Praise for All the Years Combine "Robertson hand-picks fifty essential shows ... he explores the concerts' historical contexts and sonic characteristics while also fitting them into the narrative arc of the band's career. This meticulously researched passion project ably explains why the Grateful Dead were such a successful touring act and how they became a cultural touchstone." --Michael Strizic, Literary Review of Canada "Ray Robertson's All the Years Combine is part love letter and part band history, showing why--and how--Deadheads really talk (and feel) about their favorite band." --Peter Conners, author of Growing Up Dead and Cornell '77 "There is a huge amount of useful information collected in this book. And it was written as a serious criticism with love and affection and a large portion of honesty and humor thrown in for good measure." --M. Sarki, The Rogue Literary Society Praise for Ray Robertson's Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) "On North American shores, writing about music and its cultural spin-offs has largely been defined by the snarky authority of Pitchfork and trash-talkin' teardowns of VICE giving birth to the new, new cool. Whereas those writing for music publications in Britain, although still cheeky, offer far more in the way of literary craft, storytelling and historical insight compared to the brash Americans. Ray Robertson, a Canadian novelist, aligns himself closer to the British tradition reinforcing that smart, lively prose and a bit of wit go a long, marvelous way. One part of Lives of the Poets is a record guide revealing these undiscovered treasures, the other is Robertson's gift of spewing out stories that simply shame most rock 'n' roll writers into the hacks they really are." --Beat Route " Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) should come with a warning label: May cause significant increase of spending on music. Readers are strongly advised to avoid record stores within 72 hours of reading. There is much to love and admire about Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) . Robertson brings a discerning ear and keen passion, a sly sense of humour and a deep sense of philosophical questioning to each of these pieces. [It] is a powerful book and one to which music fans are likely to often return." --Toronto Star "Robertson toils for a higher purpose: to reveal the transcendent, enduring qualities of the artist and their importance to society. He establishes his intentions in the introduction: 'One wants to convey in words what it is that makes for a musically-transformed, more-alive human being.' With this collection of essays on 13 remarkable figures, Robertson leaves no doubt about the success of his endeavor." --Elmore Magazine "Crossing a number of musical genres, Robertson is often effusive in his praise, but consistently provides a stirring rationale for the strong emotional impact that each artist elicits with their music ... Robertson offers the whole picture, warts and all. In doing so, he honors the music of artists who have enriched his life--and opens the door for his readers to experience the same magic." --Blues Blast Magazine "Robertson brings a good ear and plenty of critical insight to essays aimed at helping readers discover new favorites or hear more familiar music from a fresh perspective." --Kirkus Reviews, Praise for All the Years Combine "Robertson has written an ideal companion for the devoted Deadhead while charting intimidating territory for the curious ... books like this one help enshrine (the music) with the reverence it deserves." --Michael Strizic, Literary Review of Canada "Ray Robertson''s All the Years Combine is part love letter and part band history, showing why--and how--Deadheads really talk (and feel) about their favorite band." --Peter Conners, author of Growing Up Dead and Cornell ''77 "If life were a Grateful Dead concert, Chatham author Ray Robertson would be its philosopher archivist." --Dan Savoie, 519 Magazine "There is a huge amount of useful information collected in this book. And it was written as a serious criticism with love and affection and a large portion of honesty and humor thrown in for good measure." --M. Sarki, The Rogue Literary Society "As any Deadhead worth their weight in hemp and LSD will tell you, there''s nothing like a Grateful Dead concert, and the author capably demonstrates the good, bad, and ugly elements that followed the band around for decades ... A must for devoted Deadheads." --Kirkus Reviews Praise for Ray Robertson''s Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) "On North American shores, writing about music and its cultural spin-offs has largely been defined by the snarky authority of Pitchfork and trash-talkin'' teardowns of VICE giving birth to the new, new cool. Whereas those writing for music publications in Britain, although still cheeky, offer far more in the way of literary