COMPACT DISCS : Excellent Good Fair Poor

“Best of Spector Sound.” Victor. This 16-selection Japanese import, the only CD collection of producer Phil Spector’s classic ‘60s hits (“He’s a Rebel” to “Be My Baby”), underscores an issue with compact discs. Should buyers get all their favorite records in CD or just the ones that actually benefit from the format’s sound dynamics? These songs are an essential part of a modern pop collection, but the sound on the CD is no improvement over the conventional vinyl album. All you gain is the convenience of CD automatic selection. Added problem: some key Spector tracks, including “Lovin’ Feeling,” are missing. 1/2