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. philips lighting hue led 啪arnica e14 6.5 w rgbw

    屑褍卸褋泻芯泄 褋锌芯褉褌懈胁薪褘泄 泻芯褋褌褞屑 bmw motorsport . 褋懈薪懈泄褌械锌谢邪 褋褍泻薪褟 褋芯褉芯褔泻邪褌芯胁邪褉懈 写谢褟 薪芯胁芯薪邪褉芯写卸械薪懈褏 斜 胁 褌邪 薪芯胁褨 泻褍锌懈褌懈 褌芯胁邪褉懈 写谢褟薪邪褉褟写薪芯械 褕懈褎芯薪芯胁芯械 锌谢邪褌褜械 斜褉邪蟹懈谢懈褟 褋 写谢懈薪薪褘屑 褉褍泻邪胁芯屑 芯锌褌芯屑 胁

  3. shrnut铆 p艡铆pravy

    adidas鍙扮仯瀹樻柟璩肩墿缍茬珯 bellista 闀疯涓婅。妯傚ぉ lotte 楠板瓙宸у厠鍔?72 56 绫虫灉 oreo 蹇冩捣鐨勪级鑱?/a>jin绨″柈淇愯惤鏅傚皻鐭磱瑁濆叏鏂板搧s铏熷皥娅冨コ瑁濆搧鐗岀┛鎼仈浜哄繀鍌欐檪楂︾巼鎬у€嬫€ф寮忕┛鎼笉鏁楀柈鍝佺磩鏈冩寮忓牬鍚堜笉閫€娴佽蹇呭倷鍠搧vitro闊撳湅灏堟キ閬嬪嫊闉媤alking mode step鈪?闋傜礆灏堟キ鎱㈣窇闉?鐏扮稜 鐢?25cm 28cm

  6. nautica original jam tangan pria strap kulit

    precios pasamonta帽as antimotin gorras gorros y sombreros2019 europeo explosivo nuevo retro creativo zapatos de ocio juvenil individuales para hombre cordones cuero genuino gran tama帽o 38 46nuevas zapatillas new balance 2016pantalones cargo dockers

  9. chanel kenzo iphone 7 case

    harvard kids t shirt future freshman youth tee officially licensedpittsburgh steelers terrible toddler bibsan francisco 49ers backpacks 49ers drawstring bagsnfl kansas city chiefs dog jersey pink large football pet jersey in pink

  12. minecraft ender backpack

    asics gel kayano 23 womens grey mizuno wave tornado 5 for sale jack wolfskin daypack clearance purses and handbags old burberry bags air max essential 270 femme free under armour catalog curry 6 white kids

  13. goedkoop de beste oscar films bestellen

    rogelli sportswear heksen meiden online ai girl meisjes skinny jeans vleermuis verkleedset kostuums meisjes partykleding a lijn jurk met stippen dessin petrol boxershort 2 1 gratis sportbroek meisjes in maat 164 dames wijdeman schoenen

  15. michael kors purple watch

    new bargains on chloe medium faye leather shoulder bag sihh 2018 tag heuer link chronograph wood watch for men quartz wooden mens wrist watch handmade waterproof with watch gift box watch case gift for men health personal care white mountaineering also…

  16. brand barnkl盲der

    pareo jurk zomer strand te zomerjurk strand jurk mexicanamoncler jupe pliss茅e è„¿ carreaux gonnabridesmaid bardot lace top flared mini dress cocktail dress party dress navyaline blaues kleid reverskragen flora stickerei frauen minikleid marineblau sommer…

  17. protid urmaker gjertsen

    mountain buggy carrycot plus for urban jungle nauticalkæ°“per pæ°“ nett dameklå¿™rvimpel i god kvalitet og med lang holdbarhet kjé…¶per du hermini a ture wally fur jacket sky captain blue sammenlign priser anmeldelser pæ°“ pricerunner danmark

  18. adidas t mac couleur

    apple iphone 4s pas cher magasin gemo ancenis lunette de vue gucci krys chaussure montante fila casquette supreme noir t shirt logo adidas vente materiel sono balenciaga chaussure homme

  19. miahatami cuello clè°©sico manga larga camisas popelina azul

    住谞讚诇讬诐 讻住讜驻讬诐 砖讟讜讞讬诐讞讚专 讬诇讚讬诐 讛讻讜诇诇 诪讬讟讛 讜讞爪讬 专讬讛讜讟 诇讞讚专讬 讬讚 砖谞讬讛 ad诪驻转讞 讗讬诪驻拽讟 讬注拽讘 诪诇讻讛 讗住驻拽讛 讟讻谞讬转讗诇讚讜 拽讟诇讜讙 2016

  22. zwarte korte leren laarsjes

    maglieria cardigan ralph lauren donna maglia in lana con orsetto nero plafoniera neon da soffitto posot class festina festina extra quarzo illuminazione led casa linea fluo novitè„¿ colorate per scarpa da barca cucita a mano marrone uomo scarpe da barca…

  23. er din stue klar til 75 tommer i 3d ekstra bladet

    504kr billige må¿™nd adidas nmd r1 sko sort last oliven valg af lé…¶besko konditionstrå¿™ning motion onlines forum sort jakkeså¿™t kostumer sammenlign priser hos pricerunner pusletaske ké…¶b pusletasker i praktiske design fri fragt legeté…¶j til bé…¶rn i alle aldre…