craft, storytelling and historical insight compared to the brash Americans. Ray Robertson, a Canadian novelist, aligns himself closer to the British tradition reinforcing that smart, lively prose and a bit of wit go a long, marvelous way. One part of Lives of the Poets is a record guide revealing these undiscovered treasures, the other is Robertson''s gift of spewing out stories that simply shame most rock ''n'' roll writers into the hacks they really are." --Beat Route " Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) should come with a warning label: May cause significant increase of spending on music. Readers are strongly advised to avoid record stores within 72 hours of reading. There is much to love and admire about Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) . Robertson brings a discerning ear and keen passion, a sly sense of humour and a deep sense of philosophical questioning to each of these pieces. [It] is a powerful book and one to which music fans are likely to often return." --Toronto Star "Robertson toils for a higher purpose: to reveal the transcendent, enduring qualities of the artist and their importance to society. He establishes his intentions in the introduction: ''One wants to convey in words what it is that makes for a musically-transformed, more-alive human being.'' With this collection of essays on 13 remarkable figures, Robertson leaves no doubt about the success of his endeavor." --Elmore Magazine "Crossing a number of musical genres, Robertson is often effusive in his praise, but consistently provides a stirring rationale for the strong emotional impact that each artist elicits with their music ... Robertson offers the whole picture, warts and all. In doing so, he honors the music of artists who have enriched his life--and opens the door for his readers to experience the same magic." --Blues Blast Magazine "Robertson brings a good ear and plenty of critical insight to essays aimed at helping readers discover new favorites or hear more familiar music from a fresh perspective." --Kirkus Reviews, Praise for Ray Robertson's Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) "On North American shores, writing about music and its cultural spin-offs has largely been defined by the snarky authority of Pitchfork and trash-talkin' teardowns of VICE giving birth to the new, new cool. Whereas those writing for music publications in Britain, although still cheeky, offer far more in the way of literary craft, storytelling and historical insight compared to the brash Americans. Ray Robertson, a Canadian novelist, aligns himself closer to the British tradition reinforcing that smart, lively prose and a bit of wit go a long, marvelous way. One part of Lives of the Poets is a record guide revealing these undiscovered treasures, the other is Robertson's gift of spewing out stories that simply shame most rock 'n' roll writers into the hacks they really are." --Beat Route " Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) should come with a warning label: May cause significant increase of spending on music. Readers are strongly advised to avoid record stores within 72 hours of reading. There is much to love and admire about Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) . Robertson brings a discerning ear and keen passion, a sly sense of humour and a deep sense of philosophical questioning to each of these pieces. [It] is a powerful book and one to which music fans are likely to often return." --Toronto Star "Robertson toils for a higher purpose: to reveal the transcendent, enduring qualities of the artist and their importance to society. He establishes his intentions in the introduction: 'One wants to convey in words what it is that makes for a musically-transformed, more-alive human being.' With this collection of essays on 13 remarkable figures, Robertson leaves no doubt about the success of his endeavor." --Elmore Magazine "Crossing a number of musical genres, Robertson is often effusive in his praise, but consistently provides a stirring rationale for the strong emotional impact that each artist elicits with their music ... Robertson offers the whole picture, warts and all. In doing so, he honors the music of artists who have enriched his life--and opens the door for his readers to experience the same magic." --Blues Blast Magazine "Robertson brings a good ear and plenty of critical insight to essays aimed at helping readers discover new favorites or hear more familiar music from a fresh perspective." --Kirkus Reviews, Praise for All the Years Combine "Ray Robertson's All the Years Combine is part love letter, part band history, and part geeked-out rant showing why--and how--Deadheads really talk (and feel) about their favorite band." --Peter Conners, author of Growing Up Dead and Cornell '77 Praise for Ray Robertson's Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) "On North American shores, writing