Solitaire was an American one-man project with pioneering live-electronics
created by James L. Callahan (born 1965) from
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
,
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
, United States; who performed, wrote
and recorded
solo synth-pop music between 1983 and 1986. James Callahan (aka Solitaire) was the first “truly computerized” artist in the Baltimore area. As Solitaire, Callahan played keyboards and electronic drum machines as a one-man show.
Live electronics overview
Solitaire's performance system was manufactured by Sequential Circuits (SCI). It consisted of the
Sequential Circuits Six-Trak
The Six-Trak was an analogue synthesizer manufactured by Sequential Circuits in San Jose, California and released in January 1984. It is notable for being one of the first multi-timbral synthesizers, equipped with MIDI and an on-board six-track ...
a six-voice, polyphonic, analogue synthesizer that was among the first MIDI instruments designed to be used with a computer.
The computer and software allowed Solitaire to program the Six-Trak sequencer and SCI's Drumtraks to form one of the earliest known MIDI-based
iveperformance systems.
In 1984 the system used by Solitaire was said to "create instruments that have never been heard before," at that time "musicians
erejust beginning to tap its potential". However, by modern computer standards the electronic rhythm section used by Solitaire was crude and had several limitations. For example, the SCI Model 64 Sequencer was limited to six voice sequencing. To play back more songs required sequences be saved to disk (loading of disk sequences had to be done live, on stage, during the performance).
Live performance reaction
From 84–85 Solitaire performed at numerous clubs and colleges in the USA mid-Atlantic region, both as a headliner and as a supporting act for bands such as MCA recording artists The Ravyns.
Many of Solitaire's early club performances were documented by rock journalists from ''Maryland Musician Magazine''. Solitaire was frequently mentioned in Maryland Musician articles such as the Baltimore-centric Red Rocker Report and the Sammie’s Jammin’ column who wrote, ''”it all sounded damn good especially since he
olitairewas the only one on stage along with a monster stack of keyboards and one in hand . . . bravo."'' Solitaire's live performances continued to be met positively and in 1986 Solitaire
ames Callahanwas voted Maryland's "Best keyboard player" in the Maryland Musician Magazine 2nd Annual Readers poll.
Recordings
In 1985 Solitaire released the 7-inch single "System Overload" b/w "Nothing Left to Say". The single enjoyed limited success locally but was later "discovered" by European DJ's and became a highly sought after record.
Upon its initial release a regional critic described it as "an ambitious but somewhat compromised mixture of new wave. 'System Overload' is top heavy with beat box and electronic percussions
ith
The Ith () is a ridge in Germany's Central Uplands which is up to 439 m high. It lies about 40 km southwest of Hanover and, at 22 kilometres, is the longest line of crags in North Germany.
Geography
Location
The Ith is immediatel ...
a synth laden metronomic melody". In contrast 'Nothing Left to Say' is a wistful little ballad whose lyrics preen with a clever romanticism". In 1986 Callahan played keyboards and recorded for the new wave rock band Toy Soldier, whose album ''Forward March'' was produced by Rob Fahey (Ravyns) and recorded at Sheffield Studios, MD. The group released the single "Never my Love"
on the Texas-based Yellow Rose Records Label. In late 1986 his music career was halted due to ill health, after being diagnosed with
Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any segment of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody if inflammation is severe), fever, abdominal distension ...
.
[Solitaire Music Net Official Archive.
Retrieved from http://www.solitairemusic.net ]
Musical comparisons
Solitaire was often compared to English solo synth-pop artists of the period such as the UK’s
Thomas Dolby
Thomas Morgan Robertson (born 14 October 1958), known by the stage name Thomas Dolby, is an English musician, producer, composer, entrepreneur and teacher.
Dolby came to prominence in the 1980s, releasing hit singles including "She Blinded Me ...
and
Howard Jones. From a performance technology standpoint Solitaire more closely mirrored Jones who during his
Human's Lib
''Human's Lib'' is the debut album by the British pop musician Howard Jones. It was released in March 1984 and entered the UK Albums Chart at the no. 1 spot, spending a total of 57 weeks in the charts. The album has been certified double platin ...
tour 1983–84 decided to forgo a band and perform solo
[Howard Jones Fan Site]
using only automated accompaniment. Howard Jones notes that during early performances he, “triggered sequencers live on stage whilst playing and singing, something that no one had done before".
Although Jones's claim is not disputed, Solitaire may be considered the first American synth-pop act who can claim similar “technological firsts”: playing and singing on stage completely solo, accompanied only by a computer, 5 ¼-inch floppy disks and synthesizers.
With health issues looming and without chart support from his debut single, Solitaire’s notoriety never reached that of his UK solo synth counterparts. Despite heavy tour schedules up until 1986 and national promotion in American publications such as ''
Star Hits
''Smash Hits'' was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006, and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand fo ...
