Gambler (Madonna song)

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“Gambler”
Single by Madonna from the album Vision Quest (OST)'
B-side	"Nature of the Beach" (Black 'N Blue)
Released	October 3, 1985 (Europe) October 21, 1985 (Japan)
Format	12", CD, 7"
Recorded	1985
Genre	Pop
Length	3:55
Label	Geffen, Warner Bros., CBS
Writer(s)	Madonna
Producer	John "Jellybean" Benitez
Madonna singles chronology
"Dress You Up" (1985) "Gambler" (1985) "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" (1986)

"Gambler" is the second single by American singer-songwriter Madonna from the soundtrack album and motion picture, Vision Quest and was released on October 3, 1985 by Geffen Records.

[edit] Song information

It was not released in the United States but was in other parts of the world, notably in the United Kingdom, where it was a top 5 hit. The single was the last to date of Madonna's commercially available songs whose songwriting was credited solely to Madonna until the release of I'm Going To Tell You A Secret, which included the original version of I Love New York, also written by Madonna alone. The majority of songs from her subsequent career have been co-written by Madonna and other artists.

As the song was recorded on the Geffen label, it was rumored in the music press that a commercial issuing of the single in the US was suppressed at the request of Madonna's Sire records management. It was feared that commercial availability of yet another single by Madonna would have been detrimental to the other singles from the "Like a Virgin" album and the already available, Geffen-distributed "Crazy for You", all of which were performing well in the Billboard charts. Whether the song could have been another US Top 5 hit for the singer in 1985 will remain unknown, though in some other markets "Gambler" was Madonna's sixth consecutive Top ten hit in the space of just eleven months. At one stage, this was one of four of Madonna's singles simultaneously in the Australian top 40, showing the singer's incredible international appeal at the time.

[edit] Music video

The video for "Gambler" is similar to "Crazy for You", with Madonna singing the song along with clips culled from the film Vision Quest. Madonna filmed her performance on November 22, 1983 at the Big Foot Tavern in Spokane, Washington.

• Director: Harold Becker
• Producers: Peter Guber, Jon Peters
• Director of Photography: Owen Roizman
• Editor: Maury Winetrobe
• Production Company: Geffen Pictures

Later in the year, another "Gambler" video was released from a live performance of The Virgin Tour.

[edit] Single releases

The UK 12" single (1985 Geffen Records UK #TA 6585) contained the Extended Dance Mix, Instrumental Remix and the song "Nature of the Beach" by Black n' Blue. The 7" single (Geffen 42005 - 1985) had the original version and "Nature of the Beach" by Black n' Blue.

"Gambler" remains the only of Madonna's released solo singles never to have been made available on any of her albums. It also remains virtually unavailable on CD. The only release which has the original track in digital format is the "La Isla Bonita - Super Club Mix" Japanese release. The Extended dance Mix and Instrumental version remain unreleased on any digital format, the only way to hear these alternative tracks is on the 12" vinyl single.

[edit] Charts

[edit] Official versions

1. Album Version 3:55
2. Extended Dance Mix 5:34
3. Instrumental Remix 3:55
4. Video Edit 3:33

[edit] Credits

• Writer(s) Madonna
• Mastered by Greg Fulginiti
• John Kalodner : John Kalodner

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