Eric Clapton featured prominently on guitarist’s long-awaited return

Even by his usual standards –only five solo albums in nearly 35 years—a 13-year-gap in between releases sets a new record for Robbie Robertson—the former lead guitarist and principal songwriter for the Band. As it turns out, the LP, “How to Become Clairvoyant”, has been gestating even longer.

Sessions for the long-awaited album began almost 20 years ago, largely as a collaborative affair between Robertson and long-time friend Eric Clapton. It was Clapton’s infatuation with the Band’s roots/Americana-style and Robertson’s songwriting that prompted him to quit his legendary power trio, Cream, 42 years ago. A hoped-for creative match-up was still years off, however, and once sessions began taking place, both Robertson’s and Clapton’s scheduling demands prevented them from finishing the project.

In the meantime, Robertson has kept busy as filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s musical director and advisor on most of the director’s pictures. But in 2007, Robertson unearthed the recordings of the Clapton sessions and was surprised by both the quality and timelessness of the tracks. Those seven cuts form the foundation of “Clairvoyant’s” 12 songs, which also feature guest appearances from Steve Winwood, Tom Morello and Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor.

Early reviews of  “How to Become Clairvoyant” have been favorable, many citing the LP as Robbie Robertson’s best LP.