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”

  2. gucci leather platform sneakers

    芯褋械薪薪械 胁械褋械薪薪懈械 斜芯褌懈薪泻懈 写谢褟 写械褌械泄 1 4 谐芯写邪 褋芯谐褉械胁邪褞褖邪褟卸械薪褋泻懈械 泻械写褘 converse all star 泻芯薪胁械褉褋褘 薪懈蟹泻懈械 褔械褉薪褘械褞斜泻邪 褋 写褉邪锌懈褉芯胁泻芯泄 懈 蟹邪锌邪褏芯屑泻褍锌懈褌褜 褔械褏芯谢 邪泄褎芯薪 xs

  3. 妤藉ぉ甯傚牬 fila 姘寸潃 銈儍銈恒伄閫氳博

    festkl盲nning æžšrebro ka艧e kaban bordo jemn媒 st艡铆brn媒 艡et铆zek s p艡铆v臎skem swarovski element lang pels frakke i hvid kanin pembe potin siyah rugan kadè°‹n klasik topuklu ayakkabè°‹ rugan kalè°‹n deri mont erkek adidas mont ya臒murluk bomber vintage erkek oversiz…

  6. dunlop f茅rfi cip艖

    italy fashion muszlin pè´¸lè´¸ ræžšvid ujjç…¤ fels艖k n艖i naturtex fam铆lia pè°©rna eastpak æžšvtè°©ska rendel茅s carp zoom adventure 2 szem茅lyes horgè°©szsè°©tor szamos gyerek supinè°©lt cip艖 20709 m茅ret 26 lorelli 5 r茅szes mintè°©s è°©gynemç–Ÿ garnitç…¤ra baba mama webè°©ruhè°©z amald…

  7. cestovn铆 podkolenky nomadist

    heine svatebn铆 拧aty na ram铆nka pè°©nskè°© b铆lè°© vesta free wave s kapuc铆 pè°©nsk茅 sportovn铆 fitness kalhoty 膷ern茅 akce dè°©msk媒 ko啪en媒 klobouk santa rosa faraon sandals pino moda modr媒 klobouk panama s pruhovanou stuhou novè°© kniha 膷eskè°© zimaza krè°©sn臎j拧铆 vimperk…

  8. cyfrowe aparaty fotograficzne ceny

    bielizna erotyczna zdjecia basen ogrodowy wolnostoj膮cy jeansy rybaczki plecak converse sklep szlifierka elektryczna prosta rieker buty damskie zimowe buty ochronne z metalowym noskiem rozk艂adany domek dla lalek

  10. kostumer piger arkiv

    fortomsavviser drivaduppen skitt fiske puro universal car air vent mobilholder til bil lego star wars at dp kort ermet chiffon kjole med rund hals og kort skjé…¶rt reklamekrus weidingerglas treningstips for langrennslé…¶pere jakke i kanvas med ikonisk stri…

  13. kem 蟿蟽伪谓蟿蔚蟽 stock online

    纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚喂伪 蟺伪蟺慰蠀蟿蟽喂伪 brogues 蟺伪蟺慰蠀蟿蟽喂伪 蠂慰蟻慰蠀 位伪蟿喂谓 蟽魏蟻慰蠀蟿味 蟺伪谓蟿蔚位慰谓喂伪 蠁慰蟻渭伪蟽 纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚喂伪 adidas 伪谓未蟻喂魏伪 未蔚蟻渭伪蟿喂谓伪 伪胃位畏蟿喂魏伪 蟺伪蟺慰蠀蟿蟽喂伪 蟿蟽伪谓蟿蔚蟽 versace cosmos sport 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟿蔚蟻喂 蠅蟻伪蟻喂慰 魏伪胃蟻苇蠁蟿畏蟽 尾伪蟽畏 纬喂伪 蟺喂蟽蟿慰位伪魏喂

  14. dorothy perkins showcase blush

    versace vestito camicie economico name brand camicie off shoulder twisted waist tie midi vestito blu scuro blu corset vestito tiffany e co sweet 16 vestito ted baker giant bow bag girls prom vestiti debenhams tamsins bridal boutique

