By the dawn of the 1990s The Verlaines had parted company with long-time New Zealand indie label Flying Nun. Looking to increase their profile in the Northern Hemisphere (where their previous albums had made an impact through the likes of U.S. College Radio), they signed with Los Angeles based Slash Records. Ready To Fly, recorded in Sydney, Australia, was the first of two releases with the label, appearing in 1991.
Trouser Press praised the album’s twelve songs, saying “…throw in Downes’ strongest bunch of guitar-pop tunes and you’ve got the Verlaines’ best LP.”
Indeed, some of the band’s most enduring material can be found on Ready To Fly, in particular “War In My Head”, “Gloom Junky” and the titular track with its grand orchestration.
Released for Record Store Day 2026 for the very first time on Blue Jay Opaque colored vinyl on with remastering by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios.
This is a 2026 Record Store Day Release.

Tracklist
1. Gloom Junky 2. Overdrawn 3. Tremble 4. Such as I 5. Hurricane 6. War In My Head 7. Inside Out 8. See You Tomorrow 9. Hole in the Ground 10. Ready to Fly 11. Moonlight On Snow 12. Hold On