There are many possibilities. Any chance of a picture at some point? Just how tall and wide is a 'good sized azalea', in your mind? Is this shrub deciduous or evergreen? Have you noticed any flowers?

I think I know which ones you are talking about. I haven't taken a close look, but my guess would be a they are a purple loropetalum.

Or possibly a red-leafed barberry.

There are several purple leaved barberries and loropetalum on the market that you could be seeing. The former is used quite a bit in today's landscapes. But the first one that came to my mind, since I see it so often around here, is Loropetalum chinensis; there are several purple leaved cultivars.

I'll also suggest Sambucus nigra, such as the "Black Beauty" cultivar, Physocarpus "Summer Wine" (Ninebark), and Cotinus corrygria (Purple Smokebush).

Most of these cultivars are seen in newer landscapes because they may not have been around many years ago. Or they were simply not "de rigueur", according to the design elements of the day.

I think the one you want is loropetalum "Diamond", about 3 ft. "Pixie" is only 1 ft. They are rather new cultivars of the old ones that grew to 15 ft. or so. There are lots of other cultivars of this HOT plant. Southern Living plants has a couple new ones too.

where are they located, heath?
i am in the same area and can attempt an i.d. or post a pic of it for the others.
on a side note to the other posters, are those sizes for the newer "dwarf" lorapetalums accurate?
i seem to recall a friend telling me he planted some and they quickly reached a height a lot greater than what was given on the tag.
also, i just received the latest copy of "a field guide for identification of invasive plants in southern forests" and japanese barberry made the list. it mentions that fruit production is variable for the different cultivars.

Both the Japanese barberries (B. thunbergii) and the northwest US native B. vulgaris are considered invasive. As far as I know, the others are okay.