JJ Cale and Eric Clapton Collaboration Album, ‘The Road to Escondido,’ Gets Enhanced Edition

JJ Cale and Eric Clapton performing in 2007

20 years ago in November 2006, JJ Cale and Eric Clapton released their collaboration album, The Road to Escondido. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, an enhanced edition, containing three previously unreleased songs from the original recording sessions—as well as three live tracks from their Live In San Diego concert album—will be released on Nov. 20, 2026, on two 180G LPs in Rusty Red and Sky Blue and 2-CDs. The title, from Clapton’s Surfdog label, is available to order here.

Originally released on Nov. 7, 2026, The Road to Escondido brought together Cale and Clapton after years of admiring each other’s work to create their first album together. The resulting hybrid sound defies being labeled, finding influence across the spectrum of blues, rock, country, and folk. Musicians on the album include Albert Lee, Derek Trucks, Taj Mahal, Nathan East, John Mayer, Steve Jordan and Doyle Bramhall II. The sessions also represent the final recordings made by keyboardist Billy Preston.

Listen to bonus track “Roll On”

Of Cale, who died in 2013, Clapton wrote, “People are unaware of how important he is in the tree of the musical history of [the U.S.] and the world, and the effect he’s had on people, in a very subtle way, in the way they sing, play guitar, and make records.”

The Road to Escondido Enhanced Edition Track Listing
1 Danger
2 Heads in Georgia
3 Missing Person
4 When the War Is Over
5 Sporting Life Blues
6 Dead End Road
7 It’s Easy
8 Hard to Thrill
9 Anyway the Wind Blows
10 Three Little Girls
11 Don’t Cry Sister
12 Last Will and Testament
13 Who Am I Telling You?
14 Ride the River
15 Wrong No More (Bonus Track)
16 I Got to Find My Baby (Bonus Track)
17 Roll On (Bonus Track)
18 Who Am I Telling You? (Live in San Diego)
19 Anyway the Wind Blows (Live in San Diego)
20 Don’t Cry Sister (Live in San Diego)