'', Solitaire’s international recognition as a synth-pop pioneer
would not come for another twenty years.
Renewed interest
2001 saw the first reappearance of Solitaire’s music. Solitaire attributes the international interest to his longtime friend and collaborator Tony Prescott
(keyboardist for Liverpool 1980s synth-pop band
Cook da Books
Cook da Books (also known as Cook the Books, Big in France and Da Books) were a British new wave band from Liverpool, England, formed in 1980. The band were signed to indie labels throughout their career, and much of their music was politicall ...
). Prescott helped Solitaire gain global exposure by introducing his early works to Australian sound engineer Mark Woods. Woods known for his indie label e-pop, and work as sound engineer for 1980s Aussie-based bands such as
INXS
INXS (a word play, phonetic play on "in excess") were an Australian Rock music, rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. The band's founding members were bassist Garry Gary Beers, main composer and keyboar ...
and
Men at Work
Men at Work are an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1978 and best known for breakthrough hits such as "Down Under", "Who Can It Be Now?", "Be Good Johnny", " Overkill", and " It's a Mistake". Its founding member and frontman is Coli ...
mastered and released a number of previously unreleased Solitaire tracks on a CD entitled "Solitaire: Selected Tracks” on Woods own e-pop label in Australia.
The Solitaire CD released by e-pop renewed international interest in Solitaire. The original 7-inch single "System Overload" was "discovered" by European DJs and became a highly sought after record.
Solitaire landed a distribution deal with EraRecords, Netherlands who re-released the original 7" recording.
International attention for Solitaire continued when his 1984 recording "After Darkness" was released on the 2007 Anna Logue Records compilation LP ''Echoes From Our Past'', in Germany.
German critics appreciated Solitaire's early dark electronic synth-pop. One European critic wrote, "The American solo project Solitaire is bringing his despair into sound with a catchy dark electropop".
In 2002, Solitaire formed Solitaire Music, a studio project, with keyboardist Paul Demme releasing records into the 2000s,
including the Baltimore release entitled ''Retrophaze: Digital Folklore'' in 2004.
In 2008, SolitaireMusic.Net released a 12 song digital LP entitled ''Solitaire – Best Of: 83–86'' on various MP3 download and streaming media sites. However James Callahan’s ill health once again came into issue, and SolitaireMusic.Net closed permanently in 2008, shortly after the ''Best of 83–86'' MP3 was released.
Discography
System Overload / Nothing Left To Say.
Published: MOR-0002 East Coast Sound Lab
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM
Country: US/Netherlands
Released: 1985
Produced: James Callahan
Engineered: Brent Mingle
Tracks: System Overload b/w Nothing Left To Say
Solitaire: Selected Tracks 84–86
Format: CD, Re-mastered, Out Of Print
Country: Australia
Released: 2001
Production Credits: Callahan/Czerwinski/Mingle/Woods
Tracks:
1. System Overload
2. Nothing Left To Say
3. Don't Be Afraid Of The Rain
4. Åsa
5. After Darkness (Cassette Single)
6. Explain Yourself Again
7. Just More Reasons To Cry
8. This Nightmare Don't Ever Sleep
RETROPHAZE: Digital Folklore
Format: CD
Country: USA (Regional – Baltimore, MD)
Released: 2004
Credits: Callahan/Demme
Tracks:
1. High Fashion Radio
2. When She Moves
3. Control Freak
4. It Don’t Matter
5. Lullaby
6. Feed Me Technology
7. How Many Times?
8. Hey Gabrielle
9. Time to Escape
10. Moon Mobiles
11. Retrophaze (The Man That Time Forgot)
12. Welcome to the New Millennium
VARIOUS ARTISTS "Echoes from our Past"
Country: Germany
Track: b4 Solitaire – After Darkness
Solitaire: Best of 83–86
Distribution:Amazon MP3
Amazon Music (previously Amazon MP3) is a music streaming platform and online music store operated by Amazon. Launched in public beta on September 25, 2007, in January 2008 it became the first music store to sell music without digital rights man ...
- ASIN B0037J984K, iTunes
iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...
, TuneCore
Format: MP3
Country: Worldwide
Released: 2008
Production Credits: Callahan/Czerwinski/Mingle/Woods
Tracks:
1. System Overload
2. Nothing Left to Say
3. Don't Be Afraid of the Rain (Re-mix)
4. Åsa
5. You Treat Me Like a Silent Movie
6. After Darkness
7. Explain Yourself Again
8. 1940 London
9. All I Can Do
10. Just More Reasons to Cry (Demo)
11. Dick Loves Jane (Demo)
12. This Nightmare Don't Ever Sleep (Demo)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Solitaire
1965 births
Living people
Computer music
American male singer-songwriters
Musicians from Baltimore
Synth-pop musicians
Singer-songwriters from Maryland