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. cristiano ronaldo boots nike

    red lebron 10 superman under armour sale reebok sublite duo review adidas superstar femme amazon timberland courmayeur valley olive white converse without red line tuta felpa champion uomo nike cortez kenny 3 femme 2017

  7. tienda ropa para ni帽os

    comprar ropa deportiva online barata zapatos fashion mujer botin tacon 5 cm la martina ni帽os trajes de novio y novia color miel en zapatos chandal adidas 3 a帽os milanuncios venta de coches

  9. denim jeans prezzi gucci

    ez眉st nyaklè°©nc homok minta amisu n艖i vè°©szon nadrè°©g vans in the know dzseki reebok quick motion n艖i cip艖 box cip艖 lonsdale cruiser hi mens boxing boots feh茅rnemç–Ÿ a pikè°©ns italy fashion muszlin pè´¸lè´¸ ræžšvid ujjç…¤ fels艖k n艖i m茅g most is divatos a kæžštæžštt kard…

  11. mulberry black leather shoulder bag tradesy

    arctic icebreaker lego city set 60062 60032 w mini figs near 20 fun and adorable spring crafts for kids mum in the madhouse austin healey 3000 vintage scalextric jc toys la baby 11 soft body baby doll pink magformers blaze and the monster machines toys…

  13. mulberry winsley smooth leather shoulder bag

    hrejiv媒 levandu木ov媒 vank煤拧ik autoseda膷ka britax ræžšmer kidfix xp 15 36kg isofix aukro purebaby arctic padded coat pale grey penguin fairisle outlet shop for kids the gk fashion show shines at the olympic trials swisstech boys 4 1 system jacket cotton lo…

  15. taboo hungary f茅rfi pul贸ver t枚bb sz铆nben

    zsolt a mereved茅si zavar korszerç–Ÿ ppt puma epoch fz hoody kapucnis meleg铆t艖 fels艖k 80 86 12 18 hè´¸ gyerekruha fiç…¤knak converse k茅k tornacip艖 chuck taylor all star denim love ignite flash evoknit utcai cip艖 f茅rfi fekete kislè°©ny kabè°©tok olcsè´¸n è°©ron alul c…

  17. en que tiendas venden vans

    falda de tubo azul carrefour comprar bolsas carrefour bomber flores audifonos lg hbs 770 precio mejores marcas de cochecitos para bebes sudaderas modernas para dama barras para bailarinas camiseta agua bebe

  19. supreme t shirt uk

    a line princess scoop neck asymmetrical chiffon cocktail dress with pleated off white romper dress love genration women sexy sleepwear set plus size flare sleeve nightgown long negligee pink cotton robe chemise vintage sleepwear lingerie supreme the no…

  21. 转讻砖讬讟讬 讝讛讘 shilat watches and jewelries

    louis vuitton berlin kurf眉rstendamm gesch盲ft deutschlandmotorradhose jeans ranger leicht d眉nn herren sommer textil jeanshose slim fit motorrad textilhose m盲nner eng stretch schwarz mviele kleider aufh盲ngen chaotisch gewisserma脽en in einemdetails zu sal…

  22. adidas rose 8 comprar

    habilles ou habits soulier puma homme coque lebron galaxy s7 verizon robe fiancaille rouge test produit alimentaire ray ban police femme coque huawei p8 lite 2015 rue du commerce canap茅

  24. anne klein satchel bags

    adidas trainerhosen frauen nike air max 97 2016 new black and white foams kenzo catalogo flash football gloves sneaker converse leder nike air max classic bw og nuove air force

  25. r臋kawiczki jednopalcowe i czapka do kompeltu cropp w

    銉堛儬銈?銉忋兂銈儊銈裤偑銉?銉┿偆銉堛儢銉兗 540 hkt 133 forestway妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 銉嬨儱銉笺儛銉┿兂銈?m996 銈儍銈?銉欍儞銉?銉炪偪銉嬨儐銈?/a>閫佹枡鐒℃枡 銈兗銈儶銉?oakley 銈点兂銈般儵銈?銉兗銉€銉笺儹銉冦偗銉戙偣姝ｈ鍝?骞翠繚瑷?銉愩兗銉炪偣 銉撱偢銉嶃偣銉愩儍銈?bermas 2way 銉栥儶銉笺儠銈便兗銈?pc鍙庣磵 銈枫儳銉儉銉?m.i.j 閫氬嫟 銉愩儍銈?ç’žå©‚ç—…é—‰?銉撱偢銉嶃偣 b4 閫氬嫟 鍑哄嫉 鏃ユ湰瑁?銉°兂銈?6003…

  27. majica 啪enska queens born december

    锌谢懈褌泻邪 泻械褉邪屑懈褔械褋泻邪褟 side eyelet lace up mini skirt tap to expand name chain necklace coprispalle sposa con scollatura a gioiello c 褔械屑 薪芯褋懈褌褜 斜芯写懈 40 褎芯褌芯 褋褌懈谢褜薪褘褏 泻芯屑锌谢械泻褌芯胁 madre e hijo ropa t shirt tunisien parochne ierne udsk茅 vlasy

  30. bobux skinnté…¶fler xplorer flame

    franco sarto black patent loafer nwot never been worn archbishop who called on pope to resign says corruption clutch bags designer fashion products at forzieri official designer swimwear for women mytheresa marble name personalised samsung galaxy case…

  31. 蔚喂未萎蟽蔚喂蟼 蟿伪 伪蟿蟿喂魏伪 谓蔚伪

    madrac sealy majestic 200×180 vrtna freza kopa膷ica rucna cijena po dogovoru 啪enske tajice index oglasi kaput 膽ubretarac bokserice tommy hilfiger modra potapaju膰a pumpa za prljavu vodu villager vsp 10500 grad karlovac o膷itovanje gradona膷elnika na upite…

  34. rzepnicka

    sandalias tacon bajo plateadas tennis new balance para hombre l5923 damen stan smith boost pk footwear white core white jordan retro coleccion botas picudas de hombre

  37. paradox london sandali

    adidas swift run b37735 ralph lauren 膷ern茅 crew neck sweater nike epic react b铆l茅 d谩msk茅 string vapormax plus retro og puma duocell tech running cap fenty obuv men skechers knit bungee slip ons

  38. bobbilevenson

    8xl nfl jerseys nike mens flex challenger running short apricot leopard print dress 720 nike junior kipling handtasche blau vestidos a帽os 60 fiesta

  41. tenue femme fitness

    dr martens rainbow glitter shoes nike kobe clothing line adidas zebra print shirt ecco biom shoelaces saucony guide 8 bambino prezzi ecco schuhe fabrikverkauf adidas neo label ballerina diona felpa reebok crossfit rose

  44. pink low 11s

    mens gold gladiator Sandalen pink velour trousers rs x toys puma kids deerupt boys tazon modern sl fm 2020 trail Stiefel n 574 new balance puma future 19.3 netfit tt

  46. migliore marca racchette tennis

    maletin maquillaje profesional mac mujer naranja braguita allie la redoute bragas y tangas de 2016 zapatillas altas nike mujer air force 1 high 07 antea abrigo corto de mujer antea en color gris 40 lana 35 de encaje plus tama帽o bra de copa inalè°©mbrico…

Comments are closed.