about music and its cultural spin-offs has largely been defined by the snarky authority of Pitchfork and trash-talkin' teardowns of VICE giving birth to the new, new cool. Whereas those writing for music publications in Britain, although still cheeky, offer far more in the way of literary craft, storytelling and historical insight compared to the brash Americans. Ray Robertson, a Canadian novelist, aligns himself closer to the British tradition reinforcing that smart, lively prose and a bit of wit go a long, marvelous way. One part of Lives of the Poets is a record guide revealing these undiscovered treasures, the other is Robertson's gift of spewing out stories that simply shame most rock 'n' roll writers into the hacks they really are." --Beat Route " Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) should come with a warning label: May cause significant increase of spending on music. Readers are strongly advised to avoid record stores within 72 hours of reading. There is much to love and admire about Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) . Robertson brings a discerning ear and keen passion, a sly sense of humour and a deep sense of philosophical questioning to each of these pieces. [It] is a powerful book and one to which music fans are likely to often return." --Toronto Star "Robertson toils for a higher purpose: to reveal the transcendent, enduring qualities of the artist and their importance to society. He establishes his intentions in the introduction: 'One wants to convey in words what it is that makes for a musically-transformed, more-alive human being.' With this collection of essays on 13 remarkable figures, Robertson leaves no doubt about the success of his endeavor." --Elmore Magazine "Crossing a number of musical genres, Robertson is often effusive in his praise, but consistently provides a stirring rationale for the strong emotional impact that each artist elicits with their music ... Robertson offers the whole picture, warts and all. In doing so, he honors the music of artists who have enriched his life--and opens the door for his readers to experience the same magic." --Blues Blast Magazine "Robertson brings a good ear and plenty of critical insight to essays aimed at helping readers discover new favorites or hear more familiar music from a fresh perspective." --Kirkus Reviews, Praise for All the Years Combine "Robertson has written an ideal companion for the devoted Deadhead while charting intimidating territory for the curious ... books like this one help enshrine (the music) with the reverence it deserves." --Michael Strizic, Literary Review of Canada "Ray Robertson's All the Years Combine is part love letter and part band history, showing why--and how--Deadheads really talk (and feel) about their favorite band." --Peter Conners, author of Growing Up Dead and Cornell '77 "There is a huge amount of useful information collected in this book. And it was written as a serious criticism with love and affection and a large portion of honesty and humor thrown in for good measure." --M. Sarki, The Rogue Literary Society "As any Deadhead worth their weight in hemp and LSD will tell you, there's nothing like a Grateful Dead concert, and the author capably demonstrates the good, bad, and ugly elements that followed the band around for decades ... A must for devoted Deadheads." --Kirkus Reviews Praise for Ray Robertson's Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) "On North American shores, writing about music and its cultural spin-offs has largely been defined by the snarky authority of Pitchfork and trash-talkin' teardowns of VICE giving birth to the new, new cool. Whereas those writing for music publications in Britain, although still cheeky, offer far more in the way of literary craft, storytelling and historical insight compared to the brash Americans. Ray Robertson, a Canadian novelist, aligns himself closer to the British tradition reinforcing that smart, lively prose and a bit of wit go a long, marvelous way. One part of Lives of the Poets is a record guide revealing these undiscovered treasures, the other is Robertson's gift of spewing out stories that simply shame most rock 'n' roll writers into the hacks they really are." --Beat Route " Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) should come with a warning label: May cause significant increase of spending on music. Readers are strongly advised to avoid record stores within 72 hours of reading. There is much to love and admire about Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) . Robertson brings a discerning ear and keen passion, a sly sense of humour and a deep sense of philosophical questioning to each of these pieces. [It] is a powerful book and one to which music fans are likely to often return." --Toronto Star "Robertson toils for a higher purpose: to reveal the transcendent, enduring qualities of the artist and their