| Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album with live elements by | ||||
| Released | November 21, 1985 | |||
| Recorded | November 1981–September 1985 | |||
| Studio | UMRK (Los Angeles) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 37:31 | |||
| Label | Barking Pumpkin | |||
| Producer | Frank Zappa | |||
| Frank Zappa chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention is a 1985 album by American musicianFrank Zappa. The album was originally released in two slightly different versions in the US and Europe.
The album's title is a reference to the lobby group, theParents Music Resource Center (PMRC), who were campaigning to require record companies to putwarning stickers on albums they considered offensive, and to Zappa's former band,the Mothers of Invention.
Following distribution problems with Zappa's previous albumThing-Fish (1984), which formerBarking Pumpkin distributorMCA Records refused to distribute,[2] Zappa made a deal withEMI Records, which would allowThem or Us andThing-Fish (both 1984) to be distributed byCapitol Records in the United States.[2]
Zappa wrote a "warning/guarantee" which appeared on the inner sleeves of these albums, as well asFrank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention, it read:
WARNING/GUARANTEE:
This album contains material which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress.
In some socially retarded areas, religious fanatics and ultra-conservative political organizations violate yourFirst Amendment Rights by attempting to censorrock & roll albums. We feel that this is un-Constitutional and un-American.
As an alternative to these government-supported programs (designed to keep you docile and ignorant).Barking Pumpkin is pleased to provide stimulating digital audio entertainment for those of you who have outgrownthe ordinary.
The language and concepts contained herein are GUARANTEED NOT TO CAUSE ETERNAL TORMENT IN THE PLACE WHERETHE GUY WITH THE HORNS AND POINTED STICK CONDUCTS HIS BUSINESS. This guarantee is as real as the threats of the video fundamentalists who use attacks on rock music in their attempt to transform America into a nation of check-mailing nincompoops (in the name of Jesus Christ).
If there is a hell, its fires wait for them, not us.
The liner notes also contained a quote from SenatorFritz Hollings, who testified during the PMRC 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 andJohnny "Guitar" Watson, and two instrumental tracks – "One Man, One Vote" (aSynclavier composition) and "H.R. 2911", which collates some of the backing music from "Porn Wars", without the PMRC hearing excerpts and other dialogue. The EMI CD (coupled with 1986'sJazz from Hell) only included the European Version. The originalRykodisc CDs added two of the three European tracks and shuffled around the running order. The 1995 Rykodisc remaster added the third European track after the same shuffled order.
All tracks written by Frank Zappa, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We're Turning Again" | 4:55 |
| 2. | "Alien Orifice" | 4:03 |
| 3. | "Yo Cats" (Zappa,Tommy Mars) | 3:31 |
| 4. | "What's New in Baltimore?" | 5:21 |
| Total length: | 18:35 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 5. | "Little Beige Sambo" | 3:02 |
| 6. | "Porn Wars" | 12:04 |
| 7. | "Aerobics in Bondage" | 3:16 |
| Total length: | 18:56 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "We're Turning Again" | 4:55 |
| 2. | "Alien Orifice" | 4:03 |
| 3. | "Yo Cats" (Zappa,Tommy Mars) | 3:31 |
| 4. | "What's New in Baltimore?" | 5:21 |
| Total length: | 18:35 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 5. | "I Don't Even Care" (Zappa,Johnny "Guitar" Watson) | 4:39 |
| 6. | "One Man, One Vote" | 2:35 |
| 7. | "H.R. 2911" | 3:35 |
| 8. | "Little Beige Sambo" | 3:02 |
| 9. | "Aerobics in Bondage" | 3:16 |
| Total length: | 17:45 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Don't Even Care" (Zappa,Johnny "Guitar" Watson) | 4:39 |
| 2. | "One Man, One Vote" | 2:35 |
| 3. | "Little Beige Sambo" | 3:02 |
| 4. | "Aerobics in Bondage" | 3:16 |
| 5. | "We're Turning Again" | 4:55 |
| 6. | "Alien Orifice" | 4:10 |
| 7. | "Yo Cats" (Zappa, Tommy Mars) | 3:33 |
| 8. | "What's New in Baltimore?" | 5:20 |
| 9. | "Porn Wars" | 12:03 |
| 10. | "H.R. 2911" | 3:35 |
| Total length: | 47:17 | |
Album –Billboard (United States)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Billboard 200 | 153[3] |
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