Poking holes in Robert Johnson's deal with the devil

The legend of bluesman Robert Johnson has only grown over the years through cover songs, rereleases, countless books, even a movie. 

The story that's grown over the years remains a simple one: Johnson made a deal with the devil at a crossroads in the Mississippi Delta, trading his soul for the ability to make magical music. Johnson recorded only 28 songs over a short career, but the haunting guitar work and vocals on those select tunes has influenced countless musicians ranging from Eric Clapton to Led Zeppelin to Jack White. 

Little is known of Johnson -- only two photos of him have been published -- and it's that scarcity of information that has helped fuel the legend. Historians and blues fanatics have converged on Clarksdale, Miss., over the years, searching for clues to decipher one of 20th century music's most enduring legends. Years after his death, Robert Johnson remains a huge source of tourism to the area. 

In recent years, more than a few skeptics have begun to question this enduring tale, poking holes in shaky evidence. The latest example comes from WNYC's "Radiolab" show, which devotes a half-hour to new evidence that turns the Robert Johnson story on its head. 

Could Johnson's colorful tale simply be a case of mistaken identity? Listen to the stream above and decide for yourself.

Review: 'Steve Jobs'

Where do I start? 

Steve Jobs was a royal ass. And not just an ass but evil on many levels.  

You've heard about Jobs' prickly personality over the years, but after reading Walter Isaacson's magnificent biography of the Apple genius, I was shocked to the degree with which a person can be so removed from the rest of the human race.

This was a man off on his own. Here's just a sampling:

• His refusal to put license plates on his pricey Mercedes.

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The stories behind the songs

Passing along a couple of cool music-production podcasts that caught my fancy:

• A "Record Producers" overview of Tony Visconti, the famed producer behind hits from David Bowie, T Rex, Thin Lizzy, Morrissey and Paul McCartney.  "The Record Producers" was a British series that profiled famous producers, but this Visconti installment is the only one I can find (I'm open to any help in finding others, or even the original series). The podcast goes by quickly but is loads of fun, including a bit on Visconti hiring him to do an orchestral score but refusing to let him know any other details about the song (turned out to be "Band on the Run"). 
• NPR is following Neko Case as she pieces together her new album. Based on the first installment, this could be a long process because we learn Case doesn't come to the studio with ideas in hand. Instead, she patches things together over time, stitching with her mood. And based on where her head is at now, this may be an enlightening look into one of alternative music's most engaging artists.