The Idol of his Youth

Andre, , , , ,

Edgard Varese-Complete Works of, vol 1The image to the right depicts the cover of the Complete Works of Edgard Varèse, Volume 1. According to Zappa, this was the first record he ever owned. (And one that changed everything for him!)

The story of how he came to discover the record was well-rehearsed. The following quotation is drawn from an article he wrote for  Stereo Review:

I was about thirteen when I read an article in Look about Sam Goody’s Record Store in New York. My memory is not too clear on the details, but I recall it was praising the store’s exceptional record merchandising ability. One example of brilliant salesmanship described how, through some mysterious trickery, the store actually managed to sell an album called “Ionization” (the real name of the album was “The Complete Works of Edgard Varèse, Volume One”). The article described the record as a weird jumble of drums and other unpleasant sounds. I dashed off to my local record store and asked for it. Nobody ever heard of it. I told the guy in the store what it was like. He turned away, repulsed, and mumbled solemnly, “I probably wouldn’t stock it anyway … nobody here in San Diego would buy it.” I didn’t give up. I was so hot to get that record I couldn’t even believe it. [1]

A number of other sources provide a similar account. Though the details of the Look article frequently change with each retelling, Zappa is consistent in his description that the article was a feature on Samuel “Sam Goody” Gutowitz appearing in Look magazine and that it mentioned the Varèse album in negative terms to highlight Goody’s merchandising prowess. Consider the following quotation from a 1971 interview for Rock Magazine:

The thing that led me to Varèse’s music was an article in Look Magazine saying how great Sam Goody’s record store was. Sam Goody sells records so well that he can even sell a record called Ionizations – they even called the album wrong – it was The Complete Works of Edgar Varèse, Volume I. And they were telling how ugly this record sounded. It was just drums and sirens and nobody would want to own this record and Sam Goody was actually selling it [2]

Or Zappa’s response from an 1981 interview in Down Beat:

How did you first find out about Edgar Varèse?

That’s a very simple story. I read an article in Look magazine in the early ’50s which was a feature saying what a great guy Sam Goody was because he was such an exciting merchandiser and he could sell anything, he could sell any kind of record. And to give an example of what a great merchandiser he was, it said that he was even able to sell an album called “Ionisation” which had a bunch of drums banging, and it described the album in very negative terms. When I read that, I thought it sounded exactly like the kind of album that I wanted to hear because I had been playing drums since I was 12. So I went looking for the album and I finally found it after a couple of months’ search, and I took it home, put it on, and I loved it as soon as I heard it. [3]

These descriptions would all be fine, except no article matching this description ever ran in Look magazine. Several Zappa scholars have suggested the likely possibility that Zappa is conflating memories of several articles. None of them offers any suggestions as to particular articles, so I’d like to point to some potential candidates I’ve found.

Look Record GuideTo begin with, the November 7, 1950 issue of Look does include a brief (and surprisingly positive) review of the record, but makes no mention of Gutowitz:

The good-things-from-obscure-places department has come up with the following finds. From EMS, the first album of a series which proposes to record the complete works of the fantastically individualistic composer Edgard Varèse. Density 21.5, Integrales, Octandre and Ionisation—a dreamy little episode for 35 percussion instruments and absolutely nothing else—are the titles. Varèse is unlike anything else in music, and well worth knowing. The recording is excellent… [4]

Duke of the Disc DealersAlthough the album is reviewed favorably here, the description of the percussion does line up with Zappa’s memory.

Another possible source comes from a feature in The Saturday Evening Post: “Duke of the Disc Dealers.” (The image to the right links to a PDF of the article.)

One Goody customer is a rare and notable exception to this buyer pattern. An old lady in her seventies, she depends on Levin [the store manager] to set aside all records with fortissimo percussion passages. ‘She loves drums, gongs, cymbals and anything that makes a loud banging noise. She has excellent hearing and is not interested in volume, as such. She just gets a particular thrill out of everything which is savage and primitive.’ [5]

This article, however, makes no mention of Varèse

How Does Goody's Do ItGreg Russo has pointed out that the February 13, 1952 issue of People Today mentions Goody’s skills as a record salesman. [7] The article makes no mention of Varèse, but Russo suggests the possibility that Zappa first read about the record in a Sam Goody catalog. Along these lines, an article from Good Housekeeping (click the image for another PDF)  confirms Goody’s  merchandising techniques:

Goody believes in aggressive advertising. He floods schools, colleges, libraries, and embassies throughout the world with direct-mail-order advertising. [6]

It seems possible that Zappa may have come across one of the catalogs distributed in this manner. (I’ve sent several emails to Goody’s son in the hope that he might have some of the catalogs, but lost contact with him over a year ago.)

