Oldies

Nostalgia, as they say, isn't what it used to be. And nowhere is the truth of that maxim any more apparent than in the crusty, moldy, positively moribund world of rock radio--where a new mutant format, "classic rock," has reared its doddering head with a ratings splash in many major metropolises. In Los Angeles, the recent addition to the airwaves is KLSX-FM (97.

Farrrrr out! John Denver's back. The quintessential Country Boy showed up at the Greek Theatre on Saturday with a musical entourage large enough to satisfy the most sophisticated city-dweller. Of course, Denver has never really been away. A record released nearly every year in the '80s, world concert tours and television appearances have kept his sometimes sweetly sentimental, sometimes militantly proselytizing songs alive for legions of devoted fans.

REMEMBER WHEN YOUR mother asked you if you wanted her old toaster, and you turned up your nose and replied, "Not that old thing." Who's sorry now? In this age of instant antiques, the '50s are ancient history. The things your mother threw away seemingly just yesterday are suddenly priceless treasures. And no wonder: It was a hopeful time, and appliances were important objects that were going to change the world by liberating women from dreary tasks.

A lot of attention is focused these days on cars designed to look like trucks and trucks designed to drive like cars, and on automotive styling from the Transformers and Gobots schools. Given all that, it is interesting to see the results of a Web poll taken recently by Kelley Blue Book (http://www.kbb.com) in Irvine. Chevrolet emerged from the monthlong balloting as the favorite brand of the last 50 years, with Chevy models built since 1950 combining to capture 21% of the 67,000 votes cast.

Southern California's romance with Depeche Mode resumes this week as the band in black kicks off a series of five arena shows in the area with a performance Tuesday night at the Cox Arena in San Diego. But where's the love when it comes to '90s rock bands? When Depeche Mode hit it big in the '80s, no U.S.

Old Angels never die, and, evidently, they don't fade away, either. Dick Schofield and Rich Monteleone first broke the ice in September, proving that no ex-Angel's career is so cryogenic that it can't be thawed, reheated and served up again. There's really nothing wrong with TV dinners--right?--once you get past the taste. After Schofield and Monteleone came Jack Howell. And John Orton. And Ron Tingley. And Bryan Harvey. Who next, the wiseacres chortled, Willie Fraser? Why, yes, Willie Fraser.

Erasure "Other People's Songs" (Mute) ** 1/2 Singer Andy Bell knows all there is to know about the crying game. At least the vocal half of this veteran British dance-pop duo sure sounds as if he does on the best of Erasure's quirky new collection of covers. From widely disparate sources, the songs are generally about keeping that romantic torch ablaze, a favorite subject for Bell and his music-making partner, Vince Clarke.

Call it "The Assault on Hogan's Alley." Summon Lt. Columbo. Let him uncover what occurred in the month of August two years ago at Riviera Country Club. Or, here's another idea. Forget the 1995 PGA Championship, the major tournament that Riviera double-bogeyed to the jeers from players, press, spectators and even club members. Tee it up again. Riviera officials have chosen the latter course, already beginning preparations for the U.S. Senior Open scheduled to start there one year from today.

It is obvious now, six months after the fact, that the U.S. women's gymnastics program learned a hard lesson at the 1999 World Championships, where Team USA finished a desultory sixth place: If you can't beat 'em with what you've got, start dragging bodies out of retirement. First came Bela Karolyi, setting aside the elephant gun and hunter's camouflage to return to the fray in the newly created position of "national team coordinator."

Picture, if you can, Babe Ruth retiring from baseball while he was still a pitcher. How about imagining Jack Nicklaus quitting after winning his second Masters or fourth major? What if Jack Dempsey hung them up after the Jess Willard fight? What if Knute Rockne went into business after his first national championship?