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. 姘寸潃 銉儑銈c兗銈?銉撱偔銉?銈汇儜銉兗銉?3鐐广偦銉冦儓 浣撳瀷銈儛銉?銉曘儶銉?銉併偋銉冦偗 銉椼儶銉笺儎 銉忋偆銈︺偍銈广儓 銈广偒銉笺儓 浜烘皸

    conhecendo as lojas de vestidos de festa em duque de caxias modabolsa de viagem petite jolie loja de roupas femininasconjunto de lingerie em microfibra c renda dy any sedu莽茫ovestido longo plus size de festa em renda e tule moda maior plus size

  2. wool scarf antaria

    povle膷en铆 bytov茅 dopl艌ky pekny byt strana 9drewex preba木ovacia komoda safari ecru orechbruder 3030 traktor jcb 3220brilio m贸dne zlat媒 pr铆vesok srdce 249 001 00431

  3. faldas largas de moda pegadas

    jak zrobi膰 przelew z karty kredytowejtorba podr贸偶na na k贸艂kach 7 torby podr贸偶ne na k贸艂kachkm112 kombinezon d艂ugi jeans jeansowy guziki 34 xssukienka baletnicy na rami膮czkach rozm 110 116

  4. lego city mining

    写械褌褋泻懈 胁邪褌懈褉邪薪 锌邪薪褌邪谢芯薪 benetton 谐褉. 褋芯褎懈褟 谢械褌懈褖械 褋芯褎懈褟锌褉芯写邪胁邪屑 泻芯谢械谢邪 胁薪芯褋 芯褌 谐械褉屑邪薪懈褟 锌谢邪薪懈薪褋泻懈 屑褌胁 胁械谢芯褋懈锌械写 褋 锌褉械写薪芯 芯泻邪褔胁邪薪械 tretwerk褉邪薪懈褑邪 ninette bicycle械写薪芯写薪械胁薪懈 锌褉械褏芯写懈 芯斜褍胁泻懈 写械褌褋泻懈 褋邪薪写邪谢懈 mh100 kid

  5. iap cosm茅ticos curitiba vagas

    calzedonia reggiseno donna rot hawaiian red 4b abbigliamentoscarpe running donna new balance vazee urge v1 violacalvin klein taylor paris vestito elegante perfect black uomo promo abbigliamento completi cravatte neropantaloni da corsa donna

  6. lbzdr pulsera cuerda hueca para hombre y mujer

    frauen plus gr枚脽e b眉gel super gro脽e bh dd e gr枚脽e sexy spitze zur眉ck eingestellt straps bigpokwai damen unterw盲sche spitze dreieck hose blume stickerei baumwolle dreieck unterhoseschwarz rote straps str眉mpfe a0199 s m von 7 heaven s mbaby m盲dchen klein…

  7. nike shox outlet

    I’m also writing to let you be aware of of the awesome encounter my friend’s princess gained going through yuor web blog. She picked up several pieces, which include how it is like to have a very effective giving heart to make the mediocre ones quite…

  8. coche parabrisas proyector hud cabeza arriba pantalla universal multifunci贸n tel茅fono m贸vil soporte para iphone samsung gps

    2018 new top travel home wall power supply battery charger for bose quietcomfort 3 qc 3cowins bluetooth headphones are an amazon best seller 39group buy 0.01 z70 pro rgb mechanical keyboard zfrontiertruform 150cb desktop ergonomic keyboard mouse combo…

  9. guia de compras em è°©guas de s o pedro

    coturno cano curto rosa femininowho killed gianni versace true story of serial killer andrew cunanan and how he was finally caught mirror online10 魏伪位慰魏伪喂蟻喂谓 蠂蟿蔚谓 蟽渭伪蟿伪 纬喂伪 蟽纬慰蠀蟻 渭伪位位喂designs for girls frocksdresses indian party wear dresses for kids

  10. 泻芯褋褌褞屑褘 泻懈谐褍褉褍屑懈 芯锌褌芯屑 芯锌褌芯胁邪褟 锌褉芯写邪卸邪 泻懈谐褍褉褍屑懈 芯褌 锌褉芯懈蟹胁芯写懈褌械谢褟

    泻褍锌懈褌褜 褋芯褉芯褔泻邪 写谢褟 斜械褉械屑械薪薪褘褏 懈 泻芯褉屑褟褖懈褏 泻芯褉懈褔薪械胁褘泄 锌芯 褑械薪械 790卸械薪褋泻懈泄 泻芯褋褌褞屑 写谢褟 芯褎懈褋邪 7芯褌胁械褌褘 泻邪泻懈械 褝谢械屑械薪褌褘 芯写械卸写褘 胁泻谢褞褔邪械褌 胁 褋械斜褟 斜邪胁邪褉褋泻懈泄 薪邪褑懈芯薪邪谢褜薪褘泄 泻芯褋褌褞屑泻芯褋褌褞屑 邪褉泻褌懈泻邪 斜懈褉褞蟹邪 褋邪泄褌 褌褉懈泻芯褌邪卸

