Review: 'Memphis Boys' book/CD

"Memphis Boys: The Story of American Studios" is a long-overdue history of an underrated studio that spawned some of the greatest pop, rock and soul music from 1964-72. 

The Memphis music factory operated in the shadow of Sun, Stax and Hi studios, but for a short period was the place to record. Stars parading through the studio during that period included Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, The Box Tops, Neil Diamond, James Carr, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke and most famously, Elvis Presley. It was at American that Elvis covered "Suspicious Minds," written by Mark James, an American staff writer and sometime solo artist. 

 The story is a good one: Producer Chips Moman gets unceremoniously bounced from Stax and sets up shop in a non-descript building in a tough part of Memphis, surrounds himself with crack musicians and songwriters, and slowly builds a reputation for getting the best out of performers known and unknown. 

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Paul Weller performs 'That's Entertainment'

Paul Weller is one of the coolest rock stars ever, a man whose enjoyed three stages of stardom over a 30-plus year career as the leader of The Jam and Style Council, and currently as a solo act. 

Even in his 50s he remains fashionably cool and fresh, all the while mining the best mod, soul and R&B influences from the 1960s and '70s. 

As leader of The Jam, Weller was one of my childhood heroes. Sadly, I never saw them perform live and, unlike most rock stars, Weller rarely performs tunes from his band days. So it was nice to see him pull out one of my favorite Jam songs, "That's Entertainment," during this recent appearance on "The Jimmy Fallon Show." 

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.