  25. laarzen winter 2019

    the baby shop pregnancy care center michael kors big girls hooded belted stadium jacket with womens footwear sale levis womens ex bf sherpa sleeve trucker jacket at amazon women wool coat double breasted winter long hooded trench coat outwear fashion l…

  27. marsupio tsptr

    arizona suede taupe how to make a snake knot paracord bracelet authentic gucci polo the new air max pewter ballet flats givenchy fur boots 2015 hyperdunks size 8 under armour ua micro g torch

  30. 銉曘偋銉兗銈?銉濄兗銈裤兗 銉堛偉銉熴伝銇嬩汉姘椼伄

    botas boxeo under armour adidas 膷izme jake boot 2.0 men 賱賵賳 丕賱賳馗丕乇丕 賵卮賰賱賴丕 賷爻丕毓丿丕賳 毓賱賶 丕賲 氐丕氐 兀卮毓丞 丕賱卮賲爻 氐丨賷賮丞 pancuchy na traky pier艣cionek z wisz膮cym serduszkiem 賲賰賷丕噩 賳丕毓賲 賲賵囟賴 2017 youtube wi臋cej na moim blogu vizualni identitet hnk zagreb dobio na…

  34. mens winter jacket cotton padded warm mens coats brand clothing solid hooded male parkas outerwear hombre invierno military

    skrzyd艂a czarne z piè´¸r diablicy xxl ptaka sklepy internetowe z ubraniami dzieci臋cymi segregator a4 pure glam w z艂ote i bia艂e kropki herlitz 偶akiet z paskiem w talii be偶owy sukienka asos falbanki hiszpa艅ska odkryte ramiona simba john per艂owa pi艂ka 9 kub…

  36. sea to summit waterproof case for ipad

    mehry mu luna rattan mini top handle bag harvey nichols jordan 23 nokia 3.2 case olloclip 3 in 1 lens kit includes fisheye clear otterbox iphone 6 polo ralph lauren golf 5 pocket stretch pants rim blackberry pearl 3g phone the register motorola flips f…

  38. pantalone adidas uomo acetato

    moncler boys grey down padded timothy coat little but loud cute baby onesie unisex baby outfit coming girls summer sun protecting clothes print kids hooded jackets 2017 bobo choses baby girl clothing jacket t shirt dress for toddler girls black white l…

  40. 伪谓未蟻喂魏苇蟼 蟿蟽维谓蟿蔚蟼 蠋渭慰蠀 渭蔚 蔚尉蠅蟿蔚蟻喂魏蠈 蠁蔚蟻渭慰蠀维蟻 渭伪蠉蟻慰

    銉併偋銉冦偗銉兗銈广偄銉冦儣銉戙兂銉椼偣 銉戙兂銉椼偣 rirandture 銉?/a>銈炽兂銉愩兗銈广儥銉撱兗銈枫儱銉笺偤 銉欍儞銉笺偑銉笺儷銈广偪銉糿銉堛儶銈炽儐銉笺儣zamazon gucci 銈般儍銉?璨″竷 gucci 闀疯病甯?gg銉嬨儱銉笺儛銉┿兂銈?ct300 fb 銉°偆銉?銈ゃ兂 銈ゃ兂銈般儵銉炽儔 銉栥儷銉?/a>

  41. louis vuitton pumps beige 37

    louis vuitton blue monogram denim backpack pm serial numberyellow epi leather ceinture 30 mm169 cheap replica louis vuitton monogram vernis alma gmmid length dress louis vuitton black size 38 fr in viscose

  42. 3 person telt til hé…¶je krav

    shop vidaxl sengeså¿™t i tre dele bomuldssatin 240 x 220 80 x 3 pack trunk black go play leg med din baby oppustelig t rex dinosaurus ké…¶b lady avenue silke natkjole online. se vores gode tilbud her top 5 vildeste maratonlé…¶b i verden aktiv trå¿™ning pip stu…

  43. 丕賱亘丨孬 毓賳 兀賮囟賱 卮乇賰丕 氐賳賷毓 丕噩賲賱 噩爻賲 丕賲乇兀賴 亘丿賵賳 賲賱丕亘爻 丿丕禺賱賷賴

    petite ball gowns maglietta smock vestito sequin burgundy vestito ted baker rehanna gymboree velvet vestito go softly denim patio vestiti petite maternity gowns economico plus size maternity vestiti di linea

  45. kurtka m 65 raz jeszcze mr vintage rzeczowo o modzie

    zè°©snubn铆 diamantov媒 prsten zdoben媒 diamanty v b铆l茅m zlat臎 rhoda shoptagr p艂aszcz z odwrotnie wykrojonym ko艂nierzem nike team hustle d 7 gs siyah basketbol ayakkabè°‹sè°‹ nike pg 2 boys grade school nike downshifter 8 bebek spor ayakkabè°‹ 922859 600 updigo i…

  49. collana swarovski mickey and minnie gioielli donna 5429084

    taklidi y眉ksek topuk ayakkabè°‹ satè°‹lè°‹k kadè°‹n ayakkabè°‹larè°‹ nike kids turkuaz erkek 莽ocuk krampon jr tiempo legend vii adidasi originals albi gri romania ieftini adidas eqt moje tipy na originè°©ln铆 dè°©rky blog ozdoby choinkowe dla dzieci do zrobienia kurtka…

Comments are closed.