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.'

Bruce Barthol, Country Joe & the Fish Bassist, Dies at 75

Barthol played on the psychedelic group’s first three albums, including the anthemic ‘I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die.’

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Melanie Interview: ‘Candles in the Rain,’ ‘Brand New Key’ & More

“I was just Melanie, the cute flower child person. To the hip people, the real hipsters, I became the cool person to bash. I don’t know how that happened.”

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When Jefferson Airplane Auditioned for Phil Spector: ‘Man, Let’s Get Out of Here!’

“He was shooting [a pellet pistol]. Made me uncomfortable and I left after we played,” remembers guitarist Jorma Kaukonen of the “strange” meeting.

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Making the Scene With Lenny Kaye: Musician, Author, ‘Nuggets’ Curator, Fan

Kaye: “Ideas start coming together, almost like cosmic dust starts to form a planet. Then there’s a realization that something different is happening.”

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Charlie Gracie, Early Rocker Who Hit #1 With ‘Butterfly,’ Dies at 86

Loved by the likes of Paul McCartney and Graham Nash, the Philly rockabilly singer helped put Cameo-Parkway Records on the map.

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Bob Lind, ‘Elusive Butterfly’ Singer-Songwriter: Interview

He flew into the top 5 in 1966 on the strength of one of his compositions, and he’s been elusive for most of the time since. We spoke with him.

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Jesse Colin Young Q&A on His Solo Years

Although he’s battled a debilitating illness for many years, the former Youngbloods leader returned with one of his strongest albums ever.

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Danny Kalb, Lead Guitarist of NYC’s Influential Blues Project, Dies at 80

His lead guitar lines, whether high-velocity or slow and measured, never sacrificed tastefulness for flash.

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Robert Gordon, Singer Who Spawned a Rockabilly Revival, Dies at 75

He first heard Elvis Presley in the 1950s and became hooked on the early rock ‘n’ roll sound–later he would help bring it back.

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Seals and Crofts: Diamonds in the Rough

Their ’70s top 10 hits–“Summer Breeze,” “Diamond Girl” and “Get Closer”–told only part of the story. The soft-rockers had been around for years by then.

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