70s Countrydome: "The Gambler" vs. "Rhinestone Cowboy"

[Andy]

Jammed into a red line train on St. Patrick's Day afternoon, my car was subjected to a loud, tuneless rendition of Kenny Rogers' 1978 classic "The Gambler" by four self-satisfied broheim. They then yowled a verse and chorus of Glen Campbell's 1975 hit "Rhinestone Cowboy" before arriving at Addison, and we were relieved of their services. "Dad, were those guys drunk?" my astute 10-year-old daughter asked.

Despite the grating performance, I reflected on how both are fine songs, and I was pleased that the lads knew these country classics that predated their births by more than a decade. But which is the better song?

[Marsupialized]

The Gambler is one of the best songs ever, that other bullshit is nowhere even remotely near it's league.

I like when songs are stories. Nobody does that anymore, it's just a bunch of jibber jabber ack ack ack

[projectMalamute]

The Gambler is one of the best songs ever, that other bullshit is nowhere even remotely near it's league.

[projectMalamute]

The Gambler is one of the best songs ever, that other bullshit is nowhere even remotely near it's league.

[Marsupialized]

I always tear up a bit when he gets to the part where they start 69ing

[alex maiolo]

I like Glenn Campbell more so that swings it in his direction, even though I don't care about these songs. I do care that he's a badass and played on Monkees records.
I care less about the New Christy Minstrels when were talking roots.

Also, when I was a kid I thought Glenn was saying "and waffles coming over the phone" which was an image I couldn't quite get my head around but loved.

-A

[Andy]

You heard it "waffles", and I heard it as "awfuls", as in awful news.

[John W.]

I always thought The Gambler was okay, but Rhinestone Cowboy was one of my first 45s as a kid and I still love it today.

[Andy]

You know what's comedy gold to an 8-year-old in 1975? Singing it as "Limestone Cow Pie."

I'll be here all week, don't forget to tip the lunch lady.

[The MayorofRockNRoll]

The Gambler.

I like Campbell better when he's singling Jim Webb songs than when he's singing Larry Weiss songs. Not that I hate Rhinestone Cowboy.

[Tommy]

These are two of the worst songs ever made.

[Marsupialized]

They always cut out the last verse

then I rolled his carcass over....made sure nobody was coming, and undid his fly
I knew what I was doing, was a sin in the eyes of god, but I've never been one, to give a damn about God

I entered his cold backside, used the whiskey for some lube, this old gambler's hole split wide open, started to ooze

For as many cards as he had played, as many bets he'd won, I'd bet anything he never saw this comin'

[Tommy]

They always cut out the last verse

then I rolled his carcass over....made sure nobody was coming, and undid his fly
I knew what I was doing, was a sin in the eyes of god, but I've never been one, to give a damn about God

I entered his cold backside, used the whiskey for some lube, this old gambler's hole split wide open, started to ooze

For as many cards as he had played, as many bets he'd won, I'd bet anything he never saw this comin'

That almost works as Devil Went Down to Georgia lyrics too...

[John Houlihan]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[jimmy two hands]

GAMBLER NO WAFFLES

[milkmeat]

If I am ever handed a wireless microphone by a woman who looks like Daisy Duke in front of an arena full of people, you had better damn well know that I would use that opportunity to give this my best effort:

Like a rhinestone cowboy
Riding out on a horse in a star-spangled rodeo
Like a rhinestone cowboy
Getting cards and letters from people I don't even know...
And offers comin' over the phone

I would pause for full effect before that last line. And then I would pluck out those sweet, deliberate bass notes, because would have a bass with me of course.

[Brett Eugene Ralph]

I like when songs are stories. Nobody does that anymore . . .

Come again?

[numberthirty]

I like when songs are stories. Nobody does that anymore . . .

Come again?

Lil' Cap'n Travis. Not even sorta kidding. You'll laugh. You'll cry.

[Brett Eugene Ralph]

Man, I'm all about 70s country, but I'm not really into either of these songs. Forced to choose, I gotta go with "Rhinestone Cowboy." I've always found "The Gambler" to be cloying and obvious, even by top 40 country standards, and my tolerance for Kenny Rogers is mighty thin. Glen Campbell I like just fine; though "Rhinestone Cowboy" is far from his best, it's at least a parody of the panoramic sweep that characterizes his best (mostly Webb-penned) material.

Of Rogers' 70s country-schmaltz story-songs, "Lucille" is football fields ahead of "The Gambler" or "The Coward of the County." It's catchier and more melodic and really clever in that the narrator is the guy hitting on Lucille when her husband stumbles into the bar, sees what's up, and provides the song with its jaunty but utterly depressing chorus. Its genius in its fashion.

As far as Campbell's 70s hits, I'd much rather hear "Southern Nights," which some of you may not realize was written by a man named Allen Toussaint. Seek out the original; when you hear Tousannt's Leslie'd vocal and solo piano, you'll be astounded that Campbell (or whoever) somehow heard a country-disco smash buried deep in that swampy mournful ballad.

[numberthirty]

Of Rogers' 70s country-schmaltz story-songs, "Lucille" is football fields ahead of "The Gambler" or "The Coward of the County." It's catchier and more melodic and really clever in that the narrator is the guy hitting on Lucille when her husband stumbles into the bar, sees what's up, and provides the song with its jaunty but utterly depressing chorus. Its genius in its fashion.

"San Francisco Mabel Joy" is on The Gambler. It's the worst cover of it I can think of but, it's probably as good as Kenny Roger gets.