We Are Here

This site operates from Western Australia to the rest of the world.
Registration
The automated registration system is no longer in operation. If you are a genuine follower of the content on this website (melodic hard rock and AOR music styles), you can register by email request to: REGISTRATIONS at GLORYDAZEMUSIC dot COM. Please advise a username you'd like to use. We'll set you up asap.

Thanks.
GLORYDAZEMUSIC Administration
Associated Sites
GLORYDAZE on Twitter

GLORYDAZE on Facebook
We are hosted by LONEX.com

One of our sponsors.. Retrospect Records..

Heavy Metal Television..
GDAZE Tweets
Staff Playlists

George 23/05/2013
State Cows - 2013 The Second One (Germusica Promo)
Judge Jackson - 2013 '6' (Head First Ent Promo)
Amaranthe - 2013 The Nexus (CD just landed!)
Snowfall - 2013 Cold Silence
Phil Vincent - 2013 Face It/Solar Flare

Eric 21/05/2013
The Vicar - 2013 Songbook #1
Yes- 1979 Tormato
Oasis - 2002 Heathen Chemistry
Wigwam- 1970 Tombstone Valentine
Blast Furnace - 1971 Blast Furnace

Chris 01/05/2013
Jim Capaldi - 1978 The Contender
Brian Davison - 1970 Every Which Way
Freedom - 1970 Freedom At Last
Kings X - 1989 Gretchen Goes To Nebraska
Leggat - 1982 Illuminations
Three Man Army - 1971 A Third Of A Lifetime

Reyno 18/05/2013
Ambrosia - 1978 Life Beyond L.A. (2013 Friday Music 2CD Reissue)
Manfred Mann's Earth Band - 1996 The Best Of (Warner Brothers US Compilation)
Wings - 1975 Venus And Mars
Helen Schneider - 1981 Schneider With The Kick
Carly Simon - 1979 Spy

Lee 08/05/2013
Omega - 1986 A Fold Arnyekos Oldalan
Bow Wow - Locus 1976 - 1983
FSB - Singles Collection
Blue Oyster Cult - 1986 Club Ninja
Stingray - Revisited

Alun 23/03/2013
Son Of A Bitch - 1996 Victim You
Six Feet Under - 2013 Unborn
Sammy Hagar - 1977 Red
Suffocation - 2013 Pinnacle Of Bedlam
Jaguar - 1983 Power Games

Kelv Hellrazer 22/04/2013
Shea Roxi - Crying Eyes demo
Shea Roxi - I Got What You Want demo
David A Saylor - Pre Mini LP Demos
Huwey Lucas - Forever
Lowside - Lowside

David Shaw 01/05/2013
Six Shot Revival - Greatest Hits Vol 1
Hogjaw - Sons Of The Western Skies
Aerosmith - 1878 Live In Boston (FM Broadcast)
Beitthemeans - Head Held High
Hooker - Rock N Roll
Total Content Panel
Articles[5162]
Photos:[17]
Forum Threads:[2492]
Forum Posts:[12432]
Downloads:[16]
News:[325]
Comments:[11694]
Articles
Random Articles
No Dice - 1977 No Di... 1912
Alva Star - 2002 Int... 1141
Vincent, Raymond - 1... 946
Warp Drive - 2011 So... 976
Theatre - 1981 Diamonds 1193
Popular Articles
Iron Maiden - 2012 E... 10808
Soleil Moon - 2000 W... 9144
Trigger - 1978 Trigger 7261
Lakehurst (Germany) ... 6873
Face Dancer - 1979 T... 5757
Article Info
Articles: 5162
Read: 6442944
Horizontal Navigation
Path
You are in: GLORYDAZE Music » Articles


Gambler - 1980 Love And Other Crimes


ARTIST: Gambler
ALBUM: Love And Other Crimes
LABEL: EMI America
SERIAL: SW-17017
YEAR: 1980

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

LINEUP: Nathan Shaffer - vocals, guitars * Warren Mays - vocals, guitars * Del Breckenfeld - bass, vocals * Bruce Breckenfeld - keyboards, vocals * Chuck Schwartz - drums

