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”

  3. score big savings ophidia suede shoulder bag

    蔚蟻纬慰谓慰渭喂魏畏 魏伪蟻蔚魏位伪 魏伪蟻苇魏位蔚蟼 纬蟻伪蠁蔚委慰蠀 chamarra de piel marlbboro original garage sound en 2019 cipele cube all mountain 銈炽兗銉?銈偊銈裤兗 銉儑銈ｃ兗銈?銈兗銉愩兗銈炽兗銉?銉溿兗銉€銉?闀疯 鍐壊 2017 鍐?wowma 銉偊銉?jellycat bashful bunny twinkle mocassino a carro armato in pelle pant…

  4. 谓蠀蠂蟿喂魏伪 h m

    logic dnes oficiè°©ln臎 vydè°©vè°© desku ze dna tepl茅 leg铆ny napoleonika luxusn铆 tylov茅 vy拧铆van茅 拧aty mayoral velikost 98 detske odhalenè°© zè°©hada ms 2010 pro膷 u啪 jsou angli膷an茅 retro kapitè°©nskè°© 膷epice dè°©msk茅 sportovn铆 leg铆ny s pruhy prodè°©m ly啪e d臎tsk茅 ly啪e 90…

  6. signalsvideo

    fendi wallet upgrade company women parajumpers coat xo moncler coat with fur collar air jordan 1 kvinners rosa yellow mens nike lebron soldier 10 north face osito 2 jacket clearance

  8. vans old skool femme solde

    manteau bleu marine laine sandale tbs pour homme coque chanel samsung n7000 etui samsung j3 or prix michael kors nouveaut茅 sweat homme bernard zins salari茅 fonction publique pantalon lin pour femme

  13. s氓 v盲ljer du r盲tt tr盲ningstights p氓

    reebok 閲庣悆 銈广儩銉笺儎 銈偊銉堛儔銈?amazon kirsh 銉儑銈ｃ兗銈广偣銈︺偋銉冦儓 銉堛儸銉笺儕銉?銇曘亸銈夈倱銇?/a> 銉愩儍銈儜銉冦偗 銉儱銉冦偗銉曘偂銉冦偡銉с兂閫氳博 zozotown amazon 銈偡銉冦偗銈?銈枫儱銉笺偤銇婃墜鍏ャ倢銉栥儵銈?tcc276 銉兂銉戙兗銈?銈儛銉笺偑銉笺儷 銈搞儯銉炽儣銈广兗銉?鑺辨焺 70 濂炽伄瀛?銈枫儯銉嶃儷 澶?銉愩儍銈?/a> 銈炽兗銉併偝銉笺儊 甯藉瓙 coach 銈偊銉堛儸銉冦儓 銉椼儵銉冦儔 銉併偋銉…

  14. rozkladacia pohovka karup beat natural botella

    buffalove apparel twitterottawa senators womens black hometown collection lets go triis the washington capitals defense cup worthy in 2019 20mens jersey taylor hall 2019 nhl all star uniform new jersey devils 9 taylor hall 2019 nhl all star black equip…

  17. dubamboo

    nike mercurial vapor ix fg platinum schwarz gr眉n two phone case buty tommy hilfiger m臋skie sneakersy north face storm sandal back to the future part 2 nike shoes womens nike cleveland browns 75 joel bitonio game orange alternate nfl jersey

  19. crystal fishnet tights multicolor

    ohio state buckeyes nike womens team club pullover hoodiepublic desire valencia deep redcape robbin lorien red faux snake embossed open toe ankle strap chunky heel ebayotterbox symmetry series marvel case for iphone xs iphone x infinity war

  22. duck green vans

    bé…¶rne hummel sko lå¿™derjakke saint tropez parka jakke med pels herre pink jakke jeans slim fit må¿™nd stearinlys med led lys adidas zx flux sort og guld kajak opbevaring

  23. liquorish straw boater hat best summer hats popsugar

    2019 2018 new under armour fleece storm pg56j 123puma mens athletics tee red knit tops xxlpuma king gets black white blue update footy bootscode puma mcq cell track mid ceramic 鐖嗚绱嬭秺閲庢參璺戦瀷 榛戦妧 闄愰噺鑱悕 涓€鍏冭捣妯?/a>

  24. ride vinterjakke

    mens blue samba trainers christian mccaffrey jersey pull and bear stradivarius bershka new air max 98 thesolesupplier duck down coats mens asics kayano 22 mens sale biker jakke med foer modetasker til kvinder

  25. lichtgewicht wellies

    锌芯屑邪写邪 斜谢械褋泻 写谢褟 谐褍斜 m.a.g 卸懈写泻邪褟 锌芯屑邪写邪 斜谢械褋泻 褋锌芯褉褌懈胁薪褘泄 斜褞褋褌谐邪谢褜褌械褉 anita 5526 芯锌褌芯胁芯 褉芯蟹薪懈褔薪褘泄 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪 薪邪 锌芯谢泻械 褌屑 sport style 卸械薪褋泻邪褟 芯写薪芯褌芯薪薪邪褟 斜械褋褕芯胁薪邪褟 褎褍褌斜芯谢泻邪 褋 谐谢褍斜芯泻懈屑 泻胁邪写褉邪褌薪褘屑 胁褘褉械蟹芯屑 intimidea creta 泻褉褍卸械胁芯. 胁懈写褘 泻褉褍卸械胁邪 37 泻邪褉褌…

  26. basketbal trainingspak nba

    press coverage bomb petite petite sonia roll hem cropped jumper regal red ladies quilted leather jacket harvey nichols in exclusive uk marc jacobs beauty deal golf wang logo tyler the creator throw pillow dallas mavericks introduce fan designed jersey…

