Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention
Encyclopedia
Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention is a 1985 album by Frank Zappa
. It was originally released in two slightly different versions in the US and Europe. The two versions were later combined and reissued on a compact disc
: first in the US on Rykodisc
in 1986 (although this version omitted the track "H.R. 2911"), then on the European "Zappa Records" disc released in 1990, and finally on the Rykodisc
reissue in 1995.
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
. 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.
on a two-for-the-price-of-one CD. The 1990 CD reissue (without Jazz From Hell) was the first to compile all of the tracks on one disc. That CD had this track listing:
(North America)
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
. It was originally released in two slightly different versions in the US and Europe. The two versions were later combined and reissued on a compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
: first in the US on Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
in 1986 (although this version omitted the track "H.R. 2911"), then on the European "Zappa Records" disc released in 1990, and finally on the Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
reissue in 1995.
The album's title is a reference to the lobby group, the PMRC
Parents Music Resource Center
The Parents Music Resource Center was an American committee formed in 1985 with the goal of increasing parental control over the access of children to music deemed to be violent, have drug use or be sexual.The committee was founded by four women: Tipper Gore, wife of Senator and later Vice...
, 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
The Mothers of Invention
The Mothers of Invention were an American band active from 1964 to 1969, and again from 1970 to 1975.They mainly performed works by, and were the original recording group of, US composer and guitarist Frank Zappa , although other members have had the occasional writing credit...
. 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.
Side one
- "We're Turning Again" – 4.55
- "Alien Orifice" – 4.03
- "Yo Cats" (Zappa, Tommy MarsTommy MarsTommy Mars is a keyboard player, best known for his work with Frank Zappa.Born in Connecticut, U.S.A., 26 October 1951 Mars began piano lessons at age eight, and later his instrument range expanded to various keyboards and synthesizers. Mars graduated in 1972 from the Hartt College of Music in...
) – 3.31 - "What's New in Baltimore?" – 5.21
Side one
- "We're Turning Again" – 4.55
- "Alien Orifice" – 4.03
- "Yo Cats" (Zappa, MarsTommy MarsTommy Mars is a keyboard player, best known for his work with Frank Zappa.Born in Connecticut, U.S.A., 26 October 1951 Mars began piano lessons at age eight, and later his instrument range expanded to various keyboards and synthesizers. Mars graduated in 1972 from the Hartt College of Music in...
) – 3.31 - "What's New in Baltimore?" – 5.21
Side two
- "I Don't Even Care" (Zappa, Watson) – 4:39
- "One Man, One Vote" – 2:35
- "H.R. 2911" – 3:35
- "Little Beige Sambo" – 3:02
- "Aerobics in Bondage" – 3:16
European CD
The first European CD issue, released in 1986, contained the European version of the album coupled with Jazz From HellJazz from Hell
Jazz from Hell is a Grammy Award–winning instrumental album from Frank Zappa. It was released in 1986 by Barking Pumpkin Records and by Rykodisc .-Album information:...
on a two-for-the-price-of-one CD. The 1990 CD reissue (without Jazz From Hell) was the first to compile all of the tracks on one disc. That CD had this track listing:
- "Porn Wars"
- "We're Turning Again"
- "Alien Orifice"
- "Aerobics in Bondage"
- "I Don't Even Care" (Zappa, Watson) – 3:47
- The song is shortened on this European release; 47 seconds of Johnny "Guitar" Watson adlibs are missing.
- "Little Beige Sambo"
- "What's New in Baltimore?"
