Best Classic Bands | Jeff Tamarkin - Best Classic Bands

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.

The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Sonny & Cher: ‘The Beat Goes On’ (& On & On)…

A breakdown of the way things used to be vs. the inevitable winds of change, it gave them their third major hit. But some things, it seemed, never changed

The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

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.

FEATURES: Spotlight Feature

Bob Dylan’s 1966 Brush With Death

He was living in bucolic Woodstock, having sought sanctuary from the noise, chaos—and drugs—that had consumed his life during the past year. Then he took his motorcycle for a spin

REVIEWS: Live Shows

Cat Stevens Returns After 40 Years: 2016 Review

The acclaimed singer-songwriter returned to New York City in September 2016 after a 40-year absence to perform a stunning career retrospective. Our review…

The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

The Classics IV Trio: ‘Spooky,’ ‘Stormy’ & ‘Traces’

They had three huge hits in less than a year and a half. Who were they and what became of them? We look back at the brief career of the Classics IV.

FEATURES: Perfect Rock Songs

Blues Image’s ‘Ride Captain Ride’: A Tale of 73 Men

The singer and the keyboardist were having trouble coming up with a lead lyric for the new song they were writing. The answer was sitting right in front of them.