Sedaka originally was inspired by Frederic Chopin (his favorite classical composer) for the chorus and by Roberta Flack in the verses.
[1] Neil Sedaka recorded "Solitaire" as the title cut for a 1972 album recorded at Strawberry Studios, Stockport, England: 10cc members Lol Creme, Kevin Godley and Graham Gouldman accompanied Sedaka while Eric Stewart, also of 10cc, engineered the session.
[2] The title cut from an album produced by Richard Perry, Williams' "Solitaire" also became a US Easy Listening hit at number 23.
Later in 1975, a live-in-concert version recorded by Sedaka at the Royal Festival Hall was issued as the B-side of "The Queen of 1964".
Andy Williams asked Philip Cody to rewrite the lyrics and make them more personal, perhaps reflecting his then current separation from his wife, while the Carpenters took some of the Andy Williams changes but elsewhere kept Phil Cody's original lyrics.