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.'
FEATURES: Interviews

JD Souther: A Vintage Interview with the Gifted Singer-Songwriter

“I met Glenn Frey, and we started noodling until the neighbors were sick of it.”

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The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

1966: The Year in 40 Classic Rock Albums

From this moment on, the rock album became a statement in itself, a measure of significance. Artists began looking at their albums as unified works.

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FEATURES: Interviews

The Animals: A Final Interview with the 5 Original Band Members

In 1983 the British Invasion band famous for “House of Rising Sun” got together one last time. Our editor spoke with all five members.

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The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

Jefferson Airplane Recall Woodstock: A New Dawn

Grace Slick addressed the sea of humans, “You have seen the heavy groups. Now you will see morning maniac music. Believe me, yeah, it’s a new dawn.”

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FEATURES: Interviews

Jimmy Webb Interview on Songwriting (and That Cake)

The consummate pop songwriter, whose credits include “MacArthur Park,” “Wichita Lineman” and so many more, in conversation.

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The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Joni Mitchell’s ‘Woodstock’: Behind the Song

The composer of one of the greatest countercultural anthems never made it to the festival that served as the song’s subject.

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FEATURES: Interviews

Melanie Interview: Playing Woodstock at 22

She was a relative unknown when she walked onto the stage at Yasgur’s Farm and sang for half a million people. By the end of her set, she was a star

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The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

Status Quo: ‘Pictures of Matchstick Men’ and You

In their homeland, the U.K., they’ve had more than 60 hit singles and 30+ albums. In the U.S., they’re a one-hit wonder. Here’s the story of that one hit.

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FEATURES: Interviews

BS&T’s David Clayton-Thomas on Woodstock & More

DC-T on Woodstock: “The road manager told us, ‘I don’t think the show tonight’s going to happen. All the traffic is jammed. Nothing is moving.'”

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FEATURES: Interviews

Leslie West Interview: Mountain, Woodstock, and More

When the history of heavy rock is traced today, it invariably points to him as one of the origin points—it was no accident that he called his band Mountain.

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