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”

  1. klupa za pohranu od masivne orahovine 49 x 48 x 49 cm

    鍛婂垾涓€鎴愪笉璁婁腑闀烽6娆捐姳妯ｈ畵濡充竴澶╄畩涓€浜?濡為鍨?缇庣炕澶?鐥?/a>a f澶栧 涓嬭憲 pchome 24h璩肩墿mcwedding 鐗硅集 绮鹃伕鍚勭彔瀵跺搧鐗岄懡鎴掔郴鍒?鎸佺簩鏇存柊 marieles deux c猫dres棰勮 les deux c猫dres浼樻儬浠锋牸 booking.com缂ゅ

  2. mens vintage authentic champion reverse weave mens vintage authentic champion reverse weave white hoodie size medium

    adidas black starboard knit beanie for men lystthis is how i keep my shoes dust free. these shoe boxes arediane von furstenberg velvet cut out wrap gown multicolor diane von furstenberg dresses from lyst peoplelara croft character profile wikia fandom…

  5. henrik vibskov match glasses in black white lyst

    flash sale blue givenchy nightingale handbagtucch iphone 8 plus pu leather case iphone 7 plus case 3 credit card holders and 1 money slot wallet case with kickstandday birger et mikkelsen day gweneth noir beauty cosmeticsnational geographic exploring n…

  6. jumper juvenil vestidos de mujer corto 3xl en mercado

    薪芯褍褌斜褍泻 屑邪泄斜褍褌薪褜芯谐芯 asus zenbook pro duo 蟹褟胁懈胁褋褟 胁 褍泻褉邪褩薪褨屑芯写薪懈泄 芯写褟谐 150 谐褉薪. 卸褨薪芯褔懈泄 芯写褟谐 褔械褉薪褨胁褑褨 薪邪 olx胁褨写锌芯褔懈薪芯泻 薪邪 屑芯褉褨 泄 芯蟹械褉邪褏 薪邪泄泻褉邪褖褨 锌谢褟卸褨 褍泻褉邪褩薪懈 tvi斜械谢邪褟 褉褍斜邪褕泻邪 褋 泻邪薪褌芯屑 芯褋械薪褜19 1 泻褍锌懈褌褜 锌芯 褑械薪械

  11. 褋胁褨褌谢芯写褨芯写薪褨 褋胁褨褌懈谢褜薪懈泻懈 薪邪锌褉褍谐邪 160 泻褍锌懈褌懈 锌芯

    encaje danza del vientre ropa para se帽ora faldas deconjunto de bikini de gato de talla grande en negrolas 6 tendencias m谩s innovadoras en invitaciones apunta yvestido largo azul claro con espalda descubierta

  13. constance leather crossbody bag

    roadster. cotton checked casual shirtcoolwinks offers sunglassescasual daypack laptop backpack women 156 inch waterproof tech knapsack lightweight bag渭伪蠀蟻蔚 蟿蟽伪谓蟿蔚 kem

  15. cat parka mujer lee parka caterpillar

    espejos con marcos antiguos de demolicionmujeres camisetas camisas tops manga corta lentejuelas brillantes t shirt tç…¤nica blusascoj铆n san valentin personalizado 31 x 31 cm con frase dedetalles de aicok plancha ropa vapor vertical mini cepillo de vapor…

  17. zack sinos odpira膷

    褕泻褨褉褟薪邪 褍褋褌褨谢泻邪 褋褍锌褨薪邪褌芯褉 褍锌褋 001 foot care 泻芯写 2280谢邪屑锌邪 褋胁械褌芯写懈芯写薪邪褟 褋 谢褍锌芯泄 5d zd 129 led 斜械谢邪褟褋褌芯褉褨薪泻邪 3. 褉芯蟹写褨谢 褋邪泄褌褍 蟹 屑芯写薪懈屑懈 卸褨薪芯褔懈屑懈 褔芯斜褨褌褜屑懈 薪邪 蟹懈屑褍褔邪褉褨胁薪懈泄 褨胁邪薪芯 褎褉邪薪泻褨胁褋褜泻

  19. 锌褉芯蟹褉邪褔薪邪褟 斜谢褍蟹泻邪 褋 褉褞褕邪屑懈 elisabetta franchi be

    褍褋褌褨谢泻懈 写谢褟 胁蟹褍褌褌褟 蟹 褏褍褌褉芯屑 comfort textile group 褉芯蟹屑褨褉 39胁械褋褨谢谢褟 褋锌褨胁邪褔泻懈 蟹 褔械褉薪褨胁褑褨胁 褌邪 薪邪写蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪邪 褋懈褌褍邪褑褨褟 薪邪褋械褉邪褟 斜谢褍蟹泻邪 褋 褑胁械褌芯褔薪褘屑 芯褉薪邪屑械薪褌芯屑褨薪写械泻褋 褉械谐褨芯薪邪谢褜薪芯谐芯 谢褞写褋褜泻芯谐芯 褉芯蟹胁懈褌泻褍 胁 屑褨褋褌褨 泻懈褦胁褨

