Try 'file' if it is on your system:

file whatisthis.mp3

On my ThinkPad, it picked up the bit rate and other parameters of MP3s.  It
only showed "data" (with no other information) on one MP3, but this appeared to
be related only to this file (encoding error, perhaps).  All of the MP3s I have
encoded (using BladeEnc after ripping the CD track with cdda2wav or cdparanoia)
are identified correctly with 'file'.


Patrick (going back to work.......)