The Road to Escondido (2006)

The unhurried atmosphere of The Road to Escondido is appropriate given that this first album from Clapton and Cale comes almost 40 years after the former made a hit out of the latter's ''After Midnight.'' In fact, the two mellow fellows uncover new levels of laid-backness on a set of largely J.J.-penned tunes, which includes a creditable revamp of ''Don't Cry Sister'' from Cale's 1979 album 5. Joining in the relaxed fun are guests John Mayer and Billy Preston, who died in June and to whom the CD is dedicated.