Most cataloging and archiving applications available today are really good at helping you fill out a million data fields, automatically look up a CD on the Internet or download covers. But they have one big problem: they don’t produce reports suitable for displaying chronological recording sessions for print discographies. If you are used to those, most programs are inadequate.

Enter Brian4. This free and, I’m sorry to say, butt-ugly application impresses with it’s ability, not its looks. It is named after Brian Rust, who perfected the chronological recording session format for print discographies and Brian 2.1, for example, was used to compile the discography in the Sinatra Singles box from Capitol. It is a deceptively simple application that helps the user enter data in a way that he/she can produce a (jazz) discography when done. So, what we have here is a discographical tool as opposed to an inventory tool. Continue Reading →