Thursday, December 6, 1990
DAT isn't worth
the wait
Robb Frederick
The Collegian
Don't throw those compact discs away yet. Although
DAT (Digital Audio Tape) has formally arrived in audio
stores and mail order catalogs, the much-heralded format still
isn't all that accessible.
The theory behind DAT sounds good (no pun intended):
combine the crisp sound quality of a compact disc with the
ability to create nearly flawless copies. Consumer Reports
recently tested several players and found that tenth generation
DAT tapes (recordings copied 10 times) still sounded
slightly better than original, store-bought cassette
recordings. But the magazine considers the improvement a
subtle one, and claims most listeners won't even notice the
difference.
While DAT may offer improved sound quality, the new
format's price is guaranteed to keep most consumers away.
The average rack-model DAT player runs about $BOO, and
Sony's new portable players are even more expensive. The
Sony DAT walkman costs $B5O, and the company's first car
DAT player/tuner retails for $l,lOO. Add to that cost the
$l4-15 price tag on 2-hour blank DAT tapes, and those
compact discs may start to sound clear enough.
The time may come for DAT, but eager audiophiles still
have a while to wait.
• The battle over CD longboxes continues to rage across
the nation's record stores. Critics of the longbox packaging
format - including influential artists like U 2, Peter
Gabriel and Joan Jett - say the cardboard sleeve wastes
money and demages the environment. But record store
owners disagree; they like the longbox because it increases
impulse sales and reduces shoplifting. The debate is sure to
increase when U 2 and Gabriel debut their next releases, but
for now the store owners are in control. Most stores have
refused to stock the latest relase by children's music artist
Liner Notes
Rain, who insisted his Evergreen Everblue be displayed
without the longbox.
• Michael Jackson has almost closed a new deal with
CBS Records which will make him the wealthiest
entertainer in show biz history. Terms under the new deal
will provide Jackson with his own custom label as well as
advance payments of over $lB million. In addition, the
gloved one will be guaranteed almost half of the retail gross
stemming from his future records.
• The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
has announced that it will not give Milli Vanilli's
revoked Grammy to any other contenders.
• A Los Angeles judge this week dropped the assault
charges filed against Guns 'N Roses frontman Ax I
Rose. The charges stemmed from an incident last month
when Rose supposedly smashed a wine bottle over the head
of his neighbor Gabriella Kantor.
• Maybe MTV should have thought a little longer before
banning Madonna's latest video. The controversial clip,
which was shown in its entirety this week on -ABC's
Nightline, brought the show its highest rating this year.
• While Jon Bon Jovi plays around with his new
cowboy image, his former sidekick Richie Sambora is
preparing a solo debut of his own. Sambora, who will
handle lead vocals as well as guitar work, will be assisted by
Bon Jovi band mates Tico Torres and Dave Bryan.
• Production begins this month on yet another
installment in the Star Trek film series. This time around,
the supposedly emotionless Spock falls in love, but it
might not last. Actor Leonard Nimoy has announced the
"intention to really do a grand exit" At this point, any kind
of exit will be fine with me.
• David Lee Roth's next release, A Little Ain't
Enough, is due in stores Jan. 15. Bob Rock produced.
• Billy Squier has completed his latest LP, Creatures
of Habit. The ten-track release, due in March, reunites Squier
with several members of his original backing band.
• Skid Row will release another disc in January.
• Nils Lofgren's next Rykodisc release, due in mid-
February, touts guest appearances by Bruce Springsteen,
Ringo Starr, Billy Preston and Levon Helm.
The Collegian
Entertainment
Three men and a hit sequel
Film proves that sequels don't have to exploit originals
b Christi Luden
The Collegian
They're Back! The three
bachelors who let a baby and her
mother into their partying lives
have changed.
Peter (Tom Selleck), Michael
(Steve Guttenberg), and Jack (Ted
Danson) found a bigger and better
apartment to share with Sylvia
(Nancy Travis) and Mary (Robin
Weisman). They're all one big
happy family in the sequel Three
Men and a Little Lady.
Six-year-old Mary has the best
of everything with her mom and
thee dads.
Peter listable.
Michael is funny.
And Jack is wild.
What else could an adorable
little girl want? Nothing; until
she starts school and discovers
that her life isn't normal.
After a little boy informs
Mary that she's not supposed to
have three dads, the tough times
in parenthood begin. The
rebellious little tike starts asking
questions about sex and it's
becoming harder and harder to get
her to go to sleep.
The pressure eventually gets
to Sylvia, who finally decides a
traditional family life is what's
best for her and Mary. One mom,
one dad, and many children. It
will not only be better for her,
but also for her three male
friends, who should be married by
now.
Although Sylvia is clearly in
love with Peter, she settles for a
marriage proposal from her
As music and movie ticket prices continue to soar, play it
safe and wait for The Collegian's weekly record and film
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director (she's a very successful
actress). They plan to move to
Lon Jon and many there.
The big happy family has to
split.
Before the two ladies move
out, there are many powerful
scenes, ranging from arguments
to embraces. We see various
facets of each character. However,
the most moving scene comes
when Sylvia and Maly drive away
in a big black limousine.
Life in London is terrible for
Mary. She's lonely in a huge
stone mansion with a step-father
to-be who's very proper and
I
Review
I
doesn't appreciate rambunctious
children.
Back at home, the three men
are pretty lonely too. They just
can't seem to get back into the
"bachelor life" of women and
parties. So, they make a decision
to attend Sylvia's wedding in
London.
Together again, everyone
seems much happier. Many
hilarious scenes transpire as Peter
finally realizes what he's losing.
In the end, the family shifts, but
once again becomes happy and
fulfilled.
Director Emile Ardolino does
a wonderful job with this sequel.
Why waste your money?
reviews.
Page
It is different enough from the
first not to get boring, but still
similar enough for those of us
who saw the first to pick up on a
few cute scenes.
The subtle love battle going
on between Peter and Sylvia adds
excitement and hopefulness to the
movie as a whole. Tom Selleck
portrays Peter in a way that
makes the audience believe he is
the only one of the three that
could marry Sylvia. Nancy Travis
is the perfectly delicate, yet
strong woman that Sylvia needs
to be.
As in the first movie,
Guttenberg is a key element in a
few scenes, but he doesn't stand
out much. Maybe it's due to the
fact he co-stars with two
celebrities of Selleck's and
Danson's caliber.
Ted Danson is wild and
woman hungry as usual. These
elements in Jack are what make it
impossible for him to marry
Sylvia. Although he is Mary's
biological father, he's not nearly
ready to settle down.
Finally, Robin Weisman
emerges in this film as a
spectacular young actress. She
has to put on several different
faces to play Mary; she's got to
be sweet and funny, but serious
and tearful. She can't act like a
spoiled brat or no one would like
her.
The combination of great
actors and actresses, along with
exciting and moving scenes are
what make Three Men and a
Little Lady the best sequel I've
ever seen.