ee ENTERTAINMENT The move has happened By MARK LEPAGE Montreal Gazette MONTREAL (CP) — They've finally driven a stake through the spindle-hole heart of the old. black vinyl record album. ‘s They've marched it out to the back 40 and buried it, stil] snapping, crackling and hissing. If you're still firing up your ol’ wood-burning tur- ntable to listen to music, then you're a dinosaur being crushed under the silver wheels of the progress machine. The compact disc, or CD, is not ‘the future, It’s the Present. “*I'll tell you how dead vinyl is,”’ says Brian Rober- tson, president of the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), a trade assdciation representing 28 record companies responsible for over 95 per cent of the sound recordings on the market: “In October there was a grand total of 3,000 vinyl LPs sold in Canada.” That's roughly the size of one avid record-buyer’s collection. And that includes everything: hot new stuff like Madonna and M.C. Hammer, and cool catalogue stock like the Beatles, show tunes, the works. The arithmetic is ugly for vinyl fans: Canadian CD sales in 1990 are expected to gross upwards: of $150 million. In October alone, while just 3,000 albums were sold, 2.1 million CDs zipped‘ out of Canadian record stores, as did 3.7 million audiocassettes. CRIA has been tracking the rise of the compact disc since 1986, when sales were $48.9 million, and the graph line is almost vertical: $87.4 million in 1987; $114.4 million in 1988; $144.9 million in 1989. The shiny silver discs are showing signs of over- taking théir durable ugly cousin, the cassette: compared with last year, CD sales are up 30 per cent while casset- tes are down 20 per cent. Meanwhile, the seven-inch 45 rpm single, once the lifeblood of an industry that lives for immediacy, has long since vanished. Its big brother is following quickly. Few record stores in Montreal even bother to sell vinyl any more, and most domestic vinyl-LP-manufacturing plants have been mothballed. Mariy retailers believe that 1991 will be the year the LP limps into oblivion. Vinyl has become the dodo, the rainforest, the Montreal Concordes of the -music world: extinct. The question is, why? It depends who you ask. There are those who believe vinyl didn’t die of old age but was murdered, and that the big format change will turn out to ‘be the biggest mistake the record business has ever made. On one side is the industry itself, pointing to fat, healthy CD and cassette sales. To the company man, the °80s record market was Darwinian natural selection at its brutal best, with the lumbering LP sinking into the tar- pits of obsolescence, while the sleek CD licked its chops and evolved from there. On the other hand are retailers, and by extension consumers, still reeling from the dizzying switch — and trying to find the money to buy a CD player. CRIA president Robertson understands the feelings of @ generation suckled on scratchy old vinyl, and the sentimental attachment that goes with Elvis 45s and dog- eared copies of Blonde on Blonde.’ To Robertson, the death of vinyl! was inevitable, especially given the exten- ded range and brightness of sound delivered to the CD digital recording process. “There is no comparison,”’ Robertson stated flatly. “You're going from 1940s technology to the "90s, to the laser beam. It (vinyl) is an antiquated system . . . that served its time beautifully."” But Robertson insists it was not forced retirement. “The record indistry did not phase out vinyl. Quite honestly, if music could be stored on a teacup and then sold, the record industry would supply it. 1 mean, why wouldn’t they? It makes no sense to suggest a con- Robertson reels off figurés that indicate the decline of vinyl began four years before CDs were established in the mid-’80s. A happy year for the record industry was 1981. The bloodless vampire of mid-’70s flumf-rock had been given a transfusion by the New Wave movement, new stars were building careers, and vinyl hit its peak with 54.4 million units sold in Canada. But by 1984 the pop boom had popped, and that number of vinyl sales was down — to 33 million, then 25, 16, 14, 8 and just 3.6 million last year. Natural progression to the new CD order? Shelley Stein-Sacks,’ who runs the Montreal operation for Sam the Record Man stores, believes that assumption may be premature. Stein-Sacks says, and Robertson agrees, that CD players have been slow to penetrate the Quebec market and have made only marginally bigger inroads elsewhere in Canada. CD is still largely an urban phenomenon. About 70 per cent of Quebec homes still don’t have a CD player. So there must be a lot of people who just don’t buy recorded music any more, or who buy only tapes. Has the recording indugtry abandoned those people? Will they just I LPs over and over forever? There