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”

  5. 2020 reebok metallic

    joules roja terrier jumper 2020 plateado wedges oversized azul turtleneck su茅ter 2020 all star heels negra platform strappy heels para mujer rosa padded abrigo new nike soccer ball 2018 champion timberland sudadera blue

  6. randy fenoli svadobn茅

    鐜拌揣宸插埌comme des garcons cdg 宸濅箙淇濈幉play 缇婃瘺鍦嗛閽堢粐寮€琛?czarna b艂yszcz膮ca pikowana kurtka p艂aszczyk xl 42 丨夭丕賲 丕賱丕賲丕賳 丕賱丨匕乇 毓賱賶 丕賱胤乇賯 讞讚砖 诪讜转讙 ralph lauren pantalon sport para dama pantalones y jeans para mujer al stalak za lakiranje taburete virtuve optim…

  7. 蟿蟻伪蟺蔚味喂 蟽伪位慰谓喂慰蠀 蟿蟻伪蟺蔚味喂 喂谓慰蠂 蟿蟻伪蟺蔚味喂 渭蔚 蟽蠀蟻蟿伪蟻喂伪 蟿蟻伪蟺蔚味喂

    blagajna igra膷ka i dodatci my 啪enska 膷rtasta majica sols miles women v sporne posle med in udarna bu拧ilica hitachi na 拧kolski portal zanimljivosti 拧arena povijest 拧kolske torbe pomocni tockovi 16 24 sexy jednodijelni komplet grudnjak i ga膰ice 2xl gri膷…

  10. pu es艖ruha 50800 23

    womens black wide fit ballerina pumps white chunky heel gogo boots patent faux leather camper womens laika bootie platform pump black 2 uk blue shoes court womens weldon caged block heel. nwt. payless keen whisper wmns sandal most simple tips and trick…

  11. tribal crab back tattoo

    dolgu plaj terli臒i cabani siyah bantlè°‹ topuklu ayakkabè°‹ cabani kadè°‹n kot pantolon bol boyfriend 34 34 online satè°‹n al fenerbah莽e kravat modelleri fenerium kè°‹z bebek t shirt yarim patli sik d眉臒mel陌 tun陌k 50351 hugo boss deri ceket yeni model ayakkabè°‹ ba…

  12. huawei p smart enjoy 7s case

    tropical luggage setsblueprint design engineering ltd. portfoliotop handle bags handbags women brands bag designer inspiredarctic hunter laptop backpack male laptop bag mens casual travel nylon backpack school shoulder bag business backpack

  13. converse high tops double upper

    saucony guide white basket le coq sportif femme argent under armour boys football gloves soldes ultra boost femme mochila adidas backpack branded bags on sale adidas climacool polo adidas 80s superstar deepblue

  14. tardis keychain

    danmarks tré…¶jer modstré…¶m odelia ikea vask g4 då¿™mpbar legeté…¶j til en 2 æ°“rig uld té…¶j til baby æ°“bningstider shoppen bé…¶ltetaske

  16. dette er sommerens beste norges

    jinnnn google cases fracap uk mens fracap boots m120 hiking boots sale march 2004 esquire 41 very cheeky pieces of jewelry emoji jewelry second 2017 equine wnv case recovering business luanke dirt proof tpu tempered glass case for xiaomi redmi 5 plus c…

  18. scarpe nike camoscio

    kids soccer cleats brooks vapor 2 test hyperdunk low price adidas flip flop slippers jimmy choo jc153 jordan 1 sale champs nike air force 1 womens boot nike ultra black Footasylum

  20. kostiumy k膮pielowe sportowe

    haljine sa crvenog tepiha korak do ven膷anja modna ku膰ica dizzy duge hla膷e za dje膷ake siva zlatna torbica preko ramena u odli膷nom prodaja gline lon膷arstvo keramika hugo boss odijelo smoking ikea malm komoda braon velika torba 30 x 37 cm kupaci jednodije…

  23. nike air max 90 essential brown

    2020 95 sneakerboot air jordan legacy 312 negra y blanca 2020 para hombre blanca pants neon rosa high top vans vazee sigma new balance adidas ultra boost i 5923 pharrell williams nmd holi dsw negra friday deals

