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. 2015 ford fiesta 1.6 ecoboost st 2 3 door

    christmas promotional men puma vent graphic t shirt french blue 515164 08brown senator from slatters for men on mens shoes office high endmen stylish converse chuck taylor all star ox translucent rubber shoes obsidian menconverse sneaker ctas vintage l…

  4. mini fisherman beanie in black

    mango cocktailkleider deinen stylepartner online kaufen zalandoschickes creme wei脽es oberteiloriginal ralph lauren damen blazer jacke gr. 2 34 xs in nordrheinesprit collection new fluid cocktailkleid festliches kleid blau fuvxeqi

  6. nike horloge horloges heren

    air max bw heren sneakers in maat 41 kleding.nl vergelijk koopeigenaar snelste wagen ter wereld loopt heel dom tegen de lamp2019 mannen winter schoenen chelsea formele hoge top volwassen leer mode echt winter mannen laarzen 78094l.a. gear lichtgewicht…

  7. mens stitches sf giants hoodie

    black friday womens justin bieber logo hoodies white bulk discount vhascnba charlotte bobcats team issued adidas full zip hooded sweatshirt hoodie navy size 2xlwhite adidas jacket with red stripesjohn m steiner the sun len orr owner of orriginals in do…

  10. 14 褋邪屑褘褏 褉邪褋锌褉芯褋褌褉邪薪械薪薪褘褏 芯褕懈斜芯泻 卸械薪褖懈薪 锌褉懈 锌芯写斜芯褉械 薪懈卸薪械谐芯 斜械谢褜褟 褏懈褌褉芯褋褌懈 卸懈蟹薪懈

    屑褍蟹褘泻邪谢褜薪褘泄 褑械薪褌褉 sony mhc ec 7d 褑械薪褘 懈 褋泻懈写泻懈 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪芯胁 斜邪泻褍 褍 薪邪褋褋锌芯褉褌懈胁薪褘械 泻芯褋褌褞屑褘 reebok c assic 邪褉褌 rb 307 泻褍锌懈褌褜 胁 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌adidas origina s 泻褉芯褋褋芯胁泻懈 campus 褔械褉薪褘泄 4921褋褌芯泻 芯锌褌芯屑 谐械褉屑邪薪懈褟 屑械谢泻懈泄 芯锌褌 泻懈械胁 300 谐褉薪

  11. adidas eqt support adv in classic black and white

    don johnson is gonna love these new vice inspired miami heat jerseysprice nike womens flex 2015 rn running shoe chlk bl white hypr orng vrstyadidas ace 16 purecontrol ultra boost by9091 order sneakerssuperstar originals women adidas superstar 2 trainer…

  13. t锚nis asics de homem marca

    t锚nis infantil asics pre bounder 2 ps azul e verde lim茫o compresapat锚nis r 120 a r 200 dakota moda e acess贸rios comparardescontado t锚nis asics gel sendai academia caminhada leves e coloridosasics opens first flagship stores in new york and vienna

  17. 賲賵丕氐賮丕鬲 賵 爻毓乇 ray ban rayban rb3025 002 58 aviator unisex sunglasses 賮賷 丿亘賷

    flitrov茅 拧aty dlouh茅 mayaadi dlouh茅 spole膷ensk茅 拧aty ibrank谩rsky dres sportobchod 拧ed媒adidas x tango 18.3 p谩nsk茅 s谩lov茅 kopa膷ky solaryellow blkbavln臎n茅 rukavice s kam铆nky 拧ed茅 alternativy

  20. air max 97 silver bullet sunset

    cute space samsung galaxy s7 casedk yellow aesthetic art pretty lovely fashion phone phone case fromtpu imd back cover case for huawei p9 lite phone case flower hollow thincheap phone cases case the little mermaid

  25. 乇賵賳丕賱丿賵 賷兀賲乇 乇賷丕賱 賲丿乇賷丿

    d臎tsk茅 tenisky adidas performance altasport mid el i d臎tsk茅 boty fitness botytenisky converse d铆vky all star ox v r暖啪ov茅 b铆l茅superfit 2 00428 81 ocean chlapeck谩 ko啪en谩 celoro膷n铆 obuvgumov茅 rukavice velikost s

  29. foreo luna play mint zdj臋cie 3

    go walk evolution ultra enhan kadin spor ayakkabi skechers sporonitsuka tiger mexico 66 vintage kadè°‹n ayakkabè°‹ g眉nl眉k ayakkabè°‹adidas predator 18.4 krampon siyah adidas turkeyjump 16312 siyah comfort g眉nl眉k y眉r眉y眉艧 ko艧u bayan spor ayakkabè°‹ thumbnail. 眉r…

  35. 胁懈薪薪褘泄 褕泻邪褎 caso winesafe 12 b ack 泻褍锌懈褌褜 胁 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪械

    elastic bandanagucci stamp print canvas baseball hatmilitary morale patches hatscheap youth nhl jerseys

  36. conniesegal

    dam盲nner nike air max bw blau adidas ultra boost shock blau brazil nike magista opus fg gr酶nn rosa svart adidas prossoator absolado instinct fg adidas neo bleu and blanc adidas pure boost blu camo

  39. adidas buty superstar wings biae jeremy scott 40

    supra men gym red white tk society skytop suedeleather trainers supra beautiful colorsconverse chuck taylor infants all star looney tunes pepe le pew low tops 22 97 regularly 35 shippingfree nike members free joinvans kids classic slip hello kitty skat…

  41. crocs adrina hearts sandal carnation neon magenta d臎tsk茅 boty

    丨匕丕亍 丕賱亘丕賱賷丞 è³µ 丕賱乇賯氐 賱賱噩賳爻賷賳囟賲丕丿丞 鬲賰賳賵賱賵噩賷丞 賱賱噩乇賵丨 丕賱氐毓亘丞 丕賱亘賷丕賳賵鬲卮賷乇 鬲賯丿賷乇丕鬲 亘賷賵鬲 丕賱兀夭賷丕亍 兀賳 兀爻毓丕乇 丕賱賲賱丕亘爻 丕賱丿丕禺賱賷丞 鬲乇鬲賮毓 亘丕爻鬲賲乇丕乇貙 丨賷孬 賷氐賱 爻毓乇 丕賱胤賯賲 è³± 120 丿賵賱丕乇丕賸 賰丨丿 兀丿賳賶wilsth 噩丿賷丿丞 賱賱賲丕亍 爻丕毓丕鬲 乇噩丕賱賷丞 爻丕毓丕鬲 賰賵丕乇鬲夭 丕賱賳爻丕亍 爻賵丕乇 匕賴亘 賵賵鬲卮 丕賱兀毓賱賶 丕賱毓賱丕賲…

  44. mens shoes nike air max mens shoes nike air max 2017 run easy soft and supportive this item is new but doesnt come with a box nike shoes athletic shoes

    adidas store adidas ace 17.2 primemesh fg herren fu脽ballschuhe u 9 u 9 5 e 43.5 rf 160nina leonard floral print midi dress black hi resnike fuelband soccer shoesnew balance 420 suede mesh grey and green trainers so into shoes pinterest shoes trainers a…

  49. secondhand and new products sports winter sports board

    tommy hilfiger sneakersy sebille 3c2 fw0fw01423 midnight 403 na kline tmavo modrè°©buty damskie rozmiar 44nike oryginalne sportowe buty fitness 38×595 burgund dopasowana sukienka dekolt plecy burgund sukienki d艂ugi r臋kaw sukienki wszystkie wszystkie prod…

Comments are closed.