importance to society. He establishes his intentions in the introduction: 'One wants to convey in words what it is that makes for a musically-transformed, more-alive human being.' With this collection of essays on 13 remarkable figures, Robertson leaves no doubt about the success of his endeavor." --Elmore Magazine "Crossing a number of musical genres, Robertson is often effusive in his praise, but consistently provides a stirring rationale for the strong emotional impact that each artist elicits with their music ... Robertson offers the whole picture, warts and all. In doing so, he honors the music of artists who have enriched his life--and opens the door for his readers to experience the same magic." --Blues Blast Magazine "Robertson brings a good ear and plenty of critical insight to essays aimed at helping readers discover new favorites or hear more familiar music from a fresh perspective." --Kirkus Reviews, Praise for All the Years Combine "Robertson hand-picks fifty essential shows ... he explores the concerts'' historical contexts and sonic characteristics while also fitting them into the narrative arc of the band''s career. This meticulously researched passion project ably explains why the Grateful Dead were such a successful touring act and how they became a cultural touchstone." --Michael Strizic, Literary Review of Canada "Ray Robertson''s All the Years Combine is part love letter and part band history, showing why--and how--Deadheads really talk (and feel) about their favorite band." --Peter Conners, author of Growing Up Dead and Cornell ''77 "There is a huge amount of useful information collected in this book. And it was written as a serious criticism with love and affection and a large portion of honesty and humor thrown in for good measure." --M. Sarki, The Rogue Literary Society "As any Deadhead worth their weight in hemp and LSD will tell you, there''s nothing like a Grateful Dead concert, and the author capably demonstrates the good, bad, and ugly elements that followed the band around for decades ... A must for devoted Deadheads." --Kirkus Reviews Praise for Ray Robertson''s Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) "On North American shores, writing about music and its cultural spin-offs has largely been defined by the snarky authority of Pitchfork and trash-talkin'' teardowns of VICE giving birth to the new, new cool. Whereas those writing for music publications in Britain, although still cheeky, offer far more in the way of literary craft, storytelling and historical insight compared to the brash Americans. Ray Robertson, a Canadian novelist, aligns himself closer to the British tradition reinforcing that smart, lively prose and a bit of wit go a long, marvelous way. One part of Lives of the Poets is a record guide revealing these undiscovered treasures, the other is Robertson''s gift of spewing out stories that simply shame most rock ''n'' roll writers into the hacks they really are." --Beat Route " Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) should come with a warning label: May cause significant increase of spending on music. Readers are strongly advised to avoid record stores within 72 hours of reading. There is much to love and admire about Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) . Robertson brings a discerning ear and keen passion, a sly sense of humour and a deep sense of philosophical questioning to each of these pieces. [It] is a powerful book and one to which music fans are likely to often return." --Toronto Star "Robertson toils for a higher purpose: to reveal the transcendent, enduring qualities of the artist and their importance to society. He establishes his intentions in the introduction: ''One wants to convey in words what it is that makes for a musically-transformed, more-alive human being.'' With this collection of essays on 13 remarkable figures, Robertson leaves no doubt about the success of his endeavor." --Elmore Magazine "Crossing a number of musical genres, Robertson is often effusive in his praise, but consistently provides a stirring rationale for the strong emotional impact that each artist elicits with their music ... Robertson offers the whole picture, warts and all. In doing so, he honors the music of artists who have enriched his life--and opens the door for his readers to experience the same magic." --Blues Blast Magazine "Robertson brings a good ear and plenty of critical insight to essays aimed at helping readers discover new favorites or hear more familiar music from a fresh perspective." --Kirkus Reviews, Praise for All the Years Combine "Robertson has written an ideal companion for the devoted Deadhead while charting intimidating territory for the curious ... books like this one help enshrine (the music) with the reverence it deserves." --Michael Strizic, Literary Review of Canada "Ray Robertson''s All the Years Combine is part love letter and part band