is no doubt that CD players, now priced to compete with turntables will continue to sell. But how quekly? * Stein-Sacks has a theory about why CDs became ubiquitous while vinyl wasted away: if you were one of the world’s leading CD-player manufacturers like, say, Sony, and you owned a major record company like, say, CBS, would you be pushing vinyl? Whether it jumped or was pushed, Stein-Sacks believes a market for vinyl remains. The trouble is, record companies insist that the CD be accepted and vinyl cast aside, even in the face of some demand. Stein-Sacks describes the plight of the mid-’80s music fan caught between his vinyl rock 'n’ roll and a hard place. Godfather lll second in polls LOS ANGELES (AP) — Home Alone and Godfather part TIT led the weekly movie box of- fice es, combining for a $45-million US New Year's holiday take, while Ghost mat as the biggest hit of 1990. Home Alone took in an estimated $25 million to take the No. 1 position in the five-day holiday box office tally, followed by Godfather Part III in second with more than $20 million, ac- cording to preliminary figures Do y hews story or feature you want to fell us about? Would you like to speak to someone about the delivery of your paper? Do you want to discuss a classified or display advertisement, or have you ever wonder whom to call regarding a billing or business mat- ter? . The following guide will put you in touch with the cme department. Clip it and keep it by your phone for reterahce. Newsroom Circulation .... Classified Adverti: Retail Advertising . . General Office & Printing . . . released by Relations Co. Inc. Muscling into third was Arnold Schwarzenegger's Kindergarten Cop with $17 million. Fourth went to Kevin Costner’s Dances With Wolves with $12 million and the fifth-place finisher was Look Who's Talking Too with $9.3 million. Sixth place went to. Edward Scissorhands, followed .by Three Men. and a Little Lady, Misery, Mermaids and Russia House. Two big-budget- movies did poorly. Bonfire of the Vanities took in only $4.9 million and Havana grossed just $2 million. The holiday box office period began Friday and ended Tuesday. The past year’s biggest hit was supernatural drama Ghost, with a 1990 take of $202 million. Pretty Woman was Second RENT THIS SPACE 365-5210 An Mingys ice Monday, January 7 7:30 p.m Cominco Gym, Trail, B.C. ADMISSION ~ Advance $21.50 * $24.50 Day of Show (Includes G.S.T.) * TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: TRAIL: Gl Market * KBS Office FRUITVALE: Fruitvale Pharmacy NELSON: Horizon One Hour Photo CASTLEGAR: Pete's TV ROSSLAND: Alpine Drugs CRESTON: Apple Tree Book & Music “DON'T MISS IT!" , | Castle News. ge SPORTS For the best there's no place like Green going to Penticton pelo “It'll be tougher to make the Writer He’s moving one step closer to the bigs and his brother Travis Green. David Green was given a phone call by the Penticton Knights two weeks ago and leaves today for the Junior A club. “Yeah, it was quite a surprise for me,” Green said Tuesday. **It was kind of a shocker." David, the younger Green, who is the leading scorer for the Castlegar Rebels and second overall in the Kootenay In- ternational Junior Hockey . that Green will don a Knights jer- sey during the 1990-91 hockey season. “3 “IT played. four exhibition games with the team," Green said. ‘I was one of the last cuts on the team. “But, when they sent me back to Castlegar they said if the team was doing poorly they'd give me acall.”’ No matter how you slice it, Green’s chances of seeing post- season action in either the KISHL or with Penticton, looks very slim. The Knights have managed a record of 7-23-3 for 17 points and are currently sitting last in the B.C. Junior A Interior Div- ision. Twenty-three games still remain for the Knights. players for the Portland Winter Hawks, said Don Joice, general manager for the Castlegar club. NOTES: The Rebels have gone winless in the last eight ‘outings and face the. Célumbia Valley Rockies Friday, a team which has a record of 21-3-0 and 42 points. Saturday, the Rebels visit the Elk Valley Raiders, the worst team in the KIJHL with six points. If Castlegar has any thoughts about a playoff berth, a win over the Crowe becomes third all-star from the Rebels By STEVE PEDEN Staff Writer i The third and final Castlegar Rebel to crack the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s West Division All-star lineup is Rick Crowe. Based on experience and his defensive play in the KIJHL, Crowe was a good last-round pick for Danny, Bradford, coach of the West all-stars and the Trail Junior Smoke Eaters, **Rick is probably one of the top defencemen in the league,”’ Bradford ‘said. ‘*Rick is a veteran ini the league . . . he is also one of the most steady defencemen around."’ This will be the second time in three years Crowe has cracked the all-star lineup. “Il was defi nively hoping to make the all-star team,"’ Crowe said Tuesday in a phone interview." ‘Crowe probably would have made it last year, if he’d bee& playing in the Raiders is imperative. Lake KIJHL, however, Crowe was busy patrolling the blueline for the Williams CABLE 10 SHAW CABLE 10 SCHEDULE Jan. 2, 4, 6, 1991 5 p.m. (Jan. 2, Jan. 6) 9 a.m. (Jan ® A Very Extraordinary Merry (Christmas — Children of the Pen- tecostal Church in Castlegar perform a special theatrical and musical production to celebrate the season. extravaganza from Nelson — know that Santa was such a hot featuring the students of many of the schools in Schoo! District No. 7. itso! p-m. (Jan. 2, Jan.) 11:30 . Gan. 4) A Disney Celebration - The Trail Ice Skating Club puts on a rreeaaally big show! Watch the parade of Disney stars complete with a Ni of Ti They show how to Christmas. 6 p.m. (Jan. 2, Jan. 6) 10 a.m. (ian. 4) 47th Carol Sing — The traditional annual choral and musical Boys, ‘Grows,-Mushrooms an elegant Capt. Hook, Prince Charming, and a green Jiminey Cricket all skating to a colorful sound track! We didn’t skater! 9:30 p.m. (Jan. 2, Jam. 6) 1:30 p.m. (Jan 4) Messiah — The Nelson Choral Society sings while the Selkirk Chamber Orchestra performs the instrumental portion of George Fredrick Handel’s famous com- position. Soloists include: 1. Funk — soprano, S. Jeffs — soprano, B. De Jersey — alto, T. Joveski — tenor and T. Spenser — bass. (Finish 2 hrs. after start time) January Clearanc AFTER CHRISTMAS SALE “Cosmetic Depart. SAVE NOW ON YOUR FAVORITE FRAGANCE ..- During our after Christmas Sale! But hurry, limited time offer! LADIES GIFT SETS »° AOor ® Cachet ® Vandervilt ® Audace ®.Nuance © Jontue ® Charlie ALL XMAS STOCK » 5 Ocr ® Decorations ® Gift Boxes ® Lights ¢ Ribbons ¢ Paper ® Lights © Garland tockings @ All Christmas Giftware (While Stock Lasts) LADIES WEAR, FABRICS AND LINENS 030 or UP TOYS AND pS del MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMAMMMMAMMAMMMMMNAMNNNM N WWI WWW wwwwwy vw WWW WW WWWWWWI\ Gretzky looks for goal 700 in New York By The Canadian Press = ae Gretzky takes anothér shot at goal No. 700 tonighifiii New ‘ork. Gretzky earned two assists but didn’t score Monday night when the Los Angeles Kings beat the Minnesota North Stars 4-2. “It’s going to be nice when it happens,’’ Gretzky said of his next milestone. “‘Now I've got a chance to do it in-Manhattan (against the New York Rangers). “That would be nice — to get it there.”" Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leading point-getter, has 699 goals in 884 games. Gordie Howe holds the all-time record with 801 goals in 1,767 games. Marcel Dionne scored 731 goals and Phil Esposito had 17. In ‘Bloomington, Minn., Tomas Sandstrom, Jay Miller, Bob Kudelski and Brad Jones scored for the Kings and Daniel Berthiaume made 33 saves for the goaltending win. Dave Gagner and Ulf Dahlen scored for the North Stars. CAPITALS 4 DEVILS 3 On Tuesday, Dino Ciccarelli got the game-winner early in the third as Washington ended its eight-game winless streak by ending New Jer- sey’s eight-game undefeated streak. John Druce got two goals and Nick Kypreos got one for the Caps. Kirk Muller, Lee Norwood and Claude Lemieux scored for the Devils. FLAMES 7 CANADIENS 2 On Monday, Theoren Fleury had a goal and three assists and Gary Suter, Robert Reichel, Mark Hunter, Stephane Matteau, Gary Roberts and Frantisek Musil added a goal each for the Flames. Guy Carbonneau and Brian Skrudiand scored for the Canadiens, who had a five-game (3- 0-2) undefeated streak snapped. JETS 2 CANUCKS 1 The Canucks’ Jay Mazur scored 25 seconds into the game and Pat Elynuik tied it on a powerplay at 9:47. Phil Housley made a slick backhand move pinching in from the point to put a winning shot past Vancouver goaltender Kirk Mclean at 8:42 of the third period. ISLANDERS 6 NORDIQUES 3 Derek King, who had scored only three goals this season, potted four against Quebec goaltender Ron Tugnutt. Ray Ferraro and Brad Lauer added a goal each. Joe Cirella, Mike Hough and Shawn Ander- son scored for the Nordiques. SABRES 5S FLAYERS 2 Alexander Mogilny picked up his ninth and 10th goals of the season and had two assists to pace the Sabres’ attack. Dale Hawerchuk, Grant Ledyard and Pierre Turgeon added a goal each. Buffalo is un- beaten (3-0-2) in five. Rick Tocchet and Murray Craven scored for Phil HAWKS 4 WINGS 0 Dirk Graham scored twice and Michael Goulet and Steve Larmer, with his 28th goal, added one each in Chicago’s first road shutout since November 1984. Ed Belfour stopped 22 shots for his second shutout of the season and his NHL-leading 24th victory.