And She’ll Take You by Surprise

Madonna’s 1985 hit song Gambler has finally made its global streaming and digital retail debut – more than 37 years after its initial release – with three versions now available via Rhino and Warner Music Group: the 7” version (3:51), the Extended Dance Mix (5:40) and the Instrumental Mix (3:43).

Gambler was previously available only as part of the Vision Quest film soundtrack released by Geffen Records, in its 7″ version. While the Dance and Instrumental mixes were previously available decades ago on physical singles outside of the U.S. Gambler has never been included on any Madonna album.

So why now for this long-awaited debut?
“It was Madonna’s personal request,” according to a representative at Rhino quoted by Billboard. It’s the latest release in the ongoing catalog campaign announced in 2021. While Gambler is the final Madonna reissue from Rhino/Warner in 2022, Rhino promises “more fun things to look forward to in 2023” and that “Gambler” is “just a small glimpse of what fans can expect” next year.

Of note, while there is an official music video for Gambler, it did not receive a remastered digital HD upgrade as some of her videos have garnered in the past and there are no current plans to issue the track on physical single formats – such as a 12” vinyl single.

Written by Madonna and produced by John “Jellybean” Benitez, Gambler was one of two songs Madonna contributed to the Vision Quest album. The other was her Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit ballad Crazy for You, also produced by Jellybean. Madonna has a cameo in the film as a club singer, and she’s seen performing both songs briefly in the movie.

While Gambler was never released as a single in the United States, it was a hit outside America, reaching the top 10 on Billboard’s European Hot 100 Singles chart and on the U.K.’s Official Singles Chart.

Read the full article by Keith Caulfield on Billboard.com.