POP/ROCK - July 9, 1987

The beat goes on and the price goes down: The world’s lowest-priced CD comes out Monday, when Massachussets-based Rykodisc releases a 72-minute sampler called “Steal This Disc” at a list price of $6.98--undercutting by $2 an MCA Records sampler from its Master Series. Among the 21 jazz, rock and folk artists on the eclectic collection are Devo, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, George Thorogood, Richie Havens, Schoolly-D and Doc Watson. What’s the secret of the low pricing? All the acts have waived their royalties, according to Rykodisc, in order “to stimulate the catalogue.”