- PENGUINS 4 BLUES 3 Mark Recchi’s second goal of the game and 2tst of the season with 3:11 remaining lifted the Penguins to their ninth win in 11 games. John Cullen and Paul Stanton scored Pittsburgh's other goals. Ron Wilson, Rich Sutter and Herb Raglan scored for the Blues, who lost their third in a row. UP AND OVER Eric Sather on the Coteaneeey still very good up and over Mark Hamilton with the shot Tuesday at the swimmi i} x. It's been close to a year since the Complex opened and Susleese wes considering it was New Years Day. — cosriews photo by Steve Peden Playoffs settled in NEL: By The Associated Press It came down to the. final two seconds of the NFL's regular season, but the playoff matchups are finally set. The final spot was determined Monday night, when Morten Ander- |. sen’s 24-yard field goal gave New Orleans a 20-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams and the final spot in the expanded playoffs. The Saints, at 8-8 only the second .500 team ever to qualify for post- season play are now on the Chicago for a first-round game with the Bears start Over rookie Peter Tom Willis, although _T: was dismal in Chicago’s loss to Kansas City last Saturday. ‘Coach -Mike Ditka said Monday he’ll go with Tomczak, who has star- ted two NFC championship games for Chicago. “*He’s going to do great and I’m going to support him just like his teammates,’ Ditka said of Tomezak. The Saints, 10-6 two years ago and 9-7 last year but out of the playoffs, made it this time because of the ex- panded format. The other wild-card matchup in the NFC will be on Saturday, when Washington (10-6) is at Philadelphia (10-6). That will be followed by an AFC matchup pitting Kansas City (11-5) at Miami (12-4). Houston and Cincin- nati, each 9-7, will meet for the second time in three weeks at Cin- cinnati on Sunday, followed by the Bears-Saints. San Francisco (14-2) has the top seed in the NFC and will meet cither New Orleans or the Philadelphia- Washington winner Jan. 12. The New York Giants (13-3) are the second seed and will host the Bears or the Philadelphia-Washington win- ner the next day. In the AFC, Buffalo (13-3), is-the top seed and will play either Houston or the winner of the Kansas City- Miami game on Dec. 12. The Los Angeles Raiders (12-4) will play host ‘either to Cincinnati or the Kansas City-Miami winner. Z Canada points the finger PERTH, Australia (AP) — ts of widespread use of illegal perf by East German athietes. “We. have to be more "* he said. “For 15 years, we all knew something had to be going on for the East Ger- mans to be swimming the times med comment, is witch-hunting,’’ said Australian coach Don Talbot. ‘It's something out of the Dark Ages.”” Ray Essick, executive director of U.S. swimming, said he knew of no meet in the United States* the subject of a federal inquiry into drug abuse after Toronto sprinter Ben Johnson's positive test for steroids at the 1988 Olympics. Where'd they go? By TERRY SCQIT The Canadian Press So, it’s 1991 and all-of us have suddenly grown a year older, If you want confirmation the stands of time are in- deed slipping through the hourglass, let's return to the days when 1980 was yielding to 1981. The Edmonton Oilers had this kid, eight days older than Wayne Gretzky, who was penning the eyes of teammates and foes alike. He was the 48th player selected in the entry draft a year earlier, and his superb play prompted. coach Glen Sather to proclaim, ‘‘Unbelievably, he was still there on Round. 1 think he might be better than Jimmy Mann, Mann almost 400-10 in his career. The Montreal Expos also had a talented youngster who, mewspaper headlines said, was a swift second baseman the team was grooming to replace Ron LeFlore in left field. Yes, that would be Tim Raines, the same left fielder who was traded by the Expos as the book closed on 1990. And suddenly there is a stark reality that a few New Year's Eves have passed In Milwaukee, the Brewers had to temporarily replace manager George Bamberger, who had suffered a heart attack. They chose a virtual unknown named Buck Rodgers, who has gone on to earn 500 career victories, not at the helm of the Brewers but as the manager of the Expos. Ferguson Jenkins, in the twilight of a magnificent career, was awaiting a court hearing after he was arrested fa” Toronto for possessing four grams of cocaine. He was granted an absolute discharge but 10 years later, as he continues to fall just short of the required votes on the Hall of Fame ballot, there is the perception that Jenkins is still being judged for his off-field con- duct. Obviously, some things never seem to change. As 1980 ended, Pete Rose’s name was prominent because a newspaper reported that his divorce from his first wife would cost him $1.5 million. As 1990 passed, Rose was still paying a hefty price — this time, he was waiting for the cell doors to open as he finished a five-month sentence for filing false income tax returns.