Released November 21, 1985 Release date 21 November 1985 | Label EMI | |
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Recorded November 1981–September 1985at UMRK Length 36:1247:17 (1995 reissue) Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention#44 (1985) Does Humor Belong in Music?#45 (1986) Genres Rock music, Progressive rock, Experimental rock Similar Frank Zappa albums, Progressive rock albums | ||
Frank zappa meets the mothers of prevention
Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention is a 1985 album by Frank Zappa. The album was originally released in two slightly different versions in the US and Europe.
Contents
The album's title is a reference to the lobby group, the PMRC, who were campaigning to require record companies to put warning stickers on albums they considered offensive, and to Zappa's former band, the Mothers of Invention.
Release
Following distribution problems with Zappa's album Thing-Fish, which former Barking Pumpkin distributor MCA Records refused to distribute, Zappa made a deal with EMI Records, which would allow Them or Us and Thing-Fish to be distributed by Capitol Records in the United States. Zappa wrote a "warning" which appeared on the inner sleeves of these albums, as well as Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention, which stated that the albums contained content "which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress", and a "guarantee" which stated that the lyrics would not "cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business." The liner notes also contained a quote from Senator Ernest Hollings, who testified during the PRMC hearings: "…if I could find some way constitutionally to do away with it [foul language in music], I would," as well as Zappa's oft-repeated liner notes request for his fans to register to vote.
The original US version of the album contains the track, "Porn Wars" — a sound collage featuring excerpts from PMRC hearings. This track was omitted from non-US versions, and replaced with three other pieces: "I Don't Even Care", co-written by Zappa and Johnny "Guitar" Watson, and two instrumental tracks — "One Man, One Vote" (a Synclavier composition) and "H.R. 2911", which collates some of the backing music from "Porn Wars", without the PMRC hearing excerpts and other dialogue. A later reissue by Rykodisc compiled both versions of the album onto one disc.
Track listing
All tracks written by Frank Zappa, except where noted.
Personnel
Charts
Album - Billboard (United States)
Songs
1I Don’t Even Care4:39
2One Man - One Vote2:35
3Little Beige Sambo3:02