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. ed hardy basic leggings damen gr眉n outlet

    蟺蔚蟿蟽苇蟿蔚蟼 胃伪位维蟽蟽畏蟼 蔚委未畏 胃伪位维蟽蟽畏蟼 蔚蟺慰蠂喂伪魏伪ankle boots 蟽蔚 渭蔚蟿伪位位喂魏维 蠂蟻蠋渭伪蟿伪 蠂蟻蠀蟽蠈蠅蟻伪喂伪 谓蟿蠀蟽喂渭伪蟿伪 纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚喂伪explorer 味伪魏苇蟿伪 纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚委伪 grey

  2. 锌褉芯写邪屑 褝谢械谐邪薪褌薪褘泄 屑褍卸褋泻芯泄 泻芯褋褌褞屑 300 谐褉薪. 屑褍卸褋泻邪褟 芯写械卸写邪 邪褏褌褘褉泻邪

    銈广償銉笺儔鐢锋€х敤 銉堛儸銉笺儖銉炽偘姘寸潃銉°兂銈恒儓銉偆銉炽儨銉冦偗銈?/a>妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 sale 銈广偆銉犮偔銉c儍銉?銈儍銈?鏃ャ倛銇?銈儯銉冦儣 姘存吵甯?/a>銉儑銈c兗銈?銈兗銉囥偅銈兂銇鍐祦琛屻儓銉兂銉夈仺銇娿仚銇欍倎鐫€銇撱仾銇?/a>銉┿儢銉┿偆銉?銈点兂銈枫儯銈ゃ兂 銈炽偣銉椼儸 闆绘拑gs銉炪偓銈搞兂銉濄偣銈裤兗 榛掓兢銉€銈ゃ儰 姘寸潃 銈炽偣銉椼儸

  3. armani jeans 纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚委伪 渭蟺慰蟿维魏喂伪

    glass cups manufacturers 16oz blown stemless wine glass foradjustable legacy trucker hat orange black enterprisestrina turk gypsy solid off the shoulder ruffle one pieceadios beaches beach puns beach tank funny beach by

  4. womens nuptse crop jacket

    tommy hilfiger denim tech bomber hooded detachable faux fur trim in blackmarianne style arctic expedition coatsfarah junior navy blazer cable knit jumpercanada goose 686 mens jackets

  5. pulsera tous icon mesh en acero y plata

    m421 mini sp贸dnica na zak艂adk臋 ecru sp贸dnice moda damskaellie granat xxl spodnie od freeshion freeshion eleganckie sp贸dniceh m nowa fioletowa plisowana sp贸dnicamohito rozkloszowana sp贸dnica w krat臋 szary ceny i opinie

  6. antalyairan

    floral dress maxi skirt girls floral dresses 7 taylor dresses floral midi dress black floral dress long long floral kimono dress vintage floral dresses with sleeves

  7. 褔邪褋褘 写邪屑褋泻懈械 薪邪褉褍褔薪褘械

    fleur du mal mini slip dress liked on polyvore featuring dressesemporio armani spring summer 2013find cheap handbags in aliexpress essential guide 2019miu mius new miulady bag for fw16 bagaddicts anonymous

  8. wholesale new balance pilates balls fitness yoga ball smooth balance fitness gym exercise ball with pump free shipping

    ray ban original vintage rayban never worn sunglasses metal blackralph lauren ph1168 semi rimless half frame prescriptionmichael kors sicily sunglasses m 2045 105 silver aviator by michael korsrevant polarized replacement lenses for maui jim stingray

  9. costume homme achat vente costume homme pas cher cdiscount

    銈般儍銉?gucci 銉栥儸銈广儸銉冦儓 銉忋兗銉堛儢銉偣銉儍銉?223513 j8400 8106鏄ョ洰鍓?銇婅姳瑕嬨伀浣曠潃銇︺亜銇忥紵 銇婅姳瑕嬨偒銈搞儱銈儷銈炽兗銉囷紦閬?/a>妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 銉曘儶銉?銉€銈︺兂銈炽兗銉堛伄閫氳博銈广儦銈枫儯銉偑銉曘偂銉?銉儑銈c兗銈广儜銉炽儎 妤姐偒銉仾銇伀缇庛偡銉偍銉冦儓

  10. str贸j dziewcz臋cy ala stroje k膮pielowe jedno i dwucz臋艣ciowe dla

    銈广儩銉笺儎銈︺偋銈?銉儑銈c兗銈?2鐐广偦銉冦儓 銉堛儍銉椼偣 銈广儩銉笺儎 銉ㄣ偓銈︺偋銈?銈枫儳銉笺儓銉戙兂銉?涓€浣撳瀷 銉偖銉炽偣 澶с亶銇勩偟銈ゃ偤銉囥儍銉夊粌鐣猽sa瑁?new balance 銉栥儵銉冦偗 銈般儸銉?26cm 銉偠銉?銉撱兂銉嗐兗銈?鏂板搧銈儭銇椼伨銈€銈夈仹銈淬儷銉曘偊銈с偄銈炽兗銉囥偅銉嶃兗銉?/a>40浠c伄濂虫€с伄澶忔湇銇岃卜銇堛倠閫氳博 2019骞淬伄銉儑銈c兗銈瑰銉曘偂銉冦偡銉с兂

  11. under armour mens armour fleece full zip hoodie

    v銉嶃儍銈兏涓嬨偖銉c偠銉笺偢銉c兂銉戙兗銈广偒銉笺儓2184amazon.co.jp 銉€銈ゃ儞銉炽偘銈般儹銉笺儢 銉€銈ゃ儞銉炽偘 銈广儙銉笺偙銉兂銈?/a>楂樼礆銉°兂銈恒儢銉┿兂銉夈偣銉笺儎 銉°兂銈恒儢銉┿儍銈儠銈┿兗銉炪儷 銇晢鍝?/a>銉欍儍銉?銉炪儍銉堛儸銈?浠樸亶 銉€銉栥儷

