Robbie’s album / To be knighted in Canada

Only after completing his first solo album in more than 10 years did rock icon Robbie Robertson realize he had created the most personal and revealing album of his storied career. “How To Become Clairvoyant” features an impressive array of guests, too, including Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Tom Morello, Robert Randolph, Trent Reznor, Angela McCluskey, Dana Glover, Rocco DeLuca and Taylor Goldsmith.

The basic sessions were recorded in the U.K with Clapton, Pino Palladino (bass) and Ian Thomas (drums), guided by Robertson and co-producer Marius de Vries back in 2008. After letting the original recordings simmer for a while — Robertson took some time to do the score for Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island” — he resumed in Los Angeles adding in embellishments.

“A lot of the making of this record was very experimental,” said Robertson of the process. “We were not coloring inside the lines. Musically and lyrically, I went to unexpected places. The songs became episodes in this musical journey.

There is much more guitar that you would normally expect from a Robbie Robertson album but you will still hear his familiar approach married with many new musical ideas. The lead track, “He Don’t Live Here No More,” is off to a great start at radio, but the album is very deep. Check out the title track, “The Right Mistake,” “Fear of Falling,” “She’s Not Mine,” “This Is Where I Get Off” and “Straight Down the Line.”

“I’ve never before been able to write about those times,” added Robertson. “I was never comfortable taking the starring role in those stories. But enough time had passed that suddenly all of these thoughts and feelings finally crept under the door with certain urgency.”

Heading into street date (4/5) Robertson will have the Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, LA Times, NY Times and other printed media in place. He will also be featured on late night television during street week. In addition, Robertson will be knighted in Canada, have his face on a Canadian postage stamp and will be the face of the JUNO awards in late March.

Further, his 1928 Gut String guitar he and Clapton use on the new CD will be made into a limited edition. The CD will also be available as a deluxe package with vinyl featuring intimate demos with Eric Clapton.

Lastly, Robertson is schedule to do a keynote interview with World Cafe host David Dye at this year’s NONCOMMvention.