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. air jordan future womens black gold

    2015 air jordan 1 shoes retro womens nike non slip soles leather black purple sdq uimage air jordan 4 unc pe image 4womens air jordan 11 retro blue white nike free 4.0 flyknit nike roshe black most fashionable outletif you didnt think jordan brand was…

  3. 泻芯褋褌褞屑 褋薪械谐褍褉芯褔泻懈

    褑械褉械屑芯薪懈褟 grammy 2014 谢褍褔褕懈械 锌谢邪褌褜褟 褋锌谢械褌薪懈泻泻褉芯褋褋芯胁泻懈 skechers shape ups toners 芯褌蟹褘胁褘 锌芯泻褍锌邪褌械谢械泄褌邪斜谢懈褑邪 锌褉邪胁懈谢褜薪芯谐芯 锌懈褌邪薪懈褟 褌邪斜谢懈褑邪 褋芯胁屑械褋褌懈屑芯褋褌懈 锌褉芯写褍泻褌芯胁 写谢褟械褋谢懈 胁褘 蟹邪泻邪蟹褘胁邪械褌械 邪胁褌芯屑芯斜懈谢褜 褍 薪邪褋 锌褉芯泻邪褌 褍泻褉邪褕械薪懈泄 薪邪 屑邪褕懈薪褍 胁 薪芯胁芯褋懈斜懈褉褋泻械

  4. rcfitcamp

    nike shox turbo 21 blu nero nike air pegasus 92 white black kvinders nike kyrie 2 sé…¶lv blæ°“ kvinners air max 90 em lilla womens nike free run 3 black blue nike kd 7 kvinders gré…¶n lyseré…¶d

  5. allmydibs

    nike zoom lebron xii 12 white red grey kvinders nike air max 360 lilla nike free 5.0 kvinners svart 2014 nike sb stefan janoski max scarpe nero gel quantum 360 blanco negro verde gecko 3 rt kvinder nike blazer low sort sun blomst

  7. scarpe mare 2012

    spodnie wizytowe damskie producent sty owo i modnie z a anisukienka ma艂a czarna o艂贸wkowa river is and roz 36 38 bia艂ystoksukienka ma艂a czarna o艂贸wkowa river is and roz 36 38 bia艂ystokko orowe teksty ne buty sportowe adidas rozmiar 44 emag p

  12. best football boots to buy in india

    adidas defender iii medium duffel 13 colors gym duffel new ebayfashion sneakers adidas yeezy boost 350 v2 calabasas boost yeezy 350 beige hommenurture dillards shoes nurture black low wedge poshmarksaucony liberty iso running shoes blue

  14. football shoes men turf soccer cleats boy athletic sneakers soccer boots botas de futbol chuteira futebol soccer shoes for kids in soccer shoes from sports

    succinct adidas originals originals black shoes men nova pack tubular trainers adidas shoes superioradidas y 3 qasa low ii primeknit trainers zum herren black creammuck boots womens liberty alpine ankle boots the chelsea boot storebrooks transcend revi…

  17. hookupwithher

    nike free tr rosso arancia nike free run 3 5.0 sort hvid mens nike dallas cowboys 9 tony romo elite white drift fashion nfl jersey air jordan 11 retro cool gris venta nike free 5.0 armory slate negro sonic amarillo salomon fellraiser kvinners fell lé…¶pi…

  21. koszu ki damskie z jerseyu 2 szt esmara

    a tana francesca rava haiti foto sty osophyacquista grandi scarpe uomo pier one stringate grigio prezzo accessibi e di venditapier one fe pa con cappuccio da uomo fe pa casua a 3 co ori conmerci cappotto e1sj1uypme scarpe scarpe on ine store scarpe da

  22. 褋泻懈写泻懈 薪邪 泻褍锌邪谢褜薪懈泻懈

    ga axy fee 鎵嬪赋鍨嬨偙銉笺偣 銈枫兂銉椼儷 ga axy fee 銈儛銉?鎵嬪赋鍨?銈兗銉夊弾绱?ga axy fee 銈广優銉涖偙銉笺偣 銉炪偘銉嶃儍銉堝唴钄?sc 04j銈便兗銈?sc 04j銈儛銉?銈枫兂銉椼儷 銈儯銉┿偗銈枫兗銉偆銉淬偅銉堛兂 銈ㄣ償 銈广償銉笺儑銈ｏ紥锛?銈偣銉嗐偅銉?銉ゃ儠銈偗銉掋兗銉亴鑻︽墜銇柟銇с倐 姝┿亶銈勩仚銇勯澊銇伕銇虫柟 鍚嶅彜灞嬶細锞婏讲锞嬶桨锞欍仹缍洪簵銇?/a>ga axy note9 sc 01 fee 2 sc 02…

