Posts From Jeff Tamarkin

Jeff Tamarkin

Jeff Tamarkin

Best Classic Bands Editor Jeff Tamarkin has been a prolific music journalist for nearly five decades. He is formerly the editor of Goldmine, CMJ and Relix magazines, has written for dozens of other publications and has authored liner notes for more than 80 CDs. Jeff has also served on the Nominating Committee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and as a consultant to the Grammys. His first book was 'Got a Revolution! The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane.' He is also the co-author of 'Shell Shocked: My Life with the Turtles, Flo and Eddie, and Frank Zappa, etc.,' with Howard Kaylan, and 'Carlos Santana: Love, Devotion, Surrender: The Illustrated Story of Santana's Musical Journey.'

Jimmy Webb Interview: Hits & Misses

In our 2016 chat with the legendary songwriter, we discuss the unpredictability of writing a hit song and how the art of songwriting has changed.

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Remembering King Curtis, Saxophone Giant Who Was Brutally Murdered

Born Curtis Ousley, he also had his own hits like “Memphis Soul Stew” and recorded a steamy album at the Fillmore West.

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Woodstock Performers: Where Are They Now?

Many are still creating brilliant music. Here is a brief guide to the status of most of the artists who performed at the legendary 1969 festival.

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Rolling With Jerry: When Garcia Welcomed a College Kid to the Dead’s HQ

In the summer of 1971, the author and a friend decided to go visit the Grateful Dead. What resulted was an afternoon they’ve never forgotten.

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1971—The Year in 50 Classic Rock Albums

Bands that had only recently performed in ballrooms and college gyms now played arenas and stadiums—and sold millions of albums.

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Strawberry Alarm Clock Releases 1st Album of All-New Material Since the ’60s

The group, of ‘Incense and Peppermints’ fame, features five members of the 1967-69 lineup.

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22 Rock Artists Who Changed Their Names

Pat Benatar, David Bowie, Bono and Freddie Mercury didn’t start out with those names. We reveal what their mamas called them!

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They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!

It was bizarre but an instant smash hit. Then there was a backlash. Read the strange tale of Napoleon XIV and hear the song that drove people mad.

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A World of Their Own: Australia’s Seekers Gave Us More Than ‘Georgy Girl’

The Australian folk-rock quartet’s big hits also included “I’ll Never Find Another You” and “A World of Our Own.”

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The Great Lost Rock Festival of 1969

In a way better than Woodstock? Atlantic City Pop Festival – two weeks before the famed fest in Upstate NY – had a more diverse line-up, and really rocked.

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