- "One Man, One Vote"
- "H.R. 2911"
- "Yo Cats" (Zappa, Mars)
1986 US CD/1995 CD reissue
- "I Don't Even Care" (Zappa, Watson) – 4:39
- "One Man, One Vote" – 2:35
- "Little Beige Sambo" – 3:02
- "Aerobics in Bondage" – 3:16
- "We're Turning Again" – 4:55
- "Alien Orifice" – 4:10
- "Yo Cats" (Zappa, Mars) – 3:33
- "What's New in Baltimore?" – 5:20
- "Porn Wars" – 12:05
- "H.R. 2911" – 3:35 (1995 CD only)
Personnel
- Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, synclavier, producer
- Johnny "Guitar" Watson – vocals, guitar on "I Don't Even Care"
- Ike WillisIke WillisIke Willis is a singer and guitarist who was a regular sideman for Frank Zappa, first joining Zappa's band for the fall 1978 tour and remaining in the band for several years. He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 for personal reasons, but returned to touring with Zappa for his final two...
– vocals, guitar - Ray WhiteRay WhiteRay White is a soul vocalist and rock and blues guitarist, best known as a member of Frank Zappa's touring ensembles. He was drafted into Zappa's band in the fall of 1976, being featured on rhythm guitar and vocals, forming a memorable vocal harmony partnership with Ike Willis on later tours in...
– vocals, guitar - Bobby Martin – vocals, keyboards
- Steve VaiSteve VaiSteven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
– guitar - Tommy Mars – keyboards
- Scott ThunesScott ThunesScott Thunes is a former bass player with Frank Zappa, Wayne Kramer, Steve Vai, Andy Prieboy, Mike Keneally, Fear, The Waterboys and others....
– bass - Chad WackermanChad WackermanChad Wackerman is a jazz, jazz fusion and rock drummer; arguably best known in the United States for his work as a drummer and percussionist in Frank Zappa's band...
– drums - Ed Mann – percussion
- Moon ZappaMoon ZappaMoon Unit Zappa is an American actress, musician and author. She goes by the name Moon Zappa; "Unit" is her middle name.-Personal life:...
– vocals - Dweezil ZappaDweezil ZappaDweezil Zappa is an American rock guitarist and occasional actor.-Early life:Zappa was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of musician Frank Zappa and Adelaide Gail Sloatman, who worked in business. He is the second of four siblings: his older sister, Moon, younger sister Diva and younger...
– vocals - John DanforthJohn DanforthJohn Claggett "Jack" Danforth is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former Republican United States Senator from Missouri. He is an ordained Episcopal priest. Danforth is married to Sally D. Danforth and has five adult children.-Education and early career:Danforth was born...
– voice excerpts on "Porn Wars" - Ernest HollingsErnest HollingsErnest Frederick "Fritz" Hollings served as a Democratic United States Senator from South Carolina from 1966 to 2005, as well as the 106th Governor of South Carolina and Lt. Governor . He served 38 years and 55 days in the Senate, which makes him the 8th-longest-serving Senator in history...
– voice excerpts on "Porn Wars" - Paul S. Trible, Jr.Paul S. Trible, Jr.Paul Seward Trible, Jr. is a former Representative and Senator in the United States Congress from Virginia and current president of Christopher Newport University. Trible graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in 1968 where he received his Bachelor of Arts in History...
– voice excerpts on "Porn Wars" - Paula HawkinsPaula HawkinsPaula Hawkins was an U.S. politician from Florida. She is to date the only woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Florida. She was the first woman ever elected to a full term in the Senate without a family connection....
– voice excerpts on "Porn Wars" - J. James ExonJ. James ExonJohn James "Jim" Exon was an American Democratic politician. He served as the 33rd Governor of Nebraska from 1971 to 1979, and as a U.S. Senator from Nebraska from 1979 to 1997. Exon was a Nebraska Democrat who never lost an election, and the only Democrat to hold his Nebraska's Senate Class 2 seat...
– voice excerpts on "Porn Wars" - Al GoreAl GoreAlbert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
– voice excerpts on "Porn Wars" - Tipper GoreTipper GoreMary Elizabeth "Tipper" Gore , née Aitcheson, is an author, photographer, former second lady of the United States, and the estranged wife of Al Gore...
– voice excerpts on "Porn Wars" - Bob Stone – engineer
Charts
Album - BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
(North America)
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
153 |