BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1985

Originally posted June 15, 2011

“Gambler” is a song by American recording artist Madonna. It was the second single released from the soundtrack album of the motion picture Vision Quest, and was released on October 3, 1985, by Geffen Records.

After the recording of “Crazy for You”, the soundtrack single for the 1985 coming of age drama Vision Quest, Madonna approached John “Jellybean” Benitez to produce another of her self-written songs called “Gambler”. Subsequently, the song was added to the soundtrack of the film, as music producer Phil Ramone felt that it would be appropriate for using in the beginning shots of the flim. As the song was recorded on the Geffen label, a commercial issue of the single, in the United States was suppressed, at the request of Madonna’s Sire Records management. They feared that commercial availability of another Madonna single would have been detrimental to the other singles from the Like a Virgin album, and the already available, Geffen-distributed, “Crazy for You”. Hence “Gambler” was never released, or sent for airplay in the United States. The UK 12″ single, contained the Extended Dance Mix, Instrumental Remix, and the song “Nature of the Beach” by Black ‘n Blue. The 7″ single had the original version, and “Nature of the Beach”. The video for “Gambler” is similar to “Crazy for You”, with Madonna singing the song along with clips culled from Vision Quest. Madonna filmed her performance on November 22, 1983, at the Big Foot Tavern in Spokane, Washington. To date, “Gambler” remains the last self-written Madonna single.

“Gambler” was released in October 1985 in the United Kingdom, and debuted at position twenty on the UK Singles Chart. After two weeks, it peaked there at four, and was present for fourteen weeks. By the end of 1985, Madonna chalked up another record with the song, becoming the first female artist to have eight UK Top 10s in one calendar year. The song was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipment of 200,000 copies of the single. According to The Official Charts Company, the song has sold 295,000 copies there. In Australia, the song debuted on the Kent Music Report chart at fourteen, and reached a peak of ten. In Germany, the song debuted at thirty-nine on the Media Control Charts, and reached a peak of twenty-five after five weeks, being present on the chart for twelve weeks. Across Europe, the song reached the top-ten of the charts in Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands and Norway. It peaked at twelve in Japan, twenty-three in Switzeland and forty-five in New Zealand.

SIDE A:
Gambler (Extended Dance Mix) 5:36
Arranged By – Stephen Bray
Producer, Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Written-By – Madonna
Performed By – Madonna

SIDE B:
Gambler (Instrumental Remix) 3:53
Arranged By – Stephen Bray
Producer, Remix – John “Jellybean” Benitez
Written-By – Madonna
Performed By – Madonna

Nature Of The Beach 3:45
Producer – Bruce Fairbairn
Written-By – St. James*, Thayer*
Performed By – Black ‘N Blue

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Cover: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Geffen Records – TA 6585
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Design [Sleeve] – Tomcat (7)
Photography [Cover] – Armando Gallo © Retna Pictures Ltd

NOTES:
A & B1: Special version from the LP “Vision Quest”
A & B1: Produced and Remixed for Jellybean Productions, Inc.
Madonna appears through the courtesy of Sire Records Company

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi