Cheating at Solitaire

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.

Personnel

 * Bob Breen – assistant engineer
 * Jolie Clemens – artwork
 * Tom Corbett – mandolin
 * Mando Dorame – tenor saxophone
 * Paul Ericksen – assistant engineer
 * Josh Freese – drums, snare drums
 * Daniel Glass – drums, snare drums
 * Martin Klemm – mixing assistant
 * Chris Lawrence – guitar, pedal steel
 * Veikko Lepisto – electric bass, upright bass
 * Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards, Hammond organ
 * Mike Ness – acoustic guitar, guitar, vocals, producer, artwork, mixing
 * James Saez – acoustic guitar, 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, No. 80 on May 1, 1999.