Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention

the cover of the US version was black on white
the cover of the European version was white on black

The European and American vinyls were quite different - some tracks were only on the European version, and some material was only on the American version. The original US CD did not have the track "H.R. 2911" from the European version, and the original European CD did not have "Porn Wars" from the American version. The European Zappa Records CD re-issue and the 1995 Ryko CD are the only CDs that have all tracks on them.

ESSENTIAL VERSIONS FOR COMPLETISTS: Either the 1995 CD with all tracks on it, or both the European and American older versions (while the 1995 CD sounds different from earlier CDs, there are no actual content differences). Plus, if you're adamant, the Zappa Records CD with a shorter edit of "I Don't Even Care". (The 1995 CD is a remaster.) [completist's guide]

Issues

Track Titles

There are some variations, but they are purely ortographic: "H.R. 2911" is written "HR 2911" on the twofer CD, where "One Man, One Vote" also has a dash instead of a comma.

US Vinyl

the cover of the US version was black on whiteThe track list, courtesy of Juha Sarkkinen:

1. We're Turning Again (04.55)
2. Alien Orifice (04.03)
3. Yo Cats (03.31) [Zappa/Mariano]
4. What's New in Baltimore? (05.21)

5. Little Beige Sambo (03.02)
6. Porn Wars (12.04)
7. Aerobics in Bondage (03.16)

Missing tracks: "I Don't Even Care" and "One Man - One Vote", which were on all other issues, plus "H.R. 2911", which was on all other issues except the original US CD. This LP had Zappa's warning/guarantee "sticker" printed on it (if you can confirm or deny that it was printed on all pressings, and that there were no actual stickers on any pressing, mail me):

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 your First Amendment Rights by attempting to censor rock & 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 outgrown the ordinary.

   The language and concepts contained herein are GUARANTEED NOT TO CAUSE ETERNAL TORMENT IN THE PLACE WHERE THE GUY WITH THE HORNS AND THE 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.

(This "sticker" was also on Thing-Fish.)

From Mikael Agardsson:

The American Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention came with an order sheet for mail-ordering the Old Masters box 1, and if you did, you got a special Old Masters T-shirt with the box. The price was $100 for US residents, and for non-US residents it was $115 for surface shipping and $140 for air mail delivery.

European Vinyl

the cover of the European version was white on blackThe track list, courtesy of Román García Albertos:

1. We're Turning Again (04:55)
2. Alien Orifice (04:03)
3. Yo Cats [Zappa/Mariano] (03:31)
4. What's New in Baltimore? (05:21)

5. I Don't Even Care [Zappa/Watson] (04:43)
6. One Man - One Vote (02:36)
7. H.R. 2911 (03:35)
8. Little Beige Sambo (03:02)
9. Aerobics in Bondage (03:16)

Missing track: "Porn Wars" (which was on the US vinyl and subsequent US CD, and also on the European Zappa Records CD re-issue and 1995 CD).

This was also the Canadian version. From Kevin Sallows:

I've got a "European Version" vinyl copy of Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention that was pressed and released in Canada (Capitol ST 6535). As with the tape version, Canada got the Euro version rather than the US release (strange considering our proximity both geographically and culturally).

The cover is white on black with the yellow "European Version" callout box. My copy didn't come with liner notes, just the plastic sleeve. The disc has the usual Canadian pressing info: "Manufactured and distributed in Canada under license by Capitol records - EMI of Canada Limited."

European (and Canadian) Cassette

From John Seifert:

I have the cassette of the "European Version" (Capitol 4XT-6535). This tape was manufactured in Canada as the European version was Canada's version as well. No elaborate packaging - just the white lettering on a black background cover and the track listing and credits on the inside.

Saudi-Arabian Cassette

This Saudi-Arabian cassette, which found its way to Sundown Records somewhere in America via a GI who had been stationed in Saudi-Arabia, is based on the European version but has 13 tracks - the 9 regular tracks on the European version (in the wrong order) plus:

  • The Jazz Discharge Party Hats
  • The Radio Is Broken
  • Ya Hozna
  • Sharleena [Them Or Us version]

Original US CD

The track list, courtesy of JWB:

1. I Don't Even Care [Zappa/Watson] (04:45)
2. One man, One Vote (02:34)
3. Little Beige Sambo (03:02)
4. Aerobics in Bondage (03:17)
5. We're Turning Again (04:54)
6. Alien Orifice (04:12)
7. Yo Cats [Zappa/Mariano] (03:34)
8. What's New in Baltimore? (05:25)
9. Porn Wars (12:03)

Missing track: "H.R. 2911" (which was on the European vinyl and all other CDs).

Original European (EMI) CD, Coupled with Jazz from Hell

The track list, courtesy of Dr István Fekete:

1. We're Turning Again
2. Alien Orifice
3. Yo Cats [Zappa/Mariano]
4. What's New in Baltimore?
5. I Don't Even Care [Zappa/Watson]
6. One Man - One Vote
7. HR 2911
8. Little Beige Sambo
9. Aerobics in Bondage
10. Night School
11. The Beltway Bandits
12. While You Were Art 11 [sic!]
13. Jazz from Hell
14. G-Spot Tornado
15. Damp Ankles
16. St Etienne
17. Massagio Galore

Tracks 1-9 are Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention; tracks 10-17 are Jazz from Hell. Missing track: "Porn Wars" (which was on the American vinyl and subsequent US CD, and also on the European Zappa Records CD re-issue and 1995 CD.) The front cover was Jazz from Hell and the back cover Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention.

