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    clayv
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    A stirring conclusion to the Grateful Dead's three-decade career, music filled with adventure and possibility, big questions, big punchlines, and cosmic wisdom...

    Maybe you were lucky enough and caught a glimpse of what might have been. You swayed to the unfamiliar, floating along with an unknown melody, joining in for a chorus when you felt confident you had it down. Maybe you jotted a fat question mark in your meticulous setlist, certain you'd figure it out before the next show, anticipating a formal introduction in due time.

    As if their repertoire wasn't tall enough to reach the endless sky, the band began adding new tunes to their sets in 1992, working them into "quintessential Grateful Dead romps," with the intention of a new studio album. By the mid-90s, they set out recording with the wisdom of Willie Dixon's blues, Neil Young's fuzzed-out guitar, newcomer Vince Welnick's tried-and-true sketches, and Bobby reunited with Robert Hunter on a duo that had quickly become fan-favorites. Alas, it was not meant to be. Until now.

    We proudly present READY OR NOT, nine unreleased live versions of late-period Grateful Dead songs that debuted in 1992 and 1993, a reflection of what could have been the band's next official studio album.

    Due November 22nd, READY OR NOT will be available on CD, as a 180-gram 2-LP set, limited to 10,000 copies, and of course, digitally as a download and for streaming.

    Looking for that Dead.net exclusive? We've got you covered with an exclusive colored vinyl version of the -2LP set with one red LP and one blue LP, limited to just 2,000 copies. And we'll hit you with that hi-res digital audio too.

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  • Gollum
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    Mr. Ones

    Ha! I didn't think anyone would recognize my reference to "Temporary Secretary". I got that McCartney album when it came out (1980) and gave up on listening to it after hearing that song. It just seemed like the quintessential awful song and I can recall the chorus in my head even after 40 years. Maybe I should give the album another shot?! I agree with your point. I'm always re-assessing music as the years go by. I used to also hate most 70 and 80's pop rock but now it doesn't sound as bad as I remember. Partly nostalgia, sure, but I wonder why I had such hostility toward a lot of it.

    I confess that even as a hard core Deadhead for 40+ years, I am only now beginning to fully appreciate Spring 77 Dead. The last year I've been doing a slow deep dive into that music for the first time. I'm getting shown the light, as it were. The uniqueness of the jamming in every one of those Scarlet-Fire's is nothing short of amazing.

  • Mr. Ones
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    Gollum

    It's interesting that you mention Paul McCartney's "Temporary Secretary". I am a quite "invested" Beatles and solo Beatles fan. McCartney has put out a LOT of crap (Lord knows). I never did like that song when McCartney II came out. When the re-issue came out a few years back, I found that I quite liked it now (a lot). Having been listening to and buying records for 54 years now, I have found that a lot of things I dismiss on first listen, I like more after repeated listening. The same goes for me on whole albums. And I know that there's a large quantity of releases that I don't like just because I wasn't willing to re-visit them. I just don't have the time to give repeat listens to everything.
    As far as this new release, I have that distorted "Completionist" gene that seemingly FORCES me to buy things by certain artists. Just in the last few years, I have been able to resist that (a tiny bit), but also I find that if I wait a while for something, I'll eventually find it for less.
    After typing for a while, I'm no longer sure what exactly my point was in all this (early onset dementia, perhaps).
    I guess just that we're always going to like songs/albums that other people hate, and vice-versa. But sometimes music grows more likeable with time, and that, unless I die soon, I will always have time to catch up with releases I don't like/purchase upon issue.
    Whew!! That was a real load of crap, huh??

    FZ-"music is the best!!

  • mcgrupp216
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    97' Earthquake Country

    Too bad, daverock, I would have gladly taken that off your hands! Not sure we lose much by missing out on If the Shoe Fits, Wave to the Wind, and Childhood's End. Anyway, I know this much, that fifth disc of So Many Roads - similar late-era compilation - is by far my favorite and most listened to of the mix.

  • wadeocu
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    The cover art ....

    .... I may get stoned for this .... er I mean flamed ...... but I kind of like the art.

    The cartooniness is a little too pop art for my taste too, but I like the meaning I see. A nod to the magic (from the magic hat) dazzling the joker (a newby perhaps) and the Uncle Sam in the know with the glimmer in his eye as the joker gets on the bus with stars in the eyes.

    Well that's my take at least, but yeah, maybe it would just be better if they all had beards or something.

