing rights. Bunny and Chris agreed that the song should help in the struggle for equal rights. I was humbled when the talented producer Gomi — a straight man — upon hearing we'd acquired "I Was Born This Way," asked to do a remix as his tribute to this great dance classic. And I'm grateful to Carl Bean for his powerful performance imparting God's message of love and acceptance. This song is about having Gay Pride every day. If we're serious about wanting equal rights, then we need to spread the word that we were "born this way" on a daily basis and not just the last week in June. This is a message for every day — not just to pull out of the closet for Gay Pride. So, here it is. Enjoy it and be proud!

-- <i>Mel Cheren, CEO West End Records.</i>