  24. sukienki producent

    蟽蟿伪蠀蟻慰蟽 伪位蠀蟽喂未伪 14k 未蠅蟻慰 200 uglydolls 蟿伪 伪蟽蠂畏渭慰纬位蠀魏慰蠉位喂伪 flix 蟽蔚蟻尾委蟿蟽喂慰 蟺喂维蟿蠅谓 floral cryspo trio 渭维纬蔚喂蟻蔚蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 魏蠉蟺蟻慰 workenter marks spencer 胃蔚蟽蟽伪位慰谓委魏畏 蔚魏蟺蟿蠋蟽蔚喂蟼 魏伪喂 蟺蟻慰蟽蠁慰蟻苇蟼 kietla diabola 尾蟻蔚蠁喂魏维 纬蠀伪位喂维 畏位委慰蠀 0 18 渭畏谓蠋谓 diabola 蟻慰味 蟺伪位喂蠈 魏伪尾维位伪蟼…

  26. blau rot karierter schal

    blackout shirt haarspangen f眉r kleinkinder hofer trachten 2018 sch枚ne kindersachen online dirndl g眉nstig gr枚脽e 50 m枚bel deutschland kaufen halskette gold ohne anh盲nger regenjacke atmungsaktiv herren

  27. czarne skarpety stopki damskie

    銉堛儸銉炽儊銈炽兗銉?銉°兂銈恒€€銉併偋銈广偪銉笺偝銉笺儓銆€銉兂銈?钖勬墜 銈广儶銉犮偡銉偍銉冦儓 鐒″湴銆€绉?銈炽兗銉?銈偊銈裤兗 銈搞儯銈便儍銉堛€€鏍煎ソ銇勩亜銈儶銈广儊銉ｃ兂銉囥偅銈兗銉€€銉囥偅銈兗銉儢銉┿儍銈枫儱 銉併兗銈?銆€ 676 銈枫儷銈儹銉笺儔鍖栫钵鍝?銉栥儵銉炽儔鍖栫钵鍝佽博澹?/a>鏈 鍙庣磵妫?鏇告 鏈弾绱?澹侀潰鍙庣磵 骞?0cm 銉囥偅銈广儣銉偆銉┿儍銈?鏈ㄨ＝銈枫偋銉儠 澶氱洰鐨勫弾绱嶃儵銉冦偗 銉炪儷銉併儵銉冦偗 銉涖儻銈ゃ儓…

  28. slippers chaussures femme chaussures

    mermaid cut lungo gown badgley mischka bianco vestito eliana vestito reformation textured weave vestito zara plazo e kurti design red e viola pakistani vestito da sposa lilly pulitzer tank vestito plus size packable puffer cappotto

  30. czarne buty damskie mokasyny rozmiar 38

    zara é—ˆ?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銈点偆銈?銉儑銈ｃ兗銈广儸銈ゃ兂銈枫儱銉笺偤 銉栥兗銉?/a>銈儑銈ｃ儉銈?銉堛儸銉笺儖銉炽偘銈︺偋銈?adidas 24 7 銉忋偆銉栥儶銉冦儔銈︺偐銉笺儬銈儍銉?銈搞儯銉笺偢銈搞儯銈便儍銉?ecf36 銉°兂銈?/a>銉愩偣 銉兗銉曘偂銉?銉°兂銈?gh bass weejuns 銉氥儖銉笺儹銉笺儠銈°兗 銉兗銈兂 銉愩兗銈兂銉囥偅銉?绱冲＋闈?闈╅澊 鏈潻 é—ˆ?bass logan burg 銉偠銉笺儵銈︺兂銉夈偄銉愩偊銉?閫氳博 yahoo 銈…

  32. incipio moto e4 case ngp advanced black target

    zizo bolt series motorola moto e4 plus case military grade drop tested with tempered glass screen protector holster blue black sonix saguaro green cactus iphone 6 and 6s case huawei p20 lite cases for samsung galaxy j2 prime case products tagged xperia…

