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”

  3. the wrestler michigan engineering medium

    vincent van gogh shoes van gogh brabantadidas pureboost dpr grises grises s82010adidas cloudfoam refine adapt womens lifestyle shoes谞注诇讬 讗讚讬讚住 讗讜驻谞讛 谞砖讬诐 adidas courtset

  6. cinturè´¸n de cuero puro hombres mujeres cinturones de cuero para hombres accesorios de moda de

    adidas herren trainingsanzug woven light schwarz s langgemusterte strumpfhose gemusterte strumpfhose 2 gemusterte strumpfhose 3 gemusterte strumpfhose 4mode bugatti herren braun dunkel schuhe schn眉r stiefelette herrentop mit schmalen tr盲gern aus t眉ll

  7. katrin tri color birkin bag

    fashion beautiful leather clutch purse with unique lock blackmichael kors clutch michael kors and longchamp bagstumi carry on black ballistic gym duffle sport travel bag 24samsonite large suitcase

  9. nike womens splatter t shirt pink lime green 612

    canada goose coat size chart canada goose women massey parka black label black herringbonenew kasper dressy tank top blue suit separate lined shell 24wsexy lace nude color lacy bra and briefs set france fashion womens underwear with big floral embroide…

  11. ad hoc mens clothing cafepress

    mens large red under armour sweatshirtunder armour black womens ua fly by printed legging lystanne arundel county high school girls soccer outlooksunder armour ridge reaper day backpack polyester and nylon ripstop realtree xtra camo

  13. fendi mi max 2 back cover flipkart

    6 tier wooden shoe storage footwear stand rack organiser holder shelves cabinetadidas track pants womens pinkmens 928 walking velcro v3 by new balancetiffany co. platinum waltham vintage half hunter 21 pocket watch

  15. amazon c logo eco bag black shoes

    comfort and performance nike apparel nike white white player nflindia to buy 24 mh 60 romeo seahawk helicopters from us for usdwomens bay packers aaron rodgers green white nike platinum jerseywomens nike st. louis cardinals full zip fleece

  16. 讛谞讬爪讜抓 住讞专 讗诇拽讟专讜谞讬 讘注诪 诪转拽谉 拽讬专 诇讗讜驻谞讬讬诐 thule wall

    谞注诇讬 nike 注诪讜讚 2 讘讬讙讜讚 诪拽爪讜注讬 诇拽讘讜爪讜转 讜砖讞拽谞讬 讻讚讜专讙诇注讙诇转 转讗讜诪讬诐 讗讜 讗讞讬诐 拽诇讛 注诐 注专讻转 谞讬讜讘讜专谉 讟讜讜讬谉 驻讬拽住 summit grey 讗驻讜专 砖讞讜专 twigy转讬拽 注住拽讬诐 biagini 讗讚讜诐诪讝专谉 讘讬爪讬诐 砖诇 讞讘专转 驻讜诇讬专讜谉 专讬讛讜讟 诪讝专谞讬诐 讝讜讙讬 讬讚 砖谞讬讛 ad

  18. ru膷n媒 拧ijac铆 stroj s ktor媒m dok谩啪ete v盲膷拧inu l谩tok rovnako dobre ako s jeho v盲膷拧ou

    biele push up plavky basantip谩nske sand谩le salomon evasion cabriod谩mske rifle s p谩sikom na boku拧nurovacie 膷ierne tenisky na platforme

  19. hypervenom phatal 2 gold

    1pc ball stand display rack holder basketball soccerlow cost nike white 2012 13 celtic sideline woventhe barcelona shop at nou camp barcelona news photo gettyadidas predator 19.3 fg core black red grade school kids soccer cleat

  26. balenciaga black gr new logo printed athletic t shirt s activewear top size 4

    慰喂 top 12 蠂蔚喂蟻慰蟺慰委畏蟿蔚蟼 位伪渭蟺维未蔚蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿慰蠀蟼 未畏渭喂慰蠀蟻纬慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀 jamjar蠂蔚位蠅谓慰谓喂谓蟿味伪魏喂伪 蟺伪喂蠂谓委未喂伪 魏伪蟿伪蟽魏蔚蠀蠋谓couleur locale 蟽蠀位位慰纬萎 set 4 mosaic flower 蟺喂维蟿伪 蟽蔚蟿 4 蟿渭蠂 伪蟺蠈 蠂蔚喂蟻慰蟺慰委畏蟿畏 蟺慰蟻蟽蔚位维谓畏 味蠅纬蟻伪蠁喂蟽渭苇谓畏蠂蔚喂渭蔚蟻喂谓维 纬维谓蟿喂伪

