Customer Reviews

Solitude / Solitaire

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My dad has all of the Peter Cetera cd's and I grew up listening to them in the car- now that I am 18 I really love this music. It has a certain nostalgia to it and reminds me of the good ole 80's and 90's (which is a nice change from current music). Every song is unique, with a different pace and feel. Peter sings great ballads but also has great energetic songs. My favorites include Daddy's girl, They don't make em like they used to, queen of the masquerade ball, and Next time I fall. Honestly I cannot think of a musician to compare Peter Cetera to because his unique voice and style put him in a category of his own.

While some people have complained about the production job for this album, I personally find Solitude/Solitaire to be an excellent album, full of '80's sound effects, insightful lyrics, and beautiful songs. Besides the two #1's, "Glory of Love" and the excellent duet with Amy Grant "The Next Time I Fall", this album is full of hidden gems that any Peter Cetera fan would enjoy greatly. "Wake Up To Love," "Big Mistake," "They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To," and "Solitude/Solitaire" are excellent tracks. This is an album you can actually listen straight through without pressing the skip button on your cd player. I only have two of his other albums, so I cannot compare this with his work as a whole, but without a doubt, this album is an excellent beginning to Cetera's successful solo career.

He may have left Chicago, but he is still able to write a great song. He teams up with Micheal Omartian, the same guy who helped Amy Grant on her albums which may explain how Amy Grant was chosen to do the well done duet, "Next Time I fall". Also, the other #1 hit song on this album, the grammy nominated "Glory of Love", to the movie Karate Kid part 2 is well done too. Believe me though, those aren't the only good songs. With the upbeat, "Wake up to Love", and the heartfelt, "Only Love Knows Why", there is no doubt that most will be satisfied with this album. The album even includes a song about isolation, the title track, is a fast paced song about wanting to be left alone. Well worth the investment. GRADE: B+

I'll say up front that I am a considerably bigger fan of Chicago than of any Peter Cetera solo stuff. Most anything he has released in the past 10 years or so has been a snooze-fest to me. Don't get me wrong--it is all fine and pretty music, and I understand why people like it; but for me the continual slow tempo is a bit tough to take.

Nonetheless, this first release after he left Chicago truly is a very fine album. Most everyone knows the beautiful # 1 singles off of this album--"Glory Of Love" and "Next Time I Fall." 15 years later and I still enjoy hearing those songs. Also very good are such uptempo numbers as "Big Mistake" (the single released after the two aforementioned # 1's that didn't hit the top 40), the title track, "They Don't Make 'Em...", and "Queen Of...." And for sure the closing ballad track "Only Love Knows Why" (another obscure single track) is a beautiful song.

All in all, this is a very fine effort that Peter unfortunately never matched again. I still would like to see him release a true greatest hits album (not some hokey collection like that "You're The Inspiration" compilation). In the meantime, this effort plus to a lesser degree "One More Story" are his solo albums that are most worth owning.

Includes the hits "Glory of Love" and "Next Time I Fall". Other songs include "Big Mistake", a very fast, jerky song with lots of electric guitar, it almost sounds angry, much like the title track "Solitude/Solitaire", obviously about his departure from the group Chicago. A very upbeat song, "Wake Up To Love", is also quick, and Peter's voice is very clear despite the instruments involved. Very intense album, passionate in many places. "Daddy's Girl" is quieter, and describes a little girl who will grow up and leave home, but she'll "always be daddy's girl". Very interesting collection of songs, mostly fast, features guitar, synthesizers and keyboards for that definite 'pop/rock' feel. Not at all like the group Chicago which he left the previous year, the songs take on their own meaning and have their very own life. A must for those who like special effects in their music combined with guitar!

Actually,Peter Cetera's first non-Chicago hit song was HOLD ME TILL THE MORNING COMES with Paul Anka. That was several years before this album was released. This album,his solo debut,has the Chicago sound. At least ONLY LOVE KNOWS WHY and QUEEN OF THE MASQUERADE BALL do. THE GLORY OF LOVE is from the movie "Karate Kid II". DADDY'S GIRL was heard in the movie "Three Men And A Baby". All the other songs are good especially THE NEXT TIME I FALL,a duet with Amy Grant. Not only is this album Cetera's solo debut,it's his first post-Chicago album.

This was the first Cetera album I bought back in 1987, that was actually the first album that I had bought. I was 11 and I could not speak and understand English. But I fell in love with Cetera's voice. "Glory of Love" is one of his greatest songs and It still makes me shiver When I listen to it. For a Cetera fan like me, reviews are of little importance. If you have never bought a Cetara album, you could start with this one, believe it or not, after that you will always want to hear more of Cetera, buy other albums and surely you will always search for that unique voice and the Spirit of Peter Cetera...

This recording is one of my favorite cd's. When I was little my Dad and I would sing "Daddy's Girl" in the car. Now he and I will dance to it at my wedding. "Glory of Love" and "Next Time I Fall In Love" are my other favorites on this cd.

I always liked Peter Cetera's musical style. He could sing but I guess he didn't do much singing as a bass player for Chicago. Here, he explores his vocal range in the song, "The Glory of Love," which was nominated for an Academy Award for the Karate Kid II is a brilliant moving song. I also like "Next Time I Fall," another great song here. I liked Cetera's style and his lyrics. Most songs today lack a common sense seem just like noise. Not here, Cetera is serious about his music and the title of Solitude and Solitare means that he went solo and free on his own. I don't think he ever looked back with regret but I would love to see a reunion with Chicago anyway.

I purchased this cd for my son. He is a fan of Peter Cetera and I am grateful that Amazon had this cd in stock.