history, showing why--and how--Deadheads really talk (and feel) about their favorite band." --Peter Conners, author of Growing Up Dead and Cornell ''77 "If life were a Grateful Dead concert, Chatham author Ray Robertson would be its philosopher archivist." --Dan Savoie, 519 Magazine "There is a huge amount of useful information collected in this book. And it was written as a serious criticism with love and affection and a large portion of honesty and humor thrown in for good measure." --M. Sarki, The Rogue Literary Society "As any Deadhead worth their weight in hemp and LSD will tell you, there''s nothing like a Grateful Dead concert, and the author capably demonstrates the good, bad, and ugly elements that followed the band around for decades ... A must for devoted Deadheads." --Kirkus Reviews "The great thing about this book is that if you know the Grateful Dead''s music, it''s a hum-along, sing-along tome ... His summaries of Dead concerts often display elements of verve, invention and colour in the telling ... Robertson''s other object is corrective--to change the focus of the Grateful Dead''s legacy in our culture. And in this, he succeeds admirably." --Winnipeg Free Press Praise for Ray Robertson''s Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) "On North American shores, writing about music and its cultural spin-offs has largely been defined by the snarky authority of Pitchfork and trash-talkin'' teardowns of VICE giving birth to the new, new cool. Whereas those writing for music publications in Britain, although still cheeky, offer far more in the way of literary craft, storytelling and historical insight compared to the brash Americans. Ray Robertson, a Canadian novelist, aligns himself closer to the British tradition reinforcing that smart, lively prose and a bit of wit go a long, marvelous way. One part of Lives of the Poets is a record guide revealing these undiscovered treasures, the other is Robertson''s gift of spewing out stories that simply shame most rock ''n'' roll writers into the hacks they really are." --Beat Route " Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) should come with a warning label: May cause significant increase of spending on music. Readers are strongly advised to avoid record stores within 72 hours of reading. There is much to love and admire about Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) . Robertson brings a discerning ear and keen passion, a sly sense of humour and a deep sense of philosophical questioning to each of these pieces. [It] is a powerful book and one to which music fans are likely to often return." --Toronto Star "Robertson toils for a higher purpose: to reveal the transcendent, enduring qualities of the artist and their importance to society. He establishes his intentions in the introduction: ''One wants to convey in words what it is that makes for a musically-transformed, more-alive human being.'' With this collection of essays on 13 remarkable figures, Robertson leaves no doubt about the success of his endeavor." --Elmore Magazine "Crossing a number of musical genres, Robertson is often effusive in his praise, but consistently provides a stirring rationale for the strong emotional impact that each artist elicits with their music ... Robertson offers the whole picture, warts and all. In doing so, he honors the music of artists who have enriched his life--and opens the door for his readers to experience the same magic." --Blues Blast Magazine "Robertson brings a good ear and plenty of critical insight to essays aimed at helping readers discover new favorites or hear more familiar music from a fresh perspective." --Kirkus Reviews, Praise for All the Years Combine "Ray Robertson's All the Years Combine is part love letter and part band history, showing why--and how--Deadheads really talk (and feel) about their favorite band." --Peter Conners, author of Growing Up Dead and Cornell '77 "There is a huge amount of useful information collected in this book. And it was written as a serious criticism with love and affection and a large portion of honesty and humor thrown in for good measure." --M. Sarki, The Rogue Literary Society Praise for Ray Robertson's Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) "On North American shores, writing about music and its cultural spin-offs has largely been defined by the snarky authority of Pitchfork and trash-talkin' teardowns of VICE giving birth to the new, new cool. Whereas those writing for music publications in Britain, although still cheeky, offer far more in the way of literary craft, storytelling and historical insight compared to the brash Americans. Ray Robertson, a Canadian novelist, aligns himself closer to the British tradition reinforcing that smart, lively prose and a bit of wit go a long, marvelous way. One part of Lives of the Poets is a record guide revealing these undiscovered treasures, the other is Robertson's gift