I Catalog my ever expanding CD collection (over 2000) in a series of databases. They are in the standard .dbf format that most major database and spreadsheet programs can import. I basically keep up with new reissues, and although I don't make any effort to be comprehensive, I do get most of the classic 20s-30s jazz and danceband CDs. I also have many privately burned CDs of dance orchestra 78s.

I'll be happy to eMail the files (in .zip format) to anyone who wants them. Sometimes I get behind in cataloging tracks, and occasionally I modify the database structure--eg. in the past I have enlarged the various artist fields so I can include more info, and have added a couple of fields. This doesn't affect existing data if you have earlier versions; if you have modified the fields or data, then put new versions in a separate directory before opening, so you can see what's new. I sometimes upgrade the info in individual records. You can request updates at any time. I've done the work for my own purposes, but I want to share it with you if you think you can use it. These files can help you select CDs to order, catalog your collection, and are extensive enough to be useful for reference.

Albums.dbf has my entire collection of CDs and cassettes; includes key artists, discographical information, genre key words, and a unique library number. 1/9/07 (This doesn't include a large collection of private burns) 

Track catalogs: (Dates: I added records as recently as the date shown)

1. twenties.dbf  Contains jazz, dancebands, anything else from the period 1900-1929. I've considered splitting it, putting the classic jazz in a separate file; however, I really like being able to document the influence of jazz by asking this file "Who else recorded 'Tiger rag'?" and seeing how many dance band records show up. And I don't have to hem and haw about where to put the non-jazz Paul Whiteman records which included Bix. Jazz was one of the pop musics of this period, so the tunes were made available by music publishers as sheet music for the parlor, and orchestrations for hotel dance bands; the latter recorded many of the arrangements, and the more popular orchestras often made their own. Many jazz musicians made their living playing in those orchestras, so many of the records are very good indeed! 1/3/07  --lots more to add

2. jazz3040.dbf  Contains small group and big band swing, and dixieland, 1930-1949. Note that my genre interests stop basically at ca. 1942, so no later Ellington or Basie, bebop, Kenton, etc. 1/8/07  --more to add

3. tunes.dbf  Contains 30s-40s non-jazz dance band tracks. 1/3/07  --lots more to add, especially private burns of late 20s-early 30s dance orchestras.

4. revivals.dbf  Contains post-1950 bands playing old music, as well as old artists found in the first 3 databases who played after 1950, eg. Benny Goodman on Capitol, Eddie Condon on Columbia. (However, 2 CDs of Bechet are in Jazz3040.dbf) Latest additions include several King Oliver recreation albums.
1/3/07 --more to add

5. oldtuncs.dbf  Contains tracks from the first 3 categories on cassettes listed in Albums.dbf.

6. misctune.dbf  Includes all sorts of stuff, eg. Louis Prima, late 1990s "new swing", ballroom, etc., on CDs and cassettes. I made a point to acquire ballroom compilations to learn the rhythms and tunes. There are a few Jewish-Israeli dance music
compilations, some blues, country & western classics, etc. Occasionally I find something interesting, eg. Brian Setzer big band CDs, including 2 Christmas CDs, and the Klezmernauts' "Oy! to the world", but don't add much. And, in fact, I probably won't catalog the tracks on those. Current to 5/12/02

7. poptunes.dbf  I bought a bunch of "oldies" and more contemporary CDs and cassettes to learn tunes, and play them on gigs during band breaks. Plus I collect "doo wop" CDs that contain versions of old tunes. I rarely buy any of this stuff anymore. I did get 2 ACE cds containing Brenda Lee's 1st 4 LPs and cataloged them. 11/30/05

8. lps.dbf  I have a "collection", ok, accumulation, of lps, most of which I want to sell as I acquire the reissue CDs. Most are in good shape, as the ones I really liked I taped for playing, to preserve the lps and listen to the tracks I liked. No track catalogs.
A few I'm gonna keep, others I want to record on CD, then discard. An "Action" field tells you the LPs current status: I updated each entry on 5/10/03. I've begun having some LPs put on CDs, am working up to putting a list a albums for sale on americanmusiccaravan.com 5/1/04 --I can generate a list of albums for sale.