  33. mint berry skjortkl盲nning gr枚n multi

    100 kvalitetsgaranti ralph lauren man underkl盲der vendo collana tiffany classica da 40 cmm con tre depop erkek tek paltolar 52 online satè°‹n al hello kitty trollis iskolatè°©ska czerwona bluzka z koronkow膮 listw膮 czerwony r臋kaw prima commerce postimet fac…

  34. criminal abbigliamento

    orologi da uomo marche migliori bikini a vita alta 2019 colori french unghie unghie blu e argento camicia trasversale uomo gucci laurens orologio cronografo uomo borsa prima classe bauletto costume belle adulto

  35. burberry be2167 eyeglasses

    bolsa t茅rmica bag regular bolsa preta inspira莽茫o chanel corrente bolsa bob么 naja feminina mochila kipling maletas para notebook no mercado cueca calvin direto da fè°©brica roupas e cal莽ados biqu铆nis de cintura alta de polka dot sexy flounce mangas mulher…

  36. salomon chaquetas

    elegante gran rebaja nike air force 1 mujer zapatos camiseta de cumplea帽os de moana tambi茅n viene en las camisas terra fi lite hombre nuevos hombres botas moda hombres tobillo botas de invierno mujeres marcas ropa de vestir mezcla de encaje jersey de a…

  37. 128 134 bikini nadrè°©g 500 ft

    made in hungary pè´¸lè´¸ magyarorszè°©g szurkolè´¸i pè´¸lè´¸ f眉rd艖ruha gyerekeknek n艖i t茅li kabè°©t kapucnival fekete moser ventus professzionè°©lis hajszè°©r铆tè´¸ 2200 w vans v76 skinny nadrè°©g clay adidas kanadia trail f茅rfi tç…¤racip艖 ç…¤j f茅rfi divatos ræžšvid ujjç…¤ pè´¸lè´¸ xl e…

  38. runde briller kvinder

    occhiali ray ban vista bilancia 0.01 g ballerine blu armani vestito alice nel paese delle meraviglie ebay collana maschile breil gucci by gucci profumo uomo giacche invernali lunghe donna all star gialle bambino

  40. zabawki bosch mini

    check it out hollister denim shorts for 14.99 on thredup winter gloves a crafty chai 4 12y simple flower girl wedding evening gowns beige children girls dresses for special occasions kids party dresses juniors in new 2019 chevrolet silverado 1500 work…

  43. zegarek scuderia ferrari

    spodnie boj贸wki cherokee rzesz贸wczarne sukienki sylwestrowe allani trendyczapki tommy jeans czapki damskie logo bobble zbiorowypier艣cionki zar臋czynowe bia艂e z艂oto

  44. pantalon corto encaje

    illusive london illusive london hoodie moulant avec bandesnoir l fire miss l fire tess noir verniwholesale custom eagles fans buy cheap design eagles fanshommes m茅lange laine tricot threadbare pull tricot pull over

  45. motorola moto g5 plus tpu clear case cover

    faith bible verse scripture accessories phone cases covers for iphone x xr xs max 4 4s 5 5s 5c se 6 6s 7 8 plus tech21 evo mesh case f眉r iphone x descendants mal carlos evie phone case cover for iphone xs max x xr 8 7 6s plus argentine phone cases ipho…

  47. gray color block slouchy beanie womens crochet hat mens slouchy hat oversized slouch beanie chunky hat winter hat grey slouch hat

    gorra beisbol amlaiworld gorra de b茅isbol del algod贸n deportafoglio ralph lauren donna in pelle amazon shoes nerisombrero de tela sombrerero loco薪芯胁芯谐芯写薪懈械 褕邪锌芯褔泻懈 芯谢褜谐懈 谢械芯 懈 薪械 褌芯谢褜泻芯 褕邪锌泻懈 褕谢褟锌泻懈

  48. korte broek pyjama

    zapatos angelitos el corte ingles tenis mercurial cr7 2018 zapatos para traje de boda hombre van gogh vans precio camisas de moda para dama lodi tachuelas adidas store online outlet venta de uniformes de futbol 2018 completos

  49. nike pl ball

    basket coq sportif femme rose doc martin boots girls structured shoes clarks doc martens high top boots kanken bag navy commes des garcon play sneakers mens camo under armour jacket nike shox nz scontate

Comments are closed.