Solitude/Solitaire Explained

Solitude/Solitaire
Type:	studio
Artist:	Peter Cetera
Cover:	SolitudeSolitaire album cover.jpg
Recorded:	1985–1986
Studio:	Lion Share, Los Angeles
Genre:	Pop, rock
Length:	39:18
Label:	Warner Bros
Producer:	Michael Omartian
Prev Title:	Peter Cetera
Prev Year:	1981
Next Title:	One More Story
Next Year:	1988

Solitude/Solitaire is the second solo album by former Chicago bassist and vocalist Peter Cetera, and his first album after leaving the band in 1985. It was released in June 1986. The album includes the hits "Glory of Love" and "The Next Time I Fall" (with Amy Grant); both reached the No. 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.^[1] Solitude/Solitaire was produced by Michael Omartian,^[2] who later co-produced Cetera's 2001 album, Another Perfect World.^[3]

Composition

Cetera co-wrote eight of the nine songs on the album, "The Next Time I Fall" being the exception. Because Cetera had been a prominent songwriter for Chicago, many of the songs on Solitude/Solitaire were rumored to originally have been slated for Chicago 18, especially "Big Mistake" and "Daddy's Girl".

Singles

While "Big Mistake" was due to be the first single from the album, "Glory of Love", co-written by Cetera, David Foster, and Diane Nini, was released instead. That song, from the film The Karate Kid Part II, topped the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts, and helped Solitude/Solitaire to eventually go platinum. The follow-up single, "The Next Time I Fall", was also a major success and topped the charts. Later singles released from the album included "Big Mistake" and "Only Love Knows Why".^[4] The song, "Daddy's Girl," is part of the soundtrack for the 1987 American comedy film, Three Men and a Baby.^{[5] [6]}

Commercial performance

The album was Cetera's greatest solo success, peaking at No. 23 on the Billboard 200 chart.^[7] It was certified platinum by the RIAA, selling over one million copies in the U.S.^[8]

Solitude/Solitaire marked a high point in Cetera's career, where he achieved success for the first time on his own. It sold more copies than Chicago 18, Chicago's first album without Cetera, which peaked at No. 35.^[9]

Track listing

1. "Big Mistake" (Peter Cetera, Amos Galpin) – 5:39
2. "They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To" (Cetera, Erich Bulling) – 4:04
3. "Glory of Love" (Cetera, David Foster, Diane Nini) – 4:19
4. "Queen of the Masquerade Ball" (Cetera, Michael Omartian) – 3:50
5. "Daddy's Girl" (Cetera, Mark Goldenberg) – 3:46
6. "The Next Time I Fall" (with Amy Grant) (Bobby Caldwell, Paul Gordon^[10]) – 3:43
7. "Wake Up to Love" (Cetera, David Wolinski, Omartian) – 4:29
8. "Solitude/Solitaire" (Cetera, Omartian) – 4:58
9. "Only Love Knows Why" (Cetera, George Bitzer, Omartian) – 4:29

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic^[11] and album liner notes.

• Peter Cetera – vocals
• Michael Omartian – keyboards
• Erich Bulling – synthesizers, drum programming, Yamaha QX-1 computer
• Willie Alexander – Fairlight programming
• Steve Azbill – PPG Waveterm synthesizer programming
• Dann Huff – guitars
• Ray Parker Jr. – guitars on "Wake Up to Love"
• Paul Leim – drums on "Glory of Love" and "Only Love Knows Why"
• Chester Thompson – drums on "The Next Time I Fall"
• Jeff Porcaro – percussion
• Kenny Cetera – additional percussion, additional backing vocals
• Amy Grant – vocals on "The Next Time I Fall"

Production

• Michael Omartian – producer
• Terry Christian – engineer, mixing
• John Guess – engineer, mixing
• Britt Bacon – second engineer
• Khaliq Glover – second engineer
• Laura Livingston – second engineer
• Ray Pyle – second engineer
• Lion Share Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California – recording and mixing location
• Lighthouse Studios, Studio City, California – recording location
• Skyline Studios, New York, New York – recording location
• Steve Hall – mastering at Future Disc, Hollywood, California
• Herb Ritts – photography
• Jeri McManus – art direction and design

Charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart	75
Canadian Albums Chart^[12]	20
German Albums Chart^[13]	48
UK Albums Chart^[14]	56
US Billboard 200^[15]	23

Notes and References

1. Billboard Charts Archive: The Hot 100 - 1986 Archive. Billboard. January 10, 2017.
2. Solitude/Solitaire. Peter Cetera. 1986. audio CD liner notes. Warner Brothers Records, Inc.. 9 25474-2.
3. Another Perfect World. Another Perfect World. Peter Cetera. 2001. audio CD liner notes. DDE Music, Inc.. 06632 2001 2.
4. Book: Neely. Tim. Popoff. Martin. 2009 . [{{Google books|kO8Pj784_4YC|page=122|plainurl=yes}} Goldmine Price Guide to 45 RPM Records, 7th Ed.]. Krause Publications. 122.
5. News: Robert Lamm: Time Chill: A Retrospective/Peter Cetera: The Very Best Of. Kyle. Joseph. June 19, 2017. The Recoup. September 13, 2017.
6. Web site: 3 Men and a Baby: Detail view of Movies Page. afi.com. September 13, 2017.
7. Peter Cetera - Chart history Billboard 200. Billboard. February 20, 2017.
8. Web site: You searched for Peter Cetera - RIAA. RIAA. January 16, 2017.
9. Chicago - Chart history Billboard 200 p2. Billboard. 2. January 20, 2017.
10. Web site: Back to the 80s: Interview with songwriter/composer Paul Gordon – Kickin' it Old School. August 2, 2013. mdy. Kickin' it Old School. https://web.archive.org/web/20130806155839/http://oldschool.tblog.com/post/1970682827. August 6, 2013 . unfit. February 20, 2017.
11. Web site: Solitude/Solitaire - Peter Cetera - Credits - AllMusic. AllMusic. September 13, 2017.
12. Web site: RPM Chart - September 20, 1986. . July 17, 2013 . January 29, 2022.
13. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts. www.offiziellecharts.de. November 15, 2018.
14. Web site: PETER CETERA - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company. www.officialcharts.com. November 15, 2018.
15. Peter Cetera Chart History. . November 15, 2018.