“I’m Coming Out” was meant to be a gay liberation song but the song’s writer and producer Nile Rodgers didn’t tell Diana Ross that. Which led to a whole thing. It’s a crazy story. The origin of the song is fascinating but more interesting is how disco in general was part of the gay rights movement. We chart the rise of disco and look at the way it dovetailed with the struggle for LGBTQ rights and how being gay is so different for Sylvester than for Tyler the Creator. 

 

Guests:

Wesley Morris, Critic, New York Times

Craig Seymour, Music Critic and Activist 

Nile Rodgers, Record Producer and Chic Founder

Bill Coleman, Artist Manager 

DJ Jellybean Benitez, Deejay

Nelson George, Filmmaker and Author 

 

Credits:

Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out 

Writer: Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers

Label: Motown Records

Publisher: Chic Music, Inc

 

Chic - Le Freak

Writer: Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers

Label: Atlantic Records

Publisher: Chic Music & Cotillion Records

Sylvester - You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

Writer: Sylvester & James Wirrick

Label: Fantasy

Publisher: Bee Keeper Music, Tipsyl Music

 

Barry White - You’re The First, My Last, My Everything

Writer: Peter Sterling Radcliffe, Tony Sepe & Barry White

Label:  20th Century Fox Records

Publisher: SaVette Music Co.

 

Diana Ross - Love Hangover

Writer: Pam Sawyer & Marilyn McLeod

Label: Motown Records

Publisher: Jobete Music Co. INC

 

A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie

Writer: Perry Kibble & Janice Marie Johnson

Label: Capitol Records

Publisher: On Time Music, INC

 

Donna Summer - Love to Love You Baby

Writer: Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder & Pete Bellotte

Label: Casablanca, Oasis

Publisher: Saturday Music and Cafe Americana

 

Grace Jones - Pull up to the Bumper

Writer: Sly Dunbar, Alex Sadkin, Chris Blackwell, Sly & Robbie & Grace Jones

Label: Island

Publisher: EMI Music Publishing Ltd

 

Candi Stanton - Young Hearts Run Free

Writer: Dave Crawford

Label: Warner Bros.

Publisher: Ghati Music Inc

 

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive

Writer: Dino Fekaris & Freddie Perren

Label: Polydor Records

Publisher: Perren-Vibes Music Co. 

 

Tyler the Creator - I Ain’t Got Time

Writer: Tyler, The Creator

Label: Columbia Records

Publisher:  Columbia Records & Sony Music Entertainment

 

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