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.'

Chuck Mangione, Jazz Musician & ‘Feels So Good’ Hitmaker, Dies

Both the album and the title cut reached the top 5 of their respective charts in 1977-78.

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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 their brief career.

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Connie Francis, ’50s-’60s Hitmaker Whose Career Earned Recent Boost With ‘Pretty Little Baby,’ Dies

The singer was recently re-discovered via an obscure 1962 recording, “Pretty Little Baby,” which went viral via TikTok, garnering billions of views.

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The Youngbloods’ ‘Get Together’: Unique Path to Success

The song had been kicking around for a few years when they recorded it. Their first release of the tune bombed. Then it became a timeless anthem.

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The Cowsills—The Hits, the Misses & Other Things: Interview

“We were told that they were going to put our mom in the group. No one asked us. In she comes.”—Bob Cowsill

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Zager & Evans’ ‘In the Year 2525’: The Gloomiest #1?

It was, to be sure, one of the bleakest songs ever to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. And then the duo never charted again.

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Pilot’s ‘Magic’ Trick: Never Believe It’s Not So

The Scottish band’s one great hit was the type that you might not hear for years, but when you do, it’s instantly familiar.

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Three Dog Night: Under the Covers

Their value lie not in their compositional skills but in their knack for choosing songs by others that fit their style and broadened their appeal.

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Bobbie Gentry ‘Ode to Billie Joe’: Another Sleepy, Dusty Delta Day

Why did he kill himself? What was thrown from the bridge? What became of the singer-songwriter behind it? Here’s what’s known.

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Full Cyrkle: The ‘Red Rubber Ball’ Band Bounces Back

They scored a smash single with an unreleased Paul Simon song, were managed by Brian Epstein and disappeared after two hits.

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