Occupation: Foole
Encyclopedia
Occupation: Foole is the fourth album released by United States
comedian George Carlin
. It was recorded on March 2 and 3, 1973 at the Circle Star Theater
in San Carlos, California
, and released in October of that year. It was later included as part of the 1992 Classic Gold
collection, and The Little David Years (1971-1977)
box set in 1999.
Much of Occupation: Foole is devoted to Carlin's observations about growing up on the Upper West Side
of New York City
in the 1950's, covering everything from gang culture to school life. The final track, "Filthy Words", is a continuation and expansion of "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television
" from his previous album, Class Clown
.
When asked in the January 1982 issue of Playboy if any of his albums had been done during a heavy cocaine period, Carlin said, "The Class Clown album was done totally sober. I'd realized what a hell I'd made for myself and I cleaned up completely for three months. You can hear the clarity of my thinking and of my speech on that album. But by the next one, Occupation: Foole, I was right back into the trip again. I'm more frantic, more breathless. You can hear how sick I am. If you want to see a cokehead, just look at the pictures on the Occupation: Foole album. The angles of my body show you an awful lot. I started doing coke to feel open but by that time the hole had opened so wide that I'd fallen through. The body language in those photos tells you everything."
During the performance of "Filthy Words", Carlin, after reading the news onstage, announces his Grammy award
for FM & AM
to the audience.
The track "Filthy Words" became the subject of a complaint made to the United States Federal Communications Commission
after it was broadcast uncensored on New York City
radio station WBAI
on October 30, 1973. Following the lodging of a complaint, the FCC proceeded to ask Pacifica, the owners of WBAI, for a response, then issued a declaratory order upholding the complaint. No specific sanctions were included in the order but WBAI was put on notice that "in the event subsequent complaints are received, the Commission will then decide whether it should utilize any of the available sanctions it has been granted by Congress." Pacifica appealed this decision, which ultimately made its way to the Supreme Court of the United States
. In Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation
, the Court declared that the FCC has the authority to prohibit broadcasts containing indecent language during hours in which children could be listening.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comedian George Carlin
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
. It was recorded on March 2 and 3, 1973 at the Circle Star Theater
Circle Star Theater
The Circle Star Theater was a performing arts venue in San Carlos, San Mateo County, California). Its name is based on it being a theater in the round, featuring a rotating circular stage with none of its 3,743 seats further than from the stage...
in San Carlos, California
San Carlos, California
San Carlos is a city in San Mateo County, California, USA on the San Francisco Peninsula, about halfway between San Francisco and San Jose. It is an affluent small residential suburb located between Belmont to the north and Redwood City to the south. San Carlos' ZIP code is 94070, and it is within...
, and released in October of that year. It was later included as part of the 1992 Classic Gold
Classic Gold (George Carlin album)
Classic Gold is an album by American comedian George Carlin, released on October 27, 1992 on Atlantic Records. It contains the comedian's first three gold albums in their entirety: FM & AM , Class Clown and Occupation: Foole .-Disc 1:# Shoot# The Hair Piece# Sex in Commercials# Drugs#...
collection, and The Little David Years (1971-1977)
The Little David Years (1971-1977)
The Little David Years is a box set by American comedian George Carlin. It consists of his six solo albums for the Little David record label, with an additional CD of previously unreleased bonus material...
box set in 1999.
Much of Occupation: Foole is devoted to Carlin's observations about growing up on the Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in the 1950's, covering everything from gang culture to school life. The final track, "Filthy Words", is a continuation and expansion of "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television
Seven dirty words
The seven dirty words are seven English language words that American comedian George Carlin first listed in 1972 in his monologue "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television". The words include: shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits...
" from his previous album, Class Clown
Class Clown
Class Clown is the third comedy album released by American comedian George Carlin. It was recorded May 27, 1972 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California, and released in September....
.
When asked in the January 1982 issue of Playboy if any of his albums had been done during a heavy cocaine period, Carlin said, "The Class Clown album was done totally sober. I'd realized what a hell I'd made for myself and I cleaned up completely for three months. You can hear the clarity of my thinking and of my speech on that album. But by the next one, Occupation: Foole, I was right back into the trip again. I'm more frantic, more breathless. You can hear how sick I am. If you want to see a cokehead, just look at the pictures on the Occupation: Foole album. The angles of my body show you an awful lot. I started doing coke to feel open but by that time the hole had opened so wide that I'd fallen through. The body language in those photos tells you everything."
During the performance of "Filthy Words", Carlin, after reading the news onstage, announces his Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for FM & AM
FM & AM
FM & AM is an album by American comedian George Carlin. This album was originally released in 1972 on the Atlantic Records subsidiary label Little David Records, later reissued on Carlin's Eardrum Records label...
to the audience.
The track "Filthy Words" became the subject of a complaint made to the United States Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
after it was broadcast uncensored on New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
radio station WBAI
WBAI
WBAI, a part of the Pacifica Radio Network, is a non-commercial, listener-supported radio station, broadcasting at 99.5 FM in New York City.Its programming is leftist/progressive, and a mixture of political news and opinion from a leftist perspective, tinged with aspects of its complex and varied...
on October 30, 1973. Following the lodging of a complaint, the FCC proceeded to ask Pacifica, the owners of WBAI, for a response, then issued a declaratory order upholding the complaint. No specific sanctions were included in the order but WBAI was put on notice that "in the event subsequent complaints are received, the Commission will then decide whether it should utilize any of the available sanctions it has been granted by Congress." Pacifica appealed this decision, which ultimately made its way to the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. In Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation
Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation
Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation, 438 U.S. 726 is a landmark United States Supreme Court decision that defined the power of the Federal Communications Commission over indecent material as applied to broadcasting...
, the Court declared that the FCC has the authority to prohibit broadcasts containing indecent language during hours in which children could be listening.
Side one
- Welcome to My Job – 3:02
- Occupation: Foole – 3:41
- White Harlem – 4:45
- The Hallway Groups – 2:07
- Black Consciousness – 2:38
- New York Voices – 7:06
Side two
- Grass Swept the Neighborhood – 1:25
- Childhood Cliches – 4:04
- Cute Little Farts – 5:10
- Raisin Rhetoric – 2:06
- Filthy Words – 11:30