i was a kid when this came out and had no idea what they were singing about,once i listened to the lyrics i was like . great disco song

Never heard this song but damn, this sounds good!

I think this came first.

Though Carl Bean's cover is better known.

Though if you take a ride on the waybac machine you will get this

lazycrockett said:

I think this came first.

You'd think "GAIEE" wrapped around the record would be a clue...

lazycrockett said:

I think this came first.

Though Carl Bean's cover is better known.

i didsnt know born this way was a remake, i knew carl bean's version came out after free man

ok i looked it up, free man and valentino's version of born this way were both released in 1975, i have no idea which came out first.

[Edited 11/9/14 14:46pm]

lazycrockett said:

Though if you take a ride on the waybac machine you will get this

theres nothing to indicate he's singing about being gay, this is really reaching

purplethunder3121 said:

lazycrockett said:

I think this came first.

You'd think "GAIEE" wrapped around the record would be a clue...

came "out" much later..but still a great song!

^Probably the closest thing to an anthem IMO.

lazycrockett said:

^Probably the closest thing to an anthem IMO.

Agreeed. I'm not gay, but I can identify with this song, leaving home and the state where I grew up at an early age, because of an abusive father and a mother who did not understand why I had to leave.

Wow - what a great topic for discussion. It reminds me that the most recent issue of The Gay and Lesbian Review featured a cover story asking people what they thought should be considered as the first true gay novel. The selections included "Maurice," "The Picture of Dorian Gray," "The City and the Pillar," and "A Single Man."

For this topic, I google-searched and found reference to Little Richard's "Tutti Fruitti" (1955). In short, the article says:

The story of "Tutti Frutti" is one of the most essential stories in the history of rock and roll. The song hit the airwaves in 1955, just as the whole new-fangled idea of a type of music called "rock and roll" was starting to dig its heels into popular culture. Little Richard rocked a pompadour, sexually suggestive dance moves, and hit records even before Elvis Presley's first big song. His in-your-face style, feminine makeup, and primped hair was a shock to many suburban households in the 1950s. Frankly, a big part of the shock factor was race: rock and roll was a genre that featured racially integrated musical groups. Even where musical groups were not integrated per se, the popular new genre was associated with rebellion, in part because a lot of young white people listened to it and idolized black singers.


What the mainstream public saw in 1955, though, was a toned-down version of Richard's original style: a hired writer had rewritten “Tutti Frutti” before Specialty Records recorded it in 1955. Why was the original version such a big problem for the record company? Funny you should ask, because there's a good answer: the song talked about gay sex so explicitly as to be almost pornographic. "Frutti" was not a random rhyme, but a re-appropriation of the common slang "fruity" that meant, essentially, "gay-acting." The original lyrics, according to Little Richard, went as follows: "A wop bop a loo mop a good goddam, Tutti Frutti, good booty, if it don't fit, don't force it, you can grease it, make it easy."


Yes, it's a little shocking—not just because of the sexual innuendo, but also because of the questions it raises about one of rock's greatest icons. Was Little Richard gay or bisexual? Was he a straight guy making fun of gay people? How could a song like that be sung onstage in the 1950s?

Interesting. The whole article can be found here:

http://www.shmoop.com/tutti-frutti-little-richard/meaning.html

I don't hear any lyrics in "Free Man" by South Shore Commission that can even vaguely be construed as openly gay. Unless you're under the impression this is man singing to another man. It's not. The lady singer just has a deep, husky voice.

Girl I'm a free man

Girl I'm a free man and talking 'bout it

Girl I'm a free man

I know you understand

Why I don't want no married man

They say you're the only one

When all they wanna do

Is have a little fun

I've been out here on my own (oh Lord)

I ain't afraid to live alone

Before you take me home

Honey

I don't have no bills to pay (yeah yeah)

I work hard each and every day

All I need is a man like you

To love me and squeeze me, know what to do

I'm a free man (free man) (I'm a free mister)

Girl I'm a free man and talking 'bout it (free man)

Girl I'm a free man (free man)

Honey

Can you stay all night (yeah yeah)

Squeeze and hold me tight

But when the morning comes

You won't turn to me

And say you have to run

Don't need no part-time lover (oh no baby)

