bradfordian, do you have any preference as to audio format - e.g., AIFF, mp3, wav, etc?

I'm also wondering if those of you who will be compiling the CDs have any way of removing distortion from audio files. Or is there some affordable software for tweaking audio quality after the fact on audio or video files?   

Dan, it would be great if everyone's songs were recorded in professional CD quality, but that might leave out many good songs/performances.   The first set of Blueplate Special CDs contained songs with a wide range of audio quality, but I still find the CDs a treasure because of the songs and performers themselves.   

The technology has advanced a lot in the last few years, when it comes to the toys and tools most of us peons have. Maybe it will be feasible to tweak things so, for instance, all the songs on a CD come out at roughly the same volume.