1996_05 Insight May 1996

              Lifestyle
MAY 1,1996
recyle
resilient
renovate
review
rebuild
reform
re-incarnate
reward
rejuvenate
re-instate
replicate
reduplicate
register
resource
renaissance
restore
regenerate
reticulate
reflect
recharge
resourceful
replete
revert
refresh
revalidate
research
re-integrate
reward
repeat
redevelop
reserve
relevate
re-enoble
revive
refocus
reverse
reproduce
revise
return
revindicate
responsible
reman
retro
reborn
rerun
redeem
regenerate
Used CDs a lively market
for Fresno record retailers
resurrect
reworked
remember
by Ron Armstrong
Staff Writer
Two teenage girls, clad in h
stuffed with used compact d
Zeppelin lhat vied foi space
Youth and The Incredible Shri
aledal 7.V E.  Billiard Ave
As ihey approached thc counter, one oi
W girls brandished a coupon good for S5
Ryan Clark, store owner of Ragin"
words, said this experience was routine.
"We get people in here like lhal all the
inc." lie said " I he kids lhal like lhat kind
I music support lhc cause lol buying
sed compact discs), and I can tuisi them
.epi
sell used CDs  It has
"Cogntrv.classical, ja//. nick. rap. pop.
soul, eospel. musicals ihev re all here."
said Eddie Bubhner. 29. store manager.
Buying price depends on the popularity of thc item and each Whorehouse is
able lo set its ow n price Bubliner's store,
located on Blaekstone and McKinley av -
enues. has a high demand for rap. so those
l   IK.
orth n
-If ihe deni
Ueeai
ihen
i shipping ci
id l loi a specific till.
. the price is higlu
much grealei     is because of quality.
as 50 percent.        "They don't wear out like v my I records
is used, which    or tapes." Bubhner said. "And if the disc
and it's worth    is scratched, we don't buy it "
it." said Clark        Bubhner said more than 15 percent of
Wheielionse Records' sales come from
owned    used CDs. Independent stores like Ragin"
ice the     Records have an even higher profit.
nt heal        "I-iliy percent of my volume is used
he firsl    CDs. bin because of then profiuJbility,
one so    over 70 percent of my overall profits
come from ihem. "Clark said,
iv s all        Ragin' Records specializes in alternative rock: garage, surf. punk, relro 60s,
regeae and ska. Bul Clark savs he will     __
buwnv dune as he nods ,o a jumbled pile "■       „     .,D Insight photo by Ryan McKee
on the desk Amid racKS °fnew and used CDs- Rag|n Records owner Ryan Clark, 21,
"I still need io price and remark those.    &eis mucn °* nis business from local teens,
thev just-came in." he said "Emm a business aspect, as well as    used because it means that the person that
Clark gels orders for new CDs also,     from the aspect of a musician, it doesn'l     bought it didn't like it enough to keep it."
bin will nol sell anything for more than     make any difference." said Popeye. a     he said.
S 13.95. member of lhc punk band. Farsidc. "If       Tony Carran/a. 21. believes that used
Popeve. an executive assistant at Rev-    the CDs don't sell (well) new. ihen the    CDs arc thc best value,
elation Records, claims that retailing     label will reduce the price anyway." "I won't pay lull price for CDs any-
used CDs is noi a problem. The record        Popeye said he buys his CDs used. more." said Carranza. a full-time student
label does not loose money because CDs        -The only problem is a blow lo my ego    al Kings River Community College and
CD     produce a pre -designated amounti when I see'my own band's CDs on sale     an alternative music aficionado.
Recycled vinyl records
bring back the old hits
by Summer Brown
Staff Writer
She heli
■Cine.!
nber ihis o
said io her mom.
the inspiration."
Comes and her mother
rummaging through llious
ies at Spinners     a nostalgic record store located in the Tower District.
Owner Gary Kdwards. a 50-ish. soft-spoken man with shoulder length, sali-and-pep-
per hair, said that although record companies
slopped mass producing vinyl! Iheii
collectibility, artistic quality and cheap prices
keep the sales and memories alive.
Records remained the most popular record
ing formal until thc compact disc was introduced in 1983. B> 1989, music stores gradually switched to selling CDs. By lhat time.
vinyl sales had declined below cassette sales
"No one could buy their favorite artist's
newest albums because music stores weren't
selling them." said Edwards.
In the quest for changing technology, convenience and the ability to maximize volume
in each store (CDs lake up less space than
albums), the switch was purposely planned
bv ihe music industry, said Kdwards.
CDs were promoted bv Sony and Philips
as "perfect sound forever" or digital sound
The sound encoded on the disc guaranteed
clarilv and crispness and was free of extraneous noise.-like the crackling and clickine
thrive.
"I have been here |.u Spinners] for 6 1/2
years and sales keep gelling belter." he said
-People are realizing there's a diminishing
supply of vinyl, plus a lot of older music is
not available on CD."