Coming to share my cover

You see I've been through that before (I believe in you)

Now boy it's up to you

Whatever you want to do

You come back nightly by day

Well if I can't have it all

Best be on your own

I'm a free man (free man)

I'm a free man and talking 'bout it (free man) (what you say)

Girl I'm a free man (free man)

Hope when the morning comes

You won't turn to me

Say you have to run

Are you a free man (free man)

Girl I'm a free man and bragging 'bout it (free man)

Are you free Mister (free man)

Are you free are you free (free man) if you ain't don't be jiving with me oh no

I'm free baby listen (free man)

Gonna love you right every night (free man) gonna keep it uptight in bed all right sugar (woo) (free man)

Sugar sugar Like birds and bees (free man) freedom's the key to loving me (free man)

Yeah freedom is the key

Gonna love you right every night (free man) gonna it uptight let's go on out of sight baby baby baby (free man)

Freedom is the key to loving me (free man) (I've got the key) Freedom is the key to loving me

Freedom is the key to loving me

(Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh)

(Free man)

(Free man)

Girl I'm a free man (free man)

Girl I'm a free man and talking 'bout it (free man)

Girl I'm a free man (free man)

Girl I'm a free man and talking 'bout it (free man)

Girl I'm a free man (free man)

Girl I'm a free man and talking 'bout it yeah (free man)

Girl I'm a free man [FADE]

FormerlyKnownAs said:

Wow - what a great topic for discussion. It reminds me that the most recent issue of The Gay and Lesbian Review featured a cover story asking people what they thought should be considered as the first true gay novel. The selections included "Maurice," "The Picture of Dorian Gray," "The City and the Pillar," and "A Single Man."

For this topic, I google-searched and found reference to Little Richard's "Tutti Fruitti" (1955). In short, the article says:

The story of "Tutti Frutti" is one of the most essential stories in the history of rock and roll. The song hit the airwaves in 1955, just as the whole new-fangled idea of a type of music called "rock and roll" was starting to dig its heels into popular culture. Little Richard rocked a pompadour, sexually suggestive dance moves, and hit records even before Elvis Presley's first big song. His in-your-face style, feminine makeup, and primped hair was a shock to many suburban households in the 1950s. Frankly, a big part of the shock factor was race: rock and roll was a genre that featured racially integrated musical groups. Even where musical groups were not integrated per se, the popular new genre was associated with rebellion, in part because a lot of young white people listened to it and idolized black singers.


What the mainstream public saw in 1955, though, was a toned-down version of Richard's original style: a hired writer had rewritten “Tutti Frutti” before Specialty Records recorded it in 1955. Why was the original version such a big problem for the record company? Funny you should ask, because there's a good answer: the song talked about gay sex so explicitly as to be almost pornographic. "Frutti" was not a random rhyme, but a re-appropriation of the common slang "fruity" that meant, essentially, "gay-acting." The original lyrics, according to Little Richard, went as follows: "A wop bop a loo mop a good goddam, Tutti Frutti, good booty, if it don't fit, don't force it, you can grease it, make it easy."


Yes, it's a little shocking—not just because of the sexual innuendo, but also because of the questions it raises about one of rock's greatest icons. Was Little Richard gay or bisexual? Was he a straight guy making fun of gay people? How could a song like that be sung onstage in the 1950s?

Interesting. The whole article can be found here:

http://www.shmoop.com/tutti-frutti-little-richard/meaning.html

WOW

TeeeeHaaaaHoooo said:

I don't hear any lyrics in "Free Man" by South Shore Commission that can even vaguely be construed as openly gay. Unless you're under the impression this is man singing to another man. It's not. The lady singer just has a deep, husky voice.

