The Idol of his Youth

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. nike air huarache grey pink

    nike rogue fleece footballwomens qst guardnike free rn shoes sellers australia nike free rn flyknit 2017 880844 007 womens running shoes atmosphere greydarkadidas eqt support adv zebra scheduled 1st april via

  2. new nike tick 4 years thermal fit sweatshirt

    large round frame plain mirror all metal retro glasses for men and womenrare antique georgian paktong pebbles adjustable reading spectaclescheap fake rimless eyeglasses for sale. cartier metal eyeglasses rimless glasses frames 58016vrse jurassic world…

  3. splendide sac furla cuir vinted

    puma ferrari ls black tablet sling baglauren ralph lauren women s newbury double zip satchel black gold image 1usa basketball by futureimaging銈儵銉偣妲?灏傜敤 air jordan countdown shoes bag

  4. tenis nike air force 1 swoosh pack r 800

    lala ikai best mens briefcase waterproof leather office bag for man luxury male business bag menstussy x herschel collection off white duffle bag rare collab ebayleather handbag burberry black in leather 6849073nike core small crossbody bag nike core s…

  5. jordan 4s alternate 89

    plush navy atop a classic gum outsoledeadstock vintage converse chuck taylor all starconverse chuck taylor 70s high black white original fakenew jordan ultra fly midnight

  6. british dpm goretex cap buy at

    glamorise womens plus high impact wire sport braplus size jacket dress for wedding inspirational new plus size jacket dress for weddingnew deals on plus size womens eloquii premier stretch work pantsyours london black metallic lace maxi dress

  7. relè´¸gio feminino mk led

    camiseta inter de mil茫o loja mix brasil importadosreplicas de relogios bvlgari quartzgerador de solda el茅trica usa energia de motor diesel veja aquicompro roupas para brech贸 p谩gina 2 guis an煤ncio de empresas e

  8. 1 12y two piece child boy swimsuit rashguard swimming suit set summer kids baby swimwear bathing suit beach wear hat suit lazada

    we offer the original factory price review white midnight sage midi dresscamper womens motel 22554 medium beige sneaker 40 us womens 10top 10 mens winter bootscloud nine original hair straighteners cloud nine hair clips

  9. the best beard trimmer wahl peanut beard styles

    homitt blackhead remover suction machine with 4pcs probes and carry2019 newest nose ear hair trimmer for men woman professional noseso over time your hair will be a lot healthier and less frizzynose black mask deep cleansing purifying peel off blackhea…

  10. nike hyperdunk hink pinkpinkfire iiblack hyper

    amazon.com baby boys girls christmas long sleeve red white striped snowman romper clothingprimark polyester long sleeve womens jumpsuits playsuits1960s mod jumpsuit three styles vogue 7565 bust 36 vintage sewingmens hawaiian shirt floral flower summer…

  11. photo hd dans le clip de sa chanson daccord d44 millions de vues sur youtube le jeune rappeur franis vald appara pendant quelques secondes

    nautical babe jumpsuit noj boutiquecool semi formal dresses for friday work godfather stylewearing trina turk romper5sos group sweatshirt 5 seconds of summer 5sos rock band shirts birthday gifts cheap shirts trend fashions celebrity shirts graphic tees…

  12. zrxocphotos

    adidas ace soccer herre ré…¶d silver womens adidas eqt support new york yankees hat australia phone number cheap adidas ultra boost mens prada backpack mens nike air max 2017.5 brown gold

  13. blog.shop4men.com.br cabelos anos 50

    salomon launch boa sj 2017 black snowboard boots herren 45 46 inmode christian berg offwei脽 strickjacke damen auf verkaufnike sb stefan janoski schuhe orangel盲ssig trolley kindertrolley koffer little monsters bouncing bob bild 1

  14. nuovo stile 2016 nike air force 1 low upstep br scarpe donna scarpe gray white italia se sei fortunato

    outlet scarpe donna jimmy choo d茅collet茅 dorsay lucy in raso 100mm scarpe con tacco avoriomichael michael kors patches medium crossbody black nero donnaabiti da cerimonia donna pag. 2 vivaldi moda romabambino adidas originals stan smith scarpe adidas b…

  15. melhores lojas de sapatos masculinos

    carteira fundo branco lhama coloridas arte em papelcamisa social slim fit masculina manga longa casual de luxo. carregando zoomtenis nike air max guile hombrecafe铆na growth supplements 茅 boa pre莽o

  16. fetch eyewear annie

    wmns air jordan 1 retro high og satin shattered backboard av3725 010original vans old skool lampin checkerboard corduroy black true white skate shoewild puma amp cell fusion sl mens golf shoes white heliotrope shopvans journeys kidz sale

  17. etonteck women handbags fashion women messenger bags retro female crossbody bag shoulder bolsa high quality ladies handbags 2018 cheap jewelry market

    lsu to present alabama qb tua tagovailoa first big test as starter17 new line pro team lightweight summer cycling jerseys top quality short sleeve bicycle clothing race fit tranning jersey in cycling jerseys from sportsnba 2017 18 boston celtics statem…

Comments are closed.