I can’t even begin to tell you how sweet it would have been if I had found an article matching Zappa’s description! (Even if it wasn’t in Look magazine.) Unfortunately, it seems that for now at least the mystery remains.

References:
[1] Frank Zappa, “Edgard Varèse: Idol of my Youth,” Stereo Review 26, no. 6 (June 1971): 62. (Text here.)
[2] David Reitman, “I Dreamed I Interviewed Frank Zappa In My Maidenform Bra,” Rock Magazine 2.13 (January 25, 1971): 31. (Text here.)
[3] John Diliberto and Kimberley Haas, “Frank Zappa on Edgar Varese,” Down Beat 48, no. 11 (November 1981): 22. (Text here.)
[4] Joseph Roddy, “Look Record Guide,” Look Magazine 14 (November 7, 1950): 111.
[5] Richard Thruelsen, “Duke of the Disc Dealers,” The Saturday Evening Post 229 (October 27, 1956): 124. (PDF here.)
[6] “How Does Goody’s Do It?,” Good Housekeeping 143 (September 1956): 56. (PDF here.)
[7] Greg Russo, Cosmik Debris: The Collected History and Improvisations of Frank Zappa (Floral Park, NY: Crossfire Publications, 1999), 9.
The Idol of his Youth

46,641 thoughts on “The Idol of his Youth”

  1. feminino t锚nis adidas beckercalcados

    t锚nis masculino fila top spin 2.0 12t046x 156 branco marinhosapatilha 36 loja melissa oficial a loja oficial das melisseiras na webt锚nis esportivo masculino fila softness 2.0 tamanhos grandes. carregando zoomagasalho adidas oncinha on莽a moletom feminin…

  6. nike nba michael jordan jerseys

    adidas performance tracksuit bottoms black white womenclothingpetite strappy cigarette pants jumpsuit. hover to zoom2017 new denim overalls korean loose jeans pants female summer new jumpsuits women preppy style jumpsuitnew arrival european style sexy…

  10. product shot of nike air max trainer in blue

    new style womens mens sunglass 100 uv protection red frame unisex glasses free ship canada 2019 from goodlinessnew ray ban round rb3447 112 z2 50mm gold frame copper mirror lens rosemarkdown oakley batwolf sunglasses pink frame blue lenstailoring editi…

  11. vitaminyemek

    polo ralph lauren slim fit merino v neck jumper nike barn sko oransje rosa salomon s lab fellcross orange silber air jordan 11 retro bl氓 moon kit nike kobe 10 elite orange bl氓 adidas superstar dam盲nner rosa and wei脽

  12. worek z fr臋dzlami

    galocha feminina k茅sttou ktb007 flores estampadas preto r 269tenis nike infantil importado crianca em brasil ofertas maiot锚nis osklen todo branco sohosapatilha tenis feminino puma

  14. nike hyperdunk 2015 joker suit price

    jimmy choo gray wool black patent leather pointed cap toe heels pumps sztory burch bryant convertible shoulder bag for sale in las vegasladies caravelle wide fit glittering flower white flat sandals sizeankle strap thick heel sandals metallic heel ladi…

  15. ugg elena slingback wedge sandals

    vans distorted longsleeve t shirt whitewomen shoes converse chuck taylor all star ballet lace with plastic pink white conversevans sk8 hi mens pig suede fleece black hi top skateboard shoes size1994 mitsubishi delica 4wd van mitsubishi delica forsale a…

  16. deep six in fl reef

    whistles ness block heeled mary jane shoes in orange lysttrinidad ankle straps wedge sandals taupebirkenstock temara oiled leather camberra old tobacco camberra old black m michaels footwearharpelunde mens wedding shoes spikes blue velvet loafers anima…

  18. v sionary burgundy top

    moncler quilted ski jacket w fur hoodmens snuggle fleece dressing gown with animal face hood medium to 2xl mediumlets talk about enhancing bras 2 innovative styles to boost upshimmering gold white striped sweater. m

