How can I get a Gracenote do-over?

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Level 1

4 points

How can I get a Gracenote do-over?

I'm in the process of entering a large CD collection into iTunes on an iMac running Yosemite (10.10.3)—haven't upgraded to El Capitan yet. iTunes is very capable, but one problem is majorly frustrating me.

When I import a CD for which Gracenote has multiple entries, I'm asked to select one from a list that shows only the title and artist, meaning that most items in the list are identical. I have no way to know whether I want any particular item, unless it's in Japanese or some language that I know I can't read. So I usually cross my fingers and take the first item.

But sometimes I find that the Gracenote entry I wind up with lacks information that I need, and would almost certainly find on one of the other entries in the list. However, I can't see the list again unless I delete the disc and re-enter it, which is a terrible waste of time. I have tried right-clicking the album and selecting "Get Track Names," and it seems to me that that (or something like it) did work a few times, long ago. But now I get a notice "warning" me that I'm asking for CDDB information on multiple items, and when I say 'Yes, go ahead,' the invariable result is "CDDB information is not available for some of these items." I click OK (thinking 'some' being better than 'all'), and nothing happens, unless you count the notice disappearing from the screen.

Today after being shown a list of 20 or more versions of "Buena Vista Social Club," I got the same runaround.

The information must be there, I can't get at it, unless I've just forgotten how it's supposed to be done (and someone else can remind me).

Charlie Bowen

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Nov 23, 2015 1:26 PM

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Answer 1

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Limnos

Level 10

411,061 points

Nov 24, 2015 8:39 AM in response to Charlie BP

To re-identify an incorrectly identified CD: "Insert the CD and select it in iTunes, then menu Advanced > Get CD track names. It should requery the Gracenote database and let you pick the correct album." - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4101761?answerId=18901866022#18901866022 - Newer versions in upper right hand corner, Options>Get Track Names You can also do this at a later time after ripping the CD: iTunes 11 for Mac: If you don’t see song information - http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12280 or iTunes 12 for Mac: If you don’t see song information - https://support.apple.com/kb/PH19609

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Answer 2

Charlie BP Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 24, 2015 8:47 AM in response to Limnos

Thanks, Limnos.

The first method worked. I wasn't sure that iTunes would give me the option if it wasn't in Import mode, but I tried it in Show CD mode and it worked, so I didn't have a set of duplicate tracks to delete. The Show CD window had a button at the upper right that said "Option"—no logo.

First I tried the information you linked for iTunes 12 (which I neglected to say is the version I have), but it told me to click an options logo at the upper right, and no matter how I tried I couldn't find a screen that had one. But that's moot, since the other method worked.

Charlie

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