Posts From Jeff Tamarkin
The Troggs’ Garage-Rock Classic ‘Wild Thing’
From its bent, distorted, shocking opening note to the ocarina solo to Reg Presley’s distinctive snarling vocal, it was one of the cornerstones of garage-rock.
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Soupy Sales, The Hollies and… Jimi Hendrix?
If you were a kid in New York at Easter time in 1965, for a few bucks you could see a dozen rock ‘n’ roll acts and a top TV host. Now that’s a bargain!
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The Inspiration For Bob Dylan’s ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’
The consummate session musician not only played on several of Dylan’s greatest tunes but inspired one that defined its era
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Mar 25, 1967: The Who, Cream Make U.S. Debut on Same Bill
Amidst the many bands playing at a New York concert hosted by DJ Murray the K were two that were new to American audiences.
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March 20, 1971: Janis Joplin Hits #1 With ‘Bobby McGee’
When Janis heard Kris Kristofferson’s song she had to record it. A few days later she was dead, but it went on to become her only #1 single.
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Feb 8, 2021: Mary Wilson, Co-Founder of The Supremes, Dies
Along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, she was an original member of the best-selling group on the Motown roster, scoring a dozen #1 singles
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Dec 23, 2020: Leslie West, Hard Rock Guitar Hero—Obituary
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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Oct 24, 2017: Fats Domino Dies at Age 89
A New Orleans icon and massive influence on later rockers, his hits included “Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t That a Shame” and “I’m Walkin’.”
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Oct 19, 2020: Spencer Davis, Leader of Britain’s “Gimme Some Lovin”’ Band, Dies
The band that bore his name was best known for a pair of 1967 top 10 hits, both sung by Steve Winwood, who wrote, “He was like a big brother to me”
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Harvey Keitel and the Song ‘Summertime, Summertime’
In a cringe-inducing scene from the movie Fingers, the use of a 1958 song becomes an indelible moment with Keitel reacting to an insult as only he can
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