I think fred/Dominic has already admitted to having two left ears when it comes to listening.

I agree with Fred/ Dominic - just because you have got used to having the channels that way round, doesn't mean it's 'right', and I'm not too fussed that they have changed as I will similarly get used to having them this way round - just sightly annoyed that fire have messed up again...

The one situation I can think of where you'd perhaps notice if the left and right channels were switched in a recording (and this is a real drum geek's thing) would be if the drums were panned in a way that was converse to the way they would normally be set up - ie if there's a roll across the kit, it starts with the snare on the left and finishes with the floor tom on the right. Unless it's a left handed drummer of course!

I think that the placement of the stereo channels does matter.

As mentioned previously, a drum kit is normally spread across the stereo field as if it is set up in front of you, with the toms spread high to low, from left to right. Granted, that's if you are a right handed drummer, but flowing left to right seems more natural to the ears anyway. My band has a left-handed drummer but he still plays drums set-up and stereo panned in the right-handed way, because he feels it sounds better.

Pianos are also something that I feel have to be panned across the stereo field in the correct way, again because it should represent the instrument as it sounds it you were sitting in front of it, playing yourself. The piano sound spread across the stereo field has more resonance of the low notes on the left and the high notes on the right. It just seems to make sense to the brain for it to be that way around - well, for me anyway...

Found a copy of "Separations" on vinyl today. Interestingly enough, it is the only one of the three reissues where the bonus tracks aren't included on the record itself, but instead comes with a download code to get the bonus tracks online.

I guess "It" was short enough to fit the bonus tracks on and, for some reason, they were prepared to go the whole hog and make a double vinyl edition for "Freaks". A 7" EP included with the "Separations" vinyl would have been nice maybe...? Ah well.

Hmm...I quite like all of those actually...all except for "Is This House?" which is really tedious. Maybe I am in the minority?

!!!

Absolutely adore "...Goes To The Disco" and "Countdown"

I still remember getting the Countdown comp back in Mar(?) '96 and listening to it far, far too much. Absolutely adored getting the full whack of Countdown time after time. As for 'Disco'...it's since been superseded by hearing the gorgeous original of 'Comes to Town', but for fifteen years or more this was the only version that I had, so it'll always be special.

The 'House is Condemned' remixes are, and always will be, horrible!

Must be just me then!

You need to turn that big knob marked Vol. to the right.