European (Zappa Records) CD Re-Issue

CDZAP 33. The track list, courtesy of Dr István Fekete:

1. Porn Wars
2. We're Turning Again
3. Alien Orifice
4. Aerobics in Bondage
5. I Don't Even Care [Zappa/Watson]
6. Little Beige Sambo
7. What's New in Baltimore?
8. One man, One Vote
9. H.R. 2911
10. Yo Cats [Zappa/Mariano]

This was the first CD to gather all the tracks that had previously been specific to either the European or the American version; additionally, for the most part, the mastering on this version is identical to the later Ryko '95 reissue. However, "I Don't Even Care" was abridged. From Pierre Guertin:

It so happens that I've got 3 editions of this album:

  • 1986 Rykodisc RCD 10023 USA
  • 1990 Zappa Records CDZAP 33 France
  • 1995 Rykodisc RCD 10547 Canada (Americ Disc)

While compiling the differences in timing I may see of the tracks of these editions, I noticed a big difference in the song "I Don't Even Care". The timing on the 1986 and 1995 editions is almost identical (04:44 & 04:39 respectively), but the time on my 1990 edition is way off: 03:47 ... I decided to listen carefully to hear "what's the difference", and this is what I came up with:

My 1990 edition has the following lyrics deleted:

  • From 02:11 to 02:29 on the 1995 version (total 00:18):

No no I don't
Ha-tch-tch-tch-tch
(I-I-I-I)
Ha-tch-tch-tch-tch-tch
(DON'T EVEN CARE)
Uh-huh, now listen, now ain't that som'thin' - oof!
I said
(I-I-I-I)
Alright

  • From 02:50 to 03:08 on the 1995 version (total 00:18):

Would you listen to me baby?
I'm just talkin' 'bout
(I-I-I-I)
OW!
(DON'T EVEN CARE)
Shit, I don't care!
Listen! I said now
(I-I-I-I)
Uh-huh

  • From 03:20 to 03:31 on the 1995 version (total 00:11):

OW! Yep, that's the reason! That's the reason! That's the reason! OW!
(I just don't care!)
(I-I-I-I)
Uh-huh
(No no no!)

That makes for about the 00:52 deleted from the 1990 edition.

1995 CD

Official Ryko statement:

New master. New timing sheet. When this title was originally released in Europe, Zappa removed the "porn rock" hearings excerpts, and replaced it with other tracks. When this title first came out on CD, it included both the hearing material and all Euro tracks except "H.R. 2911". That track is on this re-release. [It was also on the European Zappa Records CD re-issue.]

The track list, courtesy of Dr István Fekete:

1. I Don't Even Care [Zappa/Watson]
2. One man, One Vote
3. Little Beige Sambo
4. Aerobics in Bondage
5. We're Turning Again
6. Alien Orifice
7. Yo Cats [Zappa/Mariano]
8. What's New in Baltimore?
9. Porn Wars
10. H.R. 2911

The Ryko 1995 reissue mostly matches the mastering on the Zappa Records CD, but features a different track order and the full "I Don't Even Care."

Tracklisting Variations

Mike Espinoza isn't fond of the way the 1995 disc is sequenced:

Both the American and European vinyl versions had the same side one. As such, those should be the first four songs, not songs 5 through 8. This is not negotiable.

The US vinyl version of MOP is one of my favorite albums. Absolutely flawless. "One Man, One Vote" is a nice addition, as well.

What basically happened was that Frank transposed the sides of the European version, removed "H.R. 2911"
(which I don't have much use for), and stuck Porn Wars at the end. It's the transposing of sides that I take issue with.

Then, when the 1995 CD came out, "H.R. 2911" was just tacked onto the end, right after "Porn Wars" which
uses it as a backing track. It's just sloppy.

Fortunately for me, I never bought the 1995 CD and made a CDR of a sequence that I like.

CD Versions Compared

From the 2004 Zappa CD Rundown:

I compared the EMI twofer, the old Ryko, and the 1995 Ryko. They're all drawn from the same digital master (unsurprising, as I believe this album was recorded digitally), but the EQ is very different on all of them, although it's pretty close between the old Ryko and EMI. I'd be curious to see how the Zappa Records and '95 CD measure up.

Japanese Paper-Sleeve Version (2001-2002)

Starting in 2001, Video Arts Music released a limited-edition series (2000 copies each) of Zappa CDs in paper sleeves - miniature LP sleeves. There was nothing special about this series other than the covers, which were very well done - inserts and "bonuses" were reproduced, the albums that originally had gatefold covers got little miniature gatefolds, and cover track lists were exactly as on the corresponding LPs, even in cases where the CD has bonus tracks or a different track order. Included in this series were some entries that never had "proper" LP issues, i.e. Läther. Additionally, some rarities--like the "green/gold" cover of Chunga's Revenge--were reproduced as special items in this run.

We need to stress that the sound quality of these discs matches the US Ryko issues, which they are clearly derived from. These are collectors items, not new remastered editions.

Late-2012-update: It appears as if the Japanese may be warming up the mini-LP ovens for a new batch based on the 2012 UMe remasters. We'll let you know if this happens.

Questions

  • Any tape details?
  • What's the original Japanese CD like? Track list!
  • Was the "sticker" printed on all pressings, or was it ever an actual sticker? Was it on the European version at all?

Additional Informants

  • Tito Osuna
  • Mikael Agardsson
  • Andy & Janie @ Sundown Records
  • Adrian Clark
  • Kristian Kier

home - vinyl vs CDs - weirdo discography - bootlegs - misc - hot lynx - e-mail us at zappa dot patio at gmail dot com 2006-04-22 20:02

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