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”

  5. lorenaflowers

    hermes picotin lock pm speakers nike internationalist glacier blau eyes parajumpers jacket toronto moncler vest tib regulations nike air max zero amarillo for venta adidas nmd runner schwarz ice lila man

  7. 泻褍锌褍 泻薪懈谐懈. 泻芯薪褑械锌褑褨褟 薪邪胁褔邪薪薪褟

    prodaja 120 svojih kitar dnevnikbazenska oprema novi sad gea esbaloni baby shower roza nazajmu拧ka t shirt majica kratki rukav svijetlo plava lacuna

  10. cheap men clothing clothing

    yamaha launches helmets for women children price detailssena 20s spacciomotorcycle jacket padded armor for sale motorcyclesdiesel agv hi jack pilot black white sk y 78 open face motorcycle helmet

  15. hodinky ostatn茅 obr谩zky pauzi膷ka

    luxusn茅 tri膷ko bez ruk谩vov s 膷ipkovan媒m v媒strihom na chrbte d谩mska m贸dad臎tsk茅 studentsk茅 a 拧koln铆 batohy pro velkoodb臎ratelejarn铆 slevy jsou tu prav媒 膷as po艡铆dit si stylov茅 oble膷en铆膷ierna pleten谩 p谩nska 膷iapka assante

  17. rot schwarz nike air jordan xxxii niedrig jungen basketball

    丕賳胤賱丕賯 賲毓乇囟 禺胤賵丞 賱賱 賵馗賷賮 2018 丕賱賷賵賲 亘丕賱乇賷丕囟 賲賳氐丞 丕賱兀賷丕賲噩乇丕亘 賳賷賱賰賳 frosted shield 賱賴丕 賮 兀賷賮賵賳 6 亘賱爻 丕爻賵丿毓丿爻丕 賱賵賳 亘賳賷 胤亘賷毓賷 毓丿爻丕 毓賷賵賳 丕賵賳賱丕賷賳 丕 乇丕賰 賮 賱賵賰丕賱毓丕亘 丕胤賮丕賱 賳丕爻亘 丕賱丨囟丕賳丕 賵 丕賱賲丿丕乇爻 賵 丕賱賲胤丕毓賲 賵 kids area

  19. litugomez

    adidas zx flux bianca mono mujeres nike free run 3.0 v6 azul pç…¤rpura polo ralph lauren custom fit big pony polo in navy asics gel quantum 360 kvinners græ°“ asics red herring black floral butterfly dress curry 1 low gray wtuttis

  20. billabong essential gorra para mujeres rosa

    砖诪诇转 住讟讬谉 讗专讜讻讛 讜诪讛诪诪转 诇讬诇讚讜转 注诐 讗驻诇讬拽爪讬讜转 讜专拽诪讛 诪讬讜讞讚转 专讜讻住谉 讗讞讜专讬 讜驻驻讬讜谉 砖专讜讜诇 讗专讜讱诪讜爪专讬 转讬谞讜拽讜转 讜爪讬讜讚 诇转讬谞讜拽 砖讻讚讗讬 诇讛讝诪讬谉 讘 amazon 诇讛讬讜转讟讜讜讬住讟 注讘讜专 住讻讬谞讬诐 诪讻住讛 诪讙谞讟讬 注讘讜专 住讻讬谞讬诐 讟讘讞讬诐讙讜讚诇 讙讚讜诇 讗诇讬住 讛住讜讜讗讛 讞讘讬诇转 转讬拽 爪讘讗讬 爪讘讗 转专诪讬诇 讗诇讬住 诪诇讝讬讛 注诐

  22. crowleyarms

    mackage mila coat tory burch pewter flats nike flyknit lunar 1 gré…¶n glow kit nike air presto naranja yelp femmes supra tk society beige ralph lauren armada blanco big pony polo

  24. makeup marc o polo woman 褌褍邪谢械褌薪邪褟 胁芯写邪 泻褍锌懈褌褜 锌芯

    gucci mi max 2 mobile coveryves saint laurent iphone 6 plus waterproof caselouis vuitton samsung galaxy j8 phone casekenzo paris iphone x tiger case nwb pink nwt

  25. jeweled camellia iphone 8 plus case

    泻芯谢褜褑芯 褋械褉械斜褉芯 泻械褉邪屑懈泻邪屑芯写薪褘械 写卸懈薪褋芯胁褘械 褞斜泻懈 芯褋械薪褜 蟹懈屑邪 2017 2018 褎芯褌芯锌邪褉褎褞屑械褉薪邪褟 胁芯写邪 写谢褟 卸械薪褖懈薪 faberlic 屑邪屑邪卸械薪褋泻懈械 斜芯褌懈薪泻懈 ecco trace lite 832153 02001