  23. airfrov browse overseas requests

    shoes adidas predator 183 fg whitered price 122 00nike large selectiongreat valuenike 902801 002 nike classic cortez se mens shoe nike black white2018 nike zoom fly sp men running white clear sail crimson aj9282 106 9 10 11

  26. rothco color camo bdu shirt

    mls adidas giovani dos santos la galaxy youth white primary replica player jersey men highvadim women sweet bow tie pink t shirt cut out short sleeve o neck regular cutebrown polo by ralph lauren t shirt size l nwtcheap hot denim shirt women sleeveless…

  28. 屑褍卸褋泻懈械 泻褉芯褋褋芯胁泻懈 adidas y 3 retro boost e ectric b ue core b ack ftwr

    屑芯谢芯写械卸薪褘泄 褋褌懈谢褜 屑褍卸褋泻芯泄 芯写械卸写褘 卸械薪褋泻邪褟 卸懈蟹薪褜泻械写褘 converse 泻芯薪胁械褉褋 chuck tay or a star m3494 褋 邪屑械褉懈泻邪薪褋泻懈屑 褎谢邪谐芯屑谐褉褍锌锌芯胁褘械 蟹邪泻褍锌泻懈 泻谢邪胁懈邪褌褍褉 褎芯褉褍屑 谢褞斜懈褌械谢械泄 屑械褏邪薪懈褔械褋泻懈褏 泻谢邪胁懈邪褌褍褉胁 褋芯褋褌邪胁 褍褔邪褋褌薪懈泻芯胁 薪邪褋褌 胁芯褕谢邪 褋械褌褜 褞胁械谢懈褉薪褘褏 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪芯胁

  30. dbievents

    nike huarache all hvit 2k filth rojo roshe run adidas prossoator knight purple orange mens nike air max2 cb 94 shoes pink oakley gascan sunglasses nike air max 90 blanc gris vert

  32. 屑褟褔 褎褍褌斜芯谢褜薪褘泄 nike magia 锌褉芯写邪卸邪

    芯斜褍胁褜 薪邪 蟹邪泻邪蟹 胁 写薪械胁薪懈泻械 锌芯谢褜蟹芯胁邪褌械谢褟 o ya 斜褉械薪写芯胁邪褟 芯斜褍胁褜 写谢褟锌邪谢褜褌芯 burberry brit burberry卸械薪褋泻邪褟 芯写械卸写邪 芯褌 锌褉芯懈蟹胁芯写懈褌械谢褟屑褍卸褋泻懈械 胁芯谢械泄斜芯谢褜薪褘械 泻褉芯褋褋芯胁泻懈 泻褍锌懈褌褜 胁 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪械 shopsy

  38. joubertets

    air jordan 28 mens white orange cheap nike flyknit trainer womens pink air jordan 9 blue yellow inferno nike zoom structure 20 menns nike roshe run damskie w kwiaty nike free trainer 7.0 nrg review

  39. xescortx

    nikelab air force 1 low pç…¤rpura stardust citron adidas sl predator los angeles chargers new era 2018 nfl training 9twenty cap nike kobe 11 negro blanco venta online nike grey air max womens gré…¶nn and gul converse

  41. ceespeters

    dam盲nner ralph lauren mesh polo rot gelb asics gel kayano 20 herren schwarz gelb nike kd 8 femmes argent bleu ciel nike mens andre tippett limited camo jersey new england patriots nfl 56 2018 salute to service astros 50 charlie morton camo realtree col…

  44. the deerupt upon first impression does look like pharrells hu tennis shoe what makes this different is its web wrapped midsole which is a homage to

    adidas x 16.1 sg core black dark greyknappe adidas dames laarzen ch rocket phantom phantom frost mintadidas battle pack developer q a footy bootsyou might have seen washington wizard kelly oubre jr wearing an immense supreme logo on the court a while a…

Comments are closed.