Gomes said she siill owns a turntable and
likes to locate those oldie-hut-goodie records
for herself and her uncle.
"Why back order the CD from some place
like Whcrehouse when I can buy the album
here.*" she said. "Besides, an album cover is
ollc<
.id Spu
s attracts more than
Insight photo by Ryan McKee
Vinyl records can be found at Spinners, where customer Maureen Gomes searches for a musical soundtrack.
Iwards prefers the sound of v iny I. A
he sound produced is one the artist origi pofl
intended." he said while cleaning a stack the
5s. "Records provide a warmth to their Alb
d lhal is unachievable by a CD.*"
: is confident business will continue to
"Music lovers, people w ho appreciate good
musk of all kinds, come here." he said.
The 900-square-feei store has more than
35.000 LPs and close to 20.00045s, with ev-
erv iv pe ol music except classical and hardcore'rap Prices range from S2 lo SS.
Spinners' albums were bought or traded
from customers, lidwardssaid he-selects each
"lor every four albums 1 can potentially
buv. I usually only find one lhat is good
enough." he said.
The condition of the vinyl, its cover and
sleeve arc equally important because when
people buy a record, ihey look al Ihe entire
package, lie said.
A self-described "music man." Edwards'
collection at home numbers 40.000. His fa-
vorites are jazz artist Roland Kirk and rock -
legends The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.
He said mosi college students want to buy
obscure, alternative albums they read about
in magazines like Rolling Stone.
"Velvet Underground and Hawk wind are
really popular now." he said.
An album's collectible value is another reason sales are heller than ever.
A 1994 article in U.S. News & World Re
cord's
.uld o
See VINYL, page 9
'Retro Rags' a nostalgic fashion statement for college crowd
by Melyssa Springmeyer
Staff Writer
The sound of Aretha Franklin's "Re
pect" echoes throughout Retro Rag
'olyester print shins hang
e uMlic
The long-sleeve shins are reminiscent
of the days when "The Brady Bunch"
aired original episodes. "Saturday Nighl
Fever" was a box-oftice champ and disco
ruled ihe clubs as well as the charts.
Retro Rag. located al 733 E. Olive
Ave., and The Salvation Army, located at
804 S. Parallel Ave., are two thrift stores
where buyers .hop to In their style and
Fresno City College student Dawn
Mahcr. 21. said she liked Retro Rag so
much that she brought her friend, tiiiiny
Leonard. 21 and also a K'C student, along
Ihe ue\l time.
The students weren't searching for
anything in particular, but Mahcr said
some of the clothes she buys may nol be
exactly what she is looking for.
"Whal I usually do is get things altered
io gel ihem updated to w hat I like lo wear."
said Mahcr.
Although Leonard had never been lo
Retro Rag. she has frequented other thrift
"I just buy things if I like something,
not usually for a particular party or anything." said Leonard.
Mahcr showed Leonard all the different styles of clothes while browsing
through the racks.
"I've been here one other lime before,
and I'll probably keep coming back."
Mahcr said
Reiro Rag was founded by Diane
Makasian. a California Slale University.
Fresno graduaie. approximately 3 years
ago. As owner, her job includes travcl-
d the
rent fashion trends to buv
"I buy what the trend is. Currently the
70s style |of clothing] is the most popular." professionally dressed Makasian
The ihrili store is full of 70s clothing
— evervthinu from eo-eo boots, rang-
red io black
bell bottoms and
logos that read'"I'm
t-shirts with iron
a Taurus."
Retro Rag also carries styles from the
40s through the 70s. including a light
green, strapless taffeta dress, with
See CLOTHING, page 9
r—
|
^^J
<3
I
TUXEDO
JUNCTION
1   $20   1
OFF ON RENTALI
Includes  shoes
and accessories
^4 i
California Medical School Of
Shiatsu & Student Clinic
shiatsu therapy
Learn the Onenial therapeutic healing art ol Shiatsu Therapy,
a deep tissue pressure point therapy that helps treat many ailments and disorders.
Professional Programs*Placement Assistance* VA
•CEU»VOC«Rehab»Financial Aid AvailableOf eligible)
ictoli.  I STUDENT CUNIC TREATMENTS   sl5 per sessions
45 min. to 1 hr. s10 Seniors 60 & over
FRESNO
"KEF 244-4707
Nationally Accredited by
A.C.C.E.T.
MODESTO
f",cSSrWl544-0960
Clerical Job Openings
Earn SHM)s weekly working from home
For info, send $3.00 and self addressedjerurelope to:
John
1571 N.Barton
Fresno CA 93703
Mone-;y Back Gi
(Pool, Spa, Laundry. Covered Parking)
^^       (4 Floor Plans Starting at S430)
nsJow Accepting Deposits for August)
Corner of Willow & Gettysburg