3" Music Compact Discs

[Late]

Though perhaps not very practical, I always enjoyed the 3" format for compact discs — they truly were "compact." I seem to recall that, back in the late 80's, Sony even manufactured a portable disc player exclusively for this format.

Two questions:

• What music (jazz or otherwise) do you have exclusively in the 3" format?

• Are 3" blank music (not just data) CD-R's an actual commodity?

I'd like to burn some short sets I have (around 20+ minutes) onto the 3" format for portability, but I don't know if this is actually possible. Just wondering ...

[RDK]

I think you can still buy the 3" discs but not all players (such as car CD players) can accept them. With the cost of CD blanks so low, why bother? In fact, the 3" discs might be more expensive.

[Late]

I know, why bother — but I was just curious. Miles' Blue Moods, for instance, would fit entirely on a 3" disc. And a lot of 78 r.p.m. recording dates, in their entirety, would fit. Sometimes all I want to (or have the time to) listen to is around 20 minutes. Just made me think of that somewhat obsolete format ...

[JohnS]

I have one 3" commercial cd. It's on Delos by the Timeless All Stars. Tracks are Messina and Lupe.

[Claude]

I have a few CD singles in that format. One came with a 12cm-adaptor, a plastic ring.

CD-Rs in that format were also popular for promotional data presentations. Some even had a square shape

3" CD-Rs are still produced, but they are only avaiable from specialist stores:

http://www.discmakers.com/shop/ItemDetails...ID=CD-035-00003

[ejp626]

I've seen the squarish shape. There's a company that makes business cards in that format, if you want to put some multi-media show about your company on a card. Can't remember what they cost.

[neveronfriday]

I have about 30 commercial pop Cds released in this format (from the 80s, early 90s).

I do remember that there is a site by some English dude online who tried to catalogue all of the commercially released ones. I just can't find it now. He doesn't use 3'' but some other measurement to refer to them. If I kept my bookmarks more organized, I'd be able to find it in a second ...

His site is quite comprehensive, but there are some missing (for example some of the ones I have), but those 3''ers are quite elusive ... and went for a premium on eBay some years ago to nutty collectors.

[Claude]

Some more info on the "MiniCD" format, and Universal Music's "PocketCD" initiative from 2004:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniCD

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/21/universal_pocket_cd/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3828575.stm

[Late]

Thanks for all the information, Claude!

I remember, back in college, my roommate buying a commerically packaged 3" Art Blakey disc — I believe it was the band right before Wynton. I know it had Bobby Watson on it, and I want to say David Schnitter as well, but that's probably off. At any rate, I remember that it was 17 minutes long — I thought it was ridiculous. Now I wish I could remember more about that disc — at least what label it was on, and what the tunes were (I think there were at least two).

[Tjazz]

I just saw some 3" blank cdrs at the 99 Cent Store. Sold in a 3-pack with sleeves. Looks like they were marketed to kids, they had the Nickelodeon logo on them.

Since the 3" discs are smaller and lighter than regular 5" CDs, if you want to mail a couple of tracks to a friend, the shipping costs might be less.

[medjuck]

I've got a Sting 3 incher because it includes him singing Up From the Skies backed by the Gil Evans band and that cut isn't available anywhere else. (I'm an Evans completist.) Also Springsteen doing Chimes of Freedom live but I think that whole disc was later released on a 5 inch cd. Also Zappa doing Peaches en Regalia plus 2 others. Finally a 3 inch billie Holiday cd that came with an Italian book about her. The Zappa anad Sting have fancy printed sleeves. The Sting is a fold-out!