  19. 褞斜泻邪 屑邪泻褋懈 胁 泻谢械褌泻褍

    卸械薪褋泻邪褟 芯斜褍胁褜 keloch 泻褍锌懈褌褜 胁 泻懈褌邪械 薪邪 邪谢懈褝泻褋锌褉械褋褋 泻褍锌懈褌褜 锌芯褋褌械谢褜薪芯械 斜械谢褜械 械胁褉芯 胁 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪械 谐芯谢褍斜芯械 锌邪谢褜褌芯 褉褍泻邪胁 锌械褋械褑 褌芯锌 5 邪褉芯屑邪褌芯胁 褋芯 褕谢械泄褎芯屑 褋褌芯懈屑芯褋褌褜 写芯褋褌邪胁泻懈 锌芯褔褌邪 褉芯褋褋懈懈 芯褋械薪薪械械 卸械薪褋泻芯械 锌邪谢褜褌芯 2015 褎芯褌芯 谢械谐谐懈薪褋褘 褋锌芯褉褌懈胁薪褘械 卸械薪褋泻懈械 泻邪褉薪邪胁…

  20. nike free bambino 2016

    maillot foot 2016 maillot de bain bustier pas cher parure lit blanche coque bape ecran galaxy s7 edge mini coffre fort anti feu escalier quart tournant haut vapormax bebe fille coque pour iphone 6s or

  21. basket adidas taille 28

    magasin de mode en ligne coque lv cadeau stradivarius doudoune lunettes jaunes pour conduite de nuit romwe vetement femme tension art茅rielle mesure debardeur a capuche femme toile cir茅e vichy rouge

  23. umbro scarpe

    hesh 2.0 bluetooth silver black claires mini sminkk茅szlet festett fagyæžšngy mintè°©s esk眉v艖i megh铆vè´¸ szett paw patrol polè°©r pl茅d term茅kek patent kæžšzæžšss茅gi ruhavè°©sè°©r tommy hilfiger new ivy pulè´¸ver akciè´¸ mayo chix b艖rbet茅tes kabè°©t kabè°©tok n艖i 26 os æžšssztele…

  25. 渭蟺慰蟿伪魏喂伪 纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚喂伪 exe

    zapatillas adidas en negro asics noosa ff 2 mujer negro y rosa parka ligera de mujer yera con capucha interior yera blusa de manga corta con cuello peter pan en tono a trango siurana sn pantalè´¸n pirata para hombre camisa casual rabbit camisaria pepe je…

  26. purple vinyl dress

    white dresses for little girls kd 10 near me 1920s dressing jordan 1 collab off white v neck plus size formal dresses nmd r1 green 2020 crossfit tr 2.0 herbalife clothing amazon

  28. moduolle

    nike air max 97 salg billig skechers 12775 bbk adidas legging rouge sac eastpak edition limit茅e nike flyknit roshe run premium rough gr酶nn knight air jordan ultra fly gr氓 lilla

  29. cintura gucci fibbia argento

    szabadid艖ruha fiç…¤ oster 616 91 hajvè°©gè´¸g茅p hajvè°©gè´¸ g茅p memè´¸riahabos 眉l艖pè°©rna felfekv茅s kezel茅s茅re visco mouss fels艖 t铆zezer tæžšræžšk sorozat magyar felirattal letæžšlt茅s nike jr bomba ii gyerek mç–Ÿfç–Ÿ salak cip艖 n艖i strandruha vivian m 414 mikka kæžštæžštt ruha 92…

  30. jump 21187 gen莽 erkek spor ayakkab谋 beyaz 莽i莽eksepeti

    bé…¶rn jakker frakker levis pit vinterjakker dress adidas runfalcon kadè°‹n ko艧u ayakkabè°‹sè°‹ updigo gazetka promocyjna pepco s.4 kæžšp b盲sts盲ljare trolls pyjamas fuchsia fæžšr barn pæ°“ woollie adidas erkek ayakkabè°‹ æžšzdilekteyim torcia 3w cree focus alluminio und…

  31. vidaxl stickad filt bomull 130×171 cm blæ°“

    dam jumpsuits rompers kl盲der pæ°“ n盲tet sæžšt spaghettiband presenttips fæžšr barn sashas disney the lion king gripsholm gots pæ°“slakanset dalablæ°“ speltips æžšrebro skellefteæ°“ aik 21 12 toppspelarna i saik fritid fæžšr barn och unga och egentid nadja mayr classic…

  32. black faux fur trim hooded parka

    globè°©ln铆 tvæš–r膷铆 nè°©vrh dè°©msk茅 kabelka fiorelli campbell 膷ern媒 dè°©mske monokiny pin up pè°©nske biele tenisky nike air max 97 43 拧port hokej juniori mmhk nitra telev铆zia central dè°©msky sveter neè´¸novo 啪lt媒 dè°©mska turistickè°© obuv olang corvara fuxia my little…

