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

When Lou Reed Met Metallica: Lou on ‘Lulu’

A 2011 interview with Reed on his controversial collaboration, published in its entirety.

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The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

When the J. Geils Band Finally Broke Through

The only #1 hit for this dynamic Boston band was about a schoolboy crush later being crushed for real. We look back at an early MTV favorite.

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The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

1968—The Year in 50 Classic Rock Albums

Rock was still very intense in ’68 but it began giving way to quieter, more roots-oriented sounds. More than anything though, the music was diverse.

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The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Barry McGuire vs. Barry Sadler: When the News Hit #1

One chart-topper listed complaints about the inequities and horrors of the day, while the other was a patriotic paean to the Army’s elite special forces.

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REVIEWS: Album Rewinds

‘Smiley Smile’: The Beach Boys Album That Wasn’t Supposed to Be

Their followup to ‘Pet Sounds’ was a quick replacement for an abandoned masterpiece-to-be. Some fans didn’t love it, but in time its reputation has grown.

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REVIEWS: Live Shows

Byrds: ‘Sweetheart of the Rodeo’ @50—Concert Review

They didn’t dare bill it as a Byrds reunion, but to those fans who caught a show on one of the year’s most talked-about tours, that’s exactly what it was.

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FEATURES: Interviews

David Clayton-Thomas Interview: His Early Years With Blood, Sweat & Tears

DCT: “I had to go back to Canada to renew my visa. A couple of days later I got a call. ‘Do you want to try out for the band?’ I said, ‘You’re damn right.’”

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The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

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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REVIEWS: Live Shows

Greenwich Village in the ’60s, With Sebastian, Muldaur, Melanie: 2018 Concert Review

On a lovely summer NYC night, as stellar artists paid tribute to a special time and place, getting together didn’t seem like such a crazy idea at all.

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NEWS PLUS: RIP – Rock In Perpetuity

David LaFlamme, Leader of San Francisco’s It’s a Beautiful Day, Dies

Formed in 1967, the band, led by violinist/singer LaFlamme, was a regular attraction at the Fillmore and other San Francisco venues.

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