of spewing out stories that simply shame most rock 'n' roll writers into the hacks they really are." --Beat Route " Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) should come with a warning label: May cause significant increase of spending on music. Readers are strongly advised to avoid record stores within 72 hours of reading. There is much to love and admire about Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) . Robertson brings a discerning ear and keen passion, a sly sense of humour and a deep sense of philosophical questioning to each of these pieces. [It] is a powerful book and one to which music fans are likely to often return." --Toronto Star "Robertson toils for a higher purpose: to reveal the transcendent, enduring qualities of the artist and their importance to society. He establishes his intentions in the introduction: 'One wants to convey in words what it is that makes for a musically-transformed, more-alive human being.' With this collection of essays on 13 remarkable figures, Robertson leaves no doubt about the success of his endeavor." --Elmore Magazine "Crossing a number of musical genres, Robertson is often effusive in his praise, but consistently provides a stirring rationale for the strong emotional impact that each artist elicits with their music ... Robertson offers the whole picture, warts and all. In doing so, he honors the music of artists who have enriched his life--and opens the door for his readers to experience the same magic." --Blues Blast Magazine "Robertson brings a good ear and plenty of critical insight to essays aimed at helping readers discover new favorites or hear more familiar music from a fresh perspective." --Kirkus Reviews, Praise for All the Years Combine "Ray Robertson's All the Years Combine is part love letter and part band history, showing why--and how--Deadheads really talk (and feel) about their favorite band." --Peter Conners, author of Growing Up Dead and Cornell '77 Praise for Ray Robertson's Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) "On North American shores, writing about music and its cultural spin-offs has largely been defined by the snarky authority of Pitchfork and trash-talkin' teardowns of VICE giving birth to the new, new cool. Whereas those writing for music publications in Britain, although still cheeky, offer far more in the way of literary craft, storytelling and historical insight compared to the brash Americans. Ray Robertson, a Canadian novelist, aligns himself closer to the British tradition reinforcing that smart, lively prose and a bit of wit go a long, marvelous way. One part of Lives of the Poets is a record guide revealing these undiscovered treasures, the other is Robertson's gift of spewing out stories that simply shame most rock 'n' roll writers into the hacks they really are." --Beat Route " Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) should come with a warning label: May cause significant increase of spending on music. Readers are strongly advised to avoid record stores within 72 hours of reading. There is much to love and admire about Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) . Robertson brings a discerning ear and keen passion, a sly sense of humour and a deep sense of philosophical questioning to each of these pieces. [It] is a powerful book and one to which music fans are likely to often return." --Toronto Star "Robertson toils for a higher purpose: to reveal the transcendent, enduring qualities of the artist and their importance to society. He establishes his intentions in the introduction: 'One wants to convey in words what it is that makes for a musically-transformed, more-alive human being.' With this collection of essays on 13 remarkable figures, Robertson leaves no doubt about the success of his endeavor." --Elmore Magazine "Crossing a number of musical genres, Robertson is often effusive in his praise, but consistently provides a stirring rationale for the strong emotional impact that each artist elicits with their music ... Robertson offers the whole picture, warts and all. In doing so, he honors the music of artists who have enriched his life--and opens the door for his readers to experience the same magic." --Blues Blast Magazine "Robertson brings a good ear and plenty of critical insight to essays aimed at helping readers discover new favorites or hear more familiar music from a fresh perspective." --Kirkus Reviews, Praise for All the Years Combine "Robertson has written an ideal companion for the devoted Deadhead while charting intimidating territory for the curious ... books like this one help enshrine (the music) with the reverence it deserves." --Michael Strizic, Literary Review of Canada "Ray Robertson''s All the Years Combine is part love letter and part band history, showing why--and how--Deadheads really talk (and feel) about their favorite band." --Peter Conners, author of Growing Up Dead and Cornell ''77 "If life were a Grateful Dead concert, Chatham author Ray Robertson would be it''s philosopher archivist." --Dan Savoie, 519 Magazine "There is a huge amount of useful information collected in this book. And it was written as a serious criticism with love and affection and a large portion of honesty and humor thrown in for good measure." --M. Sarki, The Rogue Literary Society "As any Deadhead worth their weight in hemp and LSD will tell you, there''s nothing like a Grateful Dead concert, and the author capably demonstrates the good, bad, and ugly elements that followed the band around for decades ... A must for devoted Deadheads." --Kirkus Reviews Praise for Ray Robertson''s Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) "On North American shores, writing about music and its cultural spin-offs has largely been defined by the snarky authority of Pitchfork and trash-talkin'' teardowns of VICE giving birth to the new, new cool. Whereas those writing for music publications in Britain, although still cheeky, offer far more in the way of literary craft, storytelling and historical insight compared to the brash Americans. Ray Robertson, a Canadian novelist, aligns himself closer to the British tradition reinforcing that smart, lively prose and a bit of wit go a long, marvelous way. One part of Lives of the Poets is a record guide revealing these undiscovered treasures, the other is Robertson''s gift of spewing out stories that simply shame most rock ''n'' roll writers into the hacks they really are." --Beat Route " Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) should come with a warning label: May cause significant increase of spending on music. Readers are strongly advised to avoid record stores within 72 hours of reading. There is much to love and admire about Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) . Robertson brings a discerning ear and keen passion, a sly sense of humour and a deep sense of philosophical questioning to each of these pieces. [It] is a powerful book and one to which music fans are likely to often return." --Toronto Star "Robertson toils for a higher purpose: to reveal the transcendent, enduring qualities of the artist and their importance to society. He establishes his intentions in the introduction: ''One wants to convey in words what it is that makes for a musically-transformed, more-alive human being.'' With this collection of essays on 13 remarkable figures, Robertson leaves no doubt about the success of his endeavor." --Elmore Magazine "Crossing a number of musical genres, Robertson is often effusive in his praise, but consistently provides a stirring rationale for the strong emotional impact that each artist elicits with their music ... Robertson offers the whole picture, warts and all. In doing so, he honors the music of artists who have enriched his life--and opens the door for his readers to experience the same magic." --Blues Blast Magazine "Robertson brings a good ear and plenty of critical insight to essays aimed at helping readers discover new favorites or hear more familiar music from a fresh perspective." --Kirkus Reviews, Praise for All the Years Combine "Robertson hand-picks fifty essential shows ... he explores the concerts'' historical contexts and sonic characteristics while also fitting them into the narrative arc of the band''s career. This meticulously researched passion project ably explains why the Grateful Dead were such a successful touring act and how they became a cultural touchstone." --Michael Strizic, Literary Review of Canada "Ray Robertson''s All the Years Combine is part love letter and part band history, showing why--and how--Deadheads really talk (and feel) about their favorite band." --Peter Conners, author of Growing Up Dead and Cornell ''77 "There is a huge amount of useful information collected in this book. And it was written as a serious criticism with love and affection and a large portion of honesty and humor thrown in for good measure." --M. Sarki, The Rogue Literary Society "As any Deadhead worth their weight in hemp and LSD will tell you, there''s nothing like a Grateful Dead concert, and the author capably demonstrates the good, bad, and ugly elements that followed the band around for decades ... Robertson is a fluid music writer." --Kirkus Reviews Praise for Ray Robertson''s Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) "On North American shores, writing about music and its cultural spin-offs has largely been defined by the snarky authority of Pitchfork and trash-talkin'' teardowns of VICE giving birth to the new, new cool. Whereas those writing for music publications in Britain, although still cheeky, offer far more in the way of literary craft, storytelling and historical insight compared to the brash Americans. Ray Robertson, a Canadian novelist, aligns himself closer to the British tradition reinforcing that smart, lively prose and a