Chronological Classics was a French compact disc reissue label. Gilles Pétard, the original owner, intended to release the complete master takes of all jazz and swing recordings that were issued on 78 rpm. By the time the label suspended operations in July 2008, its scope had extended to LPs.
Pétard also started the label R&B Classics to reissue postwar rhythm & blues recordings. An unaffiliated label, Neatworks, released alternate takes and misidentified master takes of jazz artists previously issued on Chronological Classics. In 1999, Chronological Classics issued a CD set that included tracks previously unavailable in the regular series and a bonus CD with corrected tracks from previous releases.
The jazz series started with number 500 and includes the following albums:
The following numbers were slated for an August 2008 release but were never issued:
The R&B Classics series started out at No. 5000 with a total of 190 being released before the company closed.
R&B Classics