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”

  6. fall jumpsuit outfit striped asos favorite shopping thanksgiving style thrifted hannah rupp repeater

    elastick茅 spodn铆 prè°©dlo prestige hn臎d茅 air 7100111 dè°©msk茅 bikiny nike galerie pavilon house lè°©tkov媒 pè°©sek 膷ern媒 glami krè°©tk茅 letn铆 拧aty na ram铆nka zimn铆 boty immortal koment谩艡e converse chuck taylor all usb kè°©bel pre fotoaparè°©ty nikon uc e6 a olympus c…

  10. roma kl101338 elegante swing abbigliamento donna

    replica gucci 510302 interlocking gg leather crossbody bags pink gucci leather web grosgrain bow slide sandals sz gucci angry cat embroidered ace sneakers cettire gucci baby girls bunny sweatshirt lyst gucci elastic belt with wolf buckle in green women…

  11. mens long sleeve hayden pass 2.0 shirt

    puma 銉┿兂銉嬨兂銈般偡銉ャ兗銈?salenike mode verkauf nike pg1 manner basketball schuheadidas 莽ocuk spor ayakkab谋 superstar j f33889buty pi艂karskie meskie adidas nemeziz messi 18.1 fg pomara艅czowy czarny

  15. womens knitted dresses new collection online zara

    150 砖拽诇 诇谞讜住注 讝讛 诪讛 谞讛讙讬 讛诪讜谞讬讜转 诇讞讜讝专讬诐 诪住讬谞讬诪爪讬转 讝讬驻讜 诇讘讘讜转 诪转谞讛 诇讞讘专讛讚讜诇讘 讞讝讬讝讛 讗谞讬 专讜爪讛 诇讛讬讜转 讛讻讬 讙讚讜诇 讘诪讙专砖讞讜驻砖转 讘讟谉 讙讘 讘讬讜讜谉 讞诪砖转 讛讗讬讬诐 讛诪驻谞拽讬诐 砖诇 讬讜讜谉

  16. rotoli carta per calcolatrice e pos

    summer shopping special velvet high cut bikini bottoms swimsuit bikini swimwear two piece set green swimsuit gotita brands 2019 one piece high waisted sexy bathing suits sandbeach womens monokini padded vintage egypt totem gold bikini from city surf li…

  18. 鐙亜閮ㄥ眿 銉兂銉兗銉犮仹妤姐仐銈€銈ゃ兂銉嗐儶銈?銇婇儴灞嬨倰搴冦亸銇婃磼钀姐伀

    najdro偶sze zegarki 艣wiata m臋skie i damskie spo艂ecze艅stwosukienka granatowa letnia rami膮czka 32 xxsbuty zimowe 艣niegowce damskie elsa keen 36nowo艣膰 chusta naszywki pastele szal wiosna boho

  19. 01 græ°“ lille vinkel sko

    lang ké…¶ da coop extra æ°“pnet pæ°“ rognan baby babyull lanett sandnes garn 1618 reiser du med barn da anbefaler vi ocean beach club klistremerker kildesortering lekolar norge lor茅al colorista washout turquoise vivid 2 weeks historie mowinckel management fr…

  20. usb type c car charger with pd power delivery 5v

    té…¶ymerke hadeland folkemuseum digitaltmuseum storm dameklokke bud é…¶nskes reima reima dress reima softshell dress reima mjosa komperdell protector slalom shirt vintersko barnehagebarn side 2 babyverden forum redningsvest barn test nyheter nils wathne au…

  22. helly hansen bakancs koppervik 10990 991 office shoes magyarorszè°©g

    egyedi bç…¤torok nyakè´¸ zoltè°©n bç…¤torasztalos kam茅leon bç…¤tor bç…¤torgyè°©rtè°©s p茅cs coverguard i m p a c t s h o p baby gap kislè°©ny baseball sapka ç…¤j szè°©m铆tè°©stechnika eszt茅tikai hibè°©s mç–Ÿszaki cikkek kirè°©lyk茅k taft elæžšl ræžšvidebb maxi ruha tiroli sz眉rke gyapjç…¤ kæžš…

  23. adidas klapki damskie

    barleycorn air brogue bordeaux derbies è„¿ la botte chantillymens high top sneakersbalenciaga pre owned 2000s striped blazer price in dubaibalenciaga green women shoulder bag handbag classic city s leather multicolour striped

  24. lange wijde truien

    best gucci sunglasses ladies for sale in new check out these major bargains gucci flashtrek leather low top trainers womens pink discount real gucci multi finger ring with moth for sale cheap we have the cutest shoes for you shop over the knee boots gu…

  25. 讝讻讜讬讜转 诇驻讬 讞讜拽 讘讬讟讜讞 讘专讬讗讜转 诪诪诇讻转讬

    sportsman responder mallard shirtblack tights patterned hosierynike air zoom terra kiger 5 womens trail running shoehoodies womens running jackets sweaters printing long sleeve hoodie sweatshirt hooded pullover tops blouse hooded jacket 2n

  27. pistaclic

    parajumpers coyote den camera ray ban sunglasses 1000 rs mobile womens north face apex bionic jacket graphite grey quarter adidas superstar bold blue ebay new balance 998 bringback jordan 11 gamma azul retail

  30. d茅guisement ann茅e 90 pas cher

    coolminiprix lot de 3 lentilles de contact noir et rougejian e veste r茅fl茅chissante veste fluorescente vestechargeur de batterie pour asus zenpad s 8.0 zenpad 3 8.0 zenpad 10 zenpad 3s 10photo drap housse la redoute scenario housse de couette 240

  31. iqtrendspc

    nike air force 1 07 grijs robe 茅poque napol茅onienne minnesota vikings elite jersey adidas pants black stripes sexy black lace dress adidas nmd r2 panda

  36. 褔械屑芯写邪薪 薪邪 泻芯谢械褋邪褏 gabol daisy grey

    detalles de glamorous studio azul satinado vestido midi con cintur贸n tama帽o 8 ver t铆tulo originalsujetador lactancia sin aros y sin rellenorenta de vestuario dfinfant baby girls velvet vestido ni帽os de manga larga retro vestido princesa ni帽os ropa

  41. til kashmir klå¿™r dame

    lyst steve madden bandi platform wedge sandal womens popular 2015 fitflop beautiful design band black sandals on sale guide to picking the perfect boots if you have wide calves glam radar dont miss this deal easy street tarrah womens dress sandals lotu…

  44. womens black rivet ladies medium trench coat

    new era womens los angeles dodgers pinstripe tri blend tankthe u.s. world baseball classic roster could be much bettermajestic 銈搞儯銈便儍銉?銉炪偢銈с偣銉嗐偅銉冦偗 銈偊銈裤兗 majestic stwomens majestic fan fashion st. louis cardinals baseball red jersey size large

  48. supreme logo melting huawei p20 lite case

    谐芯褉芯褋泻芯锌 薪邪 2017 谐芯写 褌械谢械褑. 胁邪褕 锌械褉褋芯薪邪谢褜薪褘泄 谐芯褉芯褋泻芯锌锌谢邪褌褜械 懈蟹 蟹邪屑褕懈 褎芯褌芯 懈写械懈 褋 褔械屑 薪芯褋懈褌褜褋锌芯褉褌懈胁薪褘泄 泻芯褋褌褞屑 斜褘褋褌褉邪褟 写芯褋褌邪胁泻邪 褉芯褋褋懈褟 卸械薪褋泻邪褟 芯写械卸写邪泻褍锌懈褌褜 卸械薪褋泻懈械 泻褉芯褋褋芯胁泻懈 邪懈褉 屑邪泻褋

Comments are closed.