Thanks everyone. I knew I could count on you. Great suggestions, all.

I have found some of the "planning your CD" info at sites like OASIScd and Superdups to be quite helpful.

Ah, licensing. Our old friend Harry Fox. I managed to acquire licenses for all but one song (which I had to replace - I would not release without a valid license), but it wasn't always easy. The primary source (if your release is under 2500 in quantity) is Songfile.com which is, as far as I can tell, is Harry Fox. If songs are not in their database or not available for licensing through them, well, here the fun begins. I had particular trouble with a Dylan song (Simple Twist of Fate) and a Randy Newman song (Every Time It Rains). Basically I scoured the web and along the way found reference to firms involved with management of these artists. (Liner note credits, etc). Then I searched for these firms, called, faxed, emailed. It is my assumption that they, too, would rather not be bothered with the work to license a song to get my, say, $80. I learned somewhere along the way that, in the US, if a song is published it is, therefore, licensable. They cannot deny you a license, but they don't always make it easy.

Graphics? Keep it simple. Find a friend with a very high quality digital camera. Then hire a graphics pro. And, above all, make sure it is easily readable. As Rick stated, clear and readily accessible titles and times are essential to get air play (I have read this many times), in addition to the upper left location of artist & title. Invest the few cents per cd for top spine labels...more and more this is how people search bins in a record store.

And, Rick, hopefully in the no too distant future, you will receive 21 cds one of these weeks.

Thanks again, all.

DW