Cheating at Solitaire

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Allmusic
Robert Christgau

Cheating at Solitaire is the first solo album from Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness. Released in 1999, it bypasses much of Social Distortion's punk muscle in favor of a more roots-oriented approach to rock and roll. It features cameos by Bruce Springsteen, Brian Setzer, and members of Royal Crown Revue. Johnny Cash was invited to perform on the song "Ballad of a Lonely Man", but was too ill to record at the time.

"Dope Fiend Blues" and "I'm In Love w/My Car" were originally written/recorded in 1994 as a demo of Social Distortion's fifth album White Light, White Heat, White Trash. Ness also originally wrote some of the songs on this album around 1997 while Social Distortion was planning their sixth album.

Track listing

• All songs by Mike Ness unless otherwise noted.

1. "The Devil in Miss Jones" – 3:49
2. "Don't Think Twice" (Dylan) – 3:47
3. "Misery Loves Company" – 3:47
4. "Crime Don't Pay" – 3:31
5. "Rest of Our Lives" – 3:44
6. "You Win Again" (Williams) – 3:11
7. "Cheating at Solitaire" – 3:53
8. "No Man's Friend" – 4:57
9. "Charmed Life" – 3:38
10. "Dope Fiend Blues" – 5:17
11. "Ballad of a Lonely Man" – 3:25
12. "I'm in Love w/My Car" – 4:41
13. "If You Leave Before Me" – 4:19
14. "Long Black Veil" (Dill/Wilkin) – 4:04
15. "Send Her Back" (Ferrier) – 2:57
16. "Company C" – 5:03 (Bonus song on Vinyl Version)

Personnel

• Bob Breen – Assistant Engineer
• Jolie Clemens – Artwork
• Tom Corbett – Mandolin
• Mando Dorame – Sax (Tenor)
• Paul Ericksen – Assistant Engineer
• Josh Freese – Drums, Drums (Snare)
• Daniel Glass – Drums, Drums (Snare)
• Martin Klemm – Mixing Assistant
• Chris Lawrence – Guitar, Pedal Steel
• Veikko Lepisto – Bass (Electric), Bass (Upright)
• Jamie Muhoberac – Keyboards, Organ (Hammond)
• Mike Ness – Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Vocals, Producer, Artwork, Mixing
• James Saez – Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Percussion, Keyboards, *Producer, Engineer, Slide Guitar, Mixing
• F. Scott Schafer – Photography
• Eddy Schreyer – Mastering
• Brian Setzer – Guitar (on Crime Don't Pay)
• Bruce Springsteen – Guitar, Vocals (on Misery Loves Company)
• Billy Zoom – Guitar (on Dope Fiend Blues)

Charts

• Peak position: The Billboard 200 #80 on May 1, 1999