Kevin:

One thing you might try that could possibly make a CD that would not skip between tracks: Rip the CD onto your computer. Then burn a copy of the CD, setting the time between tracks to zero, and setting the software for "disc at once" which does not turn the laser off between tracks. This might yield a CD that you can play without the loss of lock between those tracks. If this cures the problem, it will tell you the probable cause of the original CD skipping.