Welcome to my pages where I am counting down my all-time favorite songs from my very long, music loving lifetime. (I just had to say that because my 66th year is quickly approaching.)

This one is dedicated to Elizabeth Emerald who loves the Neils: Neil Sedaka, Neil Diamond, and Neil Young. Apparently, she had a summer thing going over the airwaves. Who didn't?

Neil Sedaka has a amazing voice and incredible range, very similar to Bobby Vee. He shines in musical talent and is a marvelous performer, singer, composer, songwriter, and pianist, starting at the age of eight! By the time he was nine, he was enrolled at The Juilliard School of Music. (Wow! When I was that age, I was working on 'Heart and Soul' borrowing time on my neighbor's rundown, off-key piano.)

Neil Sedaka has written over five hundred songs and influenced many: Neil Diamond, Connie Francis, Carole King, Paul Simon, and Frank Sinatra... just to name a few. Did you know Neil Sedaka was an original member of the doo-wop group, The Tokens? (A little bit of 50s trivia for your game night.)

Bring your box of Kleenex for this live performance of Solitaire. Neil Sedaka brings down the house with this moving song captured on YouTube.

I decided to extended my twofer into July, hey, it's summer, so... what the hay? Most concerts haven't ramped up yet, thus the bonus. ;)

Blockbuster brother and sister duo, The Carpenters, have another version of the song, so I decided to share them as well.

{Solitaire by Neil Sedaka and Phil Cody}

[Verse One]
There was a man
A lonely man
Who lost his love
Through his indifference
A heart that cared
That went unshared
Until it died
Within his silence

[Chorus]
And solitaire is the only game in town
And every road that takes him
Takes him down
While life goes on around him everywhere
He's playing solitaire

[Post-Chorus]
And keeping to himself
Begins to deal
And still the king of hearts
Is well concealed
Another losing game comes to an end
And he deals them out again

[Verse 2]
A little hope
Goes up in smoke
Just how it goes
Goes without saying
There was a man
A lonely man
Who would command
The hand he's playing

[Chorus]
And solitaire's the only game in town
And every road that takes him
Takes him down
While life goes on around him everywhere
He's playing solitaire

[Post-Chorus]
And keeping to himself
Begins to deal
And still the king of hearts
Is well concealed
Another losing game comes to an end
And he deals them out again

[Chorus]
And solitaire's the only game in town
And every road that takes him
Takes him down
While life goes on around him everywhere
He's playing solitaire

{Solitaire by The Carpenters}

There was a man
A lonely man
Who lost his love
Through his indifference
A heart that cared
That went unshared
Until it died
Within his silence
And solitaire's the only game in town
And every road that takes him
Takes him down
And by himself it's easy to pretend
He'll never love again
And keeping to himself he plays the game
Without her love
It always ends the same
While life goes on around him everywhere
He's playing solitaire
A little hope
Goes up in smoke
Just how it goes
Goes without saying
There was a man
A lonely man
Who would command
The hand he's playing
And solitaire's the only game in town
And every road that takes him
Takes him down
And by himself it's easy to pretend
He'll never love again
And keeping to himself he plays the game
Without her love
It always ends the same
While life goes on around him everywhere
He's playing solitaire
And solitaire's the only game in town
And every road that takes him
Takes him down
While life goes on around him everywhere
He's playing solitaire

Until next time....