In 1992 Time-Life Music began issuing a subscription set of monophonic CD's, using material which had already been transcribed for their original 'Big Bands' LP series almost a decade earlier.

Time-Life used the best technology available at the time in producing both releases of this series. '1/2 speed mastering' was used in the production of the original LP series - to get the best quality possible from the original source discs.  One of the first commercial DSP noise removal systems was used almost a decade later in the production of the CDs, to remove the worst of the imperfections inherent on the original source media, (as captured on the master tapes used to make the LPs). Although there is wide variation in the quality of the original mono recordings, (made in various studios), Time-Life wisely decided to avoid use of any gimmicky "stereo enhancement" techniques for both releases.  The material is presented 'as recorded'.

Unfortunately, the CD set wasn't quite as complete as the original LP series. Each CD contained all the tracks from the 2 discs in the original LP set, but the CD booklet had less information about the artists and the music than the excellent liner sheet(s) included with each of the original LP sets. As well, only the big name bands made it to CD. The seven excellent compilations of less well-known material and groups did not.

Here, then, is the whole (hybrid) series - 30 volumes in all! - starting with the 10 track 'bonus' CD - "Songs of World War II", (an abridged version of the original "World War II" LP - with somewhat different content).  Volumes are listed in chronological order of the original LP series releases. This is the popular music of the big band era.