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. adanastarpen

    nike air flight 89 mujeres blanco herre asics asics gel kayano 20 ré…¶d gré…¶n kvinners nike lunarglide 7 gré…¶nn lilla womens nike blazer yellow grey maschio asics gel kinsei 4 rosa arancia adidas zx 630 gelb lila

  3. coypon

    most popular hermes scarf hermes kelly ostrich prada tote saks 5th avenue christian louboutin mini bout pumps episodes mackage bag yellow wood tory burch boots sale outlet

  4. womens air max 97 og black white newjordans2018

    large o.gsnapback hatcrochet pattern spiral shell hat pattern includes baby toddler child kidsnike adult unisex kobe 4th of july basketball hat red black adjustablebuy caps and hats mason baseball cap golden tan embroidered hat with masonic sticker

  6. girls flannel shirt plaid

    baltimore ravens lamar jackson text long sleeve shirtt shirt manches longues thrasher t shirt atlantic drift ls blackmens mississippi state bulldogs dak prescott college football jerseys cheap 15 dak prescott university football shirts red dak prescott…

  7. shufiparis

    asics gel lyte new release kobe 10 nike shoe nike metcon nike free 5.0 damen laufschuhe test adidas superstar 2 light blau nike sb stefan janoski max wolf grey for sale xenia ray ban wayfarer where to buy

  10. karen millenfaux fur clutch black 2

    shoulder strap evening bag neiman marcusadidas powerplus purple backpack153872c 030 converse uk chuck taylor all star fresh colours low canvas polar blueget quotations 2015 korean fashion genuine leather women handbag classic shoulder diagonal bag soli…

  11. out of print clothing

    jordan x asahd 23 royalty t shirt boys grade schoolnike paris saint germain third jersey 012 black white 2018 1911 degrees11 degrees t shirt in blueradarte hooded sweatshirt gray pure cotton with adjustable hood with link to slide long sleeves printed…

  16. jordan retro 4s toro bravos

    hoodies match jordan 1 gold toe shoes retro 1 nrg hoodiesjordan flight 45 high size 11pictures of nike mens air jordan 1 mid white white fabric trainer shoes 11 uk220 air jordan retro 11 concord youth size 6.5 for 220 obo

  17. hamshrd

    air jordan 28 alle hvid nikes nike blazer high sb suede sort hvid oakley sunglasses deals 4 travel trailer mens seth joyner limited midnight green nike jersey nfl philadelphia eagles 59 home super bowl lii vapor untouchable yeezy ii inspired nike roshe…

  19. green crossbody bags and purses ebags.com

    handmade full grain leather briefcase mens messenger bag 13 laptop bag in vintage brownmichael kors womens runway chronograph gold tone stainless steel watchnb 990v2 cdb2 desert heat new balance killing it once more this yearspecial preorder bao bao is…

  21. saleuggboot

    nike lunarglide 8 kvinders lilla nike shox current oransje græ°“ hombres asics gel kinsei 4 gris naranja kvinders air jordan retro 4 alle gré…¶n nike air yeezy 2 argento arancia femminile asics gel kayano 21 bianca rosa

  28. the north face city midi trench

    autumn top saler 2017 womens the north face inlux insulated jacket cosmic bluethe north face big shot ii daypack rei co opyouth denali etip glovescool coco ribbon gold lace coats jackets size m pretty in peplum jacket 53cm fitted

  29. lubimochka

    nike air max 2016 herre græ°“ goose air max 95 sé…¶lv 2017 air jordan 28 tout star 2014 nike air huarache mujeres rosado plata jordan 1 rojo blanco azul 2016 hombres ralph lauren jackets amarillo blanco

  32. aqiwla

    purple red womens nike zoom winflo 3 shoes black and silver michael kors handbag where to buy nike roshe run in nz denver broncos jersey white air jordan 4 grey black white red white womens air jordan jumpman h shoes

  33. wethinkjerky

    air jordan 1 all black japan exclusive nike snapback coffee nike free run 5.0 womens black qb nike air huarache free run for salg adidas ultra boost scarpe locations nike air max 2019 green uk

  35. schokostueck

    ralph lauren shoes black white nike air huarache rose or hair womens nike atlanta falcons 8 matt schaub limited olive 2017 salute to service nfl jersey nike air max 90 gituttio kitchen enfants grade school nike roshe run glow casual chaussures supreme…

  36. new nike free womens green silver

    nike shox tl3 kaufen nike air yeezy 2 gr眉n schwarz navy blue kentucky derby hat air jordan 9 grey nfl christian okoye black 35 kansas city chiefs nike name number logo pullover hoodie texas rangers hamilton jersey

  37. alrightdesign

    femmes nike lunarglide 7 bleu air jordan super fly verde blanco herre nike blazer græ°“ lyseré…¶d air jordan retro 18 græ°“ mint gré…¶nn mujeres asics gel kayano 21 amarillo negro nike air max tailwind 8 sé…¶lv blæ°“

  39. herren asics asics gel kinsei 2 orange

    nike run nero free 5.0 femmes air max tailwind 8 noir blanc nike free run 4.0 flyknit grigio 66.00 dallas clark jersey elite red home nike stitched tampa bay buccaneers jersey adidas nmd runner mujeres naranja oro adidas tubular viral todas blanco

  41. labizcoach

    flyknit lunar 1 blau jewel air jordan 31 tout star or january 2016 flyknit trainer squadron azul rosado zebra air max 1 wolf græ°“ rosa royals 4 alex gordon white 1974 turn back the clock stitched mlb jersey air jordan son of mars marrone grigio

  43. basketball shoes nike air max infuriate 2

    unboxing the new balance fuel cell sportsshoes.comlyst new balance 996 winter sneakers in brown for menunboxing the new balance fuel cell sportsshoes.comecco helsinki slip on mens black santiago full grain leatherecco new jersey slip onecco restaurantr…

  49. supra mens stacks vulc ii shoes

    fu herren mercurial vapor ballschuh 12 fg pro nikeboot nike mercurial vapor xi acc ag pro racer pink whitecreated with sketch. created with sketcha love it or hate it material for sneakers denim drapes this latest version of the womens nike air huarach…

  50. cliffsears

    white orange mens adidas ace soccer shoes nike free trail 5.0 womens ferragamo belt sale mackage lightweight down womens coats adidas superstar kids blue kansas city chiefs 17 chris conley red team color nike elite jersey

Comments are closed.