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.'
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Gerry Rafferty, ‘Baker Street,’ and That Sax Solo!

The smash hit was written while its author was hanging out in a flat in London, trying to escape from frustrating legal proceedings.

Read More
NEWS PLUS: RIP – Rock In Perpetuity

Brenton Wood, ’60s Soul Star of ‘Gimme Little Sign’ Fame, Dead at 83

He never sings the words “Gimme little sign” in the song of that name.

Read More
The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

Harp On It: 20 Great Rock Songs Featuring Harmonica

The harmonica has long been used—particularly by lead singers—to inject a bit of bluesy, earthy authenticity into a song. We look at some of the best.

Read More
FEATURES: Interviews

Dave Clark Is Still Glad All Over—An Interview With the British Invasion Legend

“Ed Sullivan contacted us, but I’d never heard of him so I turned it down. Then, I found out he was huge. I said to the guys, “Quit your jobs.”

Read More
FEATURES: Spotlight Feature

1969’s Ill-Fated Altamont Festival: One of Rock’s Darkest Days

December 6, 1969, marked one of rock’s bleakest days. The free concert known as Altamont was an unmitigated disaster as everything that could possibly go wrong did.

Read More
The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

1967: The Year in 50 Classic Rock Albums

It was the year that the rock album came of age, with timeless releases from the Beatles, Dylan & Stones alongside newcomers Jimi Hendrix, the Doors and more.

Read More
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

The Mamas & the Papas’ ‘Creeque Alley’: Behind the Song

The lyrics are stocked with names and places, some of which may have been (and still are) unfamiliar to fans of the group. We break it down

Read More
NEWS PLUS: RIP – Rock In Perpetuity

Peggy Caserta, Janis Joplin’s Biographer & Lover, Dies

The book, titled ‘Going Down With Janis,’ was considered controversial due to the public’s lack of awareness of Joplin having had a same-sex relationship.

Read More
The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

Tina Turner After Ike: The ’80s Comeback

She will long be remembered as one of the most sensational, daring and courageous women in the world of rock ’n’ roll.

Read More
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Strawberry Alarm Clock’s Psychedelic ‘Incense & Peppermints’

Trivia note: The singer on one of the biggest and most memorable hits of 1967 was not even a band member. Check out the whole back story here.

Read More