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 PMRC hearings: "…if I could find some way constitutionally to do away with it , 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" and "H.R. 2911", which collates some of the backing music from "Porn Wars", without the PMRC hearing excerpts and other dialogue. The initial EMI CDs 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
All tracks written by Frank Zappa, except where noted.
Personnel
Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, Synclavier, producer
Johnny "Guitar" Watson – vocals, guitar on "I Don't Even Care"
Ike Willis – vocals, guitar
Ray White – vocals, guitar
Bobby Martin – vocals, keyboards
Steve Vai – guitar
Tommy Mars – keyboards
Scott Thunes – bass
Chad Wackerman – drums
Ed Mann – percussion
Moon Zappa – vocals
Dweezil Zappa – vocals
John Danforth – voice excerpts on "Porn Wars"
Ernest Hollings – voice excerpts on "Porn Wars"
Paul S. Trible, Jr. – voice excerpts on "Porn Wars"