TRACK LISTING: 01 Something Crazy * 02 It Never Felt Like This * 03 Even A Loser * 04 Dirty Suzie * 05 Double Indemnity * 06 Head Hunter * 07 She's My Girl * 08 Hotline * 09 Life On The Line * 10 I Put My Love

Background
Gambler.. another long lost band from the dusty files of seventies AOR/hard rock. Originating from the Chicago area, and operating in the same zone as local area bands such as Trillion, Jet and Off Broadway. Venturing out into the clubs and bar circuit of the windy city, it wasn't long before they were supporting some big name acts (Chicago's Styx being one of them). Soon signed to EMI America, the band released their self titled debut album in 1979, a set of tunes not far removed from early Kansas material, not surprising considering the Jeff Glixman production. 1980 saw the release of their sophomore album 'Love And Other Crimes', the production this time being handled by the band themselves, plus studio hound Phil Bonanno. Soundwise, the band get closer to radio oriented styles, a la Roadmaster 'Fortress' era, The States etc, combining this with straight down-the-line AOR prevalent during that timeframe. A feature of their music is the fabulous multi-part harmonies, similar to bands like Trillion and Avalon, and in keeping with those bands, a slight (ever so slight) symphonic style can be detected.

The Songs
Check out the fantastic opener 'Something Crazy', with its Roadmaster-esque keyboard dabbles. A great intro. Continuing with strong harmony vocals is 'It Never Felt Like This' while 'Even A Loser' is straight-ahead AOR, it's enriched by a simple but harmonious chorus. 'Dirty Susie' is given the hard/pop treatment, which is followed by 'Double Indemnity', a tune which could fit snugly on the Airborne album I reckon. 'She's My Girl' has definite Roadmaster appeal, then Gambler 'up' the speedometer rating on 'Hotline', a tune which has a bit of Kansas 'Leftoverture' on it. They finish up with the over-extended ballad 'I Put My Love', which ebbs and flows in true symphonic fashion.

In Summary
EMI America dropped Gambler shortly after the release of this album, perhaps due in part to the upswing in the new wave market, or perhaps EMI America didn't know what they were doing? Ironically though, a band peddling a similar sort of style called the J Geils Band (also signed to EMI America ironic huh?) struck it huge the following year with their 'Freeze Frame' album, containing two smash hits 'Freeze Frame' and 'Centerfold'. Perhaps a third Gambler album in 1981 may have seen different fortunes if marketed in the same way as J Geils? But hey, we're talking about EMI America here people, they couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery..

Related Articles
N/A

All written content on this website is copyrighted.
Copying of material without permission is not permitted.

Posted by gdazegod on August 13, 2003 · 16 Comments · 3756 Reads · Print

 
Comments


Comments
#1 | rostoned on January 18, 2008
Folks you can download the album here for yer own pleasure (Thanx to Alocacoc blog)

http://rapidshare.com/files/43827524/Gambler-LoveAndOtherCrimes.rar

By the way I read sometime ago that Gambler's singer Nathan Shaffer resurfaced in ROQ ROYALE.
Infact according to Legs Diamond bio on Rockdetector (see here http://www.rockdetector.com/officialbio,5180.sm) singer 'Nate Shaefer' (which I assume stands for a wrongly spelled Nathan Shaffer or... am I wrong? hmm!) resurfaced around 1987 in Mike Prince's pomp rock project Roq Royale who recorded an album with Roy Thomas Baker. Sadly (?) this work was shelved and never released and to this day it remains one of the 'holy grails' among aor & pomp rock freaks...if only for Mike's involvment.