The tracks files fields: title, main artist, 2 additional artist fields, session date, original label, album library number, notes.  The databases are "flat" files, but if you want to relate the album.dbf records to their track database records, the library number can be used as the "link". I added a "matrix number" field to twenties.dbf, but use it artibrarily.
The "Chart?" field reflects my interest in vintage "stock" arrangements, which often were recorded in whole or part, especially during the 1920s; "Yes" means I have, recognize, or know it's the chart.
The artist fields usually contain the names I recognize; naturally I've learned a lot of names since I began the catalogs, but I haven't gone back systematically. Rather, as I get new CDs with duplicates of existing tracks, I do try to update the old records. Early on, when I got an artist compilation containing various bands, eg. Jack Teagarden, I put that artist in the first field; lately I've put the name of the band there, put the object of the compilation in an "Other artist" field; whenever I discover such records, I make the change. I now have Brian Rust's Jazz Records, 1897-1942 and American Dance Band Discography, 1917-1942, and am using them to fill in data lacking in some of the CD inserts as I catalog them--some British reissue labels include the matrix and/or label catalog numbers, but don't provide the name of the original record label, some other labels don't provide personnel or some other info; I probably won't go back systematically. The Rust books are essential for serious collectors, but are long out of print; mine popped up in an estate auction. A revised edition of JR was published by Mainspring Press ca. 12/02.

Record cataloging databases is a topic of debate among collectors. My databases are for my own collection, but might be used by others as models. However, I'd few things differently if I were starting over. 1. I'd have one "Other" artist field of 253 characters. 2. I'd include the Artist in that field if he's playing an instrument or singing. eg. Artist: Benny Goodman Orch., Other: Benny Goodman cl. This would allow you to search for all recordings with Benny Goodman using a wildcard search: *benny goodman*.
3. During the 20s, less often in the early 30s, popular artists often recorded under pseudonyms to evade exclusivity provisions in their contracts with labels. Major labels often had various sub-labels for niche markets and they often released the same record on many or all of them under pseudonyms. This is an endless source of frustration for discographers, who often must do extensive detective work to get it right. Reissue booklet writers often discuss this, and put the pseudonyms in the booklet discographies. My practice is to put the pseudonym on [brackets] in the Artist field. You might prefer to have a separate field for pseudonyms.
4. If you get many CDs for particular musicians, eg. Bix Beiderbecke, you could create a "key artist" field.
5. If the tunes are important to you apart from the records, you could include a Composer field. If you just want to be able to distinguish between tunes with the same title, you could put the composer's name in [brackets] in the title field--eg there are 4 20s tunes called "Sugar".

Quik List: just copy and paste into an eMail
albums,  twenties,  jazz3040,  tunes,  revivals,
misctune,  oldtunecs,  poptunes,
lps

CD dealers  I order most of my CDs from the first two, some from the others; all are totally reliable and give good service.

Jazz'n'Blues eMail: jazzjerry@aol.com  British dealer that carries UK, European, and American labels. Issues a monthly catalog, in .pdf format eMailed as attachment, or hard copy.. I get my UK-European CDs here. The website lists new items rather than the complete catalog; I order via eMail, which works just fine.

Worlds Records Specializes in jazz and related musics of all eras. It issues a quarterly catalog, but you can order online. The online database is outstanding: you can search by artist, label, tune, etc. The entry for each CD lists all the tracks, the artists, and usually indicates years covered. I get my North American CDs here. There are also separate lists of new items, which appear ca. weekly.

Jazz By Mail This ragtime/dixieland/traditional jazz house sells privately produced CDs as well as those of specialized labels. The album entries are the most informative around, providing complete information on contents and artists, as well as the liner notes, other albums by the artists. It is also pleasing to the eye.

Stomp Off Records This record company is dedicated to perpetuating 1920s jazz and related genres through issuing first-rate CDs by artists and bands from the USA and Europe. The website is a subdivision of "Jazz By Mail", so the catalog format is the same.

The following offer privately produced CDs of 20s-30s 78s from the owners' collections. Sound quality varies greatly, but there's a lot of fun stuff here if you want to explore the music, expand your collection, etc.

MC Productions

Alpha Musik CDs
 

Understand that the titles were added to the collection randomly, not systematically. There is a section of ca. 600 tunes at the end of the file (ID numbers 10,000 +)  that duplicate early titles, because originally the compiler didn't include the verses, so he went back and added the verses to many tunes.

The database was compiled by Boston banjo player, Cal Owen. He entered it into EXCEL, sent me a .dbf version that I modified to make it more manageable for eMailing and reference..
 
MC Productions This is Mickey Clark's 24,000 78rpm record database. It contains tune title, composers; the main artist, vocalist, label abbreviation, matrix number, no other personnel info.

You can download it from the MC Productions website, or eMail me for a .zip copy.
 

Revised 1/9/07