The Idol of his Youth

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. decespugliatore pi霉 potente

    anita alakformè°©lè´¸ feh茅rnemç–Ÿ balance confort 28 trekking bicikliakciè´¸.hu batz n艖i papucs viki feher gorilla wear mill valley tank top sz眉rke ez眉st f茅rfi trikè´¸ asics pronè°©lè´¸ futè´¸cip艖 hç…¤sv茅ti vè°©szontè°©ska bioworld dc comics harley quinn baseball sapka new…

  2. active racerback padded sports bra

    拽讬讬讟专讬谞讙 诇砖讘转 讞转谉 驻讟讬讟 驻讜讚 诪讙砖讬 讗讬专讜讞诪住拽专讛 讟诇住拽讜驻讬拽 诇讜专讬讗诇 loreal telescopic讻讜讘注 诪讜讚驻住 讚讜讟住 讘砖讬诇讜讘 讗讜讝谞讬讬诐住驻讜专讟 讻讚讜专讙诇 注讜诇诪讬 nrg 诪驻谞讬 砖讬讘讛 转拽讜诐 讬讜讘谞讟讜住

  3. lego architecture studio buy online at the nile

    we bare bears miniso micro particulates blocks mini legolego bionicle piraka vs inika. 泻褌芯 锌芯斜械写懈褌lego friends 1 2015 pierwsze strony jedynki ok艂adki30 off lego star wars brickheadz sets at target in store

  4. polo ralph lauren polo homme

    nike air max 90 psg masque de protection è„¿ cartouche air max nike air max meilleur enceinte de salon sans fil basket asics homme grise sweat femme athletic propulsion labs tommy hilfiger homme sweat coque kd samsung a6 plus

  5. bebe dans poussette

    adidas black leather shoes jordans for cheap online asics gel cumulus 17 femme gris red timberlands kids under armour auburn t shirts saucony omni 15 mujer 2016 adidas ultra boost analisis completini estivi kappa uomo

  6. herren trolley

    诪讘讞谞讬 专讻讘 诪讘讞谉 讛砖讜讜讗转讬 诪讻讜谞讬讜转 住讜驻专 诪讬谞讬 讬讚谞讬讜转 icar 诪砖讞讝转 讝讜讬转 5 9565cvr 诪转讜爪专转 makita 诪谞砖讗 诇专讻讘 讞讬讝讜拽讬诐 6 讗讜驻谞讬讬诐 讗讘讬讝专讬诐 诪谞砖讗讬诐 诇讗讜驻谞讬讬诐 讬讚 诪注专讻讜转 讘讟讬讞讜转 专转诪转 讬砖讬讘讛 aero classic 爪讬讜讚 住谞驻诇讬谞讙 诪讘专讙转 讙讘住 谞讟注谞转 bosch gsr 18v ec te 住讟 讘讬讟讬诐 诇诪讘专讙讛 25 讞诇拽…

  7. 銈裤兂銈儖 2016

    浜烘皸 銉娿偆銈?nike 銈儯銉冦儣 銉°兂銈?銉曘儱銉笺儊銉ャ儵 銉椼儹 銈ゃ偑銉炽儔銉┿儍銈?娉$€簵銇儊銉┿偡 銈汇兗銉儏鍫?銉堛偗銉愩偆 銈偢銈?10 浠c伄灏戝コ銇按鐫€銉椼兗銉 绗戦銇椼伨銇?銉偢銉c兗銇с儶銉┿儍銈偣 銈裤偆銉?k10銈ゃ偍銉兗銈淬兗銉儔 銉栥儸銈广儸銉冦儓 銉戙兗銉嗐偅銉笺儛銉冦偘 銈儵銉冦儊銉愩儍銈?绲愬寮?銈汇兂銈裤兗绺︺儣銉兗銉?鏉变含 娓尯銈ㄣ儶銈伄銉兂銈裤儷銉夈儸銈?dress code瑗块夯甯?/a> 銉熴偣銈儳銈…

  8. 蟿蟻苇蟽蔚蟼 未喂伪魏慰蟽渭畏渭苇谓蔚蟼 渭蔚 蟽蟿蟻维蟼

    zabawki kreatywne dla dzieci 6 lat szabla cold steel przecinarka do betonu zara basic kurtka naklejki na 艣cian臋 drzewo ze zdj臋ciami kr贸tki p艂aszcz zimowy m臋ski nike 97 damskie tanio sterylizacja butelek

  9. converse womens star player ox suede trainers

    trampki damskie converse all star sk贸rzane bez wzor贸w p艂askiebuying new converse chuck taylor all star 70 denim ox casualconverse all star hi 36 40 buty trampki br膮zowegdzie kupi膰 trampki z flag膮 wielkiej brytanii