  11. heren kleding maat xl

    薪邪屑邪谢械薪懈械 斜械斜械褕泻懈 褋邪薪写邪谢懈 nike sunray protect 2 褋懈薪懈 谐褉. 锌谢芯胁写懈胁胁械谢褍褉械薪懈 斜芯褌褍褕懈 newstyle 芯薪谢邪泄薪 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪 蟹邪 屑芯写邪写械褌褋泻懈 胁械谢芯褋懈锌械写 12 懈薪褔邪 moni 褑械薪邪锌褉芯屑芯褑懈懈 dc corporation

  12. white shirt cardigan

    shop miadora sterling silver 1ct tdw diamond thin hoop earrings ongirls shopkins ice cream queensilver braided curb braceletswarovski pink heart crystal framed pendant necklace

  13. 銈汇兗銉?銉€銈︺兂 闃插瘨銉戙兂銉?銉儑銈c兗銈?銇濄伄浠栥儜銉炽儎 adabat

    sexy azul asfalto chaquetas de hombre quechua de monta帽a impermeable azul traves铆a hombretenis nike air jordan 1 mid bg blancos 100 originales 12017 oficial nike air max command mujer ventacompra de zapatos por internet marc opolo botines alice para mu…

  14. 銈广儖銉笺偒銉?銉°兂銈?銉娿偆銈?銈ㄣ偄 銉炪儍銈偣 97 鐧?nike air max 97 triple white white white white

    涓彜 vans pilgrim surf supply銇儸銉囥偅銉笺偣 銈枫儱銉笺偤 銈广儶銉冦儩銉?/a>杩峰僵鏌?銉堛儵銉炽偗銈?鏃呰 鍑哄嫉 銉椼儸銈笺兂銉?姘淬仹銇汇亹銇?涓嬬潃 b绯汇儠銈°儍銈枫儳銉?hiphop 銉掋儍銉椼儧銉冦儣goods 銉濄儍銉椼仾銉囥偠銈ゃ兂 鍙剾銇?浜烘皸 au wowma 銉偊銉?/a>鑻ユ墜澹层倢銇e瓙琛h3銈炽兗銉囥偅銉嶃兗銈裤兗銇岃€冩 銈︺偋銉囥偅銉炽偘銉夈儸銈?/a>鍙ゅ笇绁濄亜 鍚嶅叆銈?鐖?鐢锋€?鍙ゅ笇 銉戙兂銉?ç»±?銉堛儵銉炽偗…

  15. maureen and william wedding website

    opr 08os prada sunglasses in colour havanawiley x removable facial cavity sealcarrera matte black polarized mens sport w mirror lenssamantha hc8055 5116 4s dark tortoise teal by coach for women 56 16 135 mm sunglasses

  16. bio socken f眉r gesundes strumpf klaus

    hugo boss boss bottled 20th anniversary edition eau de toilette per uomo 100 mltuta corta squame effetto 2 in 1 kiabiasos design vestito lungo a sottoveste in raso con spalline giallojvc ha kd7 p e cuffie per bambini con limitatore del volume

  17. women s ugg slippers size 6

    c13 uggs australia mens sz 15 byron slipper suede moccasins browncasta帽er carina ivory wedge espadrilles lace up ankle tie reformation beige 36ugg womens reignfall liberty wellington boots asphaltmens stacked heel western chelsea boots in black leather…

  18. united colors of benetton stripe boat neck

    softshell jacke la kinder 116 blau2 w眉rzburg hrb 1580 amtsgericht w眉rzburg vertreten durch die doris bader kontakt telefon 49billig schwarz happy sailed damen langarm strickjacke cardigan strickcardigan strick hoodie mit kapuze s xxlsportartikel kaufen…

  19. 渭蟺慰蠀蠁维谓 渭蟺位蔚 蟿味喂谓 纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚委慰

    kr贸tkie spodenki jeansowe m臋skie nowe lato 31batman s艂uchawki nauszne dla dzieci mp3 czarnybartscher ch艂odziarka do wina 40 butelekbluza nie ma idea艂贸w bluzy dla dziewczyn siostry

Comments are closed.