55
. . .
to take these lyrics, because they are owned by a publishing
company.
So, just as all the rest of the PMRC proposals would cost money,
this would cost money too, because the record companies would
If you consider that the public needs to be warned about the
contents of the records, what better way than to let them see exactly
what the songs say? That way you do not have to put any kind of
subjective rating on the record. You do not have to call it R, X, D/A,
anything. You can read it for yourself.
But in order for it to work properly, the lyrics should be on a
uniform kind of a sheet. Maybe even the Government could print
those sheets. Maybe it should even be paid for by the Government,
if the Government is interested in making sure that people have
consumer information in this regard.
And you also have to realize that if a person buys the record and
takes it out of the store, once it is out of the store you can't return
it if you read the lyrics at home and decide that little Johnny is
not supposed to have it.
I think that that should at least be considered, and the idea of
imposing these ratings on live concerts, on the albums, asking
record companies to reevaluate or drop or violate contracts that
they already have with artists should be thrown out.
That is all I have to say.
The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much, Mr. Zappa. You understand
that the previous witnesses were not asking for legislation.
And I do not know, I cannot speak for Senator Hollings, but I think
the prevailing view here is that nobody is asking for legislation.
The question is just focusing on what a lot of people perceive to
be a problem, and you have indicated that you at least understand
that there is another point of view. But there are people that think
that parents should have some knowledge of what goes into their
home.
Mr. ZAPPA. All along my objection has been with the tactics used
by these people in order to achieve the goal. I just think the tactics
have been really bad, and the whole premise of their
The CHAIRMAN. Senator Gore.
Senator GORE. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I found your statement very interesting and, although I disagree
with some of the statements that you make and have made on
other occasions, I have been a fan of your music, believe it or not. I
respect you as a true original and a tremendously talented musician.
Your suggestion of printing the lyrics on the album is a very
interesting one. The PMRC at one point said they would propose
either a rating or warning, or printing all the lyrics on the album.
The record companies came back and said they did not want to do
that.
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