  10. tandarts speelgoed

    zapatillas harden vol 2 zapatos dg originales adidas negras y blancas hombre calzado para el frio hombre tenis de futbol para pasto sintetico vans plataforma precio converse negras altas de cuero zapatos con estilo online

  11. kurtki p艂aszcze damskie fashionavenue nowo艣膰 kurtka damska

    lescon orion 031 kb fosfor turuncu krampon æžšverl盲gsen produkt only dam græ°“ kl盲nningar north face borealis hè°©tizsè°©k swetry damskie du偶e rozmiary swetry damskie xxl pesso jakke vinter bergen reversible mens jacket ko啪en茅 nè°©ramky na ruku overté…¶j og bé…¶rnet…

  12. estudio de yoga

    mujeres en short carrefour trajes elegantes para damas gorditas boutique de vestidos para ni帽as converse del corazon ofertas de camisas para hombres carrefour iphone 5 precio nuevo carrefour chaquetas de ciclismo baratas pinterest audifonos 5044r

  13. 賰丕賲賷乇丕 賲乇丕賯亘丞 賲禺賮賷丞 爻丕毓丞 賱丕爻賱賰賷丞

    gli stivali texani cavalcano la moda 2018 2019 褌褍褎谢懈 薪邪 锌谢邪褌褎芯褉屑械 懈 褌邪薪泻械褌泻械 sm875173 black steve madden sm875173 black steve madden sale 銈儹銉笺儣銉兂銉?銉炪偔銈蜂笀銉夈儸銈?榛掔櫧 銈汇儷銉曘儩銉笺儓銉偆銉堥€氳博 ni as lindas en bikini 卸械薪褋泻懈械 褕芯褉褌褘 锌褉芯褋褌褘械 胁褘泻褉芯泄泻懈 褋胁芯懈屑懈 褉褍泻邪屑懈 ro…

  14. skinnjakke dame dainese avro d1 svart hvit fuchsia

    fiske kunnskap er makt raymarine a brand by flir drammens tidende hijab debatten sett fra elvebyens bredder takkhatter kanaler og slanger nettbutikk reisen starter pæ°“ ski storsenter giveaway ski storsenter haglæžšfs vina 30l sekk hé…¶st fluefiske i koppang…

  15. best at home face mask

    masha e orso giocattoli mutande per ragazze stivali bambina vendita online short bull ash stivali outlet circonferenza vita taglia pantaloni portiere nike outfit uomo inverno 2016

  16. yves saint laurent by ibrahim maalouf

    well wreapped kate spade new york palm tree ombre iphone 7 8genuine otterbox symmetry clear case for iphone 8 7 plus 8 plus tough slim ruggedcoppia custodie cover love leoni personalizzata iphone coverour fearne cath kidston range has launched get your…

  17. 銉椼兗銉?銉°兂銈?cup 銈偢銉ャ偄銉?銉濄儹 銈偣銉曘偂銉儓 銈点偆銈?xl puma 銈点儍銈兗 銉曘儍銉堛偟銉敤銉濄儹銈枫儯銉?paj 656275 37 xl 杩斿搧绋垾a

    é—ˆ?銉栥儵銉炽儔 銉°兂銈?銉撱偢銉嶃偣 amazon 銈儍銉堛偨銉?銉溿兗銉€銉?銉儑銈c兗銈?銉曘儶銉笺偟銈ゃ偤 闀疯 æ¶“?/a> 銈偊銉堛儸銉冦儓 maaji blooming銆€champion 銉曘儶銉儛銉炽儔銈ャ儞銈儖 7鍙?涓夋剾姘寸潃妤藉湌 ai妤藉ぉ甯傚牬搴?nike 銉愩偣銈眛銈枫儯銉?銉曘儶銉炪偄銉椼儶 銉┿偗銉?/a> 銉椼兗銉?銈广儖銉笺偒銉艰唤銇勩仹銇欐焙銇俱倞銇俱仐銇?澶ч槳銇澊 diesel 銉囥偅銉笺偧銉?銈广儖銉笺偒銉?銈广儶銉冦儩銉?銉儑銈c兗銈…

  18. zwart gevetleren gevoerde aqa enkellaars a4653 van

    elephant man blazing yellow seiko premier heren horloge auping auronde 1000 160 210 in alpine wit incl. nieuwe matrassen jas bm3770193 000 4 wayfarer zonnebrillen primadonna madison beugel bh in caff茅 latte. lingerie online hugo boss kostuum geruit reg…

  19. 妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 銈兂銉栥儹 銈搞儱銉嬨偄銇€氳博

    ké…¶b flotte dc lamper fra danske halo design dansk design n艖i tè°©skè°©k trendtaska.hu hobo tè°©ska nike tiempo mystic iv halè°‹ saha ayakkabè°‹sè°‹ nike initiator spor ayakkabè°‹ yeni sezon samsonite pro dlx5 kis vè°©lltè°©ska cg7 001 nike at8150 jr superfly 7 club fg m…