Any news regarding RR fellas???

bye
#2 | Eric on January 18, 2008
I have the Shaffer/ Roq Royale demo. It was sent to me after I did an interview with Nathan for Strutter'zine many years ago. I thought it was good, but not great. I haven't listened to it in a long time and it's packed away more than likely. Didn't know it was THAT sought after....hmm!
#3 | rostoned on January 18, 2008
Eric can you find it and...share it with us mere mortals in one way or another (rapidshare, megaupload, thru GLORY-DAZE site...) ???? pleaseeeeeeee pray
#4 | Eric on January 18, 2008
I would have to find it first among my boxes of music stuff, but I am not as technicaly savy as others herehelpless I don't even have a cassette player to make a copy anymore.*blushing*

If I remember right, Sunsinger was just starting up and Shaffer was wondering if we would put it out, but it just kind of fell by the wayside and it never got past a couple conversations due to the 'progressive' nature of the label.
#5 | rostoned on January 18, 2008
Eric is this the Strutter 'zine you are talking about?

http://www.strutter.8m.com

Do you remember that during the interview w/ Nathan you asked/he spoke about the Roq Royale project? just curious...........
#6 | Eric on January 19, 2008
Yeah, it was back in the daze when Strutter was a magazine. There were two editions. Strutter'zine which focused on new AOR and 'Strutter'zine the past' which focused on classic AOR.

I didn't know about the Baker produced stuff until later. I think he figured the Baker/ Starcastle connection might help, but I do remember him talking about it more as a solo than a group project...

Hope that helps...hmm!
#7 | rostoned on January 19, 2008
Here's the link for 'Strutter'zine the past'....yikes there's even your stories on Roadmaster and Gambler on line!!!! lol

http://www.angelfire.com/ma/strutteraor/STRUTTERZINETHEPAST.html
#8 | Eric on January 19, 2008
lol! Shameless self promotion, but I also had a web site called 'Nightworks' http://www.angelfire.com/mn/nightworks/page2.html

There are a couple interviews there, including a good one with Baxter Robinson done by none other than Mr Pomp himself- Stephen Allen.

It never really developed into anything and I lost interest with Strutter, Faith Nation and Song Haus taking most of my time.
#9 | Eric on January 19, 2008
Baxter Robertson. sorry.
#10 | gdazegod on January 19, 2008
Wow, I remember Nightworks Eric. That was yours? Blimey! I didn't know that. That was a good little site back in the day. I think it contained the only review I've ever seen of Zeabra's one-off LP.
#11 | Eric on January 19, 2008
Yeah, I'm full of surprises!Thumbs Up
#12 | Hanjin77 on April 12, 2008
wow, nice to see some feedback on the classic strutter reviews and good to see you alive somewhere again Eric! Its Gabor from Strutter'zine! I am still alive and unfortunately I had to stop reviewing AOR FROM THE PAST years ago because my time got limited, working 5 days a week full ahead only allows me to do something during the weekend, therefore only do new stuff reviews these days, wish i could go back to 1998 discovering and reviewing obscure stuff again, those were the good times, remember bands like RATHSKELLER, FUSICIAN, NIGHTWORK, BLUEBEARD, RON BOLTON BAND, PAUL GODFREY BAND, LIMOUSINE, FINGERPRINT, some of them appearing for the first time on the internet or in a magazine at Strutter. Well times have changed and nothing's obscure anymore, also like i said i have very little time to do more i wish i would do like 10 years ago, anyway, good to see ya Eric and keep up the good work on this site as it is something i was hoping to do back in 1998, but never got really as big as i wanted it to be...
#13 | Eric on April 12, 2008
A blast from the past! Hey Gabor! '..The Past' was a fun mag wasn't it? I remember sending you tapes and photo copies of album covers, man times have changed and Strutter broke a lot of ground..

Thanks for your kind words and please visit often, we have some great contributors and readers who know their stuff.Thumbs Up
#14 | Hanjin77 on April 13, 2008
yeah i just discovered this forum when indeed thinking of the good old past, i miss the days of tape trading, scanning pics and really putting effort in making a mag, the past mag was so much more interesting to do in the pre-internet days, the first couple of issues were done on a typewriter!
#15 | Eric on January 06, 2009
I might have sent it (the demo) to Gary Strater (Starcastle) since he was interested in it. I say this because when this all came up a couple weeks ago, I started going through some things (boxes) looking for the CDR and it dawned on me I might have mailed it off back then. A possibility- could still be here somewhere....hmm!
#16 | gdazegod on June 16, 2012
Official Roq Royale release should be interesting.. hmm!
Post Comment
Please Login to Post a Comment.
Ratings
Rating is available to Members only.

