Today in Madonna History: October 12, 1985

October 12, 2023 By sonicboy19 in 1985, October Tags: Crazy For You, Gambler, Live Videos, Lucky Star, UK, Vision Quest 1 Comment

On October 12 1985, Madonna’s Gambler debuted at #20 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was included on the Vision Quest soundtrack (along with Crazy For You) and released by Geffen Records. Madonna’s record company, Sire Records, prevented Gambler from being released as a single in the USA.

After two weeks on the chart, Gambler peaked at #4. It also reached #3 in Italy and #10 in Australia.

With Gambler‘s success, Madonna became the first female artist to rack up 8 UK top-ten singles in one calendar year.

Gambler was Madonna’s highest charting single in the UK that was entirely self-written. In the U.S. Lucky Star earned this distinction, reaching #4 on the Hot 100.

Today in Madonna History: October 3, 1985

October 3, 2023 By Jay in 1985, October Tags: Crazy For You, Gambler, Geffen Records, Jellybean Benitez, The Virgin Tour, Vision Quest 1 Comment

On October 3 1985, Madonna’s second single from the motion picture Vision Quest, Gambler was released by Geffen Records in select markets.

Gambler was entirely self-written by Madonna and produced by John “Jellybean” Benitez.

Gambler was never released in the United States, but it went to #4 in the UK. The single also reached the top-ten in the charts of Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Ireland, Netherlands and Norway.

The music video for the song is an excerpt from the film.

Madonna has performed the song only once, on her Virgin Tour in 1985.

Alex Henderson from Allmusic called the song “an ultra-infectious gem that, unfortunately, isn’t on any of the Material Girl’s CDs” and felt that Gambler should have been a big hit.

Would you like to see Madonna perform “Gambler” on a future concert tour?

Today in Madonna History: July 16, 1985

July 16, 2022 By sonicboy19 in 1985, July Tags: Certification, Crazy For You, Like A Prayer (Single), RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), Vision Quest, Vogue 2 Comments

On July 16 1985, Madonna’s hit single, Crazy For You, was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of one million copies of the single in United States—the requirement for a gold single prior to 1989.

According to the book Risky Business: Rock In Film, the single has sold two million copies in the U.S., making it one of her biggest selling physical singles, behind Vogue and Like A Prayer. The lack of any further certification to verify this figure is plausible considering Crazy For You was released through Geffen Records; because Madonna was not a Geffen recording artist they would have had little incentive to invest in additional certifications once the initial promotional push for the soundtrack had ended.

Today In Madonna History: March 2, 1985

March 2, 2022 By Jay in 1985, March Tags: Celebration (Album), Crazy For You, Jellybean Benitez, Lyrics, Something to Remember, The Immaculate Collection, Vision Quest 3 Comments

On March 2 1985, Madonna’s first single from the Vision Quest soundtrack, Crazy For You, was released.

Crazy For You later appeared on Madonna’s greatest hits collection, The Immaculate Collection. It was also included on her greatest ballads collection, Something To Remember and later on her career spanning hit collection, Celebration.

Lyrics:

Swaying room as the music starts
Strangers making the most of the dark
Two by two their bodies become one

I see you through the smokey air
Can’t you feel the weight of my stare
You’re so close but still a world away
What I’m dying to say, is that

I’m crazy for you
Touch me once and you’ll know it’s true
I never wanted anyone like this
It’s all brand new, you’ll feel it in my kiss
I’m crazy for you, crazy for you

Trying hard to control my heart
I walk over to where you are
Eye to eye we need no words at all

Slowly now we begin to move
Every breath I’m deeper into you
Soon we two are standing still in time
If you read my mind, you’ll see

It’s all brand new, I’m crazy for you
And you know it’s true
I’m crazy, crazy for you

Today in Madonna History: October 26, 1985

October 26, 2021 By Jay in 1985, October Tags: Charts, Gambler, Jellybean Benitez, Live Videos, Paul Pesco, Requests, UK, Vision Quest 3 Comments

On October 26 1985, Madonna’s sassily self-written soundtrack slice, Gambler, peaked at #4 in the UK.

You could be taking your chances on this hidden gem once again, Madonna.

We know you want to.

Come on.

Today in Madonna History: October 3, 1985

October 3, 2021 By sonicboy19 in 1985, October Tags: Gambler, Jellybean Benitez, Music Videos, Single Release, Stephen Bray, Vision Quest 3 Comments

On October 3 1985, Geffen Records released Gambler as a single in Europe. It was the second Madonna single released from the Vision Quest soundtrack.

Concerned about potential overexposure, Warner Brothers successfully managed to suppress a North American release of the track, although the music video was serviced to MTV. It was issued as a single in most other major markets – including Japan, Australasia & South America.

Gambler was written by Madonna, produced by Jellybean Benitez and arranged by Stephen Bray. Extended and instrumental remixes by Benitez were also issued commercially outside North America.