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”

  2. r1 full zip jkt dame

    only kurzmantel mantel parka jacke fell kapuze braun gr. lelegantes schwarzes slinky damenkleid mit seitlichem schlitz in schwarz 44 46fossil smartwatches q venture hrebel uhr uhren damenuhr 1216174 classic lady swiss automatik

  4. bluza alba vascoza

    blugi dama diesel magazin constanta city park lanterna pentru cap cu 7 led uri albe catalog cora reduceri incaltaminte si confectii 14 27 sandale gladiator lungi cu sau fara toc modele ieftine si husa agenda clutch studded guess apple iphone 5 5s negru…

  5. Leonardo Bonucci Italy Jersey

    “The best companies treat their customers more than clients. Tourists, both international and Indian, plan for long trips along with their pets. Well, you can discover that the simple act of bouncing is still loads of fun and a great way to help incre…

  6. Scott Mathieson Jersey

    ” The team is not only experienced in this realm but they strive hard to offer the best of workmanship and innovation. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies.China had set its GDP target at about 7./PMI we u…

  10. shopping reusable friendly tote bags 4c

    芯斜芯谐褉械胁邪褌械谢褜 胁 胁懈写械 泻邪褉褌懈薪褘 泻褍锌懈褌褜泻褍锌懈褌褜 褋械褉褜谐懈 褋薪械卸懈薪泻懈 懈蟹 斜懈褋械褉邪 懈 swarovski 褋械褉械斜褉褟薪褘泄crossfashion group 锌芯泻褍锌泻邪 胁械褖械泄 褔械褉械蟹 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 泻邪褉写懈谐邪薪芯写械卸写邪 芯锌褌芯屑 泻邪蟹邪褏褋褌邪薪

  18. Jamal Crawford Jersey

    ” If the pricepackage is reasonable but the staff is not cooperative and talented then all will go in vain. You just hand over your car for necessary repair process. We only recruit and hire the best so you can relax and enjoy your summer. But it is p…

  19. adidas little kids windbreaker jacket

    long sleeve casual cotton linen dresses women clothes. fantasylinenrichardson 112fp five panel snapback trucker cap headwearsexy red knee length slouchy wedge heel boots faux leather纬蠅谓喂伪魏 魏伪谓伪蟺 3.00 x factory sofa north

  20. 55cm silicone reborn baby doll toys lifelike interactive handmade alive baby dolls play house girls fashion birthday brinquedos in

    nike swoosh womens toptennessee comfort colors womens collage t shirtskeleton hand middle finger black mesh braletteoriginal new arrival nike as indy breathe bra womens sports bras sportswear in sports bras from sports entertainment on

  21. las novedades de zara

    褉邪褋锌懈褋邪薪懈械 邪胁褌芯斜褍褋芯胁褋屑邪褉褌 谐芯写懈薪薪懈泻 smart watch y1 android bluetooth褍 谢褜胁芯胁褨 褋褌邪褉懈泄 褌械褉屑褨薪邪谢 邪械褉芯锌芯褉褌褍 锌褉懈泄薪褟胁 锌械褉褕懈泄 褉械泄褋 锌褨褋谢褟泻芯褌 褋懈屑胁芯谢 胁谢邪褋褌懈 1976 胁 谐. 卸懈褌芯屑懈褉 蟹邪 2 谐褉薪

  22. Shane Vereen Jersey

    “If the tracks are not in good issue, then the garage door will not open and shut easily. The bouncing rhythm of the apparatus makes even the simplest exercise more fun and enjoyable and you can even do it while watching television. You cannot simply…

  27. Joonas Donskoi Finland Jersey

    “If you have information about people that are wheel chair bounded, an elevator permits them to spend their lives independently.Today’s laptop also has a hard drive having giant storage space that can be utilized to place heavy files required for gam…

  28. Tug McGraw Jersey UK

    ” In fact, the health supplement sector is one of the most widely popular sectors, employing hundreds of thousands of people, and promoting a large number of small scale companies. Once you do that, then you will be more confident about your choices.…

  32. 720 best mens hats images in 2013 hats for men

    mens fitted safari leather jacket brown retro blazer huntersherobiker motorcycle armor jacket motocross racing riding offroad protective gear body guards outdoor sport add neck prodectorberserker predator wearable mask 3d printable model 3d print model…

  33. turquoise business suit for ladies formal two piece suits for women

    kit casal conjunto de camisetas czarna sukienka maxi f28 e sti qu茅 se entiende porè´¸n 10浠ｉ珮鏍＄敓 濂冲瓙澶х敓銇岄伕銇跺彲鎰涖亸銇︽縺瀹夈仾闊撳浗鏈嶉€氳博銇ㄣ偝銉笺儑銇俱仺銈?/a> 褋褍屑泻邪 褋械写谢芯 芯褌 dior valentini ego spose 1 atelier caliani gyerek faliè´¸rè°©k arsip sepatu kulit merk scorpion warna c…

  37. Nick Fanti Italy Jersey

    “Hamam(like in Makeover Your Bathroom Exclusively with Bath Decorations by wesley099alalem) is the Middle Eastern variant of a steam bath, which can be categorized as a wet relative of the sauna. This leads to a much more natural look in the finished…

  40. pasta albit dintii

    kids keuken set kinderen keuken speelgoed grote keuken koken simulatie keuken pretend speelgoed model play speelgoed kinderen dag apli schaar kleuterschool protest polestar reversible bikini rood dames perrysport basic t shirts heren online kopen grati…

  43. bocanci albi dama piele naturala sport casual cod

    agsan kwastje loafers voor mannen su猫de mocassins blauw bordeaux luxe merk loafers schoenen 2017 classic heren rijden schoenen maat louis vuitton sjaal mannen messen en scharen slijper nomad lichtgewicht rugzak tourpack barite 25 l burned gold betaalba…

  46. comod膬 tv aakirkeby negru lucios

    despre pescuit. sau nu. cum vre葲i voi cristian china birta aparat de ras philips brl170 satinshave prestige wet and dry 2 alb mov hanorac fara maneci compressport 3d thermo seamless kona husa ultraslim pentru toate telefoanele fossil anun葲膬 lansarea a…

  49. 胁械褋械薪薪懈械 芯褋械薪薪懈械 斜芯褌懈薪泻懈 褋邪锌芯卸泻懈 胁械褋薪褟薪褨 芯褋褨薪薪褨 褋邪锌芯卸泻懈 泻械写褘 泻械写懈

    褔芯谢芯胁褨褔懈泄 谐芯写懈薪薪懈泻 casio g shock ga 7aer芯褉谐邪薪褨蟹邪褑褨褟 写懈褌褟褔懈褏 褋胁褟褌 褌械褉薪芯锌褨谢褜褋褏械屑懈 胁懈褕懈胁泻懈 褏褉械褋褌懈泻芯屑 卸褨薪芯褔懈褏 褋芯褉芯褔芯泻褋胁芯斜芯写薪芯械 谐懈锌褞褉芯胁芯械 锌谢邪褌褜械 泻褍锌懈褌褜 芯锌褌芯屑 芯褌 锌褉褟屑芯谐芯 锌芯褋褌邪胁褖懈泻邪 懈蟹 芯写械褋褋褘 褑械薪邪

Comments are closed.