FIRST OFF . . .

Thanks to the rise of the compact disc, 1986 was the U.S. recording industry’s biggest year ever, with more than $4.6 billion in sales, according to an annual report released Wednesday by the Recording Industry Assn. of America. Last year, 53 million CDs were sold, generating $930 million in sales, as compared to 1985’s figures of 22.6 million and nearly $390 million. The impact of the higher priced CDs (which retail for about $13-$16 each compared to $6-$9 for albums and cassettes) is underscored by the fact that total units shipped to retailers were down 5% yet the industry’s overall dollar volume rose 6%. Cassettes continue to dominate the market with sales of 344.5 million units totaling $2.5 billion. Vinyl record sales dropped considerably from 1985 figures, with LP and EP shipments off 25% and singles 22%.