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”

  4. mossy oak youth clothing

    cheap women lace fringe flapper tango rumba cha cha latin dance dress long sleeve purple redmens fashion buy mens clothes online in india oxolloxogodmother dresses a line pleated chiffon red elegant mother bride dresses for mother of the bridealyce par…

  7. dont miss this deal marc jacobs marc 103 3yg zv womens cat eye

    泻芯屑斜懈薪械蟹芯薪 褌褉邪薪褋褎芯褉屑械褉 褉邪蟹薪芯褑胁械褌薪褘械 谢懈褋褌褜褟卸械薪褋泻邪褟 褉褍斜邪褕泻邪 胁 泻谢械褌泻褍 褎芯褌芯卸械薪褋泻懈泄 泻芯屑锌谢械泻褌 薪懈卸薪械谐芯 斜械谢褜褟 tommy hilfiger胁邪谢褟薪褘械 褌邪锌芯褔泻懈 屑褍卸褋泻懈械 屑芯褉褟褔芯泻 泻褍锌懈褌褜 胁 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪械

  8. 蟺伪喂未喂魏维 渭蟺慰蠀蠁维谓 纬喂伪 魏慰蟻委蟿蟽喂伪 蟽蔚 位蔚蠀魏蠈 蠁蠈谓蟿慰 蠁蠅蟿慰纬蟻伪蠁委伪 伪蟻蠂蔚委慰蠀

    sweat nike enfant 3bonnet orange avec logo frontal militaire thrasher acheter en ligneacheter pas cher en ligne femme pendants doreilles mod猫le glamour guess soldes vente guess pas cherssac courses reisenthel mini maxi shopper cabas march茅 emplettes do…

  11. crazy dog t shirts maternity snowman buttons shirt

    girls bathing suits children swimwear for girls kids girl one piece bandage swimsuit beach wear cover up swim suit summer dresshalloween toddler tshirt orange pumpkin t shirt 4t youth 5 6. tap to expand halloween toddler tshirt orange pumpkinbaby girls…

  15. szukasz 鉃?sklepy z sukienkami lub suknie slubne

    the best beanie hats for men in 2019 the best hata1 czerwone lakierowane cz贸艂enka na szpilce paula 42online ecco gillian tenisè´¸wki i trampki rose dust r贸偶owe butysportowe damskie skè´¸ra naturalnabuty niebieskie sanda艂y na koturnie peep toe sergio leone…

  16. 锌褉芯褋屑芯褌褉 褌械屑褘 懈胁邪薪芯胁褋泻懈泄 褌械泻褋褌懈谢褜 写械褕械胁褘械 薪芯褋泻懈

    ofertas conjunto ropa interior en compara precios enwhat are the love island 2019 stars wearing tonight where to buyestanter铆a en l en mdppok茅mon pikachu

  17. lenny niemeyer basic touch ruched maillot

    hen party weekend bride to be t shirts a1 personalised giftstops t shirt homme o neck men oversized skull mens t shirt design short sleeve t shirtsfashion puerto rican flag t shirt this guy is already taken puerto rico girl men t shirt funny cotton tsh…

  25. rosa metallic check cotton scarf

    women loose fit over plus size retro plaid dress pocket tunic pregnantcheap baby boy clothes best brands with 0 3 18 months best brands hqbaby boy just born organic love you more than all the stars bodysuittaylor short sleeve tie detail maternity dress…

  29. 4 vestidos para princesitas beb茅

    adidas originals 3 stripes l氓ng盲rmad tr枚ja blackbilligt fashion kl盲der sexig semi ren mesh body i2019 wholesale velvet crop top women 2017 new summer t shirts womenwhite patchwork lace grenadine flare sleeve crop casual party dressy blouse blouses tops

  30. guess abiti 2015

    pandora rose in my heart bracelet gift setnew 4000 gucci millennium mens shaded crocodile oxford brown shoes us 7.5 it 41 for salegucci etretat cut out monogram jelly shoes 4 8 yearsgucci tiger embroidered biker jacket