  27. vestito di pelle leggings abiti 2018

    motoros tç…¤rè°©zè°©s v铆zè°©llè´¸ bakancs vagy v铆zè°©llè´¸ zokni punja膷 za elektri膷ni skuter i romobil wè´¸zek lalki lalek graco travel mirage fotelik 3w1 zdj臋cie kamizelka sztuczne futerko mi艣 bezr臋kawnik 3d br媒le vr plus s ovlè°©dè°©n铆m nov茅 praha 蟽蟺伪蟿慰蠀位伪 蟽喂位喂魏慰谓畏蟼 渭蠀蟽…

  28. lednice exusit v媒拧ka 160 cm d臎膷铆n bazo拧

    zimn铆 bunda colmar down nè°©mo艡nickè°© mod艡 dè°©msk茅 prodej dvp film t艡i barvy b铆lè°© dvd supershop tvoj obchod cd dvd elastickè°© 膷elenka s kv臎tinami po拧tovn茅zdarma slavnostn铆 拧aty ve stylu meghan markle præš–svitn媒 top a topcom d臎tsk媒 teplom臎r do vody duck t.s g…

  29. toddler wicked witch costume

    american educational buff limestone sedimentary rock 1 kgreally would like to get now womens bikerichard sherman seattle seahawks nfl jersey nike size mens mediumthe western shoppe ltd drive pauls

  31. bershka jupe longue

    nike blanche sport fridolin casse tete ecole de danse en ligne desherbeur gardena bracelet montre fille m茅nag猫re 24 pi猫ces laguiole multicolore boots neige fourr茅es coque samsung s8 amazon

  33. d谩msk谩 luxusn铆 kabelka p艡es rameno 膷ern谩 leskl谩 levn茅 kabelky akce slevy doprava zdarma

    batoh eghen 22. inspirovan媒 t臎啪k媒m v媒stupem riccarda cassina sexy b铆l茅 vysok茅 lakovan茅 koza膷ky vel. 40 pè°©nskè°© h艡ejivè°© bekovka s ko啪en媒mi prvky modrè°© livco corsetti fashion erotickè°© souprava arella zimn铆 膷epice pro mu啪e i 啪eny po拧tovn茅zdarma chirurgickè°©…

  35. leader sports sportbrillen

    damen lemoniade cocktailkleid mit modischen r眉schengeldbeutel in metallic shoppe jetzt bis zu 47 stylightherren kompression hose leggings funktion sporthose laufhosebeanie sommer damen wei脽

  36. maschere per il viso naturali

    væžšræžšs arany sz铆ves medè°©l gy茅mè°©nttal converse chuck taylor all star lila magas szè°©rç…¤ fç–Ÿz艖s cip艖 mi ketten f茅nyk茅pes esk眉v艖i megh铆vè´¸ wedding paper acer aspire e5 772g sz茅kesfeh茅rvè°©r vè°©rosportè°©l tæžšbb mint kr茅m prettygirl ruha enyh茅n elasztikus pamut der茅k…

  37. genuine land rover keyring

    kimono hunkemæžšller lyseré…¶d dunjakke peak performance bluse gucci sneakers dame kjoler fri fragt sné…¶rebæ°“nd lé…¶besko ankerkå¿™de forgyldt sé…¶lv cashott flad sandal

  40. comprar zapatos ecco

    cc vest shopping centre rabbit womens winner 2 short inside kylie jenners 50 million airbnb in turks and shop coach womens maggie ocelot leather low top slip on womens cable knit turtleneck prada boots womens suede over the knee boots black ralph laure…

  42. ryobi tools scroll saw sc164vs

    sexy hot sexy lace plunge bowknot babydolls lingerie newchic the the hunt for good fitting tights the struggle is real us new butt lifter body shaper bum lift pants buttocks enhancer shorts booty product tilly jane main new this little trick is the onl…

  43. plecak szkolny mi臋towy

    尉蔚谓慰纬位蠅蟽蟽伪 尾喂尾位喂伪 纬蔚蟻渭伪谓喂魏蠅谓 蟽蠀渭尾伪蟿萎 渭蟺伪蟿伪蟻委伪 纬喂伪 toshiba 苇蟺喂蟺位伪 魏慰蠀味委谓伪蟼 3蟽委纬渭伪 魏慰蠀味委谓蔚蟼 魏伪喂 苇蟺喂蟺位伪 魏慰蠀味委谓伪蟼 慰位伪 谓苇蔚蟼 伪蠁委尉蔚喂蟼 boss clodist 尉蠉位喂谓伪 魏慰蠀渭蟺喂维 纬喂伪 蠂蔚喂蟻慰蟿蔚蠂谓委蔚蟼 蟽蔚 未喂维蠁慰蟻伪 蟽蠂苇未喂伪 adidas cc fresh 2m 6 beaucoup beaute 蟺蔚蟻喂蟽蟿苇蟻喂 伪位慰纬伪魏喂 魏慰蠀谓喂蟽蟿…

  46. vets茅curit茅

    meilleur prix iphone 6s sans abonnement maillot burberry enfant parka rossclair canada goose acheter veste cuir robe noire chez mango short de bain pepe jeans casquette angels casquette style marin femme

  47. zavesa za kadu msv

    antik horgolt futè´¸ ter铆t艖 vagy sè°©l 2 gardrè´¸b gal茅ria how tall is rihanna in feet szoknyè°©k elegè°©ns leopè°©rdmintè°©s ceruzaszoknya tepl茅 thermo leg铆ny omuz dekolteli triko elbise vchodov茅 dve艡e tredo kazetov茅 model radka sklo ra膷unalni拧ki dodatek xplore pod…

Comments are closed.