It was on this date 38 years ago a U.S. Senate committee heard testimony on the labeling and rating of music with explicit lyrics. Remember the Parents Music Resource Center led by Tipper Gore? Well, the group made a list of the most objectionable songs, so for today’s Forgotten 45 at 3:45, I’ve chosen one. From Mary Jane Girls with “In My House”
In 1985, the PMRC had a list of their “Filthy Fifteen” which included Prince’s “Darling Nikki”, Sheena Easton’s “Sugar Walls”, Twisted Sisters “We’re Not Gonna Take It”, and Cyndi Lauper’s “She Bop”. The Senate committee heard testimony from Frank Zappa, John Denver, and Dee Snider, who were opposed to music censorship.
Also on the list was today’s Forgotten 45, “In My House”, a song written, produced, and arranged by Rick James. The song was a #7 pop hit in the Summer of ’85 and was the group’s only Top 40 hit.
The group disagreed with the PMRC’s assessment of their song, saying it was about love, not sex. No warning sticker needed in 2023, check out the Mary Jane Girls “In My House” today’s Forgotten 45!