  21. kate middleton same long sleeves lace dress hollow out wedding dress red high quality formal midi dress plus size white party dresses gold dresses from

    denim jumpsuit. mthe crimson romper olivers atticalan with mermaid lace wedding dress attend the music festival newssmash tess the sunday romper midnight black theliveryshop

  23. adidas originals suede snake pack by foot locker

    jack wolfskin frankfurt jack wolfskin yorumlar谋 tripadvisortommy hilfiger core corporate text谋le sneaker erkek g眉nl眉k ayakkab谋 beyazrahat bir i莽 tabana ve nefes alanerkek renkli ayakkab谋 40 online sat谋n al

  24. ray ban aviator red mirror unisex sunglasses

    rokou women babydoll sexy lingerie mesh chemise sleepwear nightwear night dress smallbuy all black nike shorts up to 65 discountsstriped dresses beautiful dresses dress boutiques womens boutiques black and white striped high lowwomen plus size contrast…

  25. fullserviceap

    nike air max 90 kpu naranja gris air jordan eclipse schwarz braun air jordan retro 11 low lyseré…¶d snakeskin femmes nike shox 2016 vert jaune andre iguodala usa jersey tampa bay lightning bolts jersey

  27. buty adidas oryginalne

    hugo boss kurtka wiatr贸wka m臋ska m orygina艂 zdj臋cie na imgedszpilki. loveit sklep on line ju偶 jest sprawd藕tenis贸wki polo ralph lauren vaughn a85 xz4y9 xz4y9 xw4rf pure white trampki p贸艂buty m臋skietommy hilfiger kamizelka allen

  31. xq20146 rural doudoune moncler pop star noir

    prada casaco masculino 2019 novo ou usado enjoeibon茅 quiksilver hologram basic preto radical place loja virtualpolaroid pld2030 s wayfarer lente polarizada cinza q贸culos.comlentes emerald para jawbone king of lenses

  34. ceintures femmes les cuirs nomades

    t锚nis crossfit nano 6.0 slate crisp blue lemon zest blue ink pewtervende se esse lindo t锚nis masculino da mizuno roupas e cal莽adost锚nis superstar acende infantil menina bibi pequenos travessoslacoste para feminino no mercado livre brasil

  35. nike womens air max 2017 running shoe

    womens padded jacketsthis printed wedding dress incorporated photographs taken by the brides late fatheruggs house shoes women bedroom slippers at real estate ugg womens dillardsroyalunderwear mens underwear jock strap body gmw x rated red

  36. nike lebron 16 mpls dropping later this week

    hoka one one clifton 5 most cushioned shoes for shin splints10 womens mens red nike lunar force 1 duckboot 600 size 13mens nike lebron 15 hardwood classics photo blue total orange basketball shoes ao1754womens sneakers athletic shoes free shipping

  43. procrastivity

    memphis grizzlies new era nba kids black white 59fifty cap nike må¿™nd roshe wool skin army gré…¶n rabat ralph lauren rugby club adidas predator sl trx fg maschio supra vaider grigio nero triple schwarz covers the nike free inneva woven 2

  44. wearesmashed

    nike flyknit kobe 11 grau schwarz gr眉n boston celtics 47 nba mashup 47 clean up cap nike air max 90 hommes noir blanc nike air max 90 prem tape frau grau wei脽 runnig adidas ultra boost core black uk asics gel lyte iii lyser酶d metalleic

  45. air max 2017 women pink black shoes perfect

    vibram fivefingers kso trek menn brun adidas superstar nero with oro stripes nike air max flair 2017 mujer naranja negro sporting nike zoom cabos sort sé…¶lv nike air max 95 og neon gré…¶nn comprar adidas neo blanco zapatos

  46. adidas neo campus hvid blæ°“ ré…¶d

    coach megan apricot sunglasses nike blazer mid premium grigio femminile air max 90 viola bianca nero san diego padres under armour mlb womens renegade twist cap hommes nike air zoom 90 it noir or stan smith adidas rouge and blanc

  47. saucony originals jazz hl baby

    tricot snood bebe gratuit b茅b茅lyst besace homme pas cher en soldes gucci pour hommekenzo foulard en soie imprim茅 yeux femme accessoiresen ligne boutique moncler vestes homme noir brillant

Comments are closed.