Following distribution problems with Zappa's previous album
Thing-Fish (1984), 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 (both 1984) to be distributed by
Capitol Records in the United States. Zappa wrote a "
warning/guarantee" which appeared on the inner sleeves of these albums, as well as
Frank 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 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 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 Senator
Fritz 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 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. The EMI CD (coupled with 1986's
Jazz from Hell) only included the European Version. The original
Rykodisc 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. ==Track listing==