  12. keen betty ii waterproof snow boot

    winter jacket coat women anorak long beige puffer down coat thickadidas mens swift run shoesunder armour womens hustle fleece hoodnylon breathable poncho raincoat stylish raincoats for women women in raincoats

  13. arauto rap sandal leopard

    skechers women 23120 slip on trainers amazon.co.uk shoes bagslolittas 2018 newest summer dresses for wedding guest womencheck out these major bargains dr. martens womens carolyn iirieker shoes canada garrit sliponshoe brown 2018 sale outlet

  14. design fuller bust hochwertiges

    etna dwucz臋艣ciowy kostium k膮pielowy z biustonoszem push up 85 c zdj臋cie 1stroje k膮pielowe 2015 jednocz臋艣ciowestr贸j pszcz贸艂ka maja 98 104 kostium gucio bal owadnorth face gore tex xcr m臋偶czy藕ni jacket light blue sklep internetowy

  15. 浠e紩銇嶄笉鍙?銈广償銉笺儔 speedo 銈广償銉笺儔 姘寸潃 銉°兂銈?銈︺偐銉笺偪銉笺偡銉с兗銉?銉°兂銈?銈广儜銉冦儎 姘存吵鍟嗗搧鐣彿sd17h42 渚℃牸 2

    褔邪褋褌懈 volkswagen 芯锌褌芯屑褉邪蟹屑械褉 薪邪胁芯谢芯褔械泻 锌芯 褉邪蟹屑械褉邪屑 锌芯写褍褕械泻泻邪泻 褋褕懈褌褜 泻芯褉蟹懈薪褍 写谢褟 褏褉邪薪械薪懈褟 懈谐褉褍褕械泻泻芯褋褌褞屑 谢械写懈 斜邪谐 芯斜褍胁褜

  16. 蟺伪喂未喂魏萎 渭蟺位慰蠉味伪 in time 25 5 魏蠈魏魏喂谓慰 魏慰蟻委蟿蟽喂

    top vente hommes fitness hoodies t shirt et cale莽on surv锚tement de compression collants musculation sporttommy hilfiger hunter bermuda femme v锚tements et accessoireschaussures hommes le coq sportif le bhv maraisballerine ouverte noir un peu sur lavant…

  17. promotions nike femme air presto running presto chaussure chaussure nike blanche pour basket femme exquis

    銉堛儍銉椼偣銇亰銇欍仚銈?浜烘皸 銉曘偂銉冦偡銉с兂閫氳博 batoner men 銉愩儓銉娿兗娲嬫湇鍙庣磵銇偄銈ゃ儑銈仺銈炽儎銇?渚垮埄銈偆銉嗐儬 銇娿仐銈冦倢鍙庣磵琛?/a>浠h臣浠f绗竴鍝佺墝 妯傛窐letao 闃銈裤偆銈兗銈癸綋 52 54cm 銈儍銈恒偔銉c儍銉?榛掋儢銉┿儍銈附瀛愮敯鍙e附瀛愬瓙渚涚敺銇瓙閲庣悆kiss mark 甯藉瓙銈儯銉冦儣鐢峰厫 妯禍銇瓙渚涚敤鍝併伄涓彜銇傘亽銇俱仚

  18. mochila grande tal pai tal filho

    os 4 sapatos de homem mais confort谩veis para levar de f茅rias et锚nis branco e dourado da pampili numero 28 artigos infantisvestido longo manga longa bord么mai么 rosa e preto com top em cirr锚 quintess quintess

  19. nuevo beb茅 ni帽as tutu falda bailarina vestido de ni帽os faldas de ballet para baile fiesta princesa

    berylove gradient color mermaid evening dresses styles women long sequin prom dresses 2018 backless halter formal party gownsflight captain cosplay uniform women sexy adult women pilot costumes party night club stewardess dress flight uniform2018 lace…

  20. mens grey kenzo jumper

    the north face quest insulated winter jacketmens the north face tnf fleece pullover quarter zip blue yellowveterans day sale kids north face down jacket nwtmen beyond the wall hoodie boutique high quality 8987196

  21. nike court royale dè°©mska obuv

    forever 21 swimwear 2018 plus size cutout one piece swimsuit insexy trousers waist wide leg pants women pants casual summer longzero city women swimsuit one piece sexy backless monokini bathing suit straps black sfat women dresses

  22. vintage 90s claudio valentino paris small logo embroidered crewneck sweatshirt half zipper yellow colour hiphop swag medium size gift

    best friend gift reasons why i love you personalised 30th birthday gift word art friendship print digital downloadgucci shorts italywood furniture and wooden accessories made in by krommdesignasian zori sandals

  23. flexfit flatbill script hat

    best baron 11s for sale in yorkvillespecial nike air huarache womens running shoes black orangenike air max 97 silver bullet qsnike victory just do it racerback sports bra in black save 51 lyst

  24. lteng 銇嬨仯銇撱亜銇?閲戝睘鍚堥噾 iphone 7 plus銈便兗銈?iphone 7 銈儷銉熴偙銉笺偣 iphone 7

    dji mavic pro platinum with remote controllercannondale trail 4 2018 mountain bike blue 5000 1 thumbnail. zoom in. xshimano fc r563 triple crankset 50 39 30 172.5mm 10scott contessa scale 700 rc womens high peaks cyclery lake

Comments are closed.