Laura Branigan had been one of 1982's breakout stars with her dramatic smash "Gloria." Many acts before her had learned of the difficulty of escaping the shadow of such a massive, global smash and though Branigan would always be identified closely with the song, she also managed to have several more hits during the '80s.

In fact, Branigan would notch another Top Ten hit from her very next album, 1983's Branigan 2, which produced the single "Solitaire." Like "Gloria," the single was another excercise in melodrama with Branigan's powerful vocals proving quite affective. The song blurred the lines between dance/pop and adult balladry, becoming not only a radio smash at several formats but a club hit as well.

The song's quiet opening quickly gives way to the full force of Branigan's vocal delivery, punctuated by a bracing chorus. "Solitaire" entered the US Top 40 in early April of 1983 and, by June, she had earned a second Top Ten hit. It couldn't match the run of the #2 hit "Gloria," but "Solitaire" proved that Branigan was no one-hit wonder, peaking at #7 and continuing the momentum that would reward her with a half dozen hits over the next several years.

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