  34. coach ofertas

    damesjas kopen legend portemonnee pumps met enkelbandje zwart ellesse trui roze kinder winterlaarzen western jas dames poloshirt zwart heren goedkope i3 desktop

  36. adult size onesie

    standard screen printingmochila escolar emoji paete colorido pacific mochilas magazineroco 0153 sukienka koronkowa pudrowy rè´¸ sukienki koronkowekawaii clothing stores near me

  37. sequin 賲賱丕亘爻 丕賱丨賮賱丕鬲 outfit

    lungo frock design for girl simple elegant satin abiti da sposa vestiti lemon drop 賮爻丕鬲賷賳 賲鬲賳賵毓賴 oasis party vestiti girls bianco tutu casual cotton vestiti for estivo casual estivo maxi vestiti with sleeves girls santa vestito

  38. sandals 2018 estivo trends

    needles abbigliamento website coast blu velvet vestito lungo elegant abiti da sera vestiti satin tuxedo vestito second hand boho vestito da sposa top vestito da sposa designers ascot vestiti zalora giallo vestito

  39. 泻芯卸邪薪邪褟 屑褍卸褋泻邪褟 褋褍屑泻邪 sw 1002 褔械褉薪邪褟 斜邪褉褋械褌泻邪 褔械褉械蟹 锌谢械褔芯 薪邪

    芯褋械薪薪褟褟 泻褍褉褌泻邪 写谢褟 屑邪谢褜褔懈泻芯胁 懈 锌芯写褉芯褋褌泻芯胁 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪 36 46 谐芯褉褔懈褑邪 锌褉芯写邪卸邪 泻褍锌懈褌褜 褋屑芯泻懈薪谐 胁 屑芯褋泻胁械 薪械写芯褉芯谐芯 泻芯谢谐芯褌泻懈 写谢褟 斜械褉械屑械薪薪褘褏 芯褌 胁邪褉懈泻芯蟹邪 褑械薪邪 褎芯褉屑邪 褎褍褌斜芯谢褜薪邪褟 写械褌褋泻邪褟 juventus ronaldo 7 写芯屑邪褕薪褟褟 2019 calvin klein 褌褉褍褋褘 斜芯泻褋械褉褘 褑胁械褌薪邪褟 褉械蟹懈…

  41. clown outfit amazon

    forever 21 formal wear per donna clubwear simple velvet lehenga jordan shorts encircled revolve vestito simple semi formal attire oasis floral skater vestito bandhani chaniya choli designs

  44. whirlpool mos贸g茅p alkatr茅sz bolt

    led nummerplade lys blinker hjå¿™lp stylingprojekter test 24 timer med 360 graders lyd computerworld naturfag merking av kosmetikk ndla gant park avenue chronograph g123004 ké…¶b bon dep kknekki elastikker hos triple m billige fotballsko butikk i norge hot…

  45. p谩nsk茅 vych谩zkov茅 ko啪en茅 boty zn.timberland vel. 48 aukro

    v媒m臎na baterie apple iphone se servis applebest rowenta vysavac baterie levn臎 mobilmania zbo啪铆 d臎tsk茅 sv铆t铆c铆 boty smile dè°©msk茅 letn铆 拧aty s krè°©tk媒m r暖啪ov媒m sakem pen臎啪enka dè°©mskè°© isa 膷ernè°© pistole sklè°©dac铆 plast 72cm na m臎kk茅 vodn铆 kuli膷ky 7 8mm v kra…

  46. vetement homme marque pas cher armani

    vintage gucci accessory collection crossbody handbagadidas originals nmd r1 glitch grey uk6 shoes for sale in24灏忔檪鍑鸿波 gucci鍙らΤ鐢峰コ鐢熺湡鐨毊甯?缍撳吀闆檊鎵?logo澹撹姳 gucci鎯呬径寰╁彜鐨付 骞虫粦鎵ｈげ甯跺コ 鐧炬惌娼祦gucci soho chain black leather tote bag

  50. zanetarecords

    nike free run 3.0 v6 lila braun kvinners ralph lauren short blæ°“ gré…¶nn adidas porsche design v ré…¶d orange blomstret kjole med tre kvart å¿™rmer air jordan future premium infrarot oven nike roshe run triangle arancia grigio

Comments are closed.