Carl Bean (May 26, 1944 – September 7, 2021) – Gotta Be Some Change (1974)
This powerful socially conscious jam was written by the singer turned minister and AIDS activist for the debut album by his group Universal Love.
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Carl Bean was a singer/songwriter who gave us the powerful LGBTQ pride anthem “I Was Born This Way” and later founded the Unity Fellowship Church Movement.
Born in Baltimore, Bean grew up singing gospel. He took a bus to Los Angeles in the early seventies, intent on becoming a recording artist. Bean formed the gospel-influenced soul/funk group Universal Love and in 1974 their debut LP All We Need Is Love was released on Peacock Records, the gospel label that was originally owned by the infamous Don Robey but sold to ABC in 1973.
Bean wrote all of its songs, including the uplifting love anthem title track, funky message song “Something For Nothing,” and the powerful, socially conscious jam “Gotta Be Some Change.”
In the early seventies, New York-based songwriter and label owner Bunny Jones co-wrote what would eventually prove to be Bean’s biggest song. “Born This Way” was a gay pride anthem for the ages, and originally recorded by Valentino (aka Charles Harris) in 1975 on Jones’ Gaiee Records. It was an immediate club hit, and Berry Gordy picked it up for distribution by Motown, eager to tap into the growing gay market and disco phenomenon.
Two years later in 1977, Bean covered the song, released on the Motown label itself, and his version was a far bigger hit. It was co-produced by Jones plus Philly soul and disco legends Norman Harris, Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey and T.G. Conway, and mixed by Tom Moulton.
Bean founded the Unity Fellowship Church in Los Angeles, which welcomed gay and straight worshippers with open arms and grew into a movement. He later became an AIDS activist and founded the Minority AIDS Project in L.A. and the National Minority AIDS Council.
Happy 80th Heavenly Birthday to the great Carl Bean.
Further info:
“Carl Bean, LA’s Pioneer Gay Black Preacher Who Inspired Lady Gaga, Dead at 77,” by Frank Stoltze, LAist, September 8, 2021.
“Carl Bean, Gay Singer Who Turned to Preaching, Dies at 77,” obituary, The New York Times, September 10, 2021.
#soul #funk #disco #LGBTQ #CarlBean
Thank you for finding this wonderful track from my dear friend Carl Bean’s first secular and now rare ABC album. During one of our many conversations in LA, he often talked fondly about this record. As ever, you found another gem!