  • daverock
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    A bit late for me

    I would have been more enthusiastic about this release if it had come out in the 1990s, when it was more contemporary. In fact, I did buy a bootleg cd, about 1997, which followed a similar pattern, but which included the Phil songs and, I think, cover versions from the last few years. It must be about 20 years since I have played it, though...in fact when I went to get it out this morning to have a look, it was no longer there.

  • jriggy
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    The cover...

    Illustrator for Mac was great in the ‘90’s...but let’s import this cover into even Procreate on the iPad and see what we can make. ;-)

  • Deadheadbrewer
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    I'm Ready!

    Since this is a retail release, GDP/Rhino were probably gunning for a cover that would really catch the eye of the non-initiated. Doesn't matter to me, I'm looking forward to the music on the disc. As others have mentioned, we have been spoiled by variety the past few years, especially with 2019 giving us some 1969, 1970, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1987, 1989, 1991, and now a great sampling of the last four years. There is something for every Head, and for me, there's nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile . . .

    Be kind, rewind . . .

  • stoltzfus
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    people sure do take the cover art seriously

    how many release covers have _you_ had published?

    it's about the music, not the cover art.

    hey, at least there's no beards. that should make people happy.

    but anyway...back to 5/9/79

  • jrf68@hotmail.com
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    Yikes...

    The artwork is terrible. Wow it's bad.

    I've got this, kinda. Mine doesn't have the Chapel Hill but does have a Wave To The Wind.
    I'll eventually grab it, but am in no hurry. Might be cheaper somewhere else and have a better chance of no delivery screw-ups with someone else. We'll see...
    Overall, very glad to see this released.

  • Thats_Otis
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    @jbcrow RE: Cost

    Ah, yes, I see.

    Also, yes, I agree - too much for a single disc. I recently picked up Fiona Apple's entire catalog (4 albums) brand new for less than $18.00. I know those albums are old, but $20.00 for a CD is ridiculous. Didn't even think about the shipping costs, etc.

    Betchya it will be much cheaper from other retailers.

    Peace

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A stirring conclusion to the Grateful Dead's three-decade career, music filled with adventure and possibility, big questions, big punchlines, and cosmic wisdom...

Maybe you were lucky enough and caught a glimpse of what might have been. You swayed to the unfamiliar, floating along with an unknown melody, joining in for a chorus when you felt confident you had it down. Maybe you jotted a fat question mark in your meticulous setlist, certain you'd figure it out before the next show, anticipating a formal introduction in due time.

As if their repertoire wasn't tall enough to reach the endless sky, the band began adding new tunes to their sets in 1992, working them into "quintessential Grateful Dead romps," with the intention of a new studio album. By the mid-90s, they set out recording with the wisdom of Willie Dixon's blues, Neil Young's fuzzed-out guitar, newcomer Vince Welnick's tried-and-true sketches, and Bobby reunited with Robert Hunter on a duo that had quickly become fan-favorites. Alas, it was not meant to be. Until now.

We proudly present READY OR NOT, nine unreleased live versions of late-period Grateful Dead songs that debuted in 1992 and 1993, a reflection of what could have been the band's next official studio album.

Due November 22nd, READY OR NOT will be available on CD, as a 180-gram 2-LP set, limited to 10,000 copies, and of course, digitally as a download and for streaming.

Looking for that Dead.net exclusive? We've got you covered with an exclusive colored vinyl version of the -2LP set with one red LP and one blue LP, limited to just 2,000 copies. And we'll hit you with that hi-res digital audio too.

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I received the vinyl today, but no download. I contacted customer service (very friendly) and the woman informed me that I would receive an email with the hi-res download code in the next two or three days.

Thx for the info. I was coming to say the same, my vinyl arrived today but no download code.

Spinning side 3 now. Its a good release, and def not quite like anything else in the catalog.

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17 years 4 months
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No download codes but will wait for the email. Thanks for the news there, John 64! I cant open the LP it is a gift, but the download is all mine!

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Cool to see some of these tunes get a live release (Lazy River, Eternity, Easy Answers).

Some of these tunes I enjoyed immediately when I heard them: So Many Roads, Lazy River Road, and Liberty fall into that category. And though the lyrics are nerfed, So Many Roads gave me chills here.

Some songs I could get into as they were played, but was never really excited to hear them at the start. Days Between, Corrina, and Way to Go Home fall into that category. I enjoy Days Between a LOT these days and now consider it classic/mastetpiece level Hunter/Garcia and this version is stellar. More chills.

