At the request of Madonna's primary label, Sire Records, Geffen Records did not release the single in the United States. Sire feared it would compete with her other active singles from the Like a Virgin album.
Madonna has famously performed "Gambler" live only once during her career, specifically on The Virgin Tour in 1985.
Despite the lack of a U.S. release, the track was a major international success in 1985: Peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart. Italy: Reached #3 . Australia: Reached #10 . Gambler - Madonna
The video consists of clips from the film Vision Quest interspersed with footage of Madonna performing the song, which was filmed at the Big Foot Tavern in Spokane, Washington.
Critics have described the song as an "ultra-infectious gem" and a "sassily self-written soundtrack slice" featuring an energetic, synth-heavy new wave sound. At the request of Madonna's primary label, Sire
It was the second single released from the Vision Quest soundtrack, following the massive success of the ballad "Crazy for You" .
After nearly 40 years of being unavailable on most digital platforms, the song was finally released to streaming services in December 2022 at Madonna's personal request. Chart Performance Despite the lack of a U
"Gambler" is a synth-pop track written solely by Madonna and produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez for the soundtrack of the 1985 film Vision Quest . Despite being a significant hit in international markets, it remains one of her more elusive tracks due to restricted distribution in the United States during its initial release.