Posts From Jeff Tamarkin
17 #1 Hits Worse Than ‘We Built This City’
That mid-’80s Starship hit perennially tops lists of the worst chart-toppers ever. It’s bad, we agree, but we’ve found others that are even worse.
Read More
When Neil Young Found a Neil Young Bootleg
What happened way back in 1971 when a rock star went record shopping and found a bootleg of his own music? It wasn’t pretty, but it’s fascinating.
Read More
17 Must-Reads For Every Hippie’s Bookshelf
If you were a hippie, or still are, we’re betting you are familiar with most of these classics, including several novels, guides, poetry books and more.
Read More
Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, Grateful Dead Singer During the 1970s, Dies
The only female member of the storied San Francisco band, Godchaux-MacKay, who was 78, died in Nashville, Tenn., following a long battle with cancer.
Read More
‘Ringo’: His 1973 Solo Breakthrough, With a Little Help From You Know Who
Although he’d had a couple of solo hits post-Beatles, the albums just weren’t happening. Then he reached into his phone book and made a few calls.
Read More
The Gentrys’ ‘Keep on Dancing’: Behind the ’60s Garage Classic
The Memphis septet took an obscure R&B tune and turned it into a top 5 rocker in 1965. The story behind the recording—and the band—is fascinating.
Read More
Willie Nelson: A New Book Analyzes His Massive Album Catalog
This handsome new hardcover book is stocked with factual details on every album, along with analyses of the music within.
Read More
Leslie West on Playing With Jimi and The Who
The Mountain man recalls his solo years and jam sessions sitting in with fellow rock giants, and much more.
Read More
The Mighty Manfred Mann: From ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’ to ‘Blinded By the Light’
They underwent frequent personnel changes, including several lead singers—and they were named after the keyboardist—but they kept producing hits.
Read More
An Interview with Dion: The Bronx, the Blues & Beyond
“If you are looking to retire you’ve probably been in the wrong job. I do what I love now.”—Dion
Read More