Album Review: Peter Cetera - Solitude/Solitaire (1986)

Fun fact for the day - former Chicago singer Peter Cetera apparently obtained his singing style after learning to sing whilst his jaw was wired shut after being socked in the mouth.  The result was a distinct vocal style that for me, found its rightful place within the power ballad of the 1980s.  Good examples of this would be "Hard Habit to Break" or "You're The Inspiration" from his Chicago days.  But it isn't the stuff he did with his former band that is the center of attention here.  I'm talking about his solo album Solitude/Solitaire from 1986.  Brilliant album.  Very Cetera, very electronic, very well made, very 1980s.  And everybody who's seen The Karate Kid series of movies would know very well the song, "Glory of Love."  Well, it's on here too.  And those who have at least some degree of familiarity with Amy Grant will perhaps know of "The Next Time I Fall."  Both great songs.  Both great singers.  But beyond these better recognized tracks lies a bounty of equally appreciable recordings.  "Big Mistake", "They Don't Make Them Like They Used To", and "Queen of the Masquerade Ball" all deserve your attention.  My final advice would be to ignore "Daddy's Girl."  But otherwise, magnifique.  A