Solitaire (album)
Encyclopedia
Solitaire is a 1972 album by American singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka
. The album, released after a successful English tour in early 1972, marked the comeback of Sedaka after a 10-year absence from the charts. Three singles were lifted from the album, "Beautiful You" (UK No. 43), "That's When the Music Takes Me" (UK No. 18; US No. 27), and "Dimbo Man". The album's title track, "Solitaire", later became a hit single for Andy Williams
(1973) and The Carpenters
(1975).
The album was produced at Strawberry Studios
in Stockport
, England, with the musical support of Graham Gouldman
, Lol Creme
and Kevin Godley
who – together with the album's recording engineer Eric Stewart
– would shortly become the successful pop band 10cc
.
Sedaka opted to record at Strawberry after meeting Gouldman in New York and discovering his association with Stewart, Godley and Creme. The trio had recorded the single "Umbopo", which Sedaka liked, under the band name of Doctor Father
.
His work there became pivotal in the musician's decision to forge their own career as a band. Gouldman recalled: "It was Neil Sedaka's success that did it, I think. We'd just been accepting any job we were offered and were getting really frustrated. We knew that we were worth more than that, but it needed something to prod us into facing that. We were a bit choked to think that we'd done the whole of Neil's first album with him just for flat session fees when we could have been recording our own material."
Sedaka recorded one more album with the band members.
The track "Better Days Are Coming" was reworked by Sedaka as the Japanese opening theme for the 1985 anime series Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
. The revised song became "Zeta - Toki wo Koete" (literally "Zeta - Beyond Time").
The Solitaire album was not released in the US initially, but eventually it was issued after Sedaka regained his popularity in his home country in 1974-75 with the release of the album Sedaka's Back
. In West Germany
, the album was released on the budget label RCA International, simply titled Neil Sedaka.
In 2010, Essential Media Pop re-released the album on CD.
except where marked
Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...
. The album, released after a successful English tour in early 1972, marked the comeback of Sedaka after a 10-year absence from the charts. Three singles were lifted from the album, "Beautiful You" (UK No. 43), "That's When the Music Takes Me" (UK No. 18; US No. 27), and "Dimbo Man". The album's title track, "Solitaire", later became a hit single for Andy Williams
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
(1973) and The Carpenters
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
(1975).
The album was produced at Strawberry Studios
Strawberry Studios
-Formation:The facility was originally called Inner City Studios and located above a music store in the town centre. In early 1968 it was bought by Peter Tattersall, a former road manager for Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. Tattersall invited Eric Stewart – then lead guitarist and singer of...
in Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
, England, with the musical support of Graham Gouldman
Graham Gouldman
Graham Keith Gouldman is an English songwriter and musician who is a long-time member of British band 10cc.-Early life and 1960s pop career: 1946–1968:Gouldman was born in Broughton, Salford, England...
, Lol Creme
Lol Crème
Lol Creme is an English musician and music video director, best known for his work in 10cc. He sings, plays guitar and keyboards.-Biography:...
and Kevin Godley
Kevin Godley
Kevin Godley is a British musician and music video director.He was born in a family of Jewish descent, and went to North Cestrian Grammar School in Altrincham....
who – together with the album's recording engineer Eric Stewart
Eric Stewart
Eric Stewart is an English musician, songwriter and record producer most known for his tenure with The Mindbenders in the 1960s, and 10cc from 1972 to 1995....
– would shortly become the successful pop band 10cc
10cc
10cc are an English art rock band who achieved their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The band initially consisted of four musicians -- Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme -- who had written and recorded together for some three years, before assuming the "10cc" name...
.
Sedaka opted to record at Strawberry after meeting Gouldman in New York and discovering his association with Stewart, Godley and Creme. The trio had recorded the single "Umbopo", which Sedaka liked, under the band name of Doctor Father
Doctor Father
Doctor Father was the band name used by British musicians Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme – later of 10cc – for the release of a single, "Umbopo", in August 1970....
.
His work there became pivotal in the musician's decision to forge their own career as a band. Gouldman recalled: "It was Neil Sedaka's success that did it, I think. We'd just been accepting any job we were offered and were getting really frustrated. We knew that we were worth more than that, but it needed something to prod us into facing that. We were a bit choked to think that we'd done the whole of Neil's first album with him just for flat session fees when we could have been recording our own material."
Sedaka recorded one more album with the band members.
The track "Better Days Are Coming" was reworked by Sedaka as the Japanese opening theme for the 1985 anime series Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
is a television anime, part of the Gundam series and a sequel to the original Mobile Suit Gundam. The show was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, with character designs by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, while the series' mechanical designs is split amongst Kunio Okawara, Mamoru Nagano, and Kazumi Fujita...
. The revised song became "Zeta - Toki wo Koete" (literally "Zeta - Beyond Time").
The Solitaire album was not released in the US initially, but eventually it was issued after Sedaka regained his popularity in his home country in 1974-75 with the release of the album Sedaka's Back
Sedaka's Back
Sedaka's Back is an album by American singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka. The record, a compilation of his last three albums, which had been released only in the UK, was released on Elton John's Rocket Records label in 1974...
. In West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, the album was released on the budget label RCA International, simply titled Neil Sedaka.
In 2010, Essential Media Pop re-released the album on CD.
Track listing
All tracks by Neil SedakaNeil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...
except where marked
Side one
- "That's When the Music Takes Me" – 3:35
- "Beautiful You" (Sedaka, Phil Cody) – 3:35
- "Express Yourself" (Sedaka, Cody) – 3:21
- "Anywhere You're Gonna Be (Leba's Song)" – 3:30
- "Home" (Sedaka, Cody) – 3:10
- "Adventures of a Boy Child Wonder" (Sedaka, Cody) – 3:10
Side two
- "Better Days Are Coming" – 4:17
- "Dimbo Man" (Sedaka, R. Atkins) – 3:58
- "Trying to Say Goodbye" (Sedaka, Cody) – 3:20
- "Solitaire" (Sedaka, Cody) – 5:02
- "Don't Let It Mess Your Mind" (Sedaka, Cody) – 4:24
Personnel
- Neil SedakaNeil SedakaNeil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...
– electric piano, organ, piano, vibes, vocals - Graham GouldmanGraham GouldmanGraham Keith Gouldman is an English songwriter and musician who is a long-time member of British band 10cc.-Early life and 1960s pop career: 1946–1968:Gouldman was born in Broughton, Salford, England...
– bass, guitar, vocals - Lol CremeLol CrèmeLol Creme is an English musician and music video director, best known for his work in 10cc. He sings, plays guitar and keyboards.-Biography:...
– guitar, vocals - Kevin GodleyKevin GodleyKevin Godley is a British musician and music video director.He was born in a family of Jewish descent, and went to North Cestrian Grammar School in Altrincham....
– drums, vocals - Eric StewartEric StewartEric Stewart is an English musician, songwriter and record producer most known for his tenure with The Mindbenders in the 1960s, and 10cc from 1972 to 1995....
– recording engineer