The Gambler (album)

The Gambler is the sixth studio album by Kenny Rogers, released by United Artists in December 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 the Far East and Jamaica, with Rogers later commenting "When I go to Korea or Hong Kong people say 'Ah, the gambler!'" (as per the sleeve notes to the 1998 released box set "Through the Years" on Capitol Records). The album has sold over 35 million copies.[2][3]

The Gambler
Studio album by
Kenny Rogers
ReleasedNovember 1978 (1978-11)[1]
Recorded1978
GenreCountry
Length39:44
LabelUnited Artists Group
ProducerLarry Butler
Kenny Rogers chronology
Love or Something Like It
(1978)		 The Gambler
(1978)		 Classics
(1979)
Singles from The Gambler
  1. "The Gambler"
    Released: November 15, 1978
  2. "She Believes in Me"
    Released: April 16, 1979
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link

The title track "The Gambler" was written by Don 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 win a Song of the Year Grammy, later becoming Rogers' signature song. Although Johnny Cash recorded the song first, Rogers's 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 as Alex Harvey, Mickey Newbury, and Steve Gibb, Rogers continued to show his own talent for songwriting with "Morgana Jones". The album was produced by Larry Butler.

Its popularity has led to many releases over the years. After United Artists was absorbed into EMI/Capitol in 1980, "The Gambler" was reissued on vinyl and cassette on the Liberty 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' from Mobile 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."

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.

Additionally, "I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again" was later a single in 1986 for T. Graham Brown, whose version went to #3 on the country charts.

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Gambler"Don Schlitz3:34
2."I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again"Rafe Van Hoy, Don Cook, Curly Putman2:55
3."The King of Oak Street"Alex Harvey4:55
4."Making Music for Money"Alex Harvey3:10
5."The Hoodooin' of Miss Fannie Deberry"Alex Harvey4:44
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."She Believes in Me"Steve Gibb4:18
2."Tennessee Bottle"Jim Ritchey3:59
3."Sleep Tight, Goodnight Man"Sam Lorber, Jeff Silbar2:52
4."A Little More Like Me (The Crucifixion)"Sonny Throckmorton2:47
5."San Francisco Mabel Joy"Mickey Newbury3:36
6."Morgana Jones"Kenny Rogers3:03

Personnel

Producer
  • Producer – Larry Butler
  • Engineer – Billy Sherrill
  • Recorded at Jack Clements Recording Studios (Nashville, TN).
  • Mastered by Bob Sowell at Master Control (Nashville, TN).
  • Art Direction and Design – Bill Burks
  • Photography – Reid Miles
  • Management – Ken Kragen

Chart performance
Chart (1978) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Top Country Albums 1
U.S. Billboard 200 12
Australian (Kent Music Report) Albums 21[4]
Canadian RPM Country Albums 1
Canadian RPM Top Albums 6

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[5] 4× Platinum 400,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[6] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[7] 5× Platinum 5,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. https://www.kennyrogers.com/#disco-body
  2. "The Year in Rock: 1978". Popdose. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  3. Jonathan Hoenig (2006-02-13). "An Ace That You Can Keep". SmartMoney.com. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 256. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. "Canadian album certifications – Kenny Rogers – The gambler". Music Canada. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  6. Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. 2005. ISBN 8480486392.
  7. "American album certifications – Kenny Rogers – The gambler". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 16 August 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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