Please login or register to vote.
No Ratings have been Posted.
Login
Username

Password



Forgotten your password?
Request a new one here.
Latest Comments
News
http://www.youtube.com/...
Awesome album and vocal...
love his greatest hi...
I'd like to get this as...
Cheerz Georgey m8 ,
This is absolutely stun...
Articles
Although differing in l...
Can't really describe h...
''Lost and gone'' along...
'Atlanta Calling' is a ...
The first side is consi...
A brilliant album. The ...
Our Blogs
Kim Dotcom is back in t...
How does Kit Dotcom jus...
Jay Rockefeller is livi...
Jay Rockafeller (D-West...
The Cyberlocker/Filesha...
If the record industry ...
Custom Pages
Let's try the Wintergar...
It seems, that the trac...
unknown aor=Ya Ya ~ Tho...
New track labelled 'unk...
Tracks A1 and B5 have b...
You know, come to think...
User Activity Log
Guests On: 93
Members On: 3
rkbluez Online Now, octanoid77 Online Now, octanoid77 Online Now

Last Seen Users

rkbluez rkbluez
Joined
12/04/05		 Offline Offline
octanoid77
Joined
01/07/06		 Offline Offline
newenglan...
Joined
03/19/10		 01:00:12
gdazegod gdazegod
Joined
09/08/08		 01:20:14
Eric Eric
Joined
01/20/06		 01:27:48
george_the_jack george_th...
Joined
05/25/08		 01:46:07
machoman machoman
Joined
02/28/06		 02:03:09
DEMONAOR DEMONAOR
Joined
12/01/05		 02:03:22
Peter7
Joined
03/06/09		 02:06:25
Carl Noonan Carl Noonan
Joined
04/12/06		 02:10:03

  More Users 
Shoutbox
You must login to post a message.

Eric
23/05/2013
The Vicar probably won't appeal to everyone, but some big prog names appear including Tony Levin, Theo Travis, Lewis Taylor and others and I think its swell. Some of it reminds me of Stackridge.

Carl Noonan
23/05/2013
Checked the samples of this Vicar album on I-tunes and have to say 90 secs of each track was more than enough to save me money buying it. Sorry Eric but I thought it was terrible. No energy, no drums

Eric
23/05/2013
The Vicar -'Songbook #1', possibly my disc of the year. The Beatles, 10cc and Britpop rolled up in a beautiful package- a stunner! Who is this guy?

Keith Nagy
22/05/2013
Went to Joplin in 2011 to volunteer. As an insurance adjuster what I saw in Joplin was like nothing I had ever seen before. This looks so much like what I saw in Joplin. Prayers to all affected.

gdazegod
21/05/2013
They say the front of the twister was a mile wide. Wow!

Eric
21/05/2013
We were missed by an F1 twister by just 4 city blocks a couple years back. Brutal destruction and still not fully recovered. Can't imagine living through yesterdays F4-5 in Moore. Terrible.

jefflynnefan
21/05/2013
I wish somebody would reissue "Living On The Edge" by Axe.

jefflynnefan
21/05/2013
I live in Oklahoma and these damn Tornadoes! My daughter teaches school 5 miles away from the activity.

gdazegod
20/05/2013
Getting prepped for an interview with the one and only Paul Godfrey, he of the Paul Godfrey Band, and their awesome 1990 CD 'Magic Touch'. Stay tuned.

Lee South Africa
20/05/2013
In SA the Orlando Pirates fans are in mourning now that Kaiser Chiefs have secured the league and taken their crown away



Render time: 0.53 seconds | 12,346,147 unique visits
Powered by PHP-Fusion copyright © 2002 - 2013 by Nick Jones.
Released as free software without warranties under GNU Affero GPL v3. | DividedMultitude