  26. style lessons from chrissy teigen

    pantofi sport femei puma suede classic x barbie with doll included 01rock n roll marathon series montreal 2018 run chaser hat whitebuty m臋skie nike performance air max audacity ii obuwie doadidas falcon style en 2019 yeezy shoes

  27. molo cille sunny funny dress

    piastra nano titanium alisa cabelo 230 c 110v semiprofueltech ft250 instala莽茫o e acertocal莽a legging tecido de suplex e c nota fiscal de f谩bricafaixa hidrolight sub patelar preto

  28. gro脽e f眉脽e frauen schuhe online gro脽handel

    賰賷賷賮 爻亘賱賷 爻丕賲爻賵賳噩貙 亘丕乇丿 賮賯胤貙 1.5 丨氐丕賳毓丕賱賲 丕賱 爻賵賯 賮賷 丕賱爻毓賵丿賷賴丕賮囟賱 10 賲賵丕賯毓 爻賵賯 賮爻丕 賷賳 毓亘乇 丕賱丕賳 乇賳h m lego batman t shirt 2 pak 122 128

  29. 芯写械卸写邪 canada goose 褍 芯褎懈褑懈邪谢褜薪芯谐芯 写懈谢械褉邪 泻邪褌邪谢芯谐 泻邪薪邪写邪

    薪邪斜芯褉 泻芯谢褜褑芯 褋械褉褜谐懈褋锌芯褉褌懈胁薪褘械 褕褌邪薪褘 写谢褟 泄芯谐懈 邪褉懈蟹芯薪邪 胁懈褋泻芯蟹邪 yogamania l 褔械褉薪褘泄褝褋锌邪薪写械褉 泻懈褋褌械胁芯泄 褉械蟹懈薪芯胁褘泄 泻芯谢褜褑芯 泻褍锌懈褌褜 泻懈械胁 ..褍泻褉邪懈薪邪邪褉褌械褎邪泻褌 泻芯褋褌褉芯屑邪 褞胁械谢懈褉薪褘械 懈蟹写械谢懈褟

  30. clu remote control part

    ecco flash sandaler black zalando.dkconverse cip艖 gyerekekneknike huarache tilbud danmark butik tilbud m忙nd nike blazere銈ㄣ兂銈搞儖銈儢銉笺儎 銉兂銈般儢銉笺儎 銉掋兗銉?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銉°兂銈?灞ャ亶

  32. georgerudder

    zx flux black and orange air max 90 bleu moon blue gold womens nike zoom terra kiger shoes ugg classic short grey size 6 dollar nike air max 1 midnight armada azul nike kd 9 azul and amarillo oro

  35. 丕毓賵丕丿 賲乇丕丿 丕賱 乇賰賶 賲賳 禺卮亘 丕賱爻賷爻賲

    讟讘注讜转 讟讘注转 讻住祝 讻转专 诪讻讜砖祝 pandora israeljetzt bestellen pelle pelle herren jeans short basic denimdetails zu pulli herren pullover braun alpaka wolle strickpullover sweatdamen steppjacke mit stehkragen

  36. peru russia 2018 jersey

    beauty and the beast backpack nike pure boost 2.0 nike air tn mens footshop charlotte russe strappy sandals hidden heel shoes uk light pink prom shoes puma r698 brooklyn automotive multi tester

  39. camille sexy white cut out swimsuit

    gucci mini bag in city of londongucci gucci dionysus mini top handle bag black from farfetch linkshare affiliate cpa us us shapeshopgucci campaign tumblr retro male in 2019 harry stylesauthentic interlocking g gucci belt 175 size 100 and size 90

  46. club c 85 vintage blue

    泻褍锌懈褌褜 褋械褉械卸泻懈 写谢褟 锌懈褉褋懈薪谐邪薪械写芯褉芯谐懈械 卸械薪褋泻懈械 褉械褌褉芯 褌褉褍褋褘 泻褍锌懈褌褜 胁 泻懈褌邪械 薪邪 邪谢懈褝泻褋锌褉械褋褋屑芯泻邪褋懈薪褘 卸械薪褋泻懈械 sempre芯褌胁械褌褘 泻邪泻 薪邪蟹褘胁邪械褌褋褟 褌邪泻邪褟 褕褌褍泻邪 薪邪 褌械谢械褎芯薪

Comments are closed.