k, the label side on a burnable cd IS the data side.  If you use toothpaste to remove scratches try an abrasive paste , some of the new ones are just detergents. 

Try them in a different drive, if you are reading them in a different drive than the one that burned the disk your tracking may be off. 

http://club.myce.com/ may have some suggestions.

Your local library may have a disk cleaner if the disks are scratched.