FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 21, 2005

DEAR JERRY: First, we have a debate that you can settle by simply stating who invented the CD.

Second, while looking closely at some of my compact discs, I see slight variations in the common CD logo.

These differences include the terms “Digital Audio,” “Digital Video,” and “Interactive,” to name a few.

How many different types of CDs (not DVDs) exist?
—Ken & Ralph, York, Pa.

DEAR KEN & RALPH: No single person or company invented the CD. Credit for this landmark technology is shared by two entertainment giants: Sony and Philips.

Pretty much this same question is asked by Paul D. Paul, of Mequon, Wisc., who thought CDs might have been a Magnavox creation.

Here are the seven most common CD variations (eight if you count CD-RW separately):

1. Compact Disc Digital Audio (CD-DA) is the standard audio format. These discs may contain from one to 99 separate tracks. Your everyday commercial music CDs should all indicate Digital Audio.

2. Compact Disc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM) is for Data Storage discs, most of which contain software or some form of digital data.

3. Compact Disc Read Only Memory Extended Architecture (CD-ROM XA) is a CD-ROM spin-off that can display data, graphics, video, and simultaneously play audio.

4. Compact Disc Recordable (CD-R) discs have a Recordable, or ReWritable (CD-RW), surface. They are exclusively for computer burning.

5. Video Compact Disc (VCD), is used for MPEG video content, but is not to be confused with the DVD format. Video-CD is the customary format for storing video on compact discs.

6. CD+ (CD-Plus) discs can read audio and as well as data files. This format is also known as CD-Extra.

7. Compact Disc Interactive (CD-I) discs store audio, video, and binary on optical discs, and they require drives with a built-in microprocessor. This format is not nearly as common as the others above.

DEAR JERRY: As a fan of Raspberries as well as Eric Carmen, how many Top 10 hits did they each have?
—Barry Kluemper, Winslow, In.

DEAR BARRY: You could say that Eric Carmen pretty much was Raspberries. He formed the quartet, handled all the lead vocals, and even wrote all of their hits.

Between 1972 and '74, Raspberries had seven chart hits, but only “Go All the Way” made the Top 10.

After Raspberries disbanded, Eric's first solo hit, appropriately titled “All By Myself” (1975), reached No. 2 — the first of his three Top 10 smashes. Following it came “Hungry Eyes” (1987), from “Dirty Dancing,” and “Make Me Lose Control” (1988)..

In keeping with your question, I kept the Top 10 reference; though all four of these actually landed in the Top 5.

DEAR JERRY: Though now Floridians, we came from New York (Queens and on Long Island).

While there we knew a couple whose son recorded a number of hits in the 1960s. His name is Brian Hyland.

We often wonder what ever happened to Brian. He once lived in California, but where is he now?
—Bruce & Teresa Henshall, Palm Harbor, Fla.

DEAR BRUCE & TERESA: Brian, who turned 62 last month (November 12), is still based in southern California.

Though he and his studio, Stone Buffalo Trax, are on the west coast, Brian stills tour the globe. He remains quite popular in Great Britain and Germany.

If you think Brian would enjoy hearing from some folks from the old neighborhood, you can e-mail him here.

Among Brian's most memorable hits are “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini;” “Ginny Come Lately;” “Sealed with a Kiss;” and “Gypsy Woman.”

IZ ZAT SO? It may surprise some to discover Eric Clapton's name among charted country music artists, yet a duet made with and Louise Mandrell did become a hit.

Titled “As Long As We Got Each Other,” this 1988 hit is also known as the “Growing Pains Theme,” from a TV sitcom popular at that time. The version heard on show is by B.J. Thomas and Jennifer Warnes.