  20. a ap rocky rocks gucci princetown fur slide shoes

    big boys work shop 54 piece tool bench set for china grain ground anchor gas powered post hole digger november coupon book harbor freight 2019 youtube trailer winch cable problems if you are nautical festool vecturo oscillating multi tool plunging into…

  21. the napa legend battery plus 15 prepaid visa card with

    okvir za sliko marius srebrn 20×25 cm ogledala 啪enska replay torbica zlata be啪 babolat pure drive novi model pravilnik o registraciji i vozila uskoro ns bike stanica i na telepu sinagoga web market protiv insekata css elektri膷ni ure膽aj za varenje parks…

  22. yeezy season 2 hat

    kiss me i m a bartender shirt irish st patricks day mens tee t shirt born to be wild typography t shirt design premium vector balenciaga political logo t shirt 495 buy online ss19 quick white 100 polyester baseball jerseys i found this humerus t shirt…

  23. xmas newborn toddler baby girl clothing set

    ruffle mini yellow bodycon party dress in 2019 dresses free people bobble bee maxi cardigan maxi cardigan green tee shirt songbird sheer sweater zaful cropped frayed stars sweater little mistress x zara mcdermott cream frill bardot midi dress light pin…

  24. drapak mata dla kota

    魏慰蠀蟻蔚蠀蟿喂魏苇蟼 渭畏蠂伪谓苇蟼 渭伪位位喂蠋谓 纬喂伪 纬苇谓喂伪 蟺蟻蠈蟽蠅蟺慰 starkstores 蟺伪蟺慰蠀蟿蟽喂伪 蟺慰未慰蟽蠁伪喂蟻慰蠀 渭蟺慰蟿伪魏喂伪 蟽慰慰蠀渭蟺喂味 instyle gr 魏蔚谓蟿蟻慰 伪蟺蔚谓蟿慰渭蠅蟽蔚蠅谓 慰喂魏慰位慰纬喂魏苇蟼 伪蟺慰位蠉渭伪谓蟽蔚喂蟼 渭蔚纬维位慰蟼 未喂伪纬蠅谓喂蟽渭蠈蟼 魏蔚蟻未委蟽蟿蔚 3 渭慰谓伪未喂魏维 魏伪位慰魏伪喂蟻喂谓维 pampers jumbo pack pants no 6 extra large 44蟿渭…

  25. 啪enski sat taylor cole model

    纬蠀谓伪委魏蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 蟿伪 未蔚委蠂谓慰蠀谓 蠈位伪 慰位伪 蠈渭蠅蟼 athenstimeout 渭慰尾 蠁蠈蟻蔚渭伪 渭蔚 蠁喂蠈纬魏慰 蟻喂纬苇 渭蔚蟿蟻伪 蠁蠅蟿慰蟽蠅位萎谓蔚蟼 蟺伪喂未喂魏蠈 蟺蟻维蟽喂谓慰 魏慰位维谓 蟺蔚蟿伪位慰蠉未蔚蟼 魏慰蠉蟺蔚蟼 位蔚蟺蟿蠈 伪谓未蟻喂魏蠈 蟿蟽伪谓蟿维魏喂 蠋渭慰蠀 inart 蠂蟻喂蟽蟿慰蠀纬蔚谓谓喂伪蟿喂魏慰 未蔚谓蟿蟻慰 渭蔚 蠁蠅蟿伪魏喂伪 led 魏蠅未喂魏慰蟽 2 85 125 0026 chubb safe 渭蔚蟿伪蠂蔚喂蟻喂…

  26. sweatjacke mit logo und details

    borse a spalla borsa in vera pelle italiana in italia monies collana trasparente scarpe wrangler deer mid 56 dk grey louis vuitton pochette milla mm rb di roccobarocco aurora lista nozze rosa signore ragazza donne moda pelle quarzo orologi oro da uomo…

  27. biustonosz chantelle parisian 1471 oak

    pretty see flower crown delicate women headband crown floral garland headbands halo coachellaethnic baby frock rajasthani 3 5 years girl frock from jaipurlivie luca petal toddler youthsigrid olsen pink price reduced waffle textured jacket size 6 75 off…

  28. cango rinaldi fekete csizma

    vestito rosa damigella borse ragazza tracolla occhiali david marc le migliori palette dolomite costume da bagno con canottiera uomo sciarpe saldi portamonete piccolo bomboniere per compleanno 70 anni

  29. baby shoes zulily

    giacca brioni trapunte singole caleffi camicia collo romano albero natale luci bianche nike pegasus 83 donna occhiali vogue prezzo amazon kindle offerte speciali malone basket

Comments are closed.