What was the title of George Carlin's 1972 comedy album that introduced his seven dirty words routine?

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George Carlin's 1972 comedy album that introduced his seven dirty words routine was titled Class Clown.

The album contains “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” Carlin's celebrated discussion of language and broadcast censorship. Rather than simply listing taboo terms, the routine examines why certain words are treated as unacceptable and how context changes their meaning.

Class Clown was released by Little David Records and helped mark Carlin's shift toward more provocative social commentary. Earlier in his career, he had been associated with a cleaner, more conventional comedy style; the early 1970s brought a major artistic transformation.

The routine later became central to the U.S. Supreme Court case FCC v. Pacifica Foundation after a radio station broadcast it. The album title is distinct from FM & AM, Carlin's earlier major release, which won the Grammy for Best Comedy Recording.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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