Robert Johnson, the legendary bluesman, would have turned 100 this week. That’s well beyond the age he actually lived to – a very young 27. During his short life (1911-1938), Johnson recorded 29 individual songs. But they could not have been more influential. Songs like Cross Road Blues, Sweet Home Chicago, and Kind Hearted Woman Blues (all found in this newly-released Centennial Collection) had a remarkable influence on musicians growing up generations later. Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Robert Plant – they all acknowledge a deep debt to Johnson.
Speaking of debts, you can’t talk about Robert Johnson without talking about the famous devil legend. The legend holds that Johnson made a Faustian bargain with the devil, selling his soul in exchange for boundless musical talent. It’s a great tale, and it all gets brought back to life in “Devilish Detail,” a new animated film (above) featuring illustrations by Christopher Darling. You can view it in a larger format on Nowness.com…
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This is so good my brains fell out! I have had that Crossroads recording for years and the cartoon is perfect. Sad, but perfect.