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. tampa bay lightning sidelines comforter queen

    new york yankees womens playoff tri blend pullover hoodienew york yankees men big tall mt 6xl full zip microfiber jacket mlb navymens arizona diamondbacks antigua teal pique xtra lite polooyo sports colorado rockies baseball home run derby oyo playset

  2. alexander by daymor 807

    cute simple prom dresses fashion dressesimage result for mother of the bride taffeta dupioni silkspecial occasion dresses half sleeve long formal eveningpuma t shirt dress vintage

  3. 诪转诇讛 讘住 转讜祝 讚讜讜砖转 住讟 注诐 转讜祝 讗讞转 砖专砖专转 讻讜谞谉 注专讻转

    basket nike femme vertecoupe de cheveux courte femme avec mecheboutique femme pret a portercoffre en resine

  4. Arrion Springs Oregon Ducks Jersey

    “dollarcashWhy Get Faxless Payday Loans?Faxless payday loans are amongst the quickest and simplest income advances that are accessible in the United States.The effective PCB design is very important or crucial as it can zero down the possibilities of…

  5. Josh Jooris Jersey

    ” If the pricepackage is reasonable but the staff is not cooperative and talented then all will go in vain.Source of Hair to TransplantThe hair for a hair transplant comes from a different part of the patient’s own head.Maritime industryis given a lo…

  6. 屑褍卸褋泻邪褟 泻褍褉褌泻邪 蟹懈屑薪褟褟 褍写谢懈薪械薪薪邪褟

    christian dior split 1 010ku palladium and blue aviator sunglasseswearall womens faux leather wet look shortwomen shoulder bag oasis style leather crossbody bagmarc jacobs marc jacobs the softshot 21 crossbody bag blue from nordstrom more

  7. Cheap NBA Jerseys

    ” According to AHI (Animal Health Institute), around 10 to 12 percent of total sales of member companies of AHI invest in new developments, research and innovations in veterinary equipment and disposables and animal healthcare every year.Veterinary Eq…

  8. Teofilo Gutierrez Colombia Jersey

    ” Most of the cheap asics shoes made by asics’s designer have been considered as one among one of the most preferred shoes among buyers, specifically youthful consumers. 6. You can in brief surf throughout the web pages, looking through their ca…

  9. aragaz pe gaz zanussi

    s膬 juc膬rie educativ膬 pentru fete 6 rochii de nunt膬 ieftine pentru soacre mujo adidas haine barbati 卯n alba haine si incaltaminte femei brand elisabetta franchi imagini mobila bucatarie cizme negre fara toc casca moto chopper becuri pentru machiaj

  10. aedesnowboard

    air jordan 9 retro bianca nero true rosso up adidas neo raleigh high top kvinners sneaker gallery ralph lauren baby oxford shirt yellow nike mercurial vapor rosado for venta unik vintage blomstret kjole nike hypervenom ii phantom premium indoor soccer…

  11. manteau femme noir long capuche

    alx trend sandali con tacco comodo e ciondolo ziva nerinike skor baby storlek 21 g盲vle s枚derhamn hudiksvall妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 銈点兂銉€銉?銉戙偆銈姐兂 銉曘儵銉冦儓銇€氳博t锚nis sapatilha nike preto dourado femininos

  12. youth celtics shorts

    diamond case iphone 6 plus leather ski gloves womens lacoste white casual shoes charcoal grey t shirt dress white t shirt crop top air max black and white mens thesolesupplier youth converse shoes sik silk pink shirt

  13. Victor Antipin Jersey UK

    ” Sleep on TimeYou must try to maintain you sleep time and do go to bed on the right time.One cannot under estimate the fun factor in getting people to exercise. If you are scared of him/her going astray, jot down your mobile number on his collar.3.As…

  14. Scott Mathieson Jersey UK

    ” The names of owners, marketing managers, engineers, financial advisors with their email addresses are given in such websites. This is the best and most natural way to achieve thicker hair and reverse the look of hair loss. Accent rugs do not cost a…

  15. 住讜讻讜转 讘诇讜谞讚讜谉 爪诇住讬 谞讬讜拽讗住诇 讟讜讟谞讛讗诐 讜讜讟驻讜专讚 讗讬住转讗

    abrigo con capucha cuello de piel para mujerplanchas para ropa carrefourauriculares para dj technics rp dh1200joggers cargo en naranja ne贸n de asos design hombre pu帽os

  16. Johnny Townsend College Jersey

    “9. Association) and NPMA (National Pool Management Association). They do usually give the patient a local anesthetic to minimize the pain of the tiny incisions in the scalp.That will always be a great idea, and you will find that it will be extremely…

  17. 40s and shorties eazy dad hat

    zapatillas de deporte hi top de charol burdeos chuck taylorconverse chuck taylor all star alte per bambiniky43005471 united kingdom converse chuck taylor all star hidesigner shoes women shoe converse sneakers trainers ecru

  18. 褋锌械褑芯写械卸写邪 斜褉褞泻懈 褉邪斜芯褔懈械

    褌芯谢褋褌芯胁泻邪 supreme box logo all white 锌褉芯写邪卸邪泻芯褕械谢褢泻 锌芯褉褌屑芯薪械 askent 泻褍锌懈褌褜 胁 屑芯褋泻胁械 薪邪 avito卸械薪褋泻芯械 锌谢邪褌褜械 褏邪谢邪褌 懈蟹 斜邪褉褏邪褌邪谐写械 屑芯卸薪芯 泻褍锌懈褌褜 褋褍屑泻褍

  19. lululemon tennis shoes

    best natural looking wigs bape starter cap executive pens toddler girl nike sweatsuit nike air max 95 plus nike vintage mid top nike mercurial football boots pink red and black nike football cleats

  20. about novo mesto en

    no point getting shirty over englands new look kit robu.s. revolution soccer staffargentina is not easily watching matches against haiti steemit13 7 shoes size 7 us men women adidas x pharrell x bbc

  21. Cassius Marsh Jersey UK

    You require visiting the top-ranking sites within the search result page. ” When someone wants to pull some heavy or light stuff then, a process names towing comes into mind. We manage facilities in multiple states and can provide you with multiple so…

  22. Joel Embiid Jersey

    ” For the same purposes, they are a lot of firms that offer PCB layout services Rochester. Such companies have mentioned all contact details intheir websites. There are hundreds of towing companies who offer such services. This is the best and most na…

  23. tilbehé…¶r til rockabilly kjoler ké…¶b tilbehé…¶r til rockabilly

    cip艖 best nike air maxbeugr贸 t谩rsasj谩t茅k kv铆z casino t谩rsasj谩t茅kpearls ez眉stsz铆n疟 nyakl谩nc med谩l 茅s kark枚t艖 szett rozsdamentes ac茅lb贸l emily westwood bonamiac茅l med谩l p谩roknak puzzle szimb贸luma

  24. max co. 啪enska kolekcija

    femestage eva minge torebka listonoszka 209z艂 galeriazara 42 xl czarno bia艂y p艂aszcz sk贸rzane r臋kawykristina disney cars majicaphilips avent scd223 20 elektri膷na izdajalica extreme digital

Comments are closed.