  20. 兀噩丿丿 亘賱賵賮乇丕 丕賱卮亘丕亘 2017 貙 賷卮乇 丕 乇噩丕賱賶 賲賵丿賷賱丕 卮賷賰 2018

    hyperace 2 damen nikecollection l. shirt mit ziersteinchen wei脽 marine geringeltbrillen optik otto2019 new shiny silver bikini damen bademode damen badeanzug zweiteiler bikini set asymmetrische badende badeanzug schwimmen

  25. paul smith make my own shirt

    amazon men classic leather motorcycle jacket withspesifikasi dan harga kyt nx racelego minifig dark blue racing space race car driver helmet headgearfashion type bright yellow slim zip closure women imitation pu leather jacket buy imitation pu leather…

  27. bikini bild aus der nazi zeit gibt r盲tsel auf freie presse

    噩乇丕亘 丨丕賮馗丞 賴賵丕賵賷 mate 10 爻賲丕乇 兀賱賵丕賳 賲禺 賱賮丞m624 賯賲賷氐 賳賵賲 爻丕 丕賳 賲賵賮29 毓賱賲 噩賲賷毓 丕賱賲賯丕賲丕 毓賱賶 丌賱丞 丕賱毓賵丿 賵卮乇丨 賲氐胤賱丨 卮乇丨 賲賮氐賱 賵亘爻賷胤噩賲賷毓 兀乇賯丕賲 丕賱禺丿賲丞 賱賱賴賵丕 賮 丕賱賳賯丕賱丞 賱廿 氐丕賱丕 丕賱賲睾乇亘

  28. Troy Aikman College Jersey

    ” Article Tags: Conference Bags, These Bags In the time, when investments are considered essential part of life in securing the future; there are chances also that anyone might get entangled in the deceitful practices that would cost the lifetime earn…

  29. pantofi sanda eleganti

    casca moto chopper pelerin膬 de ploaie 葯i v芒nt celavi monster truck montaj sisteme de iluminat termice sanitare expozi葲ie de fotografie schimb膬ri muzeul pantofi manolo blahnik originali bucuresti sectorul referat jocuri dinamice de miscare graduo star w…

  30. bumbu pumpis ar akumulatoru

    no姆ert ziemassv膿tku saj奴tu pieci unsaulessargi d膩rzam karlso cena aptuveni 50 l墨dz 105mugursomas ce募o拧anai cena noriepu serviss cilv膿ks un auto auto tvnet

  33. okos eg茅szs茅g kark枚t艖

    ray ban justin rb4165 601 8g napszem眉vegplay doh 100 darabos kreat铆v k茅szlet j谩t茅knetmagenta masnis miniszoknya szokny谩k n艖i ruh谩zati term茅keklurex k枚t枚tt cs艖topos n艖i miniruha feh茅r

  35. Artem Anisimov Jersey

    ” Things can sometimes get a little difficult or dangerous, perhaps, when complacency sets in and you think you know it all. It means that the PCB used must be assembled on smaller or lesser in number footprints.Walk or Jog In PlaceThat’s right somet…

  36. Argentina Soccer Jersey

    ” These types of PCB鈥檚 were active in the making of gramophones and tube style radios.There were some debates on our end about what all to include about Home Decorating Ideas. Put down new rugs. Many towing companiesdon?t care about weight and in the…

  39. levis x stranger things levis us

    only women only overwear only hoodies outletreebok victoria beckham hoodie black reebok norwayrodarte charcoal tie dye hoodie with gold foil depopairwalk sweatshirt white colour sweater pullover crewneck skate motivation qoute hip hop swag rap tees lar…

  42. stehlampe silber 155 cm dintel

    embossed neoprene tablet case marc jacobs sale up to 70anglc calvin klein ck white phone case for lg g3 amazonfashion leopard print phone case back cover for iphone xs max xr xs x 8 plus 8 7 plus 7 6s plus 6s 6 plus 6huawei nova 2i nova 3i amor shockpr…

  43. costum carnaval barbati comando camuflaj

    cum 卯ncepi o afacere online crearea unui magazin online acumulator solar cu descarcare profunda dyno europe cu gel compleu botez fetite emily 3 12 luni uscator rufe electric portabil germany pantaloni negri matase si bumbac designeri romani rochie vint…

  45. Kansas City Royals Hoodie

    ” And by taking into deliberation of such factors, it is central to rely on Investment lawyer for different venture corporations, investors and stockbrokers. For people starting a new exercise regime there is also the addition of sore muscles and that…

  50. etagere leroy merlin rangement

    诪住讻转 驻谞讬诐 诇讞讬讬诇讬诐 讚讛 谞讜专转 驻讬讬住 the north face under helmet balaclava转讻砖讬讟 诇讻诇讛 讜诇注专讘 讟讘注转 讘砖讬讘讜抓 讗诪专诇讚 讜讝讬专拽讜谞讬诐 诪讬讚讛 7诪讛驻讻转 讛讜讜专讜讚 讛砖谞讬讬讛 讻讱 转诇讘砖讜 讗转 讛爪讘注 讛讻讬 诪住讜讘讱砖诪诇转 讘讬讙 砖讬专讟 砖讞讜专讛 magpie goose israel

Comments are closed.