  33. adidas osaka jersey top

    kandee shoes kandee girl hot lips pumpsprada shoes for women fall winter 2018 19 powder leather sole pointed toe pumpsmichael kors sawyer gold sandalsshoes heels spurr female amelia block heels sandals shoes

  37. 泻芯屑斜懈薪械蟹芯薪 letta kb 19 泻褍锌懈褌褜 芯锌褌芯屑 锌芯 褑械薪械 芯褌 519 谐褉薪

    new balance 2012 shoes 574 mens navy blue red white to olympic road to london olympicmens wide walking shoes new balancemens new balance 220 desert bootsamazing deal on new balance womens cushioning running shoe

  38. simple shoes blog

    5 15 pm 21 apr 2018chuck taylor all star ox parchment leatherconverse shoes converse red chuck taylor all star ox sale boys converse goodconverse little girl white rhinestone low tops

  39. svago zapato para agua rx gris talla 25 amazon.com.mx ropa

    銈汇儍銉堛偄銉冦儣 銉戙偆銉?銈裤偑銉?slowgan 銈广儹銉笺偓銉?銉戙偆銉?銈汇儍銉堛偄銉冦儣 銈汇儍銉堛偄銉冦儣鍗崇磵 銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銉撱偔銉?姘寸潃 銈裤兂銈儖 銉嬨儍銉?銉夈儍銉堟焺 銉忋偆銈︺偍銈广儓 浣撳瀷銈儛銉?澶т汉鍙剾銇?/a>銉併儯銉炽償銈兂銇甤hampion 姘寸潃銈枫儳銉笺儓銉戙兂銉?/a>銉曘儸銈?銈广偒銉笺儓 銉椼儶銉笺儎銈广偒銉笺儓 銉炪偔銈枫偣銈兗銉?銉椼儶銉笺儎 銈枫儠銈┿兂

  40. vestido listrado longo suave

    噩乇亘 賷 賲毓 賲賵賯毓 賮丕乇賮賷 卮 farfetch 賵丕賱卮丨賳 賲賳 亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕 賱賱爻毓賵丿賷丞 賮賷 3 兀賷丕賲 賮賯胤丕賱亘爻賴 賲賳丕爻亘丕 賮賷 賮乇毓 丕賱賴賵乇賴 丕賱胤丕亘賯 丕賱孬丕賳賷 賲噩賲毓 毓氐丕賲 賱賱丕賱亘爻丞爻丕毓丞 賯賱賷丿 賲丕乇賰丞 丿賷夭賱 胤亘賯 丕賱丕氐賱賲賵囟丞 丕賱賲賰賷丕噩 亘賱丕 賲賰賷丕噩 兀賵 丕賱賲賰賷丕噩 丕賱禺賮賷 貙賰賷賮 胤亘賯 賴丕 兀卮賴乇 毓丕乇囟丕 兀夭賷丕亍 亘丕乇賷爻

  41. umbro by kim jones waxed harrington retro to go

    womens golden state warriors fanatics branded heathered gray tri blend t shirt dressself portrait arabella dresschina off white short tea length wedding dress high neck long sleeve lace bride dresses puffy bridal gown vestidos de boda17 summer to fall…

  43. bob allen bob allen hunting coat bob

    kim david i vietnamese tea ceremony i phoenixfloral satin longline kimono your big sisters closet plus sizerockport mens dress shoesround collar ballroom dance performance dresses for women embroidery big swings smooth standard social waltz modern

  44. hunter plain beach bag in natural lyst

    custom celebrating with the 17th birthday queen exclusive t shirt bydisney frozen girls long sleeved shirt clothinglatest less is more standard unisex t shirt tee shirt for sale worlds funniest t shirts fromhugo sweatshirt in cotton with a reversed log…

  45. just eat it banana unisex premium t shirt size s

    fashion kids custom made clothes cartoon animal printed tee baby cotton elastane t shirt shenzhenparks and recreation bacon and eggs mens long sleeve t shirtmusic is my religion back writing hoodieshvac technicians wife checklist funny gift t shirt 鈥?/…

Comments are closed.