The last group are songs I sometines really struggled with live. Samba I deemed to cheesey, Eternity too simplistic, and a friend of mine dubbed Easy Answers "cheesey dancers" and it just stuck in my head.

But the Answers here is pretty rocking (most rocking song on the release), and Samba & Eternity are just fine.

Not crazy about the artwork or the fact that the Roads has lyrical issues, but neither thing is a big deal in my view. I mean, I confess I really do not understand those who get their panties in a bunch when a release has songs with lyrical issues. I mean, they blow lyrics ALL THE TIME. Though for this type of release, I get the beef more.

Good liner notes save for the In the Dark/Built to Last screw up. And great production value. Solid B for me.

Really dug the scope/variety in eras for the 2019 releases.

YMMV.

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This post is coming from a huge fan of Brents tenure with the band. That said, I'm not comparing the two, but rather defending the torch carried by Vince as well as Vince in his own style. I just purchased (Ready or Not) and listened to "Way To Go Home" from (Deer Creek Music Center, Noblesville, IN 6/28/92). It's ok. Then I'm on the website this morning listening to the same song from Orchard Park, NY 6/13/93 on a live video posted. Why was that version not selected for the disc?!! Way more in tune and a more orchestrated version with an additional year for the band to be in sync with it.

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My pet peeve. Starts its journey in Tennessee, then travels East to Ohio, then travels multiple states west to Illinois, then wherever the actual f#ck before traveling north to Michigan. Why can't it go straight from Tennessee > Indiana > Michigan or Tennessee > Ohio > Michigan? Stupid routing.

Back in the Dick's Picks days these would always arrive on or before the release date. Should've been here by now. Stupid.

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17 years 4 months
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I'm enjoying the hell out this record. We all know that in the 90's when they went no amps on stage-fully digital-in ear monitors the mix could sound pretty crispy and un-blended. To me this is a continuation of Without a Net and Europe 72, as in the mix is pretty glossy and dressed up. It's really warm, and they created a new, unique virtual space with studio trickery. Liberty is up there in the classics for me. Didn't used to be, but over time it means more because the word liberty means more. Also, songs about aging and bygone eras like So Many Roads and Days Between really resonate. Lazy River Road has such a unique relaxed and loving mood, and Jerry's vocals are up in the mix on this one. Corrina is a super trippy futuristic dance tune that I was always happy to hear at a show. Samba in the Rain has an awesome solo section that modulates keys enough to keep it interesting for Jerry. Its a ii-V jam like the end of You Enjoy Myself, which is a jammer's Dorian/Mixolydian dream, and a standard chord change that no one but Vince would bring in. Way to Go Home could have been a hit for the Eagles or Glen Frey. Great bridge into the solo section. These are my shows, as when I went to see the Dead the Touchheads looked at me as the new guy!!! I feel that they were creating until the end, and if you listen carefully you can see what they are going for. They could never stay exactly the same. I've been wishing for years for a release like this. I haven't posted for awhile, but I was so excited by the amazing new mix on these tracks I couldn't keep it to myself. Plus my wife doesn't want to hear about it...

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I hate to mention that word, but I no longer buy from Dead.net if I can get it fulfilled by amazon. Not only are they cheaper, they're efficient and transparent, something Dead.net sorely lacks. I ordered a pair of shorts over a month ago, the transaction posted to my account back then and my order status is stuck on "processing." I've received zero response to my report of a faulty DaP 31 disc months ago... oh and this release arrived on the release date - from amazon.

I used to bag on people for bickering on here... I mean this as more helpfully suggestive than negative. Sooner or later, they'll sort my issues out. But it's gone rapidly downhill as evidenced by all the comments with each release.

Can't believe they're plugging Christmas gifts again. Good luck with that! Maybe order for Christmas 2020.

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Mines been sitting in Illinois for 3 days. That was after routing through multiple states. Supposedly arriving tomorrow. Should have been here a week ago.

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4 years 11 months
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I usually love most recent releases and subscribe to Dave’s Picks, but this release has to be nothing but a “money grab”. I think the only qualification to make this legit was to make sure two discs were needed. Every Garcia song has multiple lyrical flubs, you really think these were the best available versions? Easily surpassing selections IMO are Way To Go Home, Lazy River Road and Corrina Set 2 from the Rosemont 3/10/93. And they are nicely played in succession. Jerry plus minor lyrical flubs usually = good version. Shame on you.

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In reply to by giantnerd

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Any vinyl purchasers get their promised digital downloads yet? Still waiting here. A little ridiculous this wasn't provided on release day.