bit of wit go a long, marvelous way. One part of Lives of the Poets is a record guide revealing these undiscovered treasures, the other is Robertson''s gift of spewing out stories that simply shame most rock ''n'' roll writers into the hacks they really are." --Beat Route " Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) should come with a warning label: May cause significant increase of spending on music. Readers are strongly advised to avoid record stores within 72 hours of reading. There is much to love and admire about Lives of the Poets (with Guitars) . Robertson brings a discerning ear and keen passion, a sly sense of humour and a deep sense of philosophical questioning to each of these pieces. [It] is a powerful book and one to which music fans are likely to often return." --Toronto Star "Robertson toils for a higher purpose: to reveal the transcendent, enduring qualities of the artist and their importance to society. He establishes his intentions in the introduction: ''One wants to convey in words what it is that makes for a musically-transformed, more-alive human being.'' With this collection of essays on 13 remarkable figures, Robertson leaves no doubt about the success of his endeavor." --Elmore Magazine "Crossing a number of musical genres, Robertson is often effusive in his praise, but consistently provides a stirring rationale for the strong emotional impact that each artist elicits with their music ... Robertson offers the whole picture, warts and all. In doing so, he honors the music of artists who have enriched his life--and opens the door for his readers to experience the same magic." --Blues Blast Magazine "Robertson brings a good ear and plenty of critical insight to essays aimed at helping readers discover new favorites or hear more familiar music from a fresh perspective." --Kirkus Reviews

CLASSIFICATION_METADATA

{"IsNonfiction":["Yes"],"IsOther":["No"],"IsAdult":["No"],"MuzeFormatDesc":["Trade Paperback"],"IsChildren":["No"],"Genre":["MUSIC"],"Topic":["Genres & Styles / Rock","History & Criticism","Individual Composer & Musician"],"IsTextBook":["No"],"IsFiction":["No"]}

Synopsis

A Grateful Dead concert, Ray Robertson argues, is life. Like life, it can be alternately compelling and lackluster; familiar and foreign; occasionally sublime and sometimes insipid. Although the Grateful Dead stopped the day Jerry Garcia's heart did, what the band left behind is the next best thing to being there in the third row, courtesy of the group's unorthodox decision to record all of their concerts. Meaning that it's possible to follow the band's evolution (and devolution) through their shows, from the R&B-based garage band at the beginning, to the jazz-rock conjurers at their creative peak, to the lumbering monolith of their decline. In All the Years Combine: The Grateful Dead in Fifty Shows , Robertson listens to and writes ecstatically about fifty of the band's most important and memorable concerts in order to better understand who the Grateful Dead were, what they became, and what they meant -- and what they continue to mean., A Grateful Dead concert, Ray Robertson argues, is life. Like life, it can be alternately compelling and lackluster; familiar and foreign; occasionally sublime and sometimes insipid. Although the Grateful Dead stopped the day Jerry Garcia's heart did, what the band left behind is the next best thing to being there in the third row, courtesy of the group's unorthodox decision to record all of their concerts. Meaning that it's possible to follow the band's evolution (and devolution) through their shows, from the R&B-based garage band at the beginning, to the jazz-rock conjurers at their creative peak, to the lumbering monolith of their decline. In All the Years Combine: The Grateful Dead in Fifty Shows, Robertson listens to and writes ecstatically about Fifty of the band's most important and memorable concerts in order to better understand who the Grateful Dead were, what they became, and what they meant--and what they continue to mean., Like life, it can be alternately compelling and lackluster; familiar and foreign; occasionally sublime and sometimes insipid. Although the Grateful Dead stopped the day Jerry Garcia's heart did, what the band left behind is the next best thing to being there in the third row, courtesy of the group's unorthodox decision to record all of their concerts. Meaning that it's possible to follow the band's evolution (and devolution) through their shows, from the R&B-based garage band at the beginning, to the jazz-rock conjurers at their creative peak, to the lumbering monolith of their decline. In All the Years Combine: The Grateful Dead in Fifty Shows, Robertson listens to and writes ecstatically about fifty of the band's most important and memorable concerts in order to better understand who the Grateful Dead were, what they became, and what they meant-and what they continue to mean.