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| The Gambler | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 1978 (1978-11)[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1978 | |||
| Studio | Jack Clement Recording (Nashville, Tennessee) | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 39:44 | |||
| Label | United Artists Group | |||
| Producer | Larry Butler | |||
| Kenny Rogers chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from The Gambler | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
The Gambler is the sixth studio album by American singerKenny Rogers, released byUnited Artists in November 1978. One of his most popular, it has established Rogers' status as one of the most successful artists of the 1970s and 1980s. The album reached many markets around the world, such as theFar East andJamaica, with Rogers later commenting "When I go toKorea orHong Kong people say 'Ah, the gambler!'" (as per the sleeve notes to the 1998 released box setThrough the Years on Capitol Records). The album has sold over 5 million copies.[2][3]
Rogers recorded the album at theJack Clement Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee withproducerLarry Butler.[4]
The title track "The Gambler" was written byDon Schlitz, who was the first to record it. It was also covered by several other artists, but it was Kenny Rogers' adaptation of the tale that went on to top the country charts and won Rogers a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1980, later becoming Rogers' signature song. AlthoughJohnny Cash recorded the song first, Rogers' version was released first. Both this song and "She Believes in Me" became pop music hits, helping Rogers become well-known beyond country music circles. Although largely compiled from songs by some of the music business's top songwriters, such asAlex Harvey,Mickey Newbury, and Steve Gibb, Rogers continued to show his own talent for songwriting with "Morgana Jones".
In Britain, both the title cut and the album did very well in the country market, but both failed to reach the top 40 of the pop charts. In the 1980s the single of "The Gambler" was re-issued and made the top 100 sales list, but again charted outside the top 40. It wasn't until the song was re-issued in 2007 when the song was adopted by the England Rugby Team at the Rugby World Cup that it charted at its #22 peak.
Its popularity has led to many releases over the years. AfterUnited Artists was absorbed into EMI/Capitol in 1980,The Gambler was reissued on vinyl and cassette on theLiberty Records label. Several years later, Liberty issued an abridged version of the album, removing the track "Morgana Jones".EMI Manhattan Records released "The Gambler" on CD in the 1980s. An 'Original Master Recording' fromMobile Fidelity Sound Labs was released on vinyl (audiophile edition vinyl). Finally,The Gambler was released on Rogers' own Dreamcatcher Records in 2001 as part of the Kenny Rogers "Original Masters Series."
Additionally, "I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again" would later become a hit in 1986 forT. Graham Brown, whose version went to #3 on the country charts.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Gambler" | Don Schlitz | 3:34 |
| 2. | "I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again" | Rafe Van Hoy,Don Cook,Curly Putman | 2:55 |
| 3. | "The King of Oak Street" | Alex Harvey | 4:55 |
| 4. | "Making Music for Money" | Harvey | 3:10 |
| 5. | "The Hoodooin' of Miss Fannie Deberry" | Harvey | 4:44 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "She Believes in Me" | Steve Gibb | 4:18 |
| 2. | "Tennessee Bottle" | Jim Ritchey | 3:59 |
| 3. | "Sleep Tight, Goodnight Man" | Sam Lorber,Jeff Silbar | 2:52 |
| 4. | "A Little More Like Me (The Crucifixion)" | Sonny Throckmorton | 2:47 |
| 5. | "San Francisco Mabel Joy" | Mickey Newbury | 3:36 |
| 6. | "Morgana Jones" | Kenny Rogers | 3:03 |
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[15] | 4× Platinum | 400,000^ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE)[16] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[17] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