  28. 蟽伪魏喂未喂慰 polo dream 纬喂伪 伪纬慰蟻喂伪

    iphone4s 4 銈儷銉熴儚銉笺儔銈便兗銈?銉栥儵銉冦偗 銈淬兗銉儔 鍚勮壊鏈夈倞銈广儙銉笺儨銉笺儔銈︺偋銈?銈广偔銉笺偊銈с偄 銉°兂銈?涓婁笅銈汇儍銉?銈点偆銈虹祫鍚堛仜鑷敱royanney 銉忋儹銈︺偅銉充划瑁?銉忋儹銈︺偅銉宠。瑁?澶т汉 榄斿コ 銉忋儹銈︺偅銉?銈炽偣銉椼儸 銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?鎮瓟 宸コ 琛ｈ 浠 銈炽偣銉併儱銉笺儬 濂虫€?銉兂銈般儔銉偣銈广儓銉冦偔銉炽偘 銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銈裤偆銉?闈翠笅 銈儯銉?ryuyu 缍层偪銈ゃ儎 銉兗銈?銉嬨兗銉忋偆…

  31. mini marilyn monroe

    lentes graduados para mujerbolso carro bebe con estampado de comichapigoo men vintage oversized sunglasses for women eyewearin sunglasses from men scomo quieres que te quiera ropa

  32. calvin klein performance podprsenka

    lubrika膷n铆 gely a pom暖cky l茅k谩rna.czstradivarius zlacnen茅 d谩mske top谩nky 10 k煤skov na jednomgacek v谩kuov茅 vrecia 80 x 110 cm sada 20 kspivn谩 pena do k煤pe木a 500 ml

  33. szettek swarovski f茅lig f煤rt csepp 925 枚s sterling ez眉st

    砖诪诇讜转 注专讘 诇诪讻讬专讛 讘拽专讬转 讬诐 400 砖讞 讬讚 砖谞讬讛 诇谞砖讬诐 讘讙讚讬 谞砖讬诐casual purple cotton maxi dresssara mekko vy枚 xl oywomen maong tattered denim skirt not s xxl

  34. baggage wikipedia

    foot locker celebrate 15 years of nike air max plusmini zapatos con cierre adhesivo rot rosapuma sneakers mens puma courtpoint j 352527 puma coat points cut athletic shoes school shoes mens mens sneakerinov 8 roadclaw 275 m

  38. garant铆a de 100 satisfacci贸n

    michael kors compra michael kors con env铆o gratis y pagonike air forc茅 one 1 nuevo original en caja env铆o gratisbotas corral en leon guanajuato botas y botinetas marr贸nadidas zapatillas originals superstar de hombre cosas

  40. ropa mujer camisa azul tommy hilfiger camisas ropa mujer

    讟讬 砖讬专讟 讘讬讬住讬拽 诇讘谞讛 讞讜诇爪讜转super white 讜住讬讚 住讜驻专 住讟 诇爪讘讬注转 讛讘讬转 讘诇讘谉 砖诇 bg paint诪转拽谉 诇谞讬讬专 讟讜讗诇讟 诇专讻讬砖讛 讘讗转专 讛讜诐 住谞讟专 讗诪讘讟讬讛讞谞讜讬讜转 驻讜驻 讗驻 讛转讞谞讛 讛专讗砖讜谞讛

  41. 锌芯胁褋褟泻写械薪薪懈泄 屑芯谢芯写褨卸薪懈泄 芯写褟谐 锌芯褉褌邪谢

    egyedi f眉gg枚ny枚k m茅retre varrvaretrojeans f茅rfi retro f茅rfi kab谩ttopshop petite millie kappa dam online camelunderst盲ll jethwear alpha svart camo

  47. 8 best boot laces that are durable

    women destroyed saint laurent logo t shirtreed womens rugged distressed leather jacket vintage stylesummer boys clothing sets blue grid design kids clothes grid top with pants child clothing b24 7 jean jacket for baby

  49. detalles de kate kasin vestido rodilla longitud falda lè°©piz cuello cuadrado sin mangas

    驻讬谞讙 谉 诪拽讜爪专 讬讚讬注讜转 讗讞专讜谞讜转chromex 诪注专讻转 讻诇讬 讗讜讻诇 48 讞诇拽讬诐 讚讙诐 ch 3220砖注讜谉 拽讬专 讚拽讜专讟讬讘讬 golf 鈧?98驻谞住 led 5w 谞讟注谉 讻讜诇诇 讝讜诐 omega om t7 z 讗讜诪讙讛

Comments are closed.