Girl I'm a free man

Girl I'm a free man and talking 'bout it

Girl I'm a free man

I know you understand

Why I don't want no married man

They say you're the only one

When all they wanna do

Is have a little fun

I've been out here on my own (oh Lord)

I ain't afraid to live alone

Before you take me home

Honey

I don't have no bills to pay (yeah yeah)

I work hard each and every day

All I need is a man like you

To love me and squeeze me, know what to do

I'm a free man (free man) (I'm a free mister)

Girl I'm a free man and talking 'bout it (free man)

Girl I'm a free man (free man)

Honey

Can you stay all night (yeah yeah)

Squeeze and hold me tight

But when the morning comes

You won't turn to me

And say you have to run

Don't need no part-time lover (oh no baby)

Coming to share my cover

You see I've been through that before (I believe in you)

Now boy it's up to you

Whatever you want to do

You come back nightly by day

Well if I can't have it all

Best be on your own

I'm a free man (free man)

I'm a free man and talking 'bout it (free man) (what you say)

Girl I'm a free man (free man)

Hope when the morning comes

You won't turn to me

Say you have to run

Are you a free man (free man)

Girl I'm a free man and bragging 'bout it (free man)

Are you free Mister (free man)

Are you free are you free (free man) if you ain't don't be jiving with me oh no

I'm free baby listen (free man)

Gonna love you right every night (free man) gonna keep it uptight in bed all right sugar (woo) (free man)

Sugar sugar Like birds and bees (free man) freedom's the key to loving me (free man)

Yeah freedom is the key

Gonna love you right every night (free man) gonna it uptight let's go on out of sight baby baby baby (free man)

Freedom is the key to loving me (free man) (I've got the key) Freedom is the key to loving me

Freedom is the key to loving me

(Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh

Ooh ooh ooh)

(Free man)

(Free man)

Girl I'm a free man (free man)

Girl I'm a free man and talking 'bout it (free man)

Girl I'm a free man (free man)

Girl I'm a free man and talking 'bout it (free man)

Girl I'm a free man (free man)

Girl I'm a free man and talking 'bout it yeah (free man)

Girl I'm a free man [FADE]

i'm a free MAN...all i need is a MAN like you. um is that not about gay sex what is it?

lowkey said:

i'm a free MAN...all i need is a MAN like you. um is that not about gay sex what is it?

Free man = single man i.e. not married. The song is a dialogue between a MAN and a WOMAN...NOT two men. The man is saying "girl, i'm a free man". The woman is saying "i don't want no married man", "all i needs a man like you".

TeeeeHaaaaHoooo said:

lowkey said:

lazycrockett said:

Though if you take a ride on the waybac machine you will get this

theres nothing to indicate he's singing about being gay, this is really reaching

Umm written by a gay man, for a broadway musical with the lyrics "Im, the bottom, You're the top." is pretty danm queer. Hell how heavy do you need the wink and nod to be?

lazycrockett said:

lowkey said:

theres nothing to indicate he's singing about being gay, this is really reaching

Umm written by a gay man, for a broadway musical with the lyrics "Im, the bottom, You're the top." is pretty danm queer. Hell how heavy do you need the wink and nod to be?

This has been known as a gay song for a veeeeeery long time.

May not be the first, but surely one of the first pop songs about a gay man. Sad song though

Super Cool Thread!

It was later than "I Was Born This Way" but I remember the Tom Robinson Band in 1977 or 78 had a single called "Glad To Be Gay."That was the first pro-gay rock song that I ever heard. At the time it was quite controversial. They never made it big in the US but I read about them for a while, they were getting the promo push.

But then my mind turns to the lyric

Number 47 said to number 3

You're the cutest jailibird I ever did see!

I sure would be delighted with your company!

Come on and do the jailhouse rock with me!

These all predate Dio's 'Rainbow in the Dark' for sure.

So, no one's gonna mention The Miracles, "Ain't Nobody Straight In L.A." ? Hmmmm......hmmmmm.....the album that has, "Love Machine" on it ?.........

MickyDolenz said:

I know this was the 70s,but these outfits are outrageously bad

SoulAlive said:

MickyDolenz said:

I know this was the 70s,but these outfits are outrageously bad

We need a 70s themed Org gathering.

Not the first of course but ahead of its time...

Terence Trent D'Arby

“Billy Don’t Fall” is the hit single that never was, perhaps because it’s a pop tune about AIDS and gay tolerance, recorded back in 1989 when AIDS was considered a karmic death sentence:

Billy was a young boy
Who's fate did decree
That he would like only other boys
So being with a boy came to him naturally
Billy was a green boy
His thoughts so naive
He wondered why he was so victimised
And his fear brought him close to me suddenly
But
Billy my friend
Don't fall in love with me
I'm not that kind of guy
But I'll stand by your side
If you need me to be