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After not receiving an email with the promised downloads that were supposed to accompany the hi-res files, I called customer service again - spoke to Nelson (also very pleasant) - and got a different story. Now they are saying that the hi-res downloads are not included. I said that if you look at the ad for the red/blue LP's, it clearly says that "we'll hit you with hi-res too" but he is saying that phrase refers to the hi-quality of the vinyl. Of course since red/blue is sold out, I can find the original ad for that. He said many people had misinterpreted. Sound like crap to me. I wouldn't have paid the extra if it didn't include the downloads and I read the product description carefully.

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Ok - found in my in-box, here was the original advertisement"

We proudly present READY OR NOT, nine unreleased live versions of late-period Grateful Dead songs that debuted in 1992 and 1993, a reflection of what could have been the band's next official studio album.
Due November 22nd, READY OR NOT will be available on CD, as a 180-gram 2-LP set, limited to 10,000 copies, and of course, digitally as a download and for streaming.
Looking for that Dead.net exclusive? We've got you covered with an exclusive colored vinyl version of the 2-LP set with one red LP and one blue LP, limited to just 2,000 copies. And we'll hit you with that hi-res digital audio too.

That last line - "and we'll hit you with that hi-res digital audio "too" sure sounds like it is included. Thoughts?

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Regarding 30T Music Only boxsets: You're lucky they didn't take your money. They took orders for months but did not ship a single one. I ordered a few back in July and August, and on FIVE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS they sent me the wrong orders. Each time, I eight got a single show, or Lights 6 sweatshirts each time.. where one sweatshirt or one show was supposed to be a $750 boxset. They won't talk to the warehouse people to straighten this out, give regular updates to buyers, or do anything. We just sit around waiting for boxsets that will probably never arrive. Don't ever buy from deadnet again. They are just awful!!! It's happening to everyone too and they don't seem to care enough to fix anything month after month..

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I also Bought the Red and White Album with the condition the a Hi_rez download was part of the package. Yesterday I saw my e-mail for the download from Warner but when I came home from work It was gone. No One delated it, it was like they took it back from my in box.
Never will I trust Warner Music and buy things, there the worst

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ordered this from amazon, cheaper than deadnet, all ok, then had to cancel one day before shipping, got the confirmation and was credited the amount to cc that same day, not whenever, or never. The disc did not ship, I did not have to send it back or argue with customer service about the transaction, now that's how rhino/warner/deadnet should run things. If amazon can do it, why can't these guys?

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just give them the codes and let them download the songs, do the right thing for once. Hit them up like you said you would.

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7 years 2 months
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Gotta stick up for the folks at dead.net. After speaking with Nelson he must have raised the issue because I received the following note and download code the next morning. Believe that WMG did the right thing and also my dealings with dead.net people were very pleasant. I am reading some of the negative stuff - but have to say that they did right by me and were good to deal with. Thanks

Hello,
Thank you for purchasing the Ready Or Not 2LP through dead.net. Although we did not originally intend to include the digital download with this 2LP, we understand that the description on the product detail page may have been misleading, so we are going to make good on that and provide you with that hi-res digital audio. We apologize for the misunderstanding and hope you enjoy this album as much as we do!
Please follow these instructions to redeem the hi-res 96/24 version of Ready Or Not.

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You're my hero dude. Thanks for chasing that down. The ad very clearly stated that we were supposed to get the digital download with the red & blue vinyl. " . . . hi res DIGITAL audio TOO". I knew I wasn't the only one who thought that. Maybe that's not what they meant but its clearly what they said.

I got the email, and got my downloads.

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17 years 5 months
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Does anyone know why there are no Phil songs on Ready Or Not? No Wave To The Wind, Childhood's End or If The Shoe Fits. Not that they're essential, just wondering.

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I got this the day it was released and listened to it a lot right away, went away from it for a while and put it on again recently and I've got to say I'm glad I bought it. No it's not as good as most of what they did, but it's new to me. It reminds me of John Lennon's posthumous album Milk and Honey which I got right when it came out. A little more of a good thing. No regrets - it will be in the regular rotation.

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Pretty disappointed in this release as a fan of 1990s dead. Who is on the team of monkeys that selected the versions of these songs? Lyrical flubs everywhere, mistakes, lackluster performances and just overall mediocre. While there were always lyrical mistakes, especially in later years, anyone could easily find better versions of every one of these songs in minutes. It almost seems like the folks at dead.net these days really hate the 1